Project Ravens' Nest

[tictoc]

That is a bummer on the GPU block.  I have been mostly all Heatkiller for the last little bit, but they never made a Radeon VII block.  I always go with Acetal/copper blocks when possible, since everything I build is more about performance and reliability then looks.  Right now it's a little tough, since it's mostly get what you can get, as soon as you can get something.

 

Hopefully the RMA goes quick and you get the new block soon.  

[J7SC_Orion]

7 minutes ago, tictoc said:

That is a bummer on the GPU block.  I have been mostly all Heatkiller for the last little bit, but they never made a Radeon VII block.  I always go with Acetal/copper blocks when possible, since everything I build is more about performance and reliability then looks.  Right now it's a little tough, since it's mostly get what you can get, as soon as you can get something.

 

Hopefully the RMA goes quick and you get the new block soon.  

 

...thanks - RMA or not, I already ordered a block from Phanteks for the 3090 Strix OC (supposed to arrive tomorrow). ...More than one problem w/ EKWB as I will soon show. Nothing worse than having a hard-to-come-by top end $$$ GPU, only to have sloppy but expensive 'peripherals'

[Bastiaan_NL]

Sorry to hear that about your GPU block..
I was not planning to buy one for my card, but since I'm still waiting for a Heatkiller block I was looking at a few other options. At least I know EKWB is not on that list anymore.

Not many options left for now, besides waiting and keeping it cool with enough fans

[J7SC_Orion]

1 hour ago, Bastiaan_NL said:

Sorry to hear that about your GPU block..
I was not planning to buy one for my card, but since I'm still waiting for a Heatkiller block I was looking at a few other options. At least I know EKWB is not on that list anymore.

Not many options left for now, besides waiting and keeping it cool with enough fans

 

I'm picking up the Phanteks block for the Strix later today and I will let you know what I think. Re. the EK backplate (nickel flaking issue and separate from the front block items), RMA got approved....just the running around and plucking a w-cooled system apart over and over again in the course of one week 

 

What make / model is your Ampere GPU ?

[Bastiaan_NL]

Indeed, the hassle of taking apart a loop and an expensive GPU in a new system is not fun. Besides that, one would think that after years and years of making waterblocks they would finally know how to do it the right way..

 

I have a pair of FTW3's, one will remain air cooled. This card was on top of my list next to the Strix, but the latter was not available in the Netherlands (I haven't seen it in stock anywhere). And to be honest, most of my cards have been EVGA and they never let me down. As for waterblock, Watercool confirmed that they will make a block for this card. I recently messaged them and they replied that it would take only a few more weeks, let's hope that's true.
 

[J7SC_Orion]

40 minutes ago, Bastiaan_NL said:

Indeed, the hassle of taking apart a loop and an expensive GPU in a new system is not fun. Besides that, one would think that after years and years of making waterblocks they would finally know how to do it the right way..

 

I have a pair of FTW3's, one will remain air cooled. This card was on top of my list next to the Strix, but the latter was not available in the Netherlands (I haven't seen it in stock anywhere). And to be honest, most of my cards have been EVGA and they never let me down. As for waterblock, Watercool confirmed that they will make a block for this card. I recently messaged them and they replied that it would take only a few more weeks, let's hope that's true.
 

 

...I used to have 8 top (Classified/KP) EVGA across different generations (still have most of them) but there were some quality issues (PCB) on a few of them. Be that as it may, the FTW3 3090 is a very nice card, just not sure about the power balance recall/re-bios thing I keep on reading about. Still, FTW3 is one of the top cards.

 

I also love the Strix and oddly enough, here in Canada they were pretty affordable though now, there's little stock of anything. FYI, Caseking has 7 different 3090 models in stock as of today, but not the good stuff like Strix, FTW3 etc. At one point in time, Caseking charged more for a Strix than the KingPin Hybrid 3090 - weird, as Strix OC prices here in Canada were 'reasonable' (air quotes for putting reasonable and 3090 pricing in one sentence)

 

...as to w-blocks, Watercool / Heatkiller is my fav supplier, but they don't have a Strix block. I did hear good things about the Phanteks G30 Strix block - I guess I'll find out shortly. I do have a Phanteks AM4 cooler already - good stuff, fine quality on the metal etc

 

 

 

 

  

Edited May 3, 2021 by J7SC_Orion

[J7SC_Orion]

...had a nice delivery late yesterday    ...Phanteks G30 Strix block is heavy; about 2.9 lbs just by itself, in part because it has a 6 mm copper coldplate  . Quality seems very good...

