Fractal R4 Build-up

[deegee]

So...

My last PC was an e8400 in a Shuttle, it served it's purpose but it was no monster.

Time came to build a new rig, I had a lot of catching up to do on tech so did some research and this was the outcome. I went as far as I could with the current budget, things are going to change soon but lets start at the start right?

I really wanted this PC to be quiet so I kept that in mind when choosing my goodies.

First off was a dry build of everything i'd ordered.

Intel 3770k
Asus z77 Sabertooth
2x 8gb of Corsair Dominator Platinum RAM
EVGA GTX670 4gb SuperClocked
2x Samsung 840 120gb SSD's
Cooler Master Silent Hyrbid Pro 850w PSU
Fractal Design Define R4

AND IT LIVES!

I ran the machine like this for a while just ensuring no parts were faulty it was running fine but I wasn't happy with my CPU temps, after a big FarCry 3 session 1 core on the CPU was at 100degrees C. Not cool at all. I ended up undevolting my CPU (thanks to TinyTomLogan's YouTube channel) which helped a bit but still wasn't great.

Next was stage 2 now that running the PC dry was a success!

Watercooling goodies!

Here we have;
Koolance 380i CPU Waterblock
XSPC GTX670 Waterblock
XSPC RX240mm Radiator
BlackIce GT 240mm Radiator
D5 pump with BitsPower Matt Black Kit
FrozenQ Fusion Reservoir
6x 2150rpm Gentle Typhoons
Various Bitspower 1/2 - 3/4 Compression Fittings

Now a little bit of dressing up... Taking apart the fans;

The cheeky circlips on the fans

The circlips on these buggers were tricky so I lined up the needle nose pliers and then put a piece of paper over the back, the circlip tried to fly away a couple of times but this stopped it.

and all separated

Masked and hung for paint!

And painted! White is so clean!

Nickel plated G1/4 plugs just wont do...

A bit of tape...

Much better!

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd its built! Glam Shots.

I couldn't mount the reservoir anywhere so its kinda... sitting and not well. I'm not proud of it and it needs to change.
EDIT// I've actually mounted the reservoir directly to the top of the pump now and its much better, photos to follow.

I completely removed the side panel and replaced it with a tinted acrylic side panel so I can see all the goodies.

Now after I installed the watercooling gear performance was still bad temps wise. I reseated 10 times and it was still the same. I got into reading and looks like I had an Ivy Bridge with the issue between the dye and IHS. When looking back at the build the CPU is about the cheapest single component so... take the risk. Delid it!

MDPC-X Parcel!

Sleeve and coloured wire for custom length cables

Pins!

Crimper and auto wire-stripper

I don't know how he handwrites every one...

BIG UPDATE HERE

 

[Tripp]

Very sleek mate

 

[Feronix]

Looks good and I really like this colour scheme! You're obviously putting a lot of work in this

 

[Mathius]

.................

I still chuckle at this 5 thumbs thing.....
-------------------------


Very nice, clean and crisp, especially the white tubing

 

[vorticalbox]

Very nice but the top rad fans pulling into the case, i would be turning them around to follow the air flow.

Looks awesome though!

 

[deegee]

Thanks for the kind words so far guys!

I've been trying to work out in my head some idea's for a side panel. I think I've come up with something and this is me testing out my proof of concept.

Any and all feedback is welcome

What do you guys think?

 

[hmmblah]

I really like that last one.

 

[JMOC]

Very, very nice. The pic where it highlights the watercooling setup is great.

 

[clone38]

What do you think about the Koolance 380i CPU Waterblock any good? also very nice build log so far

 

[Feronix]

I really like that last one.

+1

 

[deegee]

What do you think about the Koolance 380i CPU Waterblock any good? also very nice build log so far

I bought it because in a recent roundup it came in first. With this setup I get a peak temp on OCCT for 8 hours of 58degrees with 4.6ghz @ 1.35vcore. The vcore is on the high side but the temps certainly aren't! I'm really happy with the block but I haven't used any others so can't comment any further than that.

Thanks for everyone's kind words so far.

 

[unhealthy13]

Great looking build - nice and clean!

 

[deegee]

So everyone, i've spent some time away from OC3D but am glad to say I'm back!

I have quite an update here so please sit tight I'll try and annotate everything with details.

When I left off I had received a bunch of sleeve from MDPC and was mucking around with some custom window ideas.

Firstly the sleeving. This was my first attemp and it was far from perfect but I felt I did "OK" but no better than that. I installed it into the system and it made a huge difference. I thought I had done OK but I was worried about the amount of sleeve I had (10m of black, grey and white) so my runs weren't the best. I've decided to redo this ordering 20m of white and grey and 30m of black.


