Build Log: The Green Dragon

[jappe66]

Welcome to my very first Build Log! I'm not very good at blurbs or anything like that so I'll just get right on it.

Last week I finally ordered the parts for my build. Today one package arrived but I'm still waiting for a second package from different shop. I should have just ordered all parts from the same website so I could have started to work on the build today already 😛

I don't have much for you yet, but I will show you what is my starting point and some teasers!

So my case is a white BitFenix Shinobi XL. I've heard a lot of people complain about it being plastic and crappy but I just don't see what there is to complain about? The finish on those parts is absolutely amazing and it feels very nice to my hands. The side panels are metal as well as the back and bottom. The front and top have BitFenix SofTouch finish.

The case cost me about 150€ about 6 months ago and I wouldn't change it to anything! Now there's so much room and I started to enjoy watching water cooling build logs so I fell in love with this new hobby.

It turned out to be quite big thing on the money side but I decided, what the heck. "I want it so I'm gonna do it!"

My main colors will be white and green. White coming straight from the case itself mostly and the tubing and liquid will be green. Also green LED fans.

Here's my first plan that I made a couple weeks ago:

At first I was planning to mount the reservoir outside the case like mentioned in the picture but then I found one that would fit perfectly on the inside. To the same location. And when I start building this there will probably be more changes to the plans. Or so I've heard from people who have done this before 😀

Now here's some teasers for you to enjoy:

So there you go! I named my project The Turtle because I couldn't come up with anything better. Actually I could go further with this idea and get some turtle figures standing on the case when it's finished or something. See how crazy this watercooling makes me? 😀

You will have to wait until early next week for some build pics but I'm hoping to get the other package by Friday.

Not much to show yet but you gotta start somewhere!

 

[jappe66]

Okay I'm back from the army! Haven't really had time to plan what to do next with my computer other than changing the tubes from green to clear and adding the temperature sensor to the loop.

I have to say I'm very pleased with these Corsair fans (performance edition). Temperature problems are history 😛 not that there would have been some problems with the Bitfenix fans but I just love these Corsairs!

I know it's probably just stupid but I'm going to get the new Radeon HD 9000 series high-end GPU when they get released. Or a 7990. This is where I wanted to ask you guys if I should get the 7990 now when it's price has been lowered or wait for the 9000 series?

 

[inzone]

The latest catalyst drivers seem to fix almost all the lag issues with crossfire in the 7990 but not completely, I would wait a bit on that to see if they get the problem completely solved. A drastic drop in price usually means something and a week ago they dropped $200 or more for a supposedly top of the line AMD card.

 

[manofchalk]

Long time no see, welcome back 😀

I'd be inclined to wait for the 9000 series. If recent rumours are true, the 9970 would be coming in above a 780/Titan for performance at a lower price-point. The 7990 already outperforms them, especially after 13.8 mostly fixing its frametime issues (not when gaming in Eyefinity though), though a dual GPU solution will always have some issues.
That and the inevitable game bundle when it happens. There's a new Never Settle running right now (NS: Forever?) that's basically a rehash of the previous ones, however its codes are redeemable in future prmotions. Considering they expire in 2014, you can bet somethings going to happen in the meantime and the HD9000 launch fits that bill.

Speaking of games, if you haven't already get yourself the new Humble Bundle. Basically everything good EA has made for a while now (except Mass Effect for some reason) for as much as you want to pay.

IMO, your current 7970 is plenty until you get yourself a beefier display setup. Buy yourself a 2560x1440 screen (Bunch of cheap ones out of Korea) or an Eyefinity setup, then look into beefing up your graphics.

 

[mlcaouette]

Just posting to follow your thread. Pretty crazy how much your loop has progressed in just four months! I still think there is room to make the cables a little better.

Overall awesome rig and it's always nice to see another person riding the water cooling crazy train. I'm pretty sure my cooling costs combined are more than all my components.

 

[jappe66]

Thanks! And sorry for the late reply. Have been really busy and to be honest I forgot to reply 🙁

I guess I'm keeping the 7970 until I move into my own apartment and figure out my financial stuff (happens next summer!). Might get a better monitor as well if I decide to go for a GPU upgrade.

I need to change the water in my loop soon. About 6 months have passed since I put it in there and it's been on 24/7 use pretty much whenever I'm home.

I got the new liquid (Mayhems Ulta Pure H2O) sitting here and waiting for me to schedule some time to work on the rig again. But I have had a lot of time to think and plan again 😀 So here's some ideas:

- Changing my black radiator to a slim model and moving it to the top of the case (freeing the space at the front of the case)
- Re-installing the HDD chassis
- Installing 2x2TB HDDs there and if it doesn't look bad, my boot-SSD as well

I'm trying to get my hands on it again before christmas 😛

 

[jappe66]

Long time no see! Summer is coming and it's been about a year since I started my first plans on this build. It has been serving me well but it's time to do some upgrading! I will probably start a new Build Log thread when I have more time in my hands to plan the upgrades. I have a lot of big thoughts in my head right now and what I can tell you right now is that it includes my first experience with Crossfire/SLI. Yes I'm going to put two watercooled cards in the Green Dragon but I haven't yet decided if I'm going with R9 290X's or GTX780's.

I've been reading a lot on different cryptocoins and I'm currently mining Dogecoin with my 7970 but I don't know if I should go for more hashpower or just make this a gaming PC.

Other plans but not yet decided: upgrading cpu to i7, upgrading motherboard, bigger ssd, internal storage.

 

[jappe66]

New parts ordered now and I'll be starting a new build log about the upgrade next week Went straight with DDR4!

 

[toolmaker_03]

loved the last build please leave a link to the new build here for me thanks tool

 

[jappe66]

I will! The last parts should arrive on Tuesday. I decided to make my white radiator outside of the case a push&pull combination with led fans (the new Corsair Air series) also going back to Windows 7 from 8.1

 

[jappe66]

Here is a link to the build log of the upgrade: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-2506391/build-log-upgrading-tgd.html