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+<article>

+  <h2>{{ .Title }}</h2>

+  <p>Just over three years ago, I started a <a href="https://hardforum.com/threads/my-x58-build-log.2015685/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">build log for my X58 computer</a>. It started when I received an i7-960-based system from a friend. He told me it was his grandfather's and had some fun memories with it. Wanting to do something as a tribute to the period, I set out on a journey to make a late-2000s, period-correct 3-way SLI machine based around his components. I hit some issues right away with the motherboard and picked up an EVGA X58 SLI Micro along with a second BFG Tech GTX 260 and an SLI ribbon. I ran it like this for a while. 2-way SLI scaled surprisingly well for the couple of games I wanted to play: Need for Speed: Most Wanted &lpar;2012&rpar; and Metro 2033: Redux. It was around this time that I made that forum post. Full of eagerness and ignoring the obvious hurdles, I set out a plan to have the system to be done within a year. This didn't happen. Not having a job but still needing to pay for gas and food at school doesn't bode well for expensive side projects. This brings us to today, over three years later.</p>

+  <p>One of the hidden gems I've discovered while in Michigan is an e-waste recycling center. They have a side business reselling parts they find valuable and don't mind selling back parts at scrap prices. After going there for years and collecting many a ThinkPad, I finally found something that kicked me into finishing the project, a Cooler Master Cosmos S with a 1000W Enermax power supply.</p>

+  <figure>

+    <img src="/static/media/X58_Cosmos/Cosmos_S_Find-1_1000.jpg" alt="Cosmos S in a parking lot. The front covers are misaligned, and the case is covered in dust and grime." width="1000" height="750" />

+    <img src="/static/media/X58_Cosmos/Cosmos_S_Find-2_1000.jpg" alt="Cosmos S in a parking lot. Rear view showing power supply. The case is covered in dust and grime." width="1000" height="750" />

+    <figcaption>Cooler Master Cosmos S w/ Enermax Galaxy 1000W power supply.</figcaption>

+  </figure>

+  <p>I couldn't believe my luck on this one. The place is slowly becoming "mainstream" and they have new employees who know what's valuable and interesting, so it's harder to get a deal. But in this case, it was a sign. I got the case, power supply, and a number of other miscellaneous cables for $20. $20. You couldn't get the power supply for that little unless you knew someone giving it away. See my <a href="/blog/2025-02-06+Old_PC_Component_Joy+diy+computers">previous article</a> on why this power supply is even better than I thought. Anyway, with my enthusiasm renewed, only slightly more expendable income, and a promise to myself to finish projects, it was time to buy some watercooling gear.</p>

+  <p>Watercooling components really were the big hurdle. I was lucky to find three matching EK blocks for the GPUs, but I was going to be hard-pressed to locate other period-correct parts for cheap. But, that was the goal. Another stroke of divine luck came in the form of an eBay listing for an EVGA SLI LE motherboard. I needed a 3-way capable board, and this popped up including several sticks of RAM, a dual-fan RAM cooler, and an i7-920 w/ Koolance CPU block. It couldn't be more perfect.</p>

+  <figure>

+    <img src="/static/media/X58_Cosmos/Motherboard_and_RAM_1000.jpg" alt="Motherboard, RAM, RAM cooler, and CPU waterblock on table." width="1000" height="750" />

+    <img src="/static/media/X58_Cosmos/CPU_Block_1000.jpg" alt="Close up of Koolance CPU block." width="1000" height="750" />

+    <figcaption>EVGA X58 SLI LE, Corsair Dominator RAM, matching cooler, and Koolance CPU block.</figcaption>

+  </figure>

+  <p>With a motherboard in hand, it was time to start test fitting. Or rather, I couldn't help myself. First was assembling the GPUs, stripping the air coolers and mounting the waterblocks.</p>

+  <figure>

+    <img src="/static/media/X58_Cosmos/GPU_Assembly_1000.jpg" alt="Three Nvidia GTX 260 GPUS with waterblocks and connected by extension fittings." width="1000" height="750" />

