Watercooled Desk Project
- Thread starter PBaines
- Start date
AverageNinja
Average Penis Too
Quality as usual PBaines!
Really liking it!
Really liking it!
Fantastic Project, If I had Time, Money and Space, this is something I would most definately do.....would also give me a really good excuse to use my power tools again.
As far as the Wiring goes, would it not be possible to drill into the base of the desk to feed the cable to the underside, and then backup to where-ever they are needed ?
Then to hide the hanging cables (on the under-side) fix a box type section to the base.
...or...
Cut the connectors off the PSU (about 6-12inches from the connectors) and extend them with extra wire. Remove the existing cable braiding and replace it with Thin Black Braiding.
To cable manage then, you could run the cables around the edges of the components to where they are needed.
Providing that you reconnect the PSU wires in the correct order, all should be good.
As far as the Wiring goes, would it not be possible to drill into the base of the desk to feed the cable to the underside, and then backup to where-ever they are needed ?
Then to hide the hanging cables (on the under-side) fix a box type section to the base.
...or...
Cut the connectors off the PSU (about 6-12inches from the connectors) and extend them with extra wire. Remove the existing cable braiding and replace it with Thin Black Braiding.
To cable manage then, you could run the cables around the edges of the components to where they are needed.
Providing that you reconnect the PSU wires in the correct order, all should be good.
PBaines
New member
It could, but for my preference I would rather have them showing, besides They will all be individually sleeved and all custom length so it will be nice to look at the work I did 
And yeah, I will be making my own wires from scratch, will get around 150m of wire and about 500 atx-pins hahaha
And yeah, I will be making my own wires from scratch, will get around 150m of wire and about 500 atx-pins hahaha
PBaines
New member
Sooo. It's been a while!
Anywho, a good amount of progress to report
Since the last update I have done the back rail piece, and also the back ledge for which the monitor will sit on for now (Till I get a nice desk mount for it) and to also hid the back I/O cables a bit too.
With those made, it was time to sand and vanish! I was initially going to use Danish Oil but had this stuff here which did practically the exact same thing.
After 4 coats, sanding inbetween with 500grit sand paper on the palm sander (which practically felt like paper) it was all done! And time to start finishing the main construction of the desk and do the drawer handles.
After a measure up it was time to drill!
Time to measure the screws out and figure out which segment I have to chop out
Into the vice, and chopped with a hacksaw!
Repeating the process for all and you end up with some lovely draw fronts
One of the last things to tick off the list is the radiator grill holes for attaching the radiator and fans. All went well and everything lines up
This is how I will leave the middle section, don't like the mesh grills in the middle. NOTE: The bolts will be cut to length too
Screwed the rad's on temporarily and got the first piece of acrylic tubing on! (Using crysal link adapters)
Finally, 1/2 of my PPCS order! (2/2 is the BP fittings)
So in this we have:
x2 Heatkiller GTX680 Blocks
x1 Heatkiller 1155 CPU Block
x1 XSPC UP7 Motherboard Block
x1 Legion Fan controller
x2 Vandal Switches (For power/ reset)
x1 Vandal Switch plate for the switches to sit in
After getting over my excitement, starting sorting out the attachment brackets to hold the back ledge on
Got the drill out with a small drill bit, 2.5mm I think it was to predrill the screw holes
... That one screw that had to be a flat head...
***** Some how forgot to take a picture of the final result! Will get that uploaded in the next update *****
So it was time to now move the desk to my room, and assemble the top unit to the draws and legs. TO do this there are two dry dowel fittings just to align everything for screwing, unfortunately I drilled too far and one dowel popped through.. No worries though. This is the top left inside of the draw unit, behind draws so will not be visible! Besides, all it is there to do is make things easier when coming to assembling and disassembling.
To screw the bottom and side rail to the underside of the top unit, I flipped the everything upside down and drilled a hole on an angle.
Starting with the first incision to make a hole so we can essentially turn the drill 160 degrees without it slipping down the wood
getting more on an angle
And finally going straight down at this angle
And all screws have been successfully screwed in holding everything in place! Though I will be adding an L bracket holding the front leg and the bottom of the lid, just for security as a thick L bracket is 10x stronger than any amount of screws
Speaking of screws, I sourced out the screws that I will be using for the rad's, lotsa these!
Two boxes arrived at my house from which contained my speakers and fans I will be using. Which may I add was very well packaged!
I went with the Microlab Solo 6C's because of their wooden carcase, and I have heard many positive reviews about these. I now just have to find a place for them..
On to the next box! Containing 5 Twin packets of the SP120 silent edition Corsair fans, and also a Twin pack of the AF120 silent edition fans also. I went with these because of the Static Pressure they create, and also how silent they are. I will only be running my desk in a PULL on the first rad and PUSH on the second. I do not think I need to have push/pull on both rads, as I want to make this thing as silent as possible. With 2 480 Monsta rads, even with a pull on one and a push on the other. It will still all be overkill in terms of cooling potential with the rads as 2 680's, a CPU and Motherboard wouldn't come close to reaching peak performance of the rads. Also the rads look nice at them from the grill.
On the following day I received a shipment from PPCS, which contained 2 Heatkiller 680 back plates which I forgot to order in the previous one.. and 90% of my fittings (70 in total in this order) and slipped through customs without paying an Import Tax which I am more than happy about!
