Project: Square is cool

[TopSecret]

I have been dying to try out the new i7's for a while now. But with work and family commitments I haven't had the time to put into starting a new project. Until now that is. I have bought all the new components and am waiting for some of them to arrive. I have my custom case planned out and have the materials ready to go.

Basically, the case design is going to be cubic and it will have an aluminium welded framework. The panels will be made from mirrored acrylic, the stuff you can see through when a light is behind it. I am going to get some custom rad grilles (in chrome) for the build, and still have to plan the design for these yet.

It's going to take me quite a while to build the new custom case. Me being me and not being very patient, I am dying to try out the new rig parts, so I picked up a cheapo case today to serve as temporary accomodation until the new custom case is finished. I got a coolermaster elite 335 for this purpose.

Here's the specs of the new rig, when completed:

Intel Core i7 920

Asus P6T mainboard

OCZ Gold 6GB (3x2G PC3-10666

Inno3D GTX280

2x 500GB Seagate Barracuda's

Coolermaster Silent Pro M 700W Modular PSU

Asus 20x DVD-RW

Then the custom case will feature 2x 240mm rads, with dual loops, one for CPU and chipset, one for the GPU. I will probably use 2x DDC Ultras for the pumps, not sure which tops to go for yet. I won't be ordering the wc kit till I get the case built and it's ready though so I have time to worry about that later.

I took delivery of the P6T today and fitted it into the Elite 335, as I was bored. I am stuck now though till delivery is made on the CPU and memory. I am expecting the memory tomorrow, but the i7 could take upto 10 days before it's here. It's going to kill me waiting that long

Anyways, here's a couple of pics of the mobo installed in the Elite 335, I haven't fitted the PSU or drives yet as they are being used in my current rig. It's looking not too bad at the moment. The mobo is looking very lonely in there though, and needs some i7 love. As I haven't even started the custom case build yet, it's going to be a month or two before the rig gets it's intended home, so the Elite 335 wiil do for now.

[HypoglossalXII]

Subscribed! I don't know why I keep going to all these threads and get subscribed onto them. I always end up envious, and wanting to kill something.

-HypoG

[Brooksie]

Looking forward to this

Updates soon please

[TopSecret]

Well I finsihed building the temporary rig up this morning. I haven't got around to any overclocking as yet, as I dropped one of the 500GB drives this morning and it gave up the ghost. so I have been re-installing the OS and software on a new drive.

The build was easy enough, except for my little mis-hap with one of the drives. The build doesn't look too bad in the temp case, especially considering the case only cost me £30. Still can't wait to get it all in the new case though:

Here's a few internals:



Mobo fitted



I like the colour scheme of the mobo, and the chipset cooling looks pretty good.



The RAM doesn't look too bad



All built up, and ready to fire up!

I wasn't expecting much of a performance increase from my old Q9550 setup, but it does seem very nippy on the Vista side of things. I will be putting the new setup through it's paces over the weekend and getting some benchies done. I need to go and get a decent air cooler tomorrow before I start benching. When the custom case is finished, the CPU will be watercooled and I will really be putting it through it's paces then:thumbup:

[zak4994]

Cool.

[Brooksie]

Looking good

[TopSecret]

Well there's some progress on my latest project, and it's taken on a new direction. Basically, I was hanging around for my mate to weld up the framework for the project build. I think he has had some problems with it and didn't want to admit it. I'm no welder, but I have heard that aluminium is a git to weld.

Anyways, I have managed to get my hands on a Mountain Mods U2 UFO case yesterday, it's been powder coated candy purple and gloss white already. While the choice of colours wouldn't be my first, I do like it. So the project is going to be based around this case now. I haven't had it delivered yet, but when I do, I will post back with some pics. I have always fancied trying out the MM cases, as I like something out of the ordinary and they are ideal for a wc setup. As the U2 UFO is a cubic case, luckily I don't have to rename the project

I have priced up the parts for the wc setup, and it's going to be a month or two before I get everything I need. I have already laid out a fair chunk of spendo on the i7 upgrade and buying the case.

Here's the final specs:

Main Components (already have):

Asus P6T

Intel Core i7 920

OCZ Gold PC3-10666

Inno3D GTX280

2x 500Gb Barracuda's

CM Silent Pro M 700w PSU

Asus 20x DVD-RW

Watercooling Equipment (to buy):

1/2" tubing

9x 120mm Fans

CPU loop:

ThermoChill PA120.2 - 240 Radiator

12V Laing DDC-1T Ultra w/XSPC V3 Acrylic Pump Top

EK Multioption RES 100 Rev2

Aqua Computer Cuplex HD 1366 waterblock

GPU Loop:

ThermoChill PA120.3 - 360 Radiator

12V Laing DDC-1T Ultra w/XSPC V3 Acrylic Pump Top

EK-FC280 280GTX SLI - Plexi waterblock

XSPC Dual Bay Reservoir - Clear

I wanted to go SLI and get another GTX280, but with the cost of the project in total going to be over £1000 for the parts I have bought already and still need to buy, I will be using just a single 280 for now. Going SLI is on the cards, but further down the road.

If you have any recommendations on the wc setup or any comments, let me know.

[TopSecret]

Reserved for case pics