MetallicAcid's FT03 with Xtreme watercooling

M

MetallicAcid

Weaksauce
Joined
Aug 22, 2013
Messages
126



Hello guys and girls of modding and welcome to my project build log!

The introduction
I am about to kick off another project that I have been designing for roughly 2 months now. I have this perfect opportunity to work on this project whilst I wait for PC components to come in for my ongoing black and gold Silverstone TJ07 project. The TJ07 project has been put on hold for 2 months, so the end of July is my deadline to finish this Silverstone FT03 project. This will be my fourth project since May 2013.

The project
This project is primarily a simple upgrade for my personal gaming rig, to turn it more into a design capable PC with boosted CPU power and looks to kill. This PC will have an upgraded CPU coming from an i5 2500k to an i7 4770k. I will also have a fully upgraded watercooling loop which will also include the GPU this time. The radiator will be no less than an 85mm thick MONSTA Phobya 400x200mm radiator sitting on the back of the FT03 case like a backpack of sorts. lastly, this project will feature aluminium "armour" panels to give it a unique look and make the external rad tie into the overall design.

The hardware
Intel Core i7 4770K
ASUS Gryphon Z87 mATX
Corsair Vengeance Pro 16GB 2133mhz
Samsung 840 Pro 512GB
ASUS Geforce GTX780 3GB
Corsair AX850w
Silverstone Fortress FT03
Custom watercooled loop

The Renders




























The conclusion
So to round things up, this project is going to be (hopefully) short and sweet. The custom aluminium panels I will have CNC milled as I have learnt a CAD program and created all the necessary files. All of the hardware I already own and am currently running as of writing this first post. And lastly I have had a great time designing this project first in SketchUp and learning a professional CAD software (Autodesk Inventor). I can safely say that modding is my passion, and I really hope to make it my profession!

The sponsors
I would like to thank Aquatuning.se for sponsoring the following items to help make this project become more than renders and 3D models:

Phobya Xtreme 400
Phobya G-Silent 18 700rpm Slim black
Vandal proof Power button 16mm White
Alphacool bulkhead fitting G1/4 - deep black
Phobya ATX-bridging plug (24 Pin) - black

Thank you to Mundi at Icemodz.com, who has given the following products to make the inside of my project look as nice as it possibly could.

1m Shakmods 4mm Dense Weave Round Cable Braid/Sleeve
RGB LED strip x150cm
RGB Control box and Remote x1
Bending Cord For 12/10mm Tubing x1
3 pin Fan Extension Cable x4
4pin Y fan splitter Black x2
Pre-Wired and sleeved Vandal Switch Cables x2
Single Color LED Strip Real UV Ultraviolet x150cm
50cm Extension cable connectors 4pins for RGB led strip lights x2
RGB Led splitter Black x1
1 Meter Expandable Sleeve - 4mm Snow White SKU 00020 x10m
Lighted Vandal Switch 18-22mm Silver White Momentary 22mm x1

Thank you to Daniel at Inet.se who has provided the project with 2x Be Quiet 80mm PWM fans, and possibly some incoming items in the near future.

Be Quiet SilentWings 2, 80mm PWM

The update index
Update 1 - Aquatuning sponsors the project with watercooling
Update 2 - Template made for top plate
Update 3 - Corsair Vengeance Pro painted
Update 4 - Finished the radiator brackets
Update 5 - Icemodz has become a sponsor for this project
Update 6 - Video tour of the completed mounted radiator and painted case
Update 7 - Everything painted and case put back together with radiator mounted
Update 8 - The components move from TJ08-E to FT03
Update 9 - Inet joins as sponsor

Thank you for your interest in my build log, and I hope that you choose to subscribe and follow this project. Take care.
Justin "MetallicAcid" Ohlsen
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Last edited:
Welcome to the latest update!








Welcome to the first update :D

With this update, I am very pleased to announce Aquatuning.se as a sponsor to this project. I would just like to thank Andreas for his help and hope that he enjoys following this project. The care package from Aquatuning contained the following items:
Phobya Xtreme 400
Phobya G-Silent 18 700rpm Slim black
Vandal proof Power button 16mm White
Alphacool bulkhead fitting G1/4 - deep black
Phobya ATX-bridging plug (24 Pin) - black

And here a couple of photos of what came in the care package:


















I have to say that this rad is certainly overkill - My wife just looked at the rad, shook her head and walk away. That feeling of satisfaction that overcame was simply divine! :D It is seriously heavy, and it has made me rethink the mounting method I had previously planned. It's an easy fix which involves aluminium U channel, screws, cutting, filing and painting. I will pick up the materials tomorrow and hopefully have the rad attached to the case by Tuesday night. I would do it sooner, but the latest episode of Game Of Thrones will be on tomorrow ;)

In other news, I have repainted all of the case in a matt carbon black tone, and my does it look great! The front panel in the above picture is already sporting the new awesome blackness!

I hope you have enjoyed this waffle-free update!
Justin "MetallicAcid" Ohlsen



​
 
Hey guys!

