SilverStone TJ09 Build w/dual loop WC + powdercoating
This is my first custom case.... my last PC being a dell.
I went with Powdercoating (candy blue) over chrome on this TJ09 beauty.
As a first timer I researched a lot. BUT my main motivation was to see if I could affordably build a case with the nice look of a Digital Storm case... without the $5000+ price tag. And sure I was able to. My total project cost was about $real low... I got a lot of nice deals and rebates to work with.
Here are the Specs:
- Silvertone TJ09 case
- Zalman ZM-MFC1 Plus fan controller
- Scythe fans (3) for radiator (1900 rpm)
- Silverstone 2400 rpm fan for the internal case fan
- Silverstone fan for the hard drive cooler insert
- Koolance waterblocks for CPU and GPU water blocks
- 2 x Swiftech micro reservoirs rev. 2.... one for CPU loop, one for GPU loop
- 3 x Black Ice Pro radiators (2 used for GPU loop, 1 for the CPU loop) from Danger Den
- 2 x Swiftech pumps
- blue cold cathode kit light
- Corsair Memory cooler
- 1200W Coolmax PSU (on sale at newegg for $199-- good deal I thought)
- 9 x black kink coils
- 9800 GTX video cards... stripped nude w/Koolance water blocks used
- Q6700 processor 2.66 GHZ... have it running at 3.33 GHZ
- 4GB DDR3 OCZ ram platinum edition
- bitspower + koolance fittings... used both compression and fatboy fittings
- feserone liquid cooling non-conductive (blue)
Performance Difference:
Before:
- CPU: 39-45 degrees Celsius @ 0% load @ 3.33 GHz
- CPU: 46-60 degress Celsius @ 100% load @ 3.33 GHz
- GPU: 56-60 degrees Celsius @ 0% load
- GPU: 60-70 degress Celsius @ 100% load
After:
- CPU: 28-33 degrees Celsius @ 0% load @ 3.33 GHz
- CPU: 33-40 degress Celsius @ 100% load @ 3.33 GHz
- GPU: 32-36 degrees Celsius @ 0% load
- GPU: 37-42 degress Celsius @ 100% load
Thoughts: The water cooling of the CPU and GPU are amazing even with good overclocking.
Other thoughts:
- Make sure that if you powder coat (looks beautiful)... get your powder coater to apply thin layers... otherwise it will be difficult to put back to together. My powder coating was done well but too thick so I had to dremel here and there at joints to make sure screws fit. But it was my powder coater's first timedoing a PC case (normally does motorcycle parts only)... and cost me ONLY $75 for sandblasting + powder coating...he did a good job.
- Install drain for liquid system... I did not for aesthetic reasons... but this is a pain in the buttongas if you wanna change your liquid, etc. if you dont have a drain. Actually I notice all water cooling systems have issues when you wanna drain them.... OR I am just a novice idiot.... OR I haven't seen a good one yet.
Ok the case pics.......
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Laugh/comment/etc. It was my first build.
I am doing an Asus Rampage II Extreme x58 build next.... still haven't a clue about the case I am gonna use. Also I want a LCD in the bays. Gonna make a custom one like Coolermeister did on his Sound + Vision project. Color scheme gonna be black + red + ATI .... not Nvidia this time. Also red interior powdercoating. Gonna be a bombshell.
Ok... but I gotta save up... this one knocked me back too many beans.
4 Attachment(s)
my cubic water cooling rig
this is my updated sys, msi eclipse, i7 920. wc:2 x 120.3, d5, gtz, mcw30, soon to add a ram wb(does it need? it seems ddr3 is not really hot comparing to ddr and 2.
photo were taken by iphone not really good quality.