[Build Log] SR-2

Discussion in 'Die-hard Overclocking & Case Modifications' started by B NEGATIVE, Nov 1, 2012.

  1. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
    3x EVGA 670 FTW
    This build has been running a while now,sorry for not getting it here earlier...

    Hey everybody!
    This has been running for a few months now already so im quite far into it,but i think you will enjoy! Sorry for the poor quality pictures,a half decent camera is high on my list of *must have* goodies.

    So...i have always had a,quite frankly,naked lust for a SR-2 system. I know that nowadays its a bit long in the tooth and outdated but it was/is the top of the pile in its day. Luckily i got one cheap and so a wicked plot hatches......:hrhr:

    Hardware for this build (shhhhh! dont tell the missis!!!) xD

    SR-2....well it would have to be really!
    2 X5650 Xeon CPU's...ebay special!!
    12gb Corsair Dominator GT 1866....Due to EVGA's outdated QVL for the SR-2 ,this has been confirmed as good by the guys at [H].
    1500w Enermax Platimax PSU...Tax return FTW!
    3 EVGA 670 FTW edition....680 blocks and plates fit this model of the 670!

    Watercooling for this build (this changed many times during the original log)

    3x XSPC 480 rads
    2x 24v D5's
    2x Koolance D5 pump tops
    250mm Bitspower res
    MIPS block for the board and Watercool HK3 for the CPU's
    Corsair SP120 fans.

    Originally,this build was going to use Aquacomputer AMS rads but due to availability and the fact that i couldnt use the ports i wanted because they are so big,i had to revise my plans :( I was so keen for them too....:(

    This build is not themed as such but it does have a party piece...instead of tubing of the plastic nature,im using 10mm Chrome plated copper tube. :)

    So,some pics maybe?

    The board in all is glory!!

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  2. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
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    Off come the stock EVGA plates for the cut down version (supplied,EVGA are thoughtful like that),i could of used some bolts in the stock plates but i have heard that this board suffers badly when the board is flexed...missing RAM and that kind of thing.

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    Watercool back plates..

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    Mounting hardware..

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    Now finding a case suitable was a bit of a pain....im no fan of plastic tackyness,so after much thinking and trying to justify it to myself,i went with a Little Devil V8 inverted case. I was toying with a Caselabs,but they are exceptionally expensive for EU buyers and,i think anyway,a bit too big.

    As it is the LD is plenty big!
     
  3. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
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    Right then.....

    Whats this?
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    Magoo also wants to know what it is.
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    The SR-2 is a huge board but is tiny in there
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  4. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
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    After the board was fitted,i took a look at the bending required,no s******ing at the back please.
    I was concerned that the chrome would flake during the bending process but...

    My doubts about the Chrome flaking off the tube was put to rest.

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    You may have been wondering what the red tape was for? it is the 0 line for the bend,i can work out the length required to get 2 90 bends to meet to set out dimensions
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    To get this..
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    Got some push fit fittings to make the test fitting.
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    I ended up using these fittings,they look ok and are 1/3rd the price of the koolance fittings.
    Downside is i dont trust push fit fully,not like a proper compression fitting.

    The tails had not been cut yet,i wanted the piping at the same level. So,i need to get the Ram in and see what i can chop off...
    It was time to start collecting the loop together,you know what its like,you end up going to 3 different e-tailers due to stock levels.
    I use ***********,sorry for the shameless plug!
    http://i.imgur.com/R7ezM.jpg

    24v capable D5's

    http://i.imgur.com/HRJKr.jpg

    Bitspower Res..why would you buy anything else??

    http://i.imgur.com/gjxmE.jpg

    Some of the fittings..

    http://i.imgur.com/WTx3m.jpg

    Dual 24v pump controller

    http://i.imgur.com/lhZHi.jpg[/url 2 480 XSPC rads... [url]http://i.imgur.com/BaRey.jpg

    Making a start on the pipebending and another shop hit,got the spacers i forgot to order!
     

  5. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
    3x EVGA 670 FTW
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    Its starting to come together now,i dont start with a specific design brief when i start a build,rather it comes together naturally.

    Yet more stuff keeps showing up,im running out of excuses to tell them missis.....

    "Why do you need a 1500w power supply?"

    "Its not for the power,dear. Its for efficiency .."



    Disaster averted!! xD
     
  6. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
    3x EVGA 670 FTW
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    This PSU screams Quality,very nice choice i think...plus the cables look easy to braid with no double wires!

    Result!
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    a free fan you say? some enermax 'stadium light' job...

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    Specs for the unit..

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    Dominator GT's and a Force GT SSD..

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    I wont be using the airflow fans tho..

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    Looks mint dont it.
     
  7. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
    3x EVGA 670 FTW
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    So....time for some work!

    Last rad appeared today along with a couple of fans...

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    Annoyingly,the cables are not braided and they have coloured all the wires black,so good luck if you want to braid these...for a £12 fan,braided cables are not a lot to ask.
    They do include a 7v resistor tho for those without controllers

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    They look great in case.
    Now just waiting for the 12 120 SP versions and another 140....

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  8. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
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    I was waiting a while for these tops but i think my wait was worthwhile.
    2 Koolance D5 tops and the rest of my fans.

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    The pics of the pump tops doesnt do them justice,they are the best bit of machining i have seen on WC gear.
    No swirls or tool marks,even the impeller machining is spot on.
     
