Kevin Keating - January 29, 2026 57

Welcome to Featured Rig #11 - Project Waterforce

Built & Designed by Tim Parker, aka PC Werkz

For Featured Rig 11, we’re proud to have worked with expert PC modder and builder Tim Parker, aka PC Werkz. Tim has over 15 years of experience building custom PCs and has worked with just about everyone from ASUS to NVIDIA producing show-stopping builds for media, events, and tradeshows.

If you’ve ever seen liquid-cooled PCs at CES or Computex, there’s a good chance you’ve seen some of Tim’s work. If you want to keep up with his latest projects or reach out for business inquiries, check out his Instagram @PC_Werks and send him a DM. Tell him TITAN RIG sent you!

PC_Werkz Instagram Profile

Project Waterforce features the ASUS ProArt Z890-Creator WiFi motherboard. This board has drawn the attention of creators and enthusiasts seeking components that combine powerful creator-focused tools, refined aesthetics, and the ability to handle intensive workloads. It set the tone for the entire build and was the first piece of hardware selected for the project.

ASUS ProArt Z890-Creator motherboard SSD cover

To keep the CPU running cool and look good doing it, Project Waterforce features a full Bitspower liquid cooling loop. The gold fittings and tubing are an excellent pairing with the ProArt aesthetic. Admittedly, many of the items used in the build are no longer available from us, but Bitspower has newer items now available including these water blocks.

Shop Bitspower Liquid Cooling

Q&A

Now let's check out the build and learn a little about Tim and PC Werkz

TITAN RIG: Tell us about Project WaterForce. What inspired the hardware selection? Is this a personal rig, or is it built for someone else? How will it be used day to day?

Tim: Project Waterforce is a Kompcase Magnus 2 that I powdercoated a satin matte black and then added acrylic panels for extra detail. The build is based around the aesthetics of the Asus Pro Art series highlighting the distinctive black and gold theme. The build is a personal build which I will begin to use for ai modeling and eventually upgrade in the future as needed.

TITAN RIG: Open-air builds make a bold visual statement. Are they more challenging to work with compared to traditional cases? For someone attempting their first open-air build, what’s the biggest challenge?

Tim: I think the biggest challenge for an open air build is cable management. Deciding on how to route the cables will definitely make or break a build. An open air build is a real statement of building, there's no hiding cables in a top or bottom section of a case. Every cable has to be thought out and then rethought to make the build really come together.

TITAN RIG: The acrylic plates around the case are a standout feature - especially the circle and line work. Can you walk us through how you designed and made them?

Tim: The plates are ⅛ acrylic sheets that are stacked to create more of a 3d feel for the body/chassis of the build. When designing the build I didn't want people to look at it and just see flat panels with cable running through it. My goal was to create depth in different areas that brings people's eyes to that point. The top piece of acrylic is a matte black acrylic with the design cut out that's overlaid on a mirror gold sheet of acrylic to give it that look.

TITAN RIG: The loop layout is clean while also being complex. With so many components, how do you visualize everything and make it come together?

Tim: My main goal with tubing is always a clean approach. I love when people say “wow thats simple and clean” it makes me feel like I accomplished the goal. But with that being said, I do like to bring a sort of question to the viewer on how the loop works to make it interesting. I would say that the tube runs and overall loop layout is about 60% of the build. I’ll stare at it for awhile then walk away then come back multiple times.

TITAN RIG: The 90-degree bends at the front of the build are impressively tight. How do you achieve such tight bends without deforming or cracking the finish on the tube?

Tim: The key to tight bend is heating up more of the tube so when you're attempting to create the bend radius you can actually pull it inward tighter to make the radius tighter.

TITAN RIG: The inline Bitspower filters next to the GPU are a subtle but striking detail. Were those added purely for aesthetics, or do you believe there's a functional advantage to filtering?

Tim: That was purely an aesthetic that I wanted to give the build. I do believe there's some functionality to them but the filters are quite small and could possibly create a clog if not maintained

TITAN RIG: Tell us about the first PC you remember building. What year was it, and what do you remember most about it?

Tim: The first pc I ever built was a Thermaltake itx case. Removable motherboard IO shield, ketchup and mustard psu cables, and no gpu. It was a fun build back in 2011 and started my passion to continue on to where I am now.

TITAN RIG: How did you go from hobbyist to full-time PC builder?

Tim: My first client was my mom back in 2017. Back then it was a hobby for me but I was really enjoying it. My mom said she wanted to be my first customer before I became famous lol. My first sponsorship came back in 2019 I won a contest for Thermaltake and they sent me a free desk. From then they started using me for product launches and marketing releases. I went full time when the pandemic happened and I got laid off from my main job. People started reaching out for commissioned builds and then I got picked up by Intels marketing team.

TITAN RIG: How would you describe your building style? What influences, whether inside or outside the tech world, have shaped your approach?

Tim: As I have evolved with my style I get many influences from just walking around. Sculptures, wall designs, art, colors, everything I see for me really gives inspiration to do different things

TITAN RIG: What specialized tools do you use in your builds? (For example, CNC machines, 3D printers, laser cutters, etc.) And what’s next on your wishlist?

Tim: I currently have a 24x24” cnc, 20”x28” laser, and a 3D printer. Im hoping to get a fiber laser

TITAN RIG: What’s one myth or common misconception about PC building that you’d like to clear up?

Tim: For me I think it that custom loop isn't that hard and its not that scary like most people think. I think people don't understand how forgiving a lot of the components are even if you get them slightly wet.

TITAN RIG: Do you primarily build for brands, events, and trade shows, or do you also take on builds for individuals?

Tim: I do a lot of builds for brands and events. I get commissioned builds from my following on social media and individuals I meet at trade shows, and I’m contracted by 2 of the local computers stores in San Diego to do their custom builds for them when customers are requesting builds that they don't have the knowledge to complete.

Thank you to Tim for the epic build and answering all of our questions. We love how it came out and we will see you all on the next one!