Nimble9 Nerds Out - Custom Water Cooled Computer and 3D printer build

I needed a thread to capture all my nerdy hobbies!

Battle Station as of 1/19/22





Computer Build Phase 1 - Dec 24th 2019
Computer Build Phase 2 w/ custom water loop - Jan 11th 2022

3D Printer Overview - Creality Ender 3 V2 w/mods

 

Anyways, here's phase 1:

This all started in 2019, when I was planning to start Squareone Creations but knew I needed a dedicated workstation to make it happen. I was on a tight budget so I purchased most of the parts over black Friday or when they went on sale. It's funny, now that it's 2021 a lot of these parts went up in value. Thanks crypto mining.

Phase 1 Parts list:

• AMD Ryzen 7 2700X 3.7 GHz 8-Core Processor with Wraith Prism RGB cooler
  
• MSI X570-A PRO ATX AM4 Motherboard
  
• G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3200 CL14 Memory
  
• Samsung 970 Evo 500 GB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive
  
• Seagate Barracuda 2 TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
  
• Nvidia Quadro M5000 8 GB Video Card
  
• Lian Li Mid-Tower Lancool 205
  
• Rosewill 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
  
• (5) Cougar vortex pwm 120mm (cf-v12hp)
• Logitech G502 HERO High Performance Gaming Mouse
  
• Logitech Illuminated Ultrathin Keyboard K740 with Laser-Etched Backlit Keyboard and Soft-Touch Palm Rest - Black
  
• Logitech Z200 Stereo Multimedia Speakers with Tone Control
  
• Hand me down monitors

Some photos from the parts haul from Micro Center (except GPU and Power supply):



Build photos:















Glam Shots





Phase 1.1

More Airflow!

Recently got a 3D printer so I obviously made some case upgrades:







Purchased 2 additional fans so I'd have 2 intake in the front and 3 exhaust out the rear and top.


Phase 2 Parts list:

Case: Corsair 5000D Solid w/ 5000D AIRFLOW Front Airflow Panel, Black
CPU Block: Watercool HEATKILLER IV BASIC CPU Water Block (AMD, AM4 ready), Acetal Clean
GPU Block: Alphacool NexXxoS GPX - Nvidia Quadro M04 - incl. backplate - Black
Pump / Res Combo:

$150 Corsair Hydro X Series XD5 RGB Pump/Reservoir Combo - D5 PWM Pump - 330ml Reservoir - Ten Individually Addressable RGB LEDs - Temperature Sensor - Black

Corsair Hydro X Series XD5 RGB Pump/Reservoir Combo - D5 PWM Pump - 330ml Reservoir - Ten Individually Addressable RGB LEDs - Temperature Sensor - Black
Radiators:

$70 CORSAIR Hydro X Series XR5 360mm Water Cooling Radiator - Triple 120mm Fan Mounts - Premium Copper Construction - Easy Installation - Black

Corsair Hydro X Series XR5 360mm Water Cooling Radiator
Tubing:

$35 EKWB EK-Tube Zero Maintenance Soft Tubing, 9.5/15.9mm (3/8" ID, 5/8" OD), 3 Meter, Black

EKWB EK-Tube Zero Maintenance Soft Tubing, 9.5/15.9mm (3/8" ID, 5/8" OD), 3 Meter, Black
Fittings:

• $73 XSPC G1/4" to 3/8" ID, 5/8" OD Compression Fitting V2 for Soft Tubing, Black Chrome, 12-pack
  XSPC G1/4" to 3/8" ID, 5/8" OD Compression Fitting V2 for Soft Tubing, Black Chrome, 12-Pack
  
• XSPC G1/4" Male to Male Rotary Fitting (Qty of 4)
  
• XSPC G1/4" Female to Female 90 Degree Elbow Fitting (QTY of 4)
  
• Bitspower G1/4" to 3/8" ID, 5/8" OD Compression Fitting for Soft Tubing, CC3 Ultimate, 90? Dual Rotary (Qty of 4)
  
• XSPC G1/4" Ball Valve, Black Chrome
  
• $20 XSPC G1/4" Plug V2, Black Chrome, 6-pack
  XSPC G1/4" Plug V2, Black Chrome, 6-Pack

Coolant:

$29 EKWB EK-CryoFuel Premix PC Coolant, 1000mL, Clear

EKWB EK-CryoFuel Premix PC Coolant, 1000mL, Clear
Fans:

$100 Lian-Li Fan UF-SL120-3B UNI FAN SL120 Black Hydraulic Bearing with controller 3Pack

Lian Li UNI Fan SL120 3 Pack Black - with Controller (ARGB 120mm LED PWM Daisy-Chain) 12UF3B
Storage:

$125 Crucial P2 2TB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD Up to 2400MB/s - CT2000P2SSD8

Crucial P2 2TB 3D NAND NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD Up to 2400MB/s - CT2000P2SSD8
Thermal Paste:

$15 Thermal Grizzly - Hydronaut - 3.9 Gram/1.5 ml - Conductive High Performance Thermal Paste - Ideal for Air and Water Cooling CPU/GPU/PS4/PS5/Xbox - for Large Cooling Surfaces

Thermal Grizzly Hydronaut


After over a year of use, I decided it's time for some upgrades, so I snagged THE LAST water block made for the Quadro M5000 GPU: https://www.performance-pcs.com/wat...adro-m04-incl-backplate-black-ac-11331-d.html



It comes with a back plate too! I'll post actual photos when it actually begins

 

Rational for Phase 2:

When I first built my PC in 2019, I had never build one before in my life. I used PC part picker, reddit, and youtube to complete the build. Also having a Micro Center a little over an hour away helps a lot as I scored the bulk of the parts on Black Friday for a steal.