  9. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
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    Got the fans on the lower XSPC rads...

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    These fans match the red in my case so well,its amazingly close!

    Now i need to start getting the loop finished,i want get this fired up!!

    Bolted the two tops together,just waiting on a Sli link to join them up.

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    Mounting holes drilled and bulkhead fitting in place.

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  10. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
    3x EVGA 670 FTW
    Silicone washers for pump dampening..

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    Pumps bolted in.

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    Top rad fitted.

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  11. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
    3x EVGA 670 FTW
    Some external shots...

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    One of the SP 120s didnt come with a red fan ring...hence the white one in a couple of shots...

    There is still some painting to be done yet on the rads and pump tops before final fix,i was keen to see how they look in there....couldnt help myself!


    So im looking now towards the modding and finishing up the loop so i can get this fired up.

    Some 1.5mm Alu sheet and some 3 mm flouro red acrylic.
    Im removing the drive bay panels and replacing them with a solid Alu panel and doing some cover work on the HDD/SSD caddies..

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    Some braided fan cables,braiding cables is a pain at best,but doing fan cables is just frustrating for me,hence i wimped out and bought some.
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  12. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
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    The last fittings for the loop,Koolance lo profile 90's and a VID fitting for the pump tops.
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    Trying to keep the cabling tidy has become a bit of an obsession,these caught my eye...

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    Dont know if i will use it,i really im not keen on that HUGE connector..

    These i will be using..

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    Staggered length SATA III cables,should keep everything tidy behind the board..

    Now.....this was my GPU choice,3 670 FTW.
    I know Coolmiester will be disappointed that its not dual 690...sorry mate! :p

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    Whats this?? A full size 680 board??

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    Which means 680 blocks and plates!!!

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    Dont get comfy stock cooler....:hrhr:
     
  13. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
    3x EVGA 670 FTW
    I was in the mood for some painting..

    So...i started by masking the already base coated pump covers.

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    a few hits with the RAL 3003 spray a real good match to the existing red in the case,to get this.

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    But wait....i fancy some cutting action...TO THE JIGSAW!

    I want a nice panel for the res,a bit of cutting and filing and we have...
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    It fits nice!
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    Drilled the holes for the mountings
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    Black etch coat...

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    A lot of spraying later and the panel is ready to be fitted.

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    Res mounts fitted and the panel is screwed to the HDD cage.

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    So...what do you think? Nice?
     
  14. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
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    This cam phone just doesnt cut it...i need to get a better camera!!

    Magoo agrees!!

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  15. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
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    Small update...

    Power switches in...These will do for now,i think they are blue so they are not staying...looking for a 'feature' type switch,although these do go with the whole monolithic style to the exterior.

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    The front panel is going to cover all the bays but the FC and the pump controller will becoming thru.

    Started with a florescent red plexi sheet cut to 20mm oversize,this will be drilled out for LEDs later.

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    This shot tried to capture the glow that the cut edge gives...fail.

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    The Alu cut to size for the front panel..

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    Mask the front up,dont want any little scratches!!

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    Can you see what it is yet?

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    I know the plexi looks more orange than red but its the edges im more interested in....i want them to really glow!

    Now i need to brush up on my flame polishing skills!!

    http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/22632075.jpg
     

  16. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    I am going shrinkless for the braiding,made a start today...along with much aluminium filing!

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  17. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    ontinuing from the plexi/alu cutting yesterday...

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    A coat of etch to the alu and we get...

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    You can see where i need to take more off the plexi....may make a change here and go for a true red instead of fluro.
    The back of the plexi will be frosted to return more light and i have yet to drill the LED holes...

    Not bad for a friday morning tho....
     
  18. Veteran

    Veteran Ancient Guru

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    I know you, Your from over at Specialtech Right?
    Nice build by the way, Looks awesome!
     
  19. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    Finished the ATX 24 and both the 8 pins....
    Enermax dont make your life easy,plenty of double wires and bundles....

    Still,i wasnt going to be beaten now!!
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    And im running out of braid fast!!

    The Red is definitely the better braid to melt on,it rolls a lot smoother and tighter.

    What lurks beneath Enermax's sleeving and shrink wrap....

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    So i ditched the clamp,extended the wires and sleeved them. They had no chance of ever reaching the GFX cards and i didnt really want to go the extensions route..
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    You can see how short the original cables were
    Some more plug shots...
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    There also appears to be a tentacle beast in residence! I am half expecting some anime hero to leap out with a laser sword!

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    I really need someone with cable sewing skills to teach me some skills,these will not stay in place!!

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    I need to buy yet more sleeve and some of Nils cable clips to rein in the tentacle beast,so it looks like its all coming out before i break out the power tools and tap set...

    ...I should really think ahead more!!
     
  20. B NEGATIVE

    B NEGATIVE Guest

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    GPU:
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    3m,i <3 You...

    I wanted to cover the sides of the rads and the pump mounts with DiNoc,i quite like the look of carbon fiber and this stuff is easy to work with.

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    Trim off the excess.

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    To get the stamping to show,i used a heatgun and a paint brush to mold the sheet.

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    Now to start on the pumps.
    They look not so good stock,but we are going to change that..
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    I started this by giving the mounts a once over with some black etch.

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    Then hit it with the DiNoc.
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    Much Better!!

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