+    <figcaption>3x GTX 260 GPUs waterblocked.</figcaption>

+  </figure>

+  <p>Then I mounted the motherboard and GPUs in the case.</p>

+  <figure>

+    <img src="/static/media/X58_Cosmos/Test_Fit_1000.jpg" alt="Motherboard and GPU assemblies mounted in empty Cooler Master Cosmos S chassis" width="750" height="1000" />

+    <figcaption>Motherboard and GPU test fit.</figcaption>

+  </figure>

+  <p>With that, the parts left to purchase were radiators, pump, reservoir, and fittings. I was willing to go cheap on the fittings and reservoir, as it felt to still be in the spirit of the build. Plain barbs were common at the time, and a reservoir was a reservoir. I made a mistake with the pump, spending $50 on an AliExpress unit thinking I could curb some problems going with a reputable Chinese seller. Long story short, it clicks. Some noted on forums that they used similar pumps that were a fraction of the price and solved these issues by doing a rebuild. I saved no money and will likely be following the same process anyways. Lesson learned. As for the radiators, I started looking at Byski and FormulaMod parts, but they were still quite expensive. Enough to look on eBay for second-hand name-brand parts. And the hunt paid off. I was able to buy a matching set of two Hardware Labs Black Ice Nemesis 360 GTS radiators for $73 shipped.</p>

+  <p>Having all the parts finally arrived, I began assembly for testing.</p>

+  <figure>

+    <img src="/static/media/X58_Cosmos/Interior_1000.jpg" alt="All components installed and loop filled with distilled water." width="1000" height="750" />

+    <img src="/static/media/X58_Cosmos/In_Use_1000.jpg" alt="Exterior view of case with side pannel off." width="750" height="1000" />

+    <figcaption>Hardware assembled and loop filled with distilled water for testing.</figcaption>

+  </figure>

+  <p>In assembling the parts, had a realization about the PCIe slots on the board prompting <a href="https://forums.evga.com/X58-SLI-LE-3way-SLI-SupportSlot-Spacing-Question-m3629036.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">this discussion on the EVGA forum</a> about slot spacing. The theoretical conclusion I came to was that even though my lower card was in the x4 slot, it didn't really matter due to performance being extremely similar when pairing the x4 and x16 cards for 2-way compared to x8 and x16 in 2-way coupled with the fact that 3-way scales badly to begin with.</p>

+  <p>Still, I wanted to see if there was a difference, so I bought a longer SLI bridge, drained the loop and reassembled it with the new spacing. Unfortunately, I hit a snag. The system will not recognize the card in the bottom x8 slot. Unfortunately, the EVGA forum has been shut down and moved to Reddit since my last post there. I put up a <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/TEAMEVGA/comments/1ivmhqn/x58_le_lower_slot_issues/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">new post on their subreddit</a>. As I feared, no response yet. See another recent <a href="/blog/2025-02-13+Your_Local_Forum_Is_Dying+rant+tech">post about the death of the internet</a>.</p>

+  <p>In the meantime, though, the system does work as intended. It's still not done, though. I need to make custom mounting hardware for the front radiator, pump/reservoir, and system drives. Most of the components are floating unsupported currently. The cable situation is another thing I want to address, with my goal to sleeve the existing cables. I'm still a bit torn, as this will require cutting the original sleeving, and the PSU is a time capsule otherwise. I'll also be making some shrouds out of bent, black acrylic to hide the cable mess and help give the build a cleaner, more organized look. A cover for the SLI bridge is also in the works.</p>

+  <p>But, for now, the system is assembled and can play games. That's over half the battle.</p>

+  <figure>

+    <img src="/static/media/X58_Cosmos/Cosmos_S_Final-1_1000.jpg" alt="Final computer assembled, exterior shots of Cosmos S." width="1000" height="750" />

+    <img src="/static/media/X58_Cosmos/Cosmos_S_Final-2_1000.jpg" alt="Final front shot of assembled computer." width="750" height="1000" />

+  </figure>

+  <p><b>Created:</b> {{ .Date }}</p>

+</article>

+{{ end }}
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