Including your individual PC case etching is an effective way to make your PC stand out from the group, and we actually like what Simon Beacock has accomplished together with his dragon design right here. He additionally went all out together with his first go at hard-line water cooling for this construct, which he calls Little Drakon. It’s a great-looking gaming PC with a number of tubing bends and an angled graphics card.
Due to our quickly rising PC constructing Fb web page, we’ve seen many customized gaming PCs, from mods primarily based on current case designs to scratch PC builds. You may even submit yours for consideration proper right here. Now let’s discuss to Simon about how he created this water-cooled, dragon-themed PC.
: So how did this construct begin?
Simon: My plan was for this to be my first hard-line tubing construct, having beforehand labored on comfortable tubing builds. I wished to create a PC that appeared a bit totally different from the norm, and I used to be impressed by opinions of water-cooling parts on-line. I’ve been within the orange, black and white colour scheme for some time, as I feel it’s distinctive and I’ve used it for my final couple of builds – it’s turning into a signature for me.
What made you select the Raijintek Paean case as the inspiration?
I selected this case because it appeared fairly totally different from many of the different circumstances I’ve seen in on-line PC constructing teams. I appeared by way of a number of choices on-line earlier than deciding on the Raijintek for a number of causes.
Firstly, I had my eye on the EK-Quantum Quantity FLT 360 Reservoir, as I assumed it appeared totally different from the same old setup, so I actually wanted a case sufficiently big to deal with it comfortably. I additionally wished a basement for the radiators so that they have been out of sight, and to make use of pass-through fittings. This case ticked all of the bins for me.
We love the paintings on the entrance panel window. What’s the design and the way did you make it?
I etched the design myself onto the entrance panel utilizing a vinyl stencil I created with my very own instruments. Nonetheless, the design itself was created by an artist I discovered on-line. I knew what I wished however I additionally wanted an artist’s contact, so I gave him some concepts – I wished it to contain a dragon and have a tribal look. After a few drafts and revisions, I used to be very pleased with the outcome – I feel it actually makes a distinction to an in any other case plain-looking entrance.
How did you get the graphics card to lean like that, and the way do you entry the show outputs?
I’ve been experimenting with totally different mounts so as to get a distinct look from regular vertical mounts, and I discovered this EZDIY-FAB Vertical Graphics Card Holder on Amazon, which was excellent for what I wished. Utilizing this graphics card holder did current some challenges for accessing the outputs, so I used a 90-degree show port extension cable, which did the trick.
What materials did you utilize for the tubing, and the way did you chop and bend it to form?
I used EK-HD PETG 12/16mm tubing. It was my first time utilizing hard-line tubing, so I assumed the larger the higher! It truly wasn’t too onerous to bend into form – I reduce it with a hacksaw and used an EK device to get the 90-degree bends.
That’s a really clear loop. How did you propose, measure and make the holes for the pass-through fittings, and the way does the tubing all hyperlink up beneath the PSU shroud?
This case is ideal for permitting the tubing to go all the way down to the basement the place the radiators are situated. Nonetheless, I did have to switch the case barely by changing the unique plate for the pass-through with an acrylic alternative. I used FreeCAD software program to design an acrylic plate to my specs in order that I may use pass-through fittings for the seen onerous line tubing on the prime.
From there they go to the hidden comfortable tubing within the basement, linking up the radiators, pump and drain valve. I used the flat reservoir as a foundation for measuring, so I may make the holes for the pass-through ports line up completely. I used a third-party firm to fabricate the acrylic plate to my specs.
What peachy coolant is that?
I went with EK Cryofuel stable hearth orange coolant in the long run, after first making an attempt amber orange. I most well-liked its extra stable look. I used to be already utilizing EK merchandise, so it simply made sense.
Inform us about another customized components and modifications you made to the case.
I needed to reduce a gap out of the again of the case to permit all of the cabling to return from the basement by way of to the rear. I used a Dremel with a chopping disc to do that work, and the cable administration labored out fairly nicely for me in the long run.
I additionally added some adhesive fixing mounts for cable ties, which got here in very helpful. As well as, I had so as to add one other gap on the rear for the drain valve utilizing a step drill bit. It’s a bit nerve-wracking drilling and chopping right into a £200+ case, however I’m pleased with the outcome.
How did you propose the lighting for this construct, and the way is all of it managed?
Because the theme is black and orange, I wished some white lighting to light up the parts and the case itself. I assumed this might exhibit the construct adequately; with out the white lighting it could be too darkish to take pleasure in. The followers in the principle a part of the case are white with an orange ring to coordinate with the remainder of the theme.
