grey_matter, ready to start overclocking
Not sure I was going to like the pump/res hanging off the back, but at 3400rpm, the pump is inaudible now that the bubbles have worked themselves out
My battle station
waiting for new waterblocks to arrive!
Top radiator block-off plate to optimize airflow, installed
Top radiator block-off plate to optimize airflow
I had picked up a waterblock for my EVGA 980Ti, only to find out my D5 pump was dead too. By the time I had a new pump, the waterblock and GPU had been sold and replaced by the Zotac 1080Ti AMP
PBT + Titanium key caps
Initial build, before the PSU killed my GPU and D5 pump bunch of hardware :(
Pre-build
The water blocks have arrived!! Time to start cleaning and leak testing!
Can't say I wasn't warned... at least the copper slug is threaded and not pressed. A few turns with an allen key, and the leak stopped.
1.7mm clearance between the GPU and the rad/fan
The run is completed. Pump -> GPU -> CPU -> Top rad -> Front rad -> Pump
Leak testing inside the case! No evidence of any water after 12hrs.
The return line from the front radiator is tucked up above the motherboard.
And I even managed to get the GPU backplate mounted!
All the RGBs!
gray_matter
This has been an unfortunately slow evolution, introducing the CPU, MB, and Ram into a new case and PSU, using an existing GPU (HD 7970) and waterloop from another build back in spring of 2017. During the build, something happened with the PSU and it killed my GPU (verified and warrantied by Corsair), and my D5 pump, although this was not discovered until later on. Since the PSU murdered my hardware, the build has been air-cooled with the stock AMD Wraith CPU cooler and an EVGA GTX 980Ti SSC. Eventually, an opportunity arose to swap out my 980Ti for a 1080Ti late 2018.
After clearing out my closet this winter and selling off old computer hardware and unneeded watercooling parts, I've finally funded new CPU and GPU waterblocks to rebuild my loop, and some updated addressable LEDs for those blocks.
Hardware Specs:
Watercooling Loop:
Peripherals:
Other Mods:
Overclocking, Performance, Links
CPU-Z validation
GPU-Z validation
3DMark Time Spy: 10105 (10685/7731)
UserBenchmark
PCPartPicker: grey_matter
The current overclock on this is super stable, and isn't pushing thermal or voltage thresholds; It's a good stable every-day overclock. I do intend to verify the XOC and ArcticStorm BIOS for this GPU, however, and see if the additional power overhead will enable a deeper core clock. I did find that without increasing the core clock, the memory was able to be pushed significantly further, so I'm curious to see what this card is capable of. This was definitely not the case with the factory air cooler though.
Similarly, the CPU never overclocked well with the factory Wraith cooler, but on water, it's handled 3.8GHz effortlessly at 1.375v. I plan to push it further very soon, and see if it can manage 3.9-4.0GHz with any stability. I am, however, currently being limited by my Corsair Vengeance LPX 2x8GB 3200MHz CL16 RAM, and need to begin testing it first to see if I can push the timings down a bit, or increase its frequency. It would appear that dropping the timings down to CL15 will result in better calculation times (9.375ns) where 3333Mhz at the factory CL16 is slightly slower (9.6ns).
Speaking of my RAM, this is a very rare kit, as few were produced in Cool Grey. The part number is CMK16GX4M2C3200C16S. I struggled to find much information on this kit, although it appears no different than any of the other Vengeance LPX 3200 CL16 kits, with a different coloured heat spreader.
Next up:
After clearing out my closet this winter and selling off old computer hardware and unneeded watercooling parts, I've finally funded new CPU and GPU waterblocks to rebuild my loop, and some updated addressable LEDs for those blocks.
