Project: Azure

[PeterStoba]

Hello then people

My first proper project, second water cooled build, but the 100th or something, computer I've built

Anyway; lets start it off.

I am aiming for something that looks good and performs good too. I want it to stand out but not be in your face. It isn't going to be the most interesting project log ever, but the end result, I hope, will be very good The plan

Specifications

Hardware

CPU: Intel Core i7 920 (SLBEJ)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5
Memory: 6GB (3x2GB) Patriot Viper DDR3-12800 (1600MHz)
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX285 1GB (For now anyway, I might sell it and wait until the next series comes out)
Hard disk drive: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB(Maybe a 1TB drive)
PSU: Silverstone ST70F 100% Modular 700w Power Supply
Case: Lian Li PC-A70B

Cooling

CPU Water Block: Watercool Heatkiller 3.0 LT
Motherboard Water Blocks: EK-FB Kit GA X58
GPU Water Block: EK-FC285 GTX SLI
Radiators: Thermochill PA 120.2 & Thermochill PA120.3
Pumps: 2x Laing DDC 18w
Reservoirs: XSPC Acrylic Reservoir Top

The inside of the case is going to be powdercoated a very nice shade of blue (this one here: click) and the externals will be a nice gloss white. The usual cuts, window etc.. will be done, as well as the few extras I have planned

I've been painting the rads over the last week, I'll show you them soon. That will do for now, I don't want to bore you all before it gets going

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thanks Patriot Memory for sponsoring me for this build with their fantastic memory.

Peter.

[Bitemarks666]

look like a good build, but if you can get the 640GB WD caviar black instead

[format]

I'm liking the colour scheme so far, looking forward to this one.

[Pob255]

Project anti-titanic

sounds good, get some pics up

ps what's the reason behind this build? someone asked you for it? some competition? or just had a couple of grand spare and burning a hole in your pocket?

[PeterStoba]

I've been lazy

I will update tonight, got some pictures.

Reason for the build, what else can I spend it on?

[PeterStoba]

Right then - this has been neglected severely.

I have a second sponsor, one we all know and love - Bitspower! They will be supplying me with some rather nice barbs and fittings

Quick update on the case; it's had most of the cuts done, window is being cut soon, and it's been powdercoated as far as I know.

My Bitspower order will be in tomorrow, so I should have all my shiny bits in a week if I'm lucky

On to the much needed pictures, of the radiators I painted, and the hardware .

Radiators

I wanted to paint my radiators to match the insides of the case better, so I decided the best way was to spray them myself. A trip to my local DIY store, and I had some sanding paper and plastikote.



The 120.2 was prepped and sanded as soon as it arrived, so I'll have to borrow oggie's pictures he sent me before he sent me the radiator.





Some pictures of the 120.3 being prepped too.





Now onto the painting, not many shots here as I tried to get it as good as possible and kinda forgot about pictures.









The paint came out ok, there was just a few minor bits but they won't be seen and I cannot be bothered sanding it all down again, spending another £20, and it won't be seen still. If I ever did it again though, they will be perfect

Some finished pictures will be below, but just a quick picture of something that annoyed me, these holes filled with bits of sanded paint, and mixed with water and stuck in there, making it look a bit bad when it was finished. They are on the PA120.3, anybody know what they are for?

[PeterStoba]

Now, onto the finished pictures. (Note the amazing grass in the background)










Thanks for reading, more coming soon.

Thanks again to my sponsors;


and

[greenpanda]

looking very nice, is the spray gloss finished or matt?

[PeterStoba]

I foolishly only bought 1 can of gloss, and they had a shelf full so I thought, if I need more, I'll get more.

I did need more, but they had sold out the next day, so I had to use matt and then clear.

So it's a matt finish but they are slightly glossy

[greenpanda]

hehe .

looking forward to seeing some more pics

[PeterStoba]

Right now then, update number 2!

I came home to a box. A large box. What could be inside?



My 4890 and X58 Extreme






Add these to my 920 D0 and RAM I already have and we're getting there!





Bitspower fittings and some other random bits are arriving tomorrow too.

Until tomorrow, that's it

[Pob255]

very nice I do so like the look of that gigabyte ex58-extreme with it's insane looking additional heatpipe cooler card.
Are you planning to use it or just the built in waterbloock?

oh and thoes Patriot memory kits are just so well colour cordinated with the gigabyte that they could be made for each other.

[TAKTAK]

I came home to a box. A large box. What could be inside?

Is it 5 illegal immigrants?

[ritchiem]

Looks great, I do love a good case mod. One of these days I'll get round to something more interesting than my G5 Tower MiniITX HTPC mod.

[Pob255]

PS are thoes Saphire cards the stock ati 4890 boards?
if so it would of been nice to get ones with blue pcb's to match the rest.
Are you thinking of painting the HSF shrouds to match the colour scheme?

Go on you know you want too.

[PeterStoba]

4890 have blue PCBs

The coolers will be special.