antec 160-FW + asetek waterchill goodness. (45 pics)

[eastvillager]

Project: Mod an Antec 160FW to hold an Asetek Waterchill Kit

Product Links:

Antec (http://www.antec.com)
Asetek Waterchill (http://www.waterchill.com)

Disassembled Antec 160FW on my couch.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0001.jpg

Waterchill Kit, inside the box.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0019.jpg

A note on the pics: I took these shots with nikon coolpix 5700. Only 'post'
I did was to knock them down from fullsize RAW to medium quality 800x600 jpegs.

Link to thumbnails of just the pics.
Pics index (http://users.rcn.com/random2/page1.htm)

Ok, I had a couple goals here.

1. Get into watercooling, just for something different with my pc.
2. Do my first case mod.
3. Make as few external changes to the case as possible.

The styling of the 160FW isn't too bad to start with, if the front chrome
doesn't immediately turn you off. Fortunately for this project, the part I
don't like most about the case---the chrome intakes+blue leds in front---is
the first part I'm cutting out.

Step 1---Front chassis cutting for radiator

Front of chassis, front panels removed, before cutting.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0002.jpg

I used a Proxxon Micromot IB/E for the big cuts/grinding/etc. This thing makes
my old dremel look like it came from toys r us.

Front of chassis, masked and marked for first cut.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0003.jpg

Front of chassis, after cut, testing to see if radiator fits.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0005.jpg

Side of chassis, testing radiator fit, before further cuts.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0006.jpg

Step 2---Front Panels cut for radiator, some quick grill modding.

Chrome part of front panel, before cuts, inside view.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0007.jpg

After cuts, outside view.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0008.jpg

Testing fit around radiator, front view.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0009.jpg

Ok, remember that piece of black grillwork from the chrome panel that covered the top of the intakes? Well, I removed that, cut it up, bent the edges, trimmed it up and put it in the external 3.5 drivebays as a new grill.

Front panel, intakes removed, 'new' 3.5 inch drivebay grill in place

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0010.jpg

Closeup of same

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0011.jpg

Both panels assembled over radiator to test fit

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0012.jpg

Closeup of same to show grill detail

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0013.jpg

Couple more, with a light inside case, behind radiator/fans

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0017.jpg

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0018.jpg

I'm pretty happy with how that turned out.

Step 3---Chassis cuts to increase airflow through radiator, make room for hoses.

After cuts to bottom of 5.25 drivebay and top of 3.5 bays

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0014.jpg

Side angle of same, showing my first big mistake, I rolled the edges at the bottom
of the 5.25 drivebays with a pair of vise grips, leaving lots of tool marks.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0015.jpg

Isn't that big of a deal, don't know if I'll ever do anything about it.

After cutting out the top of the 3.5 internal bays, I noticed that the two sides like to spread apart, especially when load with 4 drives. To remedy this, I took one of the front 5.25 punchouts, folded down about a half inch on the two short sides, and suddenly had a nice 'clip'.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0016.jpg

Step 4---Move one external 3.5 drivebay to an inside mount

I didn't really plan on doing this, just noticed it would work, and figured I might as well.
The drivebay for two external 3.5 drives is removable, and fastened by two thumscrews.

The plan is to mount it at the bottom of the inside 3.5 drivebays, where antec stores
spare case parts. Only time I need a floppy nowadays is installing windows or some bios
flashing, so it isn't a big deal to have to take off the side panel when I need to put
a floppy in.

Drivebay cuts, modded for just 1 3.5 device, and to increase front to back airflow

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0026.jpg

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0027.jpg

I was able to drill and tap a hole for the right thumbscrew. The left thumbscrew is a
friction fit against the left side of the 3.5 drivebays. It works, heh.

Drivebay in place.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0025.jpg

Step 5---Mount pump to chassis

On this step, I decided bolt the pump mount to the bottom of the case, using a piece
of an old quake II mousepad to dampen the vibration.

Mousepad masked/marked for cutting/drilling, with pump mount in picture

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0020.jpg

Assembled pump mount, side view

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0021.jpg

Installed pump mount, inside view

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0022.jpg

Installed pump mount, bottom of case view

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0023.jpg

I used nylon lock nuts, so they won't vibrate loose. The feet on the case are thick
enough that these don't hit whatever surface the case is on.

Pump on mount, test fit

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0024.jpg

Step 6---dampen/cushion radiator+fans

Remember that mousepad? I found another spot for some of it. I cut out two circular pieces for the dead spot on each fan, to keep the fans away from the hard drive bays, and to dampen the connection between the fans and the chassis.