After using the computer for 2 years, I really think I am zeroing in on it's limitations - mainly cooling. I started gaming again and AOE3 DE the GPU runs at a toasty 75 - 79 c while rendering in SolidWorks also sees some peak temps although not as high.

I am also noticing that my CPU idles in the mid 40s to low 50s, and stays in the 50s while gaming actively using it. I did enable XMP for my memory, so I know that likely plays a factor on the 2nd gen 2700x per what I've read, but I'd really like to idle below 30 and get into a smidge of overclocking.

I was going to just go as cheap as possible, but I figured I'd go the "buy once, cry once" route.

Dual 360 rads, soft tubing for ease of maintenance, lots of nice RGB fans, and a larger case to work in should alleviate the cooling issues I'm having. The best part is, when I upgrade the MoBo, GPU, or CPU it'll only take some minor tweaks to work.

 

Link to my MoBo manual

https://download.msi.com/archive/mnu_exe/mb/E7C37v3.1.pdf

Phase 1.5:

Old Lian Li Lancool 205 next to my new 5000d thanks to Santa



I’ll keep the case and build a gaming computer for my dad this year most likely.



I couldn’t wait to build in the case so I’m throwing in all the fans I have and using the built in fan hub



the Lian Li SL120 fans are QUALITY



Added another 2TB M.2 for good measure. My OCD allowed my to find my M.2 screw easily.



First startup



Orange to match the wraith cooler and fans for now.



yes I ordered the airflow front panel. I wanted the airflow front and a solid top.

Thermals are a bit better when gaming as the GPU is getting fed more air than before. Overall the case was super easy to work in and I’m stoked to move onto water cooling next

 

pulled the trigger on the rest of the parts needed:



7 more SL120s



Radiators, Res/pump, copper core temp sensor, noctua fans for the top push pull setup, and Cablemod Cables because I'm going to be boojie.

Once I have the parts, the computer will be complete for watercooling.

Also, If I ever upgrade to a new CPU / MoBo the AM4 Socket will still work so my CPU block will, and the next GPU I get will likely be in the same orientation as my current one.

I might buy 3 more Sl120 fans if I want a push pull in the front, but I gotta see what kind of spacing I have with everything in there first.

 

Thinking about digital mining?

 

I mined doge early this year but I stopped as my old Quadro Card wasn't hacking it and I wasn't happy with it at 60c for hours on end.

I personally like options trading more than anything anyways, so that's why I typically stick to.

 

So I hate that my computer is on the ground, coupled with the fact that my 110 lb GSD knocked into it once and banned himself from my office means it's time to upgrade desks.

Here's what I want:



but the dark grey Alex drawers from ikea are unobtanium.

So, black it is..

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/alex-drawer-unit-drop-file-storage-black-brown-10508178/

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/karlby-countertop-walnut-veneer-50335208/

Should still look decent

 

Nerddddddddddddddddddd

Desk setup is super clean homie!

 

haha thanks! I'll be sure to post photos when I finally make the trip to Ikea!

 

Well stupid Amazon threw a small wrench in my plans



I thought is was strange how only one showed up.

They cancelled one of them after I paid and refunded my the difference.

Oh well, I'll buy direct from Corsair.



The shipping will be slow af but at least I'll also get the 5000d Airflow top panel too.

In other news, Noctua fans for the push pull top came in, as well as the cable mod black sleeved cables.

Hopefully by the end of January everything will be here (including Ikea desk) and my setup will be complete!

 

Corsair was quick this time, should be here 1/6. Sl120 fans arrive from Newegg on 1/4.

Gotta get desk stuff this weekend to complete the battlestation!

 

So the Ikea trip on 1/2 for my desk was an absolute nightmare. Showed up at open 5 (10am) to the south Philly ikea with 15 Alex drawers in stock and after walking to the kiosk and finding what aisle and bay it was in they were all gone. They didn’t have my walnut Karlby Countertop either but we ended getting everything for my wife’s WFO upgrade.

Frantically loaded up and drove to the Conshohocken IKEA and on the way bought an oak Karlby top and Alex drawers because they were low stock there too and it said the walnut was out of stock. When we got there I noticed the pickup for the purchased items was for 1/3 so we immediately went to the customer counter to print off the ticket needed to buy the karlby top and what do you know, walnut in 74” was in stock!

Snagged the two Alex drawers I needed, obtained the Karlby counter top and proceeded to checkout. Now all I had to do was return the items. IKEA wouldn’t let me do that online so I checked in and waited a meager 1.5 hours to return the items I never picked up.

Got home and immediately setup my wife’s desk since she had to work the next day. IKEA really stepped up these drawers were the easiest item I’ve ever assembled.

Here’s her little setup:



lighting is bad but the blue/grey looks awesome on our grey walls.

and finally my new setup:



Worth the annoying day to obtain for sure. I love how much more room I have. Cable management trays are on the way as well as a new power strip to clean up the cables. Then it’ll be “done”

 

My Lian Li Sl120 fans arrived before my radiator so I had no choice but to install. I didn’t take any photos but here’s a screenshot from insta



Last 360 rad comes today and I’m stoked!

 

I came for the 3d printer build but don’t see one…

 

Ha it's taken a backseat to the computer build but I'll post it here soon.

Along with ALL the upgrades I did to get it dialed. I printed every day morning and night for 2 weeks prior to X mas so I'm giving it a break now lol

 

You do a basic reprap or get fancier?

 

I just have a Ender 3 V2 that I upgraded as I kept printing. Eventually I'm going to be printing PETG and ABS this year. Maybe I'll upgrade printers along the way depending on my needs

 

Well the 2nd phase of my build will start this weekend! Last 360 rad came in!



I already threw the fans in and transferred everything to my new case. It was a 5000D but I bought the airflow panels separate so I can run both.