 

I also found a machine shop that could 'mill' the current 'outgoing' block down; if I can figure out how to attach it - it would make a great GDDR6X VRAM cooler for the back

   

[Bastiaan_NL]

Nice, but that's pretty heavy! 

 

A C-clamp might work...

But I love the idea. There is a backplate cooler for sale which uses rubber bands to secure the block, not sure about the looks though..

 

[J7SC_Orion]

...believe it or not, I actually thought about C-clamps for real (but dismissed that idea - for now). However, I got some custom Strix backplates this could mount to, though I would prefer direct to back VRAM (and back VRM) mounting with only one layer of 0.5 mm Thermalright pads, if possible

[J7SC_Orion]

...it's been a while since I updated....have been extremely buys at work with a project that got initially delayed by Covid-19 but is almost caught up now.

 

Project Raven will become Project Ravens' Nest ...decided on two workstations with two cases (one with three mobos, one with two). I've been ordering extra parts seemingly to frustrate myself with FedEx and UPS (still don't know which one of those is worse - they're both in the running  ), and expect that 'actual build updates' to start late next week.

 

...in the meantime, to pass the time, I gave the 5950X / Asus Dark X570 a real workout today at 4.8 Giggles all-core...

 

 

[J7SC_Orion]

More boxes arrived today...among other things, the DDR4 4000 CL15 (4x8 Samsung-B) kit for the CH8 Dark / 5950X; for now running it at tight sub-timings and undervolting it for IF1900 / DDR4 3800 before pushing extra speed. ''Old'' kit went back into the CH8 wifi 3950X setup...

 

...both will go onto the TT Core P8, the base for Ravens' Nest - and on the backside, I hope to be able to also fit a Maximus VII Formula w/ a 4790K for Linux - not sure yet though if it all will fit...weight is the biggest issue (3x w-cooling, 3x PSUs...)

  

 

 

  

...Two Raven wings... 

 

 

 

Edited May 30, 2021 by J7SC_Orion

[Bastiaan_NL]

So many boxes, Christmas every day

3 full wc builds will be very heavy... You might have to get an engine hoist to move it!

[J7SC_Orion]

4 hours ago, Bastiaan_NL said:

So many boxes, Christmas every day

3 full wc builds will be very heavy... You might have to get an engine hoist to move it!

 

...more like 'so many boxes, so many disruptive delivery gong-shows every day '

 

Anyway, the current plans (subject to change w/o notice  ) are: Two 'system hubs' with a total of five mobos, covering off two productivity-play areas

 

System / location 1:

TT Core P8 modded, 40 inch 4K workstation monitor :
 

Front Left = Asus CH8 Dark, 5950X, Strix 3090 OC - all w-cooled  
Front Right = Asus CH8 Hero wifi, 3950X, Aorus 2080 Ti - all w-cooled, Printer, etc

Rear = Asus Maximus VII Formula, 4790K for Linux

 

This thing will way a ton...the 'naked' TT Core P8 already weighs 30 lbs. However, all rads are on a separate little reinforced table w/ wheels (per above posts)

 

System /location 2:

TT Core P5 modded, 55 inch 4K IPS HDR

 

Front = MSI X399 Creation, 2950X Threadripper, Aorus 2080 Ti - all w-cooled

Back = Gigabyte Z170 SOC Force, EVGA 980 Classified, all w-cooled

 

System 1 main support, side support

 

 

 

 

 

[J7SC_Orion]

...found this one (unadvertised, at MSRP) today at a local outlet of a national chain. So 4 GB 980 Classified in the above post will be replaced by this 16 GB 6900XT, though I may shuffle above combos for the final Ravens' nest build - which I actually now can start soon as 'crazy May' (re. work and other) is finally over...but first, a few days of rest 

   

 

[Bastiaan_NL]

Nice! Have fun with that card

 

[J7SC_Orion]

24 minutes ago, Bastiaan_NL said:

Nice! Have fun with that card

 

 

Tx...I plan to, though this is for productivity also. This is a 3x 8 pin dual bios 'oc' model  ...

... so I just ordered a water block (not from EK) 

 

[J7SC_Orion]

...tested out the updated 'right half' of Ravens' nest yesterday - Asus CH8 Hero wifi w/ 3950X and the new 6900 XT...works like a charm, and this 6900XT seems to be a great clocker, but it does get hot, even w/ a restrictive PL bios...immediately ordered a waterblock for it and also checking out some nice alternate 3x 8 pin Vbios 

 

...the 'left half', consisting of the Asus CH8 Dark w/ 5950X has been ready to go for months now and in full daily use - the only change was upgrading to 32 GB DDR4 4000 CL15 memory...it is fine-tuned to the point that any more fiddling w/it would be counter-productive. It just needs to move in with the 'right half' in their new digs... 

 

...the rear passenger (a Maximus VII Formula w/ 4790K, for Linux) has been ready for years  - and all three will ('might') get stuffed onto the TT Core P8 which then makes up one of two Ravens' nests... 

 

'right half' w/ new 6900XT getting tested...

 

 

 

 

...'left half'...

  

 

 

 

...and the potential 'rear' occupant...4790K is 'ES' and binned, does 4.8 GHz on air / low-v / temps; RAM is TridentZ DDR3 2666 - swift enough for basic Linux

 

 

 

Edited June 5, 2021 by J7SC_Orion

[Avacado]

22 minutes ago, J7SC_Orion said:

...tested out the updated 'right half' of Ravens' nest yesterday - Asus CH8 Hero wifi w/ 3950X and the new 6900 XT...works like a charm, and this 6900XT seems to be a great clocker, but it does get hot, even w/ a restrictive PL bios...immediately ordered a waterblock for it and also checking out some nice alternate 3x 8 pin Vbios 

 

...the 'left half', consisting of the Asus CH8 Dark w/ 5050X has been ready to go for months now and in full daily use - the only change was upgrading to 32 GB DDR4 4000 CL15 memory...it is fine-tuned to the point that any more fiddling w/it would be counter-productive. It just needs to move in with the 'right half' in their new digs... 

 

...the rear passenger (a Maximus VII Formula w/ 4790K, for Linux) has been ready for years  - and all three will ('might') get stuffed onto the TT Core P8 which then makes up one of two Ravens' nests... 

 

'right half' w/ new 6900XT getting tested...

 

 

 

 

...'left half'...

  

 

 

 

...and the potential 'rear' occupant...4790K is 'ES' and binned, does 4.8 GHz on air / low-v / temps; RAM is TridentZ DDR3 2666 - swift enough for basic Linux

 

 

 

Looking good. What is that Be Quiet block on the CPU socket???

[J7SC_Orion]

4 minutes ago, Avacado said:

Looking good. What is that Be Quiet block on the CPU socket???

  

Thanks   ...The BeQuiet block is part of a 360mm 'PureLoop' AIO I use for initial testing of CPUs (Intel and AMD compatible)...works well...pump is also NOT Asetek but sits between the block and rad

[J7SC_Orion]

...Raven's strike again ...w-block for the new 6900 XT

 

 

 

...the 6900 XT block arrived (w/ back-plate) and quality looks excellent 

 

 

 

Edited June 8, 2021 by J7SC_Orion

[J7SC_Orion]

...TT Core P8 on its 'transport platform' for 'nest 1', a steel tool cart w/ wheels that can carry over 300 lbs   ...an earlier TT Core P5 build (Core P5 being smaller and lighter than Core P8) that had 5 big rads, 4 pumps, 3 w-blocks etc ended up over 100 lbs. It's hard to move as it is not a normal case you can pick up at the typical grab spots. The Core P5 will be rebuild and become 'nest 2' 

 

...Core P8 on the just-assembled steel tool cart :

 

 

 

[J7SC_Orion]

Ravens' Nest 'box-fest', including boxes for new tables, shelves (not shown) etc so that 'we can get our home back'...things had spread over four rooms and a hallway  ...xx chromosome carbon units not happy w/ this invasion 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

purchased December '18

 

 

 

 

[Bastiaan_NL]

On 09/06/2021 at 19:40, J7SC_Orion said:

...xx chromosome carbon units not happy w/ this invasion 

I can imagine that this creation takes up a lot of space, with all the hardware above and all the carts tables etc. So I do understand them a little

Looking good so far

[J7SC_Orion]

24 minutes ago, Bastiaan_NL said:

I can imagine that this creation takes up a lot of space, with all the hardware above and all the carts tables etc. So I do understand them a little

Looking good so far

 

tx...I've increased the supply of chocolates and flowers, for now  !    ...also, they're looking forward to get the use of two additional rooms back 

 

...some more pics...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sir Beregond]

Loving this. Can't wait to see more.