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Time to transplant into a new case, went for the FT03 in Titanium. Got the case in last night, stripped it all the way done, and taking it into the shop today to start cutting it up for a full water loop...
Goals:
Move as much as possible and replacing what doesn't fit form my Fractal Arc Mini into a new FT03 while keeping everything internal
Hardware:
Gigabyte GA-P55m-UD4
Intel i7-860 @ 3.36GHz
16GB Corsair XMS3 1600MHz DDR3
eVGA GTX470
Apple Airport Wireless car din MPCIE to PCIE 1x adatper
Zotac GT 210
Cooling:
XSPC EX120
HL M160
XSPC Raystorm
DD Full Cover GTX470 Block
eVGA Backplate
Swiftech MCP655 Pump
Rough Idea:
Mod of the bottom of the case to fit the M160, mod the top as needed. Run the pump on top of the optical drive bay. Have EX120 in push/pull with Corsair SP120s.
Arrived in a big-ole-box:
Outa the shipping box:
Removed all the panels for safety while modding (including the "can't be removed" rear panel:
Stripped down to the skeleton ready to be chopped:
Got some new parts in over the last couple of days, and still a few to go. So far i've gotten a GS20N slim DVD RW drive and adapter cables, 2 bgears b-baster 80mm fans, 1/8" expandable sleeving and a Swiftech MC655 vario pump with custom tapped fittings.
FINALLY got some cutting/modding done today, here's what i've got:
This bracket has to go since i'm putting a XSPC EX120 at the top
1/8" drill bit and some metal shavings later
I'm putting a HW Labs M160 radiator at the bottom, and it's not going to fit without some help
A little work with the dremel, and we have a rough opening
A little work with the file and it's looking better
A some custom cut U-Channel to clean it all up.
The lower rad is going to be VERY tight. i cut as close to the 2 screw holes as i could, but they have to stay there as they are the mounting point for the internal power cord. Taking a break for dinner, and it's time to start sleeveing the front panel cables and the 80mm b-blaster cables. i may have to end up modding/removing part of the clip that holds the front panel in place right under the bracket i removed, as i'm not sure there's going to be enough room for it. i haven't tried to fit it yet (since it's currently cooling the PC i'm typing on), but by the measurement i think i'm about .5 to 1mm short on space, so maybe i can just file it done a bit.... knock on wood.
Got some sleeving done today. I was able to sleeve the 4 loooooooong leads coming out of the "front panel", the 2 80mm b-blaster fans, and the slim-line adapter for the optical drive.
not much done tonight, but i got my fill/drain port drill out. turns out, stepper drill bits don't like drilling though square holes.... huh...
YEAH, my new rad became "unlost" and arrived today! it's definitely thick, it's going to be REALLY tight trying to get it in there.
Got my 2 80mm B Blaster fans put on with some "creative wire routing"...
Ok, plans are to get it all together this weekend... so here's the mornings work so far:
Reinstall the power cord adapter:
Mount the ODD in the tray:
I was VERY unhappy wit the look for the drive showing through the tray, so.....
A few strips of black electrical tape later:
And on the back too:
Reinstall the switch panel and LEDs:
Reroute and zip-tie them in place (also reinstalled the back side of the case):
Test fitting the radiator and water pump:
Major progress, though i've got one hose that has too tight of a bend, and i'm going to have to replace one of my fittings with a 45*, but other than that, she's up and running.
The last shot of MKII before she was gutted...
Just an empty shell now.
Removed the CPU block and turned it 90* (just so the lettering was all right side up)
Mounted into the case (a little dark)
Now with a flash
BIG bundle of wires, ended up adding more to this
New 90* fittings on the video card for output and drain/fill tube
Clear fill tube installed
Up and running
If you look closely, you can see i have to use a hose clamp and a zip tie temporarily to keep the hose form the upper rad to the CPU block from kinking. I'll be replacing the fitting on the CPU block with a 45* swivel and this should fix this problem. Took a while to bleed out, but it's nice and quite now. Once i get the other fitting and get the hose fixed, i'll get some butter pics. i still haven't cut the side panel for a window, but that's planned over the next couple of days (hopefully).