SLEEVING
Here's some pictures of the first attempt at sleeving.

Certainly not great... My 2nd cable was much better, but still not great...

And in...

However like I said i'm not happy with this so i'm redoing all the sleeving again...

SIDEWINDOW
Now... The window!

So before it was just a template, now... there's a big hole in it!

I cut it with a JigSaw, a Dremel and then a fair bit of filing work needed to be done. I had to patch a couple of places with body filler and sand it back but it came up fairly well...

Now for some paint!

3M double sided tape.

hey not bad! The edges look rough in the photo's I didn't notice in real life. im not happy they are like this but I don't really want to take them back and repaint them either so...

FALSE MB and PSU COVER
Next was a false motherboard tray and a PSU cover. I had some bigger plans so these aren't the final but here's how I started.

Template!

Cut

Sneak it around the PSU

Sits over the motherboard standoffs

PSU Cover

It was about here where I thought... stuff it... lets go all out...!

I sold off the GTX670 and am currently waiting for the EVGA GTX780Ti Classified to hit the shelves (not k|ngp|n version)

NEW RADS
The 2x 240mm radiators have gone and so has the tubing.

Replacing the XSPC RX240 will be a Alphacool XT45 180 dual... Thats right a 180x360mm rad. The thing is a MONSTER

Repalcing the Black Ice GT 240mm rad that was in the roof will be an Alphacool XT45 360mm rad.

Here are both of them in all their glory. 180mm doesn;t sound much bigger when it rolls off my tongue but when you look at them side by side the thing is huge.

With 2x 120mm fans sitting on it...

LOLZ... ridiculous...

So... How to fit these bad boys... it was tight! But hopefully it will work out...

A rad shroud had to go in the roof, it took a bit of fiddling to get it to sit back as far as possible as well as away from the motherboard as far as possible.

Now... the dual 180... I picked up some SilverStone Air Penetrators because they look boss and they go the tear down and respray treatment also I got 4x for push/pull because... that's ridiculous...

Look at the size of this thing in my arms!

now to get this in the front I had to make up a panel. I tried some brackets which just wouldnt work.

First the template from a offcut of Plexi

Transferred to 2mm gal, SO HEAVY!

And cut... Also... Tilly says Hi

This is how I thought it would mount...

i quickly discovered that like this there was no way the front panel would go back on... No biggie I just reversed it and mounted it on the inside. because the fans are 32mm thick it will still go into that compartment a little but similar to how the stock fans are.

Here it is rivited and painted

And so that's where I'm up to. next updates will be finally fitting the false motherboard tray, PSU cover, sleeving and rigid acrylic tubing! Stay tuned and please ask any questions you might have

 

[mehere]

that rads a right monster

 

[Feronix]

That's some proper modding, mate

 

[Cru]

lookin good

 

[deegee]

Finally its finished!

here is some updates and then finished photo's.

Now more presents arrived!
I sold off my GTX670 and replaced it with an EVGA GTX780Ti Superclocked with XSPC waterblock and backplate. I also got some PrimoChill ghost Revolver fittings for rigid the rigid acrylic.

Next some sleeving of all the front panel connections. I also swapped out the blue LED on the power switch for 2x white LEDs. Also painting the big blue USB3 connector white.

I ran into some trouble running from a breakout PCB to some ModMyToys PCB Splitters but eventually figured it out. All the fans running.

Next I ran into the problem with the intake fans on the front radiators basically touching the front door. I made up a gasket forcing it to draw air only through the fan filters and then got to work on the front door.
I centre punched 595 holes with a philipshead screwdriver…

And then drilled by hand. Probably between 4-5 hours just in doing this…

Also here is the new sub-front panel with magnetic fan filters for easy maintenance.

After my first attempt at sleeving I wasn’t happy with the finish so I decided to try again, this time heatshrinkless style. Here are the results.
6+8pin

24pin

EPS

All together

Now bending up some acrylic tube!

AND FINISHED!

Full Album here -> http://imgur.com/a/3nNfL

It certainly isn’t perfect I know all the faults but I think for my first real shot at modding a PC I’ve done OK. I have certainly caught the bug and am looking forward to the next project. Before I start the next big project I have planned I want to get another 780Ti for this machine and redo the acrylic tube. Some of the bends are clearly off at the moment.

Hopefully you enjoyed looking through this as much as I did building it, if anyone has any questions I’d be happy to do my best to answer them, PM’s are fine.

Any constructive feedback is welcomed.

Thanks everyone
DeeG

 

[Conchubair]

That looks really kickass.. Nice one!

 

[Feronix]

Nice mods and sleeving! Can tell a lot of time went into this without it all looking over the top

 

[inovaex]

Love the hex design on the window panel!