N00b to watercooling makes a big jump
 

I bit the bullet and decided to design my own block.
quick photoshop concept at
http://www.casemod.com/showphoto.php?photo=230

I want to do an acrylic top, but I need to know what type of acrylic, since there are so many in use.
I also would like to know of a place to buy the screws to hold it all together.
Any shots of how people mounted their block to a P4 478 system would help. Lots of ideas are in my head, but its hard to pick ONE.
More updates as they come to me. My copper arrives tuesday (tommorow!)

http://www.casemod.com/showphoto.php?photo=233

Got my copper today!

nice! Post some pics of the blocks later on would ya? =)

Sure will! Im so excited!
I still need to find screws for this...
I'll just drill .125" (1/8) pilot holes and get screws later.

Done with the milling!

Bad first try
Good final
Good final + my hand

Took 3 hours to go from a working wood concept to the final copper piece. It sucked... but I think it will be worth it in the end. I love shiny.

looking very good! hard to see how it looks like though. Can you snap a closeup?

I'm going to do a bit-tech style close-up soon.

links dont work

Try again... worked for me on 2 different computers...

They don't work for me either -- all the pics, even the logo and navigation stuff, come back '403 Forbidden'.

here is his pic. the links worked fine for me

Ok, I will post more pics soon, as soon as I get my new hard drive workig and I get Photoshop installed.

You probably only need a one barb outlet on that block, so it probably isnt the most convienent thing to have 2 barbs.

Otherwise, it is pretty nice :D

Yeah, I'll post some diagrams later on the possible barb setups. I'm wondering what the best would be.

Here are the other 2 photos for people who are having connection issues.
First one is the failed attempt, second is my hand holding the good one.

Ok, here are some ideas for the positioning of the 1/2" OD barbs. I'm not liking the one where the water flows around the fin area (#3), I want it to flow through, but an idea is an idea and I thought it was worth posting.
Oh, and fear my 1337 paint skills. Need my new hard-drive up and running...

I must really have your feedback if I am to complete this block.

#1 would be the best choice, I believe. It forces the majority of the water to go through the centre, whereas with the others the water will just take the easiest path, which isnt where you want the cooling to happen.

Thank you. I was leaning towards #1 myself. My friend was trying to convince me that there would be a huge hot pocket on the left, and that it would make it very inefficient.

Definitely #1.

While the left side of the block will be warmer than the right, it's the cooling directly over the core that counts the most. Heat doesn't spread very far, it likes the shortest path (straight up through the block).

Thank you, thats a very good way to put it.

another vote for #1

Thank you as well.
When my Dad recovers from his surgery, We'll clean up the garage so I can get some work done.
Too bad our drill-press is too weak for copper. I'll have to find a shop nearby.
Our bandsaw, however, is awesome!

I have no experience building waterblocks, but would cutting channels in the center channels so the water could flow to the left and top/bottom, but not the right work? so you wouldnt have as much of a dead spot on the left?