Fans and mousepad circles before

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0028.jpg

After

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0029.jpg

Foam glued into chassis and front panel to cushion radiator

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0030.jpg

View from front of radiator, chassis and foam inserts

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0035.jpg

hey, that is the end of the case mod portion. Very simple changes, most of which
aren't even visibly noticeable to the casual viewer.

Now for moving my old hardware, an upgrade or two, and installing the rest of the waterchill kit.


Step 7---move the internals, upgrade the RAID drives

Ok, guess this is a good point to mention what my rig is.

P4 3.4GHz
2 Corsair XMS PC3200 512meg DDR SDRAMs
Abit IC7-G
ATI 9700Pro AIW
Creative Audigy 2 ZS
Plextor Plexwriter Premium
Plextor PX-712A DVDR
2 180Gig Deskstar IDE Ultra ATA drives, 8meg cache each
2 36.7gig 10k rpm Raptor SATA drives in RAID 0

During the move, I backed up the RAID to each deskstar drive, and replaced the 36.7 gig
raptors with two 74 gig raptors.

I was sort of waiting around for a 6800GT or x800 XT PE to round out the system, but got
sick of waiting on the paper launches to become reality.

Old case next to new case.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0031.jpg

Old case is a coolermaster atcs, great case, built like a tank, but just to small for this
project, imho. I can sit on that case with no fear, can't say that about the antec.

IC7-G pulled, northbridge fan removed, memory removed, CPU heatsink brackets removed

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0032.jpg

Shot of the infamous ic7-g northbridge clips, of course I've had two fall out already.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0033.jpg

Of course both of those are on the same side, screwing me.

I took some picture wire, removed a few strands, made my own custom loops, forgot to take a picture.

Case picture, all drives installed

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0034.jpg

Side view, good shot of clip I made, and mounted internal floppy

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0036.jpg

Step 8---Waterblocks!!!!

CPU and Northbridge waterblocks mounted to IC7-G

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0037.jpg

9700pro, 9700pro AIW, and a video waterblock

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0038.jpg

The 9700pro had been in my SFF rig for awhile, hadn't used it recently. I chose it over the AIW because of two video outputs, and I didn't have to cut up the waterblock any to get it to fit.

Unfortunately, much later in the project, I have everything together and the 9700pro is artifacting terribly. Not sure if I fried it during the project, or if it was already toast. It was fun swapping it out for the AIW, grinding down part of the acrylic waterblock mount, and reattaching both without draining the system or undoing any hoses. Lol.

IC7-G, installed on motherboard tray, memory populated, waterblocks in place

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0039.jpg

Most things installed, doing my SECOND leak test. Yes, second test. First test was ugly, I had two bad connections on the first one, and too much excess tubing in the case. Trimmed it down, rechecked my tube ends, and voila, no leaks.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0040.jpg

View of same, rotated, in the dark. You'll notice some blue led lighting. I took the three leds I removed from the front intakes and put them inside the structural beam running from front to back of the case. Easy, and it works.

Fully assembled, sitting next to my desk, running.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0042.jpg

Same view, with room lighting off.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0043.jpg

Closeup of same.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0044.jpg

There are two LEDs on the ic7-g that light up during operation, one red and one yellow, guess you could cover them up if they interfere with your color scheme.

Gratuitous shot of my computer area. I live in a tiny nyc studio, gotta cram stuff in.

http://users.rcn.com/random2/images/waterchilled0045.jpg

The End... for now.

[heyheyhey]

That case deserves to be up on the desk... you need to show it off :)

[jayjaya29]

Agreed. But thats a slick mod. Everything came out real nice and looks professional. Great job, I'm envious. ;)

[ReconSniper]

nice chair... oh and awesome job on the case.

[DR_K13]

great job, I cont have the guts to go h2o cooled yet, I admire you!

[R@Mo]

Very sweeeet!@!! I love the idea of mounting the floppy drive in the hard drive cage. :cool:

Perhaps you should sleeve your PSU next? :p

[Aztlan]

Just WOW, everything looks professionally installed

that thing must weight alot with everything installed

by the way, since you have both cases, which is lighter, the antec or the coolermaster one?

[eastvillager]

Thanks for the great feedback everybody. :)

To speak to a couple points:

I don't have it up on my desk because I spend way too much time staring at monitors between my job and my hobbies. I find that just about any colored lighting off to the side makes me get eye strain that much quicker. I might try to put in a toggle switch or two, so I can remove the lighting on demand. If I can do that, it'll go where the coolermaster used to sit, on that table to the right of my desk, which puts it between the displays and the canon photo printer.

