yassarikhan786
New member
Amazing craftsmanship as always. Loving the motherboard water block 
Watercooled Desk Project
- Thread starter PBaines
- Start date
AverageNinja
Average Penis Too
Looks epic! Though that TIM on the CPU looked like it was a lot 
spazgadget
New member
Veeerryyy nice!
The Orange One
New member
Great work mate! Looking forward for the next update!
PBaines
New member
Thanks guys, glad you are all enjoying the update, Though I knew someone would say something about the TIM! it is actually just smaller than a pea, and a smear. But he picture made it seem like there was heaps!
So here is a small update, these will become a lot more regular as I have far more free time than I have over the past months!
*
I forgot to put this picture in the last update, but here is what the board and I/O will look like
*
*
The backboard is screwed on, with all of my fittings just waiting there to be used!
*
When I got my screws from town. I didn't get enough.. Now I have the right amount and the Rad is securely in place
*
*
Today I decided that it was time to start the dredding task of custom lengthing EVERY cable. These were my first crimps ever! didn't do too badly
*
*
After thinking about where to start, I started with the Corsiar SP120 fans. Measured to length and initial cut!
*
Cannot really show a picture of in progress crimping, But here is the first. I did them one at a time, instead of taking all the old pins out. Just so I knew exactly where the new pins would go. Have put the wires back to front once... The fan spun in the opposite direction... hehe
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*
Lovely! All fans followed this procedure.*
*
*
The pumps were the next thing on the checklist so did them next
*
I am actually modding the pumps so that they run off of the Fan Controller so I can undervolt them because at 12v these are actually quite loud. My old MCP655 / D5 was 10x better!
I had to do a test first to make sure that the fan controller would work with it, just to be safe. Though I was 99% certain it would.
*
*
Jotted down the wiring so that I knew were to put the pins
*
*
All soldered on!
*
*
Pump works well
note; there is a gap between the top of the 5.25" controller and the wood. This will be fixed in due course.
*
Interesting, this MCP 355 uses a different PCB. no worries, nothing will end up different
*
*
Again, jotted down where the wires went
*
*
Crimped my wires and now time to test them both in the Fan Controller
*
*
*
*
Great! Though something interesting is that when both at 12V they have a substantially different RPM
*
*
Of course the wires need to be sleeved. I taped the ends flat so that I knew which pin went where since as all 2 wires have no writing or colouring I don't want to get it wrong!
*
*
First one sleeved*
*
The wiring looks to be a perfect length too
*
Second pump done
*
*
Both plugged in
*
The wiring is lovely, lines up perfectly!
*
*
Tomorrow I will do more electrical stuff and will do another update. Would take too long writing out one super super super big update I think haha
*
Take care all;
Phil
So here is a small update, these will become a lot more regular as I have far more free time than I have over the past months!
*
I forgot to put this picture in the last update, but here is what the board and I/O will look like
*
*
The backboard is screwed on, with all of my fittings just waiting there to be used!
*
When I got my screws from town. I didn't get enough.. Now I have the right amount and the Rad is securely in place
*
*
Today I decided that it was time to start the dredding task of custom lengthing EVERY cable. These were my first crimps ever! didn't do too badly
*
*
After thinking about where to start, I started with the Corsiar SP120 fans. Measured to length and initial cut!
*
Cannot really show a picture of in progress crimping, But here is the first. I did them one at a time, instead of taking all the old pins out. Just so I knew exactly where the new pins would go. Have put the wires back to front once... The fan spun in the opposite direction... hehe
*
*
Lovely! All fans followed this procedure.*
*
*
The pumps were the next thing on the checklist so did them next
*
I am actually modding the pumps so that they run off of the Fan Controller so I can undervolt them because at 12v these are actually quite loud. My old MCP655 / D5 was 10x better!
I had to do a test first to make sure that the fan controller would work with it, just to be safe. Though I was 99% certain it would.
*
*
Jotted down the wiring so that I knew were to put the pins
*
*
All soldered on!
*
*
Pump works well
note; there is a gap between the top of the 5.25" controller and the wood. This will be fixed in due course.
*
Interesting, this MCP 355 uses a different PCB. no worries, nothing will end up different
*
*
Again, jotted down where the wires went
*
*
Crimped my wires and now time to test them both in the Fan Controller
*
*
*
*
Great! Though something interesting is that when both at 12V they have a substantially different RPM
*
*
Of course the wires need to be sleeved. I taped the ends flat so that I knew which pin went where since as all 2 wires have no writing or colouring I don't want to get it wrong!
