Guru3D Rig of the Month - June 2010

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10. What sucks and should not have been bought?


Suck wouldn't be a right word but there are 2 things which will be changed soon. SLI bridge - I'm not sure how I've missed it and didn't do anything to
it - with everything else focused to look well, this stands out a bit rough and odd. Another thing - but just functionally - is the EK SLI link. The amount of 90 degree turns for 3 cards system is just too much and reduces the flow.

Both of these things will be addressed very soon - more details in last question.

 

11. Did you modify anything ?  cases/video cards/other? Did you do it yourself? Walk us through it.

It would be easier to list what I didn't modify - pretty much everything in this rig have been modded.

a) Case - it has come long way from the standard Lian Li PC-A77B:
First of all - cuts, mostly with CNC laser (externally) according to my technical drawings but also by hand (dremel - myself):
- top 3x120mm radiator
- bottom 3x120mm fans and cable holes
- MB tray cable management
- side panel 4x120mm fans
- side panel "Battlestar Galactica" - with 2mm blue aluminium background
- PSU space at the bottom
- I've also had to remove top shelf as it was obstructing radiator.
Case has been powder coated (externally) and I had to make some of the elements, like for example PSU mesh or pump and front radiator mounting


b) Spray painting - I love black
- PSU
- Optical drive
- Wi-Fi card
- PCI brackets (also I've had to cut one into single slot)
- parts of Aquaero panel
- screws and other non-black bits


c) Sleeving
Well, there's not much to say there beside the fact that every single cable has been sleeved and it took ages but was very therapeutic and there's nothing more rewarding than the looks of sleeved cables in the rig


d) Watercooling
I've spent very long time reading and learning from many great watercoolers but it paid off as I was able to successfully design and build fully watercooled system - CPU, NB/SB, MB Mosfets, all 3 GPU's is cooled by 1x triple and 1x double RX radiators in push/pull configuration - with water temperatures and flow monitored with Aquaero - there is a drain solution with a valve at the bottom too!
I was most surprised that beside faulty T-Virus reservoir there was no leaks and all went very smooth - which was obviously a concern for me as this was my first watercooling - straight into deep waters


e) Plenty other minor mods to get everything mounted and pretty much every single thing required something - but it was all joy and great fun working on it and seeing all come together!
I'm also crazy about cables so you won't find typical clutter under my desk there is a lot of cables with 3 screens and steering wheel but with help of countless number of zip ties they all eventually ended up in one string which you could probably use in the suspension bridge
I like such solution though because I can just pull my rig from under the desk about 1.5m during benching to get more fresh air for rads

Rig of the Month June 2010

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