Yep, I do need to do something about the wiring in between the powersupply and the cd/dvd drives. I just haven't figured out what I want to do. I don't think airflow in that portion of the case is that big of a deal, so I might just enclose the entire area with aluminum grillwork, leaving the right side open. That'd make it very easy to work with, while still looking good from the window'd side.

Yes, the case, fully loaded, weighs a TON. Empty, the case is much lighter than the coolermaster. It is a tradeoff, though, as the coolermaster is still pretty light, while built like a tank. Very thick aluminum inside that beast. The antec, on the other hand, is fragile. Mine has a couple corners that are slightly out of whack, just from shipping. Either way, neither of them were cases I planned on moving around regularly. I've got a tiny sff cube with p4 3.0G, a gig of ram, a 9700pro, and one 37 gig raptor that I use when I've got to go mobile and a laptop won't cut it.

Anybody else who has this case, I've got a question: Where did you put your internal temperature sensors that output to the front display, and how did you attach them? I'm thinking about using thermal epoxy to stick one on the side of the copper portion of cpu waterblock, and the other on the same spot on the vid waterblock.

[Matrices]

Beautiful. I wish I had a dremel or similar cutting tool.

My Antec 1030 is too crowded to fit a good WC setup in properly, plus I don't notice any noise difference between it and my fanbus-air cooling setup, so I'm selling it off.

What model is your old Cooler Master case?

[eastvillager]

atc-201

[DeViLdUdE]

First Super Nice mod(hmm sounds gay wit "super") hehe??

Second what kind of LCD are those?? 19 inchers huh??

Third where did you get the chair??

[Localan]

IC7-G pulled, northbridge fan removed, memory removed, CPU heatsink brackets removed
If you don't have a use for that NB fan anymore, perhaps I could send you a couple of bucks to take it off your hands?

[eastvillager]

LCD Displays: Samsung 191T. I bought one online, then found an "open box" one at Best Buy for a great price, the only problem with it is a couple garbled characters in the onscreen display---which made it over $200 cheaper than I paid for the first one.

Only thing you can really complain about is the pixel refresh, but it isn't like anybody else was putting out faster LCD panels at the time. I'm a sucker for the ultra-thin bezel.

Chair: Herman Miller Aeron, purchased direct from their webstore a couple years back.



Northbridge fan availability? Sure, send me a pm with the address you want it shipped to. The clip is a bit bent/trimmed from when I had to make it work in opposite hooks after I lost the first northbridge hook. I think Abit had a monkey soldering them in or something.

[Sobek]

Sweet Job. Those status LED's light up your res. nicely.
I had the same problem with my IC7-G Max II last september when I was putting my computer together. Connected everything and it wouldn't POST untill I saw it was hanging off. Took two weeks to get a new one sent to me.
I get eye strain from my CCFl's too and hardly ever turn them on.

[eastvillager]

Sweet Job. Those status LED's light up your res. nicely.



I wasn't planning on that, but it is starting to grow on me. Is like godzilla's malevolent red eye staring out at you from the heart of the iceberg. :D

[Deadlierchair]

Oh, I enjoyed reading your mod log up until one point that really made the mod for me.

Putting the floppy drive in a hard drive bay is possibly the best idea ever. You don't have to show its ugliness to the outside world yet you still have it available for emergencies. It works especially well with those perpendicular Antec style hard drive bays. That looks like a great system, nice mod too :)

[TheMostWantedPolishTwin]

nice rig and pretty bada$$ workstation...

[eastvillager]

I replaced the 9700pro aiw with an evga geforce 6800 gt. I think I'm done with upgrading this rig for awhile(I hope). May go for some faster ram, just for overclocking, and will sleeve all of the powersupply lines sooner or later.

This generation of video cards is wicked fast, and it doesn't really seem to matter if you pick nvidia or ati, you still win. I *love* being able to go in to a game config screen and just turn everything to max and not worry about framerate. Do yourself a favor and upgrade once the cards are readily available and the prices come down a bit. You do need a good proc to make the most of them, of course.

[Shadowgrip]

To clean it up a bit you could shorten the tubes, and get rid of the excess tubes having to be bunched up right in the middle of the case. looks sweet though the way it is too.

[patriot71]

I have this same case I am going to do water cooling in. As soon as I can get a shroud to mount my damn HC I will post some pics. I opted for mounting the heatercore in the top of the case as opposed to the front because I didnt want to restrict air flow too much.

this is an old ass thread....