Hardware Specs:
- CPU: Ryzen R7 1700 @ 3.8GHz, 1.375v
- Motherboard: ASRock AB350m Pro4
- Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB 3200MHz CL16, Cool Gray @ CL15
- GPU: Zotac GeForce GTX 1080Ti 11GB AMP Edition @ 2088MHz/5955x2MHz, factory BIOS
- Storage: Samsung 970 EVO 500GB NVMe
- Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB SSD (Steam)
- Storage: Hitachi Deskstar 7K3000 3TB HDD (Plex/Sonarr/Radarr)
- Case: Phanteks Enthoo EVOLV mATX TG, Anthracite
- PSU: Corsair RMx 650W w/ Grey/Black cable extensions
Watercooling Loop:
- Radiator Fans: 4x Corsair ML120
- Exhaust Fan: Corsair ML140
- PWM: Swiftech 8-Way PWM Splitter
- Pump/Res: Alphacool Eisbecher D5 150mm Acetal Reservoir w/ VPP655 PWM D5 pump
- Front Radiator: XSPC EX240 Radiator
- Top Radiator: XSPC EX240 Crossflow Radiator
- CPU: Bykski CPU-XPR-AM-V2 Waterblock for AMD AM4 CPU
- GPU: Bykski N-ST1080TIAMPEX-X Waterblock for Zotac 1080Ti AMP Edition GPU
- GPU: Bykski B-VGA-SC-V2 LCD Water Cooling Thermometer
- LED: Bykski B-RBW-C8 8+4 Channels RBW LED Controller
Peripherals:
- Keyboard: Corsair K70 LUX w/ Grey/Clear PBT keycaps
- Mouse: Logitech Master MX 2s
- Speakers: Edifier S2.1D
- Wireless Headphones: Corsair HS70
- Wired Headphones/Mic: Audio-Technica ATH-AD700, Blue Snowball ICE
- Webcam: Logitech QuickCam Fusion
Other Mods:
- Airflow shroud around top intake
- Gray/black sleeved PSU cable extensions
- Power distribution for D5 pump, Fan splitter, and LED controller (+12v, +5v, Ground) - DEATH TO MOLEX CONNECTORS!
- GPU backplate mounting
Overclocking, Performance, Links
CPU-Z validation
GPU-Z validation
3DMark Time Spy: 10105 (10685/7731)
UserBenchmark
PCPartPicker: grey_matter
The current overclock on this is super stable, and isn't pushing thermal or voltage thresholds; It's a good stable every-day overclock. I do intend to verify the XOC and ArcticStorm BIOS for this GPU, however, and see if the additional power overhead will enable a deeper core clock. I did find that without increasing the core clock, the memory was able to be pushed significantly further, so I'm curious to see what this card is capable of. This was definitely not the case with the factory air cooler though.
Similarly, the CPU never overclocked well with the factory Wraith cooler, but on water, it's handled 3.8GHz effortlessly at 1.375v. I plan to push it further very soon, and see if it can manage 3.9-4.0GHz with any stability. I am, however, currently being limited by my Corsair Vengeance LPX 2x8GB 3200MHz CL16 RAM, and need to begin testing it first to see if I can push the timings down a bit, or increase its frequency. It would appear that dropping the timings down to CL15 will result in better calculation times (9.375ns) where 3333Mhz at the factory CL16 is slightly slower (9.6ns).
Speaking of my RAM, this is a very rare kit, as few were produced in Cool Grey. The part number is CMK16GX4M2C3200C16S. I struggled to find much information on this kit, although it appears no different than any of the other Vengeance LPX 3200 CL16 kits, with a different coloured heat spreader.
Next up:
- Airflow mods to the OE Phanteks panels (front and top, waterjet cnc)
- Grey coolant fluid (brand tbd)
- XOC or ArcticStorm BIOS for Zotac 1080 Ti AMP! Edition GPU
- More overclock'n
Color(s): Black Gray
RGB Lighting? Yes
Theme: Color
Cooling: Custom Liquid Cooling
Size: Micro-ATX
Type: General Build
Build Updates
The water blocks have arrived!
Hardware
CPU
$ 195.00
Memory
$ 19.99
Graphics
$ 1,099.98
Storage
$ 89.95
Case
$ 147.29
Case Fan
$ 25.00
Cooling
$ 399.00
Cooling
Cooling
$ 139.99
Cooling
$ 72.93
Accessories
$ 119.95
Accessories
$ 39.99
Keyboard
$ 220.99
Mouse
$ 69.99
Approved by: