The plan was to assemble the non-w/c components while leak-testing the w/c components by the sink. This would give me something to do while the leak test was running, and also allow me to verify that the graphics card was not a dud, before I rip off the stock cooler and invalidate the warranty. Also I planned to get Windows XP installed and run a benchmark, so that I had something to compare to when the w/c components were added.

I ran tap water through the rads for 10-15 minutes and then flushed them with de-ionised water. Not much crap came out. I didn't want to risk using vinegar, because acetic acid does react with copper. I took the CPU and GPU water blocks apart and cleaned the insides with IPA (Iso-propyl alcohol, not Greene King!) and left them to dry before reassembling. Got to say they were pretty clean though.

I also flushed the reservoir and pump with de-ionised water. When all the w/c components were clean, I cut the Tygon tubing into the measured lengths and connected up the loop. Using jubilee clips, but not wanting to screw them too tight and cut the tubing. Forgot to thread the jubilee clips a couple of times and found that removing the tubing from the barbs is harder than I thought.

Also worth mentioning is to get the orientation of the jubilee clips right for the less accessible connections like the CPU and GPU barbs, otherwise it will be very hard to tighten them in place.

Anyhoo, I got the loop all connected and suspended the reservoir at the highest point, adding de-ionised water until there was no air between the res and the pump inlet. I used an old PSU bridged between the green and black pins to start the pump for a couple of seconds, while the air bubble edged closer to the pump. Then shut off the power and filled the res again, repeating the process until the loop was full-ish.

The variable speed dial on the Laing D5 pump (if that is what it is) seems a bit flimsy to say the least. Unless you push it in while turning it, it just rotates loosely, and even detaches from the pump. I can hear the pump operate at 2, maybe 3 speeds, but 5 is a bit optimistic. I considered RMAing ig, but if it works with good temps I won't bother as it doesn't appear to be a very polished piece of kit.

Went off and made a cup of coffee and came back later, shook a few components to get the air bubbles out and switched the power off and on a few times. Placed individual kitchen towels under the components in the loop to identify any leaks and left it to run.

Returning to the plan of assembling the non-w/c components, I added the BFG 9800GTX OCX, after reseating the motherboard and adding the backplate and screws for the EK CPU block. But when I came to install the E8500 processor using the stock fan, I realised that this was not a goer - the stock cooler and fan would need to fit into the holes now occupied by the screws for the EK CPU block. Major Doh!

Instead I fixed up the mountings for the BigNG to fit into a 3.5" bay and mounted this. The BigNG comes supplied with an internal USB cable. The P5Q Deluxe mobo has 2 internal USB headers, both of which could be used by the Coolermaster case to provide external USB ports in the top of the case, near the power switch. The BigNG could also ne connected via a normal USB cable to an external USB port, but it seems a bit clumsy to do this. So I will have to use one of the P5Q's USB headers to connect the BigNG, and use the other to connect 2 of the 4 external USB ports in the top of the case. Nothing is perfect.

I figured out where all of the case connections fit onto the motherboard and either connected then where appropriate or rerouted the cables through the Coolermaster's excellent cable management system.

Fitted the OCZ RAM - sans watercooling. They are absolutely HUGE and wobble in the DIMM slots.

The screws supplied with the rads - 1.25" - do not quite extend far enough into the case to fit the rads on securely. They just about do the job, but with a triple rad on top and the fact that some of the screw holes do not actually line up with the rad holes, I want to be SURE that it ain't gonna fall off while I'm playing COD4! I think 1.375" will be just about perfect. Off to B&Q tomorrow to try to find some.