Description

I started building this as a present to myself to bring in 2016. I had always been a laptop gamer/designer and never had a dedicated desktop for myself. Shortly after browsing a few youtube videos for custom water-cooled PCs (Pauls Hardware, Jayztwocents, Linus, etc) I decided I must build one! -- This was much more exciting since I hadn't actually built a desktop before, either.

I had initially been looking at a wall mounted PC, but I didn't have the shop type materials to build it myself here, so I decided to go with the Thermaltake Core P5 as a nice modular type case. Since I was going with a water-cooling set up, I decided to go against an i7-6700k, DDR4, etc newer gen component list (since I could get relative performance with this setup).

Have been very pleased with all the benchmarks I ran on AIDA64, CinebenchR15, and Unigine Heaven! Will likely be adding another GTX 970 in SLI in the future, whenever I get around to getting another GPU waterblock :)

Update : 5/2016 : Desk setup is fairly done, SLI has been up for a little while as well. Updated pictures to show -- no more pci extension cables for a vertical stand GPU. Added in an MSi SLI bridge, EKWB backplates and misc. desk improvements!

Comments

  • 45 months ago
  • 2 points

Wow, this looks awesome!

  • 45 months ago
  • 2 points

Thank you!

  • 45 months ago
  • 2 points

Damn

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

I'll second that! +1

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

no thank you c; this PC is one of the cleanest builds I have seen in a while +10000000000

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you!

  • 45 months ago
  • 2 points

Shame it was not a Featured Build

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Haha, thanks!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

gorgeous build, finally someone puts this case to full glory custom watercooled use great job !

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

There are a few videos on youtube I've seen with some nice builds! Definitely a nice case for making everything visible on the watercooling side! Thanks!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

i meant on here, most builds are air cooled with not colour matching hardware and stuff and not such a piece of pc master race glory that such a show case deserves : D

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Holy crap, that's awesome!! :-)

  • 45 months ago
  • 2 points

Thank you!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Wow, awesome build!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Ohhhh, I like what you have done with the draining-port. Nice use of the unique properties of this case.

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you! The case is definitely very friendly to use for the needs I was going for!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

It's really hard to find a case where you can just install a 'tap' like you did. Even with the best cases, the available solutions for installing a draining port are often a little awkward (a bit of tubing sticking out from a T-coupling, tucked away in a corner, for example), simply due to the nature of closed cases.

I might just follow your example and go with this case instead of the Enthoo Primo for my next rig.

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

BTW, where are you going to fit the 2nd waterblock, when you get the 2nd GPU?

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

I'm going to move the current one back one slot, and put the new one out front ( I want to get one of the see-through nickel waterblocks instead this time. It will be a tight fit, and I'll need another 16x pcie extender, but it should fit!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Oh, I mixed up waterblock and radiator in my head. Of course, the waterblock goes on the card.

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

This is excellent! The hard work with the tubing definitely paid off!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you! Definitely feel the bending was worth it, over extra 45/90 degree fittings!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Very nice work buddy. Love this case, allows so many options to go crazy and build some pretty great loops, and yours most certainly is one of them. Also nice clean tubing runs so nice work. I think some red sleeved cables to match the fluid would look amazing. +1

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you! I hadn't even thought about red cables -- that would definitely complement it well!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

How was the custom loop? Was it hard? Time spent?

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

It was pretty tough at first! I had gotten the wrong size silicon insert to help with the bending (the one I got wouldn't shrink to fit well regardless of all the soapy water/oil I tried).

After that it was relatively easy with a heat gun and the xspc bender tool to help make the angles! I would say all in all, once I had the right tools, it was about an hour or two.

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

There's a posted pc that is built in a box that has more likes than this... Smh...

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Haha, thanks!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Gorgeous build!! I've been waiting to see a build in that case! Are the TT fans the LED series? I think it would be cool if it was all red. Sweeeeeet! +1

I decided to go against an i7-6700k, DDR4, etc newer gen component list (since I could get relative performance with this setup)

Yea the 4790K is cheaper and the gap isn't much between them to begin with, 5%? solid choices on parts!