*
*
First one sleeved*
*
The wiring looks to be a perfect length too
*
Second pump done
*
*
Both plugged in
*
The wiring is lovely, lines up perfectly!
*
*
Tomorrow I will do more electrical stuff and will do another update. Would take too long writing out one super super super big update I think haha
*
Take care all;
Phil
The Orange One
New member
I like what you've done with connecting the pumps up to the fan controller!!
Nice work Mate!
Nice work Mate!
vorticalbox
New member
i thought that was a weird
but would give you nice control over the flow and noise levels to op, such a lovely build
Your desk looks very nice , coming along very well.
I'm glad it's you doing the wiring and not me , not sure I'd have the patience for it.
It's odd that the pumps run at different rpm's at 12v , you might need to look in to why.
Nice job on the sleeving.
Very nice though , I will be following this thread to see the desk when your done.
I'm glad it's you doing the wiring and not me , not sure I'd have the patience for it.
It's odd that the pumps run at different rpm's at 12v , you might need to look in to why.
Nice job on the sleeving.
Very nice though , I will be following this thread to see the desk when your done.
Last edited:
vorticalbox
New member
maybe it was just turned on and was spinning up? the number were jumping on the 100's where as the other as changing at the 10's
PBaines
New member
I might actually have someone interested in me making them one actually! :lol:
Mgutierrez33
New member
Kudos, the desk is looking really professionally done!
sheroo
New member
Sounds good... Anyway where's our update.
WillSK
Active member
I definitely have to say again how awesome this log has been to read. With regards to you getting requests to build another for someone. I definitely think there's some money to be made here. Threads like this are great for building your reputation and I know if I had the money I wouldn't hesitate to ask for one made by you
Chris230291
Member
This is really cool mate. Looks like your doing a really nice job of it too.
PBaines
New member
Thank you everyone for the kind words;
Note that building a project (desk) like this is not very expensive. All it comes down to is patience and precision. Practice makes perfection. Anyone can build a desk like this (If not better) if they set their mind to it!
Thanks man, it really really means a lot when people say things like this.
Hope to keep you feeling the same as you are right until I have finished the build!
Phil
Note that building a project (desk) like this is not very expensive. All it comes down to is patience and precision. Practice makes perfection. Anyone can build a desk like this (If not better) if they set their mind to it!
Thanks man, it really really means a lot when people say things like this.
Hope to keep you feeling the same as you are right until I have finished the build!
Phil
PBaines
New member
So my graphics cards arrived, I sold my 4GB FTW as at the time I thought they were using a reference PCB, silly me! I played a lot of games at 1600p and found I was only using 2.1GB VRAM max so thought I would save money and will get 2 2GB 680's. I will get the GTX8XX series cards next time roung though
*
*
Not even out of its fresh box for 2 minutes before I sat down and began taking the stock cooler off!
*
*
Watercool handily have made their thermal pads pre-cut. They are still an absolute prick to get the protective layers off each side though!
*
*
I put my thermal pads on the block side first, as it makes the process of putting block and backplate on a bit easier
*
*
The Heatkiller blocks have a pretty clever way of mounting the backplate, the black things are washers, but have a lip that fits in the screw holes making it so that the washers do not fall out and stay in place if you rotate the plate
*
*
All screwed on. These blocks look amazing
*
*
*
*
*
After putting the cards in, I measured out a piece of acrylic tubing, cut it. Sanded it and put everything together
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
The motherboard requires mounting. originally I was going to rubber grommets essentially but thought about it and realised that I could probably just use proper Motherboard Standoffs.
I screwed all the standoffs to the motherboard and put it in place also got my tools out for marking
*
The most accurate way to mark my spots to drill the 2.5mm hole (For a 3mm standoff) was to give the standoff screw a light smack with the hammer.*
*
Had to remove the GPU's to allow me access to two extra standoffs
*
here is the dent that I was left with
*
Hole drilled
*
*
To get the standoffs screwed in, I screwed the M3 screw into the top. letting me be able to use a screw driver for installation
*
First we get it started with the fingers and a few revolutions
*
Did not tighten it 100% as I did not want to strip the small internal thread that I had created. It is very sturdy and yes I did try pull it out for a test. It stuck so that is a good sign!*
*it worked and aligned perfectly
*
Whilst working on this I received a parcel. Containing my PCI Brackets and my front removable storage device.*
*
Test fit (Though in the end I now have the Fan Controller on the bottom
*
*
The brackets colour looks great with the UP7
*
*
*
The card reader is powered by a molex, but looking to tidy things up a bit with the cabling. Here are the wires without the plastic casing before I chop them off
*
The one molex cable from the PSU will power the Fan Controller and the Card Reader, was a bit hard to get this picture zoomed in so hope it is still good enough to see what is going on
*
Molex Pins are a horrible design, would be nice to have longer "wings" on them so you can double wire crimp them a lot easier..
*
Cables crimped up on both ends*
*
The route that the cables will go. Though they will be sleeved of course!
*
Please note the zip ties on the cables are just there to try hold things together and train the wires to stay there
*
While I was doing that are I thought I might as well lengthen the AF120's too! I am crimping them so that they are both running off of one 3 pin fan header. For the fan controller, Header one will be power pump one, Header two will be pump two, Header 3 will be the Radiator Fans, and Header 4 will be the exhaust fans for the side
Wires cut to length and stripped. I have to put the sleeve on before I crimp the wires because there is no way I can once it is all together!
*
Here is the 3-pin end,*
*
all routed
*
Things look tidy, and I am more than happy!
*
*
That is it for this update; Will continue with the wiring and will be back soon take care!
*
*
Not even out of its fresh box for 2 minutes before I sat down and began taking the stock cooler off!
*
*
Watercool handily have made their thermal pads pre-cut. They are still an absolute prick to get the protective layers off each side though!
*
*
I put my thermal pads on the block side first, as it makes the process of putting block and backplate on a bit easier
*
*
The Heatkiller blocks have a pretty clever way of mounting the backplate, the black things are washers, but have a lip that fits in the screw holes making it so that the washers do not fall out and stay in place if you rotate the plate
*
*
All screwed on. These blocks look amazing
*
*
*
*
*
After putting the cards in, I measured out a piece of acrylic tubing, cut it. Sanded it and put everything together
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
The motherboard requires mounting. originally I was going to rubber grommets essentially but thought about it and realised that I could probably just use proper Motherboard Standoffs.
I screwed all the standoffs to the motherboard and put it in place also got my tools out for marking
*
The most accurate way to mark my spots to drill the 2.5mm hole (For a 3mm standoff) was to give the standoff screw a light smack with the hammer.*
*
Had to remove the GPU's to allow me access to two extra standoffs
*
here is the dent that I was left with
*
Hole drilled
*
*
To get the standoffs screwed in, I screwed the M3 screw into the top. letting me be able to use a screw driver for installation
*
First we get it started with the fingers and a few revolutions
*
Did not tighten it 100% as I did not want to strip the small internal thread that I had created. It is very sturdy and yes I did try pull it out for a test. It stuck so that is a good sign!*
*it worked and aligned perfectly
*
Whilst working on this I received a parcel. Containing my PCI Brackets and my front removable storage device.*
*
Test fit (Though in the end I now have the Fan Controller on the bottom
*
*
The brackets colour looks great with the UP7
*
*
*
The card reader is powered by a molex, but looking to tidy things up a bit with the cabling. Here are the wires without the plastic casing before I chop them off
*
The one molex cable from the PSU will power the Fan Controller and the Card Reader, was a bit hard to get this picture zoomed in so hope it is still good enough to see what is going on
*
Molex Pins are a horrible design, would be nice to have longer "wings" on them so you can double wire crimp them a lot easier..
*
Cables crimped up on both ends*
*
The route that the cables will go. Though they will be sleeved of course!
*
Please note the zip ties on the cables are just there to try hold things together and train the wires to stay there
*
While I was doing that are I thought I might as well lengthen the AF120's too! I am crimping them so that they are both running off of one 3 pin fan header. For the fan controller, Header one will be power pump one, Header two will be pump two, Header 3 will be the Radiator Fans, and Header 4 will be the exhaust fans for the side
Wires cut to length and stripped. I have to put the sleeve on before I crimp the wires because there is no way I can once it is all together!
*
Here is the 3-pin end,*
*
all routed
*
Things look tidy, and I am more than happy!
*
*
That is it for this update; Will continue with the wiring and will be back soon
take care!
