XSPC Photon 270 Tube Reservoir

[Timster]

We received a "half built" custom gaming rig in our shop recently. The customer attempted to build a water cooled computer using various high end parts. A 4th gen i7 cpu, gtx 760 vid card, Asus Maximus VI Hero motherboard. Don't want to get to specific about the components because I am only concentrating on the water loop and reservoir in this post. Customer had already purchased all of the parts and had attempted to the assembly. Below are pics of exactly how this computer arrived day one.



Customer stated he powered on the computer    but would not post. He tried several times but could not get the computer to post. This was concerning because the first thing I noticed is the water loop is empty. He also said he wanted the water reservoir to be mounted on the right side of the motherboard for visual purposes but could not mount in that location due to the wires (24pin and sata cables) that pose a issue. Below are pics of the reservoir he chose.

Photon 270 Tube Reservoir




Please keep in mind that he chose the parts and he did not want to add or change any of these parts. We are stuck with what he purchased and he wanted everything purple  for his girlfriend. We also had to stick with the large tubing. If you look at the original pictures it is obvious that mounting the reservoir on the right side of the motherboard would be impossible giving the mounting assembly provided by XPS and the fact that the 24pin and sata cables are right there in the way. We also did not want to route these cables in front of the reservoir as that would just take away from showing off the reservoir.

So ... we came up with a solution to have this reservoir mounted on the right side of the motherboard and have it mounted in such a way that it would be "floating" away from the back side of the case. We purchased some threaded metal dowels that had just the right thread to fit into the existing thread holes that is on both ends of the reservoir. These thread holes are there for the original mounting bracket that we are not going to use.

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At the bottom of the reservoir we bent the dowels so the cam down at a 90 degree angle and would be supported by drilling two holes in the bottom of the case which the dowels would be fed through and then secured with a lock nut. At the to of the reservoir we just brought the dowels straight out and through two holes drilled in the same manner as the bottom. We also lined the dowels with clear rubber sleeving to dress it up a bit.
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When finished it gave the appearance that he reservoir is just floating in the case. All wires are now behind the resovior and somewhat hidden behind it. This technique  also brought the reservoir to the front and made it the focal point of the build just as the customer asked.
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[GuiltySpark]

Video isn't working, private only.

[Timster]

(11-11-2014, 06:25 PM)GuiltySpark Wrote:  Video isn't working, private only.

Ah fixed.... Thanks

[Britec]

Its always hard working on someone else's project, your governed to what they have done and without any more budget to spend, your limited to what you have.
As long as the customer is happy Tim that's all that matters. I know you wanted to do more, but budget just did not allow you too.
 

[Timster]

(11-12-2014, 10:17 AM)Britec Wrote:  Its always hard working on someone else's project, your governed to what they have done and without any more budget to spend, your limited to what you have.
As long as the customer is happy Tim that's all that matters. I know you wanted to do more, but budget just did not allow you too.
 

Yeah we had no choice but to go with what parts he bought. The idea of this post really is to give mounting option ideas to anyone who is using this res.

[Britec]

Yeah looks like it worked a treat, if only he would of come to you first, he would have a much better water cooled rig. Good job Tim.

[GuiltySpark]

(11-11-2014, 11:15 PM)Timster Wrote:  

(11-11-2014, 06:25 PM)GuiltySpark Wrote:  Video isn't working, private only.

Ah fixed.... Thanks

That's better, pity there's no sound would've liked to know if there was much sound coming from it. Any chance you could stick a Dry Ice cube in one of the pipes just to get the client a little worried (and add a ticking sound for a laugh).