Micro but Mighty - Custom Parvum S2.0 Build Log!

Hi All,

A little while since I've done one of these, but about to embark on a completely new build for the first time in about 3 years!

I've been wanting to downsize my rig for a while, but keep performance and options to a maximum within a small footprint. I finally came across Parvum systems who sell some fantastic and rather unique mATX cases.

This rig will be based around a custom Parvum Systems S2.0. The standard S1.0 is a case I've been following with interest for a while, but my main concern was being able to accommodate enough radiator power (i.e. I wanted a triple rad in it!).

Big props to Justin at Parvum who accommodated my wishes at a very busy time to provide me with a case to my specification!

For anyone who hasn't heard of Parvum, they are a small UK company (2 guys) specialising in Acrylic cases:

http://www.parvumsystems.com/

For those of you who havnt seen me about here (I dont post so much these days... Kids and all that!) here are a couple of my previous builds from a few years back:

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=241936&highlight=TJ07+dual+loop

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=348082&highlight=Obsidian+red

So the specs:

Hardware

CPU: My trusty 3 year old i7 2600k (switched with Haswell E when available)
Motherboard: Asus MV Gene (upgraded to new mobo with Haswell E)
Memory: 8gb Gskill Ripjaw DDR3 (upgrade to DDR 4 with above)
GPU: MSI Radeon R9 290X
SSD's :Crucial M4 256gb RAID 0
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 12 3TB
PSU: Corsair AX860i

The only thing I have had to compromise on hardware wise has been dropping to a single GPU for the first time since the Geforce 6800 series!

Watercooling:

CPU Block: EK Supreme HF
GPU Block: Aquacomputer Kryographics Hawaii with Active backplate
Res: Aquacomputer Aqualis XT
Pump: Liang DDC Ultra with Petra Top
Rad 1: XSPC AX 240
Rad 2: TBC (need to confirm clearances etc)

Most stuff is on order, I'll update as I progress. I'm aiming to get the water-cooling started next weekend.

So... some early photo's:

This arrived on Thursday:



For those of you that don't know, these cases come flat-packed:



The front panel shows the first little extra Parvum did for me - a slot for a slot loading DVD drive:



I asked them to do the floor red for me... and cut a hole in it on one side (all will be revealed!:



The roof - the whole case has been extended by about 60mm to accomodate a triple rad in the roof as well as a 240mm in the front:



The extension will also help with space in the PSU compartment for fitting the DVD and general cable management.

Assembly:

Midwall/Floor:



Back panel:



Front Panels:





You have to install the fan's before adding the black front panel, as it acts as a cover to hide the fan screws and keep the front nice and tidy

All done, with the exception of the glass for the window - leaving that until the very last thing to avoid any chances of scratching it!







Look out for updates over the coming week or so!

 

Looking forward to this! Very cool case, will be an interesting step from the huge 800D, cable management could be interesting though...

 

Wow, I didn't know that case came flat packed. That's really cool. Assemble your own case. That'd be a great idea for some of the bigger cases that cost a boatload to ship.

 

Yes, it's very cool. Also likely to help with any nodding. You can get to any panel with ease.
Also I should mention the quality and precision of cutting is fantastic. Every panel line's up beautifully.

 

Alec, cable management is your job.

 

This arrived in the post with a few other bits... looks sweet imo

 

The res arrived today so I thought I'd start test fitting some of the watercooling and getting an idea of where everything should go:



Oh, and the res is beautiful. It has a very reassuring weight to it. Definately well built:



Oh, and USB port and on or two others in the base

 

I know this will turn out nice going by your previous builds. The TJ07 is still my favourite one that you built. Blocks look nice on this new build, i was actually looking at those a few days ago, there pretty cool.

 

Thanks Veteran, Yeah, the TJ was great. Loved that case - but every so often I get the itch to have a change

 

OK, Then build started yesterday, but one thing is clear... small case means you have to consider all your options much more carefully. It took a lot longer to get as far as this than anticipated!

Radiators fitted:
Very tight fit with a dual & triple rad, despite the case extension. The only way to connect them was to run tubing through the midwall and back out to the second rad. Even than was extremely tight connection! another 10-15mm of case length would have mad a big difference here!





Reservoir

Once that was done, moved on to the res. This needed to be mounted directly into the floor. One great thing about this case, is it turns out the acrylic is very easy to work with. Drilling is much easier than metal cases, and had it drilled and mount quicker than I expected:









Aquaero
Next was measuring up and drilling holes for the fan controller. This will be mounted around the back, with the HDD's. Looking forward to having a play around with this aquaero & its in-line water temp sensors! The res also hooks up to it

 

Another productive day...

GPU Block installed





DVD/SSD Mounting

We had to work out a way to mount the slot loading DVD drive, and also the SSD's as the tubing made the original SSD mounts unusable. Props to Alec** for his help coming up with a solution:



Fan Controller Fitted



Hardware & Tubing installed

Had a couple of minor frustrations here... the provided stand-offs were too long so the motherboard would not align with the I/O shield. Luckily I had enough shorter ones to hand! Also the GPU provided tricky to install, it only just missed the memory slots with the backplate installed, and was tricky to get straight and aligned with the PCI bracket at the back of the case. Its still not perfect but its perfectly workable!





And now.. Leak testing!

 

Short update today... this is what cabling looks like in a small area!



And thats a pretty neat job around the back considering the amount of cables vs. space!
It is exacerbated by the braided extentions. At some point I will either find time to braid the PSU's cables directly, or if not I might have to fork out for the proper corsair cabling kit. It will make a huge difference to the amount of space around the back!

Just lighting to do now, and its all good! Look out for final pics in the next day or two

 

OK, some pics of the final build!












I have a few more, but its late so I'll edit and post them over the next day or two!

 

Another really well done one, Mike. Super clean and simple, I like.

 

Looks great Mike. Those BitsPower fittings are a God send (using them myself).

How do you like that fan controller?

 

Nice and tidy looks good.

 

Thanks guys, glad you like it!

@Loophole - I couldn't have done the build with out some of the bitspower fittings. The space was way too tight in places to get tubing around. I havnt had chance to look into the software for the fan controller, but once I have a go I'll post my thoughts!

 

Micro but Mighty is about to get even mightier

 

Nice Mike! Thats going to be one hell of a mATX system!

Keep looking at those Parvum cases on OCUK, don't seem to see the triple rad compatible ones though in the roof, just dual!?

 

They don't make ones for a triple rad as standard. Justin at Parvum was very helpful and did a one off for me. They do take custom orders from time to time, between production runs for their standard case. Worth dropping them an email if you are interested, but you may have to be patient as there are only two guys running Parvum and they are very busy these days. I had to wait a couple of months to get mine, but it was definitely worth it!