The lighting within the basement (followers and pump) is a extra refined plain orange, which I feel offers it a pleasant glow whereas nonetheless preserving the concentrate on the principle a part of the construct. There are three Corsair LL 140mm followers and two Corsair RGB strips, that are managed by Corsair’s iCUE software program. In the meantime, the EK reservoir/blocks are managed by MSI’s Mystic Mild system, as are the lights from the three 120mm EK followers within the basement.
What {hardware} specs did you select and why?
I selected an Intel Core i7-12700K CPU paired with a GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU. I went with this {hardware}, as I need to preserve this construct for a superb few years, however nonetheless have the choice to improve to DDR5 sooner or later (I’m sticking to DDR4 in the interim).
That is an improve from my earlier construct, which I’d been utilizing for a superb few years. I’ve at all times used Intel and Nvidia parts – I’ve by no means had a problem with them beforehand, and I wished to see what Intel’s Twelfth-gen CPUs needed to provide when mixed with Home windows 11. I even have 32GB of RAM, which is an improve from the 16GB in my earlier construct.
Did you come throughout any difficulties?
As a lot as I really like the look of the graphics card at an angle, it was actually tough to line up the tubing behind the cardboard – I needed to make two 90-degree bends shut collectively whereas tilting the tubing on the identical angle as the cardboard. The cardboard isn’t locked in place, because the bracket is simply magnetically fastened, so I needed to eyeball the tubing earlier than the graphics card was put in. It took about half a day to set it up in the long run, however I lastly bought it proper after the third try.
Additionally, I purchased an EK leak and strain testing device to check the loop earlier than including the fluid. I had a blowout through the take a look at, which I feel was all the way down to me forgetting to debur the top of the tube going to the CPU. Fortunately it didn’t do any injury to the O-rings, so I used to be capable of repair it after which the strain take a look at was a hit.
How lengthy did it take you to finish this construct, from begin to end?
From begin to end it took 4 months. I did change my thoughts quite a bit about what components I wished to make use of, and the difficulties with sourcing a graphics card at an affordable value slowed me down.
As soon as I had selected the components, I needed to wait some time for delivery too. For instance, I had to purchase the EK blocks immediately from the supply on account of shortages, and I needed to wait some time for the cables, as they have been made particularly to my size and color wants. As soon as I had all of the components and was prepared to start, it was full inside three days, together with case mods.
Are you utterly pleased with the top outcome?
Sure, I’m pleased with the top outcome. Looking back, I want I’d made the complete backside plate from acrylic, so I may set up the GPU at a sharper angle after which conceal the tubing immediately behind the cardboard. I feel this might have given it a tidier, less complicated look.
I plan to improve the reminiscence to Corsair Dominator Platinum. They weren’t obtainable on the time I used to be placing this construct collectively. This reminiscence alternative goes to trigger issues with the clearance of the tubing although. I’ll should redo the tubing line to the CPU in order that it clears the bigger reminiscence modules. I may additionally improve the motherboard if DDR5 reminiscence turns into extra inexpensive.
Little Drakon water-cooled PC specs
- CPU: Intel Core i7-12700K
- Case: Raijintek Paean
- GPU: Asus TUF GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
- Storage: 500GB WD Black SN850, 1TB WD Blue SN550, 2TB Essential P2
- Reminiscence: 32GB (2 x 16GB) Essential Ballistix RGB DDR4 3600MHz
- Motherboard: MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4
- PSU: Corsair RM1000x
- Cooling: 2 x EK-CoolStream SE 360 radiators, EK-Quantum Quantity FLT 360 D-RGB reservoir, EK-Quantum Inertia D5 PWM D-RGB pump, EK-Quantum Velocity² D-RGB CPU waterblock, EK-Quantum Vector TUF RTX 3080 D-RGB Nickel 3 GPU waterblock, EK-Vardar X3M followers, Corsair LL 140mm followers
It is a high quality construct Simon, good work. The customized dragon etching appears nice, and also you’d by no means know that was your first attempt at utilizing hard-line water-cooling tubing. In the event you’re new to the world of water-cooling and need to have go your self, then ensure you additionally learn our full information on how one can water-cool your PC.
This submit initially appeared on Customized PC, which has been overlaying wonderful setups for over 20 years and is now a part of . Be a part of our 500k member Fb group to debate this construct.
In the event you take into account your self to be an knowledgeable PC builder, you possibly can submit your individual customized PC construct to us immediately for an opportunity of being featured on sooner or later.