I don't have so much of a big update but rather that I have just finished painting the panels in a matt carbon black colour. The reason why I have done this is because the anodizing was sun damaged and started to turn a gold/pink colour. So I just gave all of the panels a nice sanding, thorough clean then a few coats of the paint, and finally a clear coat.
They turned out very nice :)



In other news, I went to the hardware store to get the U-profile aluminium, but the stores' personnel could not find it. I have one on back order, and it should arrive in a few days. I also ordered the ASUS Armor Kit for the Z87 Gryphon motherboard today, and that too should arrive this week.

That is it from me for now. Take care :D
Justin.
 
Welcome to the latest update!




Sponsored by:






Welcome again to another update :)

Today I would like to report on progress made with making a paper prototype of the top plate, where the tubing will go through into the PC. I do not like the original plate as I think that there is too much going on which takes away from the clean look that I am aiming for. Here is what it looks like "stock":



Here is the first prototype that I had made and printed from SketchUp. I thought it was missing something...



And the last prototype. This one I am most happy with. To get a start on the tube routing, I might have to make this panel by hand instead of waiting for the CNC mill to be repaired.



And here is the associated render to show what I am aiming for. I am currently debating if I should have the front IO panel or not. I do not need it, and plan on installing a vandal switch somewhere else, so it might just go.



I will be picking up the U-channel which came in just today at my local hardware store, so I hope to have it cut, ready to be painted with the rad installed.

Have a good one!
Justin "MetallicAcid" Ohlsen
​
 
I'm throwing my money at the monitor but nothing is happening, this is looking to be a sexy build, cant wait for benchmarks and such
 
nlancaster said:
HOLY CRAP THAT IS A BIG RADIATOR!

Gonna watch this one!
Click to expand...
Thanks for joining :) I hope to have the rad installed by the end of the week :D

sbudbud said:
I'm throwing my money at the monitor but nothing is happening, this is looking to be a sexy build, cant wait for benchmarks and such
Click to expand...
If only that money came through your monitor to me.... Oh imagine what I could build without being on a limited budget :D :D

Best regards,
Justin
 
Welcome to the latest update!






Sponsored by:







Hey guys!

Today's update is featuring some Corsair Vengeance Pro 2133 16GB RAM that I modified with giving it a lick of Carbon Black paint. I am planning on doing something with the stickers at a later time, like creating my own or covering them with vinyl. There isn't much more to write about, so enjoy the pics :)











Bonus photo: A nice way to have them cure faster ;) There is plenty of warmth coming from this Dell Ultrasharp 27U11 to help with this normally long procces.



Thanks for coming along and reading once again!
Best regards,
Justin "MetallicAcid" Ohlsen
​
 
Welcome to the latest update!






Sponsored by:







Hi again guys and girls! :)

Today's update is featuring the rad brackets which I have fabricated from 40x40x4mm aluminium U-channel. They will support the radiator whilst it is hanging from the back panel of the FT03 case. The process involved drilling a whole lot of holes, then sawing the holes which are on an angle, and then to bend up the flap like it was a can of goulasch. And a lot of filing of course! :D

My workshop this time was on my shitty little balcony. It is always nice with some fresh air, and to keep our apartment free of aluminium chips.



















In the coming pictures, I try to show how the fans+rad+ bracket is held together. I tapped holes into the aluminium profile so that when the screws go through the aluminium, then then continue into the holes of the radiator bracket, holding everything in place.














In other news, I am just wrapping up painting the rad brackets, and will have some pictures coming up within a day or so! Thanks for once again reading my project log :)

Best regards,
Justin "MetallicAcid" Ohlsen



​
 
Welcome to the latest update!






Sponsored by:









Welcome again to another update :)

With this update I would like to thank Icemodz.com for supplying this project with all that I could possibly need to make sure that my sleeving is beautiful and that the case has LED lighting, plus everyting else in between!






Here come the item names and links.

1m Shakmods 4mm Dense Weave Round Cable Braid/Sleeve
RGB LED strip x150cm
RGB Control box and Remote x1
Bending Cord For 12/10mm Tubing x1
3 pin Fan Extension Cable x4
4pin Y fan splitter Black x2
Pre-Wired and sleeved Vandal Switch Cables x2
Single Color LED Strip Real UV Ultraviolet x150cm
50cm Extension cable connectors 4pins for RGB led strip lights x2
RGB Led splitter Black x1
1 Meter Expandable Sleeve - 4mm Snow White SKU 00020 x10m
Lighted Vandal Switch 18-22mm Silver White Momentary 22mm x1

I cannot wait to get this thing put together guys!! But I can say that there is nothing more boring than watching paint dry ;)

Best regards,
Justin "MetallicAcid" Ohlsen

​
 
Welcome to the latest update!






Sponsored by:









It is update time again folks :)

I have created a nice little walkthrough for your viewing pleasure after a certain mod has been completed. A photo update is soon to follow ;)
Without further adue, here comes the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q45pYs8iK8

Thanks for once again joining my project in it's latest update, and hope to see you again soon!

Best regards,
Justin "MetallicAcid" Ohslen


​
 
Welcome to the latest update!






Sponsored by:









Hi and welcome to