Goals:
Move as much as possible and replacing what doesn't fit form my Fractal Arc Mini into a new FT03 while keeping everything internal
Hardware:
Gigabyte GA-P55m-UD4
Intel i7-860 @ 3.36GHz
16GB Corsair XMS3 1600MHz DDR3
eVGA GTX470
Apple Airport Wireless car din MPCIE to PCIE 1x adatper
Zotac GT 210
Cooling:
XSPC EX120
HL M160
XSPC Raystorm
DD Full Cover GTX470 Block
eVGA Backplate
Swiftech MCP655 Pump
Rough Idea:
Mod of the bottom of the case to fit the M160, mod the top as needed. Run the pump on top of the optical drive bay. Have EX120 in push/pull with Corsair SP120s.
Arrived in a big-ole-box:
Outa the shipping box:
Removed all the panels for safety while modding (including the "can't be removed" rear panel:
Stripped down to the skeleton ready to be chopped:
Got some new parts in over the last couple of days, and still a few to go. So far i've gotten a GS20N slim DVD RW drive and adapter cables, 2 bgears b-baster 80mm fans, 1/8" expandable sleeving and a Swiftech MC655 vario pump with custom tapped fittings.
FINALLY got some cutting/modding done today, here's what i've got:
This bracket has to go since i'm putting a XSPC EX120 at the top
1/8" drill bit and some metal shavings later
I'm putting a HW Labs M160 radiator at the bottom, and it's not going to fit without some help
A little work with the dremel, and we have a rough opening
A little work with the file and it's looking better
A some custom cut U-Channel to clean it all up.
The lower rad is going to be VERY tight. i cut as close to the 2 screw holes as i could, but they have to stay there as they are the mounting point for the internal power cord. Taking a break for dinner, and it's time to start sleeveing the front panel cables and the 80mm b-blaster cables. i may have to end up modding/removing part of the clip that holds the front panel in place right under the bracket i removed, as i'm not sure there's going to be enough room for it. i haven't tried to fit it yet (since it's currently cooling the PC i'm typing on), but by the measurement i think i'm about .5 to 1mm short on space, so maybe i can just file it done a bit.... knock on wood.
Got some sleeving done today. I was able to sleeve the 4 loooooooong leads coming out of the "front panel", the 2 80mm b-blaster fans, and the slim-line adapter for the optical drive.
not much done tonight, but i got my fill/drain port drill out. turns out, stepper drill bits don't like drilling though square holes.... huh...
YEAH, my new rad became "unlost" and arrived today! it's definitely thick, it's going to be REALLY tight trying to get it in there.
Got my 2 80mm B Blaster fans put on with some "creative wire routing"...
Ok, plans are to get it all together this weekend... so here's the mornings work so far:
Reinstall the power cord adapter:
Mount the ODD in the tray:
I was VERY unhappy wit the look for the drive showing through the tray, so.....
A few strips of black electrical tape later:
And on the back too:
Reinstall the switch panel and LEDs:
Reroute and zip-tie them in place (also reinstalled the back side of the case):
Test fitting the radiator and water pump:
Major progress, though i've got one hose that has too tight of a bend, and i'm going to have to replace one of my fittings with a 45*, but other than that, she's up and running.
The last shot of MKII before she was gutted...
Just an empty shell now.
Removed the CPU block and turned it 90* (just so the lettering was all right side up)
Mounted into the case (a little dark)
Now with a flash
BIG bundle of wires, ended up adding more to this
New 90* fittings on the video card for output and drain/fill tube
Clear fill tube installed
Up and running
If you look closely, you can see i have to use a hose clamp and a zip tie temporarily to keep the hose form the upper rad to the CPU block from kinking. I'll be replacing the fitting on the CPU block with a 45* swivel and this should fix this problem. Took a while to bleed out, but it's nice and quite now. Once i get the other fitting and get the hose fixed, i'll get some butter pics. i still haven't cut the side panel for a window, but that's planned over the next couple of days (hopefully).