+1 again :)

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Thanks! The TT fans are LED RGB - I've occasionally kept it paused at just red, but I think the different colors looping also adds a bit of nice contrast to the mix!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

You can make it green for Christmas! :)

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Wow, this looks awesome! I love custom water cooling. I am going to do some myself once I get some more money.

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you! Definitely worth the money once it's all said and done!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

I really like the watercooling and fan design. +1

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Thanks :)

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

For your first time water cooling this is awesome! Amazing job.

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you, I appreciate it!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Epic build

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Thanks!

[comment deleted]
  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

You should have sacrificed that monitor for like a 980ti in sli or something

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

I spent a lot less on the monitor than the price listed at the moment. 970 in SLI will be in the future, which should be more than enough; 980Ti's would be a little overkill for my needs.

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Haha, thanks!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

wow this is cool af

+1

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you!

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Niice build ! But the blue fans kills it a little bit

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Thanks! Check the last pic, red fans there too :P -- they're RGB

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

oh my bad i didnt see them :)

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Can this build handle 4k gaming?

  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

I hate red and black PCs but this thing looks badass. Nice job, and I've never seen one like it with the plexiglass "case"

  • 44 months ago
  • 1 point

Dude love the red and black design!

Check out mine! https://pcpartpicker.com/b/s7tJ7P

  • 43 months ago
  • 1 point

Where did you order "Bitspower Z-CAP III" from? I'm trying to price out all the custom parts that don't have prices. Another issue is that things like the 90* elbows are just on the list as misc. Any idea how many you needed?

And the draining-port too, was that a separate purchase or did it all come with another part? I'm new to water cooled PC's and existing guides always seem to lack enough close up pictures of the complicated parts and information about the tools needed for the water cooling parts.

Well done! Looks gorgeous.

  • 43 months ago
  • 1 point

Hey,

I got the cap from here : http://www.performance-pcs.com/bitspower-z-cap-iii-with-g1-4-x2-pom-version.html

I used 5 90's and 1 45 degree fitting -- but that all varies on your configuration. You could use more if you don't want to bend the tubes, or even less too. Sorry for not listing the prices -- didn't really want to go back and add in each price for items not listed on the site, lol.

The draining port is separate; it's a Y fitting directly on the pump to a drain plug and a 45 degree up to bend into the gpu loop.

Thanks though!

  • 43 months ago
  • 1 point

Are you using the Thermaltake-provided PCI extender/riser cable that came with the Core P5 case? I just bought the case myself and I'm reading about several people who say the cable is junk, dead-on-arrival, or fried within the first couple hours. Some even say their graphics card and/or motherboard were damaged in the process.

Very beautiful build by the way!! It's helping me generate ideas for mine :D

  • 43 months ago
  • 1 point

Hey,

Yeah -- I used that and the Deepcool pci extender from Newegg, but the Thermaltake cable did die after about a week or two. It was definitely junk. The Deepcool one worked fine and felt more bendable to conform to whatever needs.

http://s32.postimg.org/w2z69k3wl/IMG_1645.jpg

went with an SLI configuration, so I didn't bother worrying about the pci extender cables!

  • 42 months ago
  • 1 point

Dude I'm literally building a PC like this but in a NZXT case and like a little brother version of it. CPU:i7 4790K MOTHERBOARD: Gigabyte GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard CPU COOLER: Deepcool CAPTAIN 240 91.1 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler MEMORY: Kingston HyperX Fury Red 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory STORAGE: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive -Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive GPU:MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card POWER SUPPLY:Corsair Builder 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply CASE: NZXT h440 red/black

  • 42 months ago
  • 1 point

Beast!

  • 41 months ago
  • 1 point

wow. blown away. an earned +1. btw, does the thermaltake riing come with three? thanks

  • 41 months ago
  • 1 point

looking at the pics it does.

  • 39 months ago
  • 1 point

What is the drain valve

  • 39 months ago
  • 1 point

https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-af-ball-valve-10mm-g1-4-nickel

(Got it from a local MicroCenter)

[comment deleted]
  • 45 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you! I was stuck for some time between this one and the ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q. I think this suits my want for multitasking, coding, and for the few games I have tried -- it's been beautiful to play on!

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