I all ready ripped them all open and started planning out the loop, so left some of the fittings I had joined together as that will be how they are set
Now that everything was finally settling down and the desk is all setup. It was time to finally put a few blocks on components. This update will be for my UP7 with its motherboard block and cpu block too.
Putting the thermal pads, and also two small drops of Arctic Silver 5 that I have been using for a long time
And all screwed on! Might look at doing something about the XSPC logo on the block, would rather it be all black for preference
Next up, the Heatkiller CPU block. Boy it looks epic..
Pea size amount of thermal paste
Once I put it on I cut a piece of my crystal link tubing to length and connected the two blocks together. The CPU block, UP7 Block and the Dominator RAM really work well together!
Anywho, a good amount of progress to report
Since the last update I have done the back rail piece, and also the back ledge for which the monitor will sit on for now (Till I get a nice desk mount for it) and to also hid the back I/O cables a bit too.
With those made, it was time to sand and vanish! I was initially going to use Danish Oil but had this stuff here which did practically the exact same thing.
After 4 coats, sanding inbetween with 500grit sand paper on the palm sander (which practically felt like paper) it was all done! And time to start finishing the main construction of the desk and do the drawer handles.
After a measure up it was time to drill!
Time to measure the screws out and figure out which segment I have to chop out
Into the vice, and chopped with a hacksaw!
Repeating the process for all and you end up with some lovely draw fronts
One of the last things to tick off the list is the radiator grill holes for attaching the radiator and fans. All went well and everything lines up
This is how I will leave the middle section, don't like the mesh grills in the middle. NOTE: The bolts will be cut to length too
Screwed the rad's on temporarily and got the first piece of acrylic tubing on! (Using crysal link adapters)
Finally, 1/2 of my PPCS order! (2/2 is the BP fittings)
So in this we have:
x2 Heatkiller GTX680 Blocks
x1 Heatkiller 1155 CPU Block
x1 XSPC UP7 Motherboard Block
x1 Legion Fan controller
x2 Vandal Switches (For power/ reset)
x1 Vandal Switch plate for the switches to sit in
After getting over my excitement, starting sorting out the attachment brackets to hold the back ledge on
Got the drill out with a small drill bit, 2.5mm I think it was to predrill the screw holes
... That one screw that had to be a flat head...
***** Some how forgot to take a picture of the final result! Will get that uploaded in the next update *****
So it was time to now move the desk to my room, and assemble the top unit to the draws and legs. TO do this there are two dry dowel fittings just to align everything for screwing, unfortunately I drilled too far and one dowel popped through.. No worries though. This is the top left inside of the draw unit, behind draws so will not be visible! Besides, all it is there to do is make things easier when coming to assembling and disassembling.
To screw the bottom and side rail to the underside of the top unit, I flipped the everything upside down and drilled a hole on an angle.
Starting with the first incision to make a hole so we can essentially turn the drill 160 degrees without it slipping down the wood
getting more on an angle
And finally going straight down at this angle
And all screws have been successfully screwed in holding everything in place! Though I will be adding an L bracket holding the front leg and the bottom of the lid, just for security as a thick L bracket is 10x stronger than any amount of screws
Speaking of screws, I sourced out the screws that I will be using for the rad's, lotsa these!
Two boxes arrived at my house from which contained my speakers and fans I will be using. Which may I add was very well packaged!
I went with the Microlab Solo 6C's because of their wooden carcase, and I have heard many positive reviews about these. I now just have to find a place for them..
On to the next box! Containing 5 Twin packets of the SP120 silent edition Corsair fans, and also a Twin pack of the AF120 silent edition fans also. I went with these because of the Static Pressure they create, and also how silent they are. I will only be running my desk in a PULL on the first rad and PUSH on the second. I do not think I need to have push/pull on both rads, as I want to make this thing as silent as possible. With 2 480 Monsta rads, even with a pull on one and a push on the other. It will still all be overkill in terms of cooling potential with the rads as 2 680's, a CPU and Motherboard wouldn't come close to reaching peak performance of the rads. Also the rads look nice at them from the grill.
On the following day I received a shipment from PPCS, which contained 2 Heatkiller 680 back plates which I forgot to order in the previous one.. and 90% of my fittings (70 in total in this order) and slipped through customs without paying an Import Tax which I am more than happy about!
I all ready ripped them all open and started planning out the loop, so left some of the fittings I had joined together as that will be how they are set
Now that everything was finally settling down and the desk is all setup. It was time to finally put a few blocks on components. This update will be for my UP7 with its motherboard block and cpu block too.
Putting the thermal pads, and also two small drops of Arctic Silver 5 that I have been using for a long time
And all screwed on! Might look at doing something about the XSPC logo on the block, would rather it be all black for preference
Next up, the Heatkiller CPU block. Boy it looks epic..
Pea size amount of thermal paste
Once I put it on I cut a piece of my crystal link tubing to length and connected the two blocks together. The CPU block, UP7 Block and the Dominator RAM really work well together!
PingPangBV
New member
Nice update man! I can see this ending up looking real nice. Looking forward to more updates.
The Orange One
New member
Looks Amazing Mate!
Epic work!
Epic work!
alpenwasser
New member
Oh yes, the pr0n is strong in this one :dribble: :lol:
