SugarJ's 900 Internal WC Project

[SugarJ]

First off, thanks to those of you who chimed in with advice during my part selection process.

CPU - GTZ, pump - DD CPX-Pro, Rad - Black Ice GT Stealth, other parts as pictured.

Just picked up from NCIX:


Unpacked, ready to start playing:


Oh, I didn't like the propylene tee's I saw, so I made a tee like this:


Look Ma, no hard drive cages!


Now, while I had the rad propped in the 900, I couldn't take pictures and hold the rad up and measure at the same time. Sorry. But I figured out I have to fab some brackets to mount the rad in the front. Fortunately I have some flat stock aluminum left from my last fab project, I'll make some brackets at work tomorrow. But I did get tube lengths sorted out, which led me to this:


Thats a p.o.s. case I use for a test bed sometimes. Figured I could leak test and play a bit before I tear apart the main machine. Oh, and those are the TriCools mounted on the rad while I wait for my red YL's to get back in stock at Petras.

So now I'm at the oh sh** moment, where it's time to fill the loop and turn on the pump to see if it works. More to follow tomorrow.

[Cptn Vortex]

Wait for YL? Why not get some Zalmans? Buy Zalman ZM-F3 120MM Sleeve Bearing Case Fan Black 900/1800RPM 20/34DBA 3PIN Connector

Very good.

[enaberif]

I hope you cleaned and rinsed your rad :P Major important step to do before getting everything together.

[3.0charlie]

And you're missing tye-wraps on the T-fitting.

[SugarJ]

@Cptn: because I want red LED YL fans to replace the blue LED fans in my case. They will be visible from the front of the case like the standard 900 configuration. I do like a bit of bling in my systems.

@enaberif: I poured boiling water through all parts before assembling the loop.

@3.0 Charlie: I know. I ran out of zap straps last night. That's why there's no liquid in the loop yet.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

[3.0charlie]

It will be interesting to see how the pump will work, with the T-fitting on the Inlet line. I wonder if that won't create a suction inside the line, and some turbulence. You'll know once you start the loop for the leak check.

[MpG]

Shouldn't be any trouble with the coolant that you're using, but apparently the caps on the Koolance fitting are cheap steel and will corrode quickly in a distilled water environment. I would link to the thread, but it's on XS and they've been down for the last day or so. If you ever decide to switch to regular water, just a heads-up.

Looking forward to seeing the finished product! Internal installations are an artform onto themselves. Also interested to hear your impressions of that water pump.

[SugarJ]

Originally Posted by 3.0charlie

It will be interesting to see how the pump will work, with the T-fitting on the Inlet line. I wonder if that won't create a suction inside the line, and some turbulence. You'll know once you start the loop for the leak check.

If becomes an issue, I can move that tee anywhere. I've got lots of tubing left. Or take it out. I just wanted to have easy access to drain the loop if necessary, and that was close to the lowest part of the loop.

Originally Posted by MpG

Shouldn't be any trouble with the coolant that you're using, but apparently the caps on the Koolance fitting are cheap steel and will corrode quickly in a distilled water environment. I would link to the thread, but it's on XS and they've been down for the last day or so. If you ever decide to switch to regular water, just a heads-up.

Looking forward to seeing the finished product! Internal installations are an artform onto themselves. Also interested to hear your impressions of that water pump.

Thanks for the heads up MpG! I got this pump because to me the 655 looks like it belongs in an aquarium, this one is clean lines, and Martin's Liquid Lab gave it a decent rating. No variable speed, but I think I can run it through a controller if I want. I'll let you know how it goes.

Off to fab some brackets on my lunch.

[oksir]

nice, o only got 1 harddrive??

[SugarJ]

Yup, 1 single 500gb drive. With 300gb free. I rarely download any TV or music, I've got a HD-PVR, so it's basicly OS and games and pictures.

Made the brackets yesterday at lunch, went out for dinner with a supplier last night, so no further updates. I'll get it leak testing tonight, and locate and drill holes in my mounting brackets for the rad.

[oksir]

cant u just mount the rad into the front 120mm fans, so that u dont have to drill holes?

[SugarJ]

I wish. On the 900, the front fans mount inside the hard drive cages. So take the cages out, and there are no fans to mount the rad on. The brackets were very simple to make and I could have just bought L brackets from Home Depot, but I had some aluminum and I felt like making them myself. Bent the pieces in the vise, cut to length, voila! Custom mounting system.

[oksir]

u dont know how to seperate the hard drive cages from the fan?

[SugarJ]

You obviously don't have a 900. The fans mount into a shroud which mounts to the hard drive cage, which then mounts to the frame.

Actually, a picture is worth 1000 or so words:


See?

Anyway, leak testing underway. 2 leaks from improperly seated barb o-rings, one at the res, the other on the rad. Sigh. 1 Hour and 2 new pieces of tubing later, no immediate leaks. So, let's make bubbles!



Hopefully, the loop will get transferred to the final resting place Sunday.

[oksir]

actually, ur WRONG. i do have a 900. and do u see the little clicks on the side connecting the HDD cage and the frame? u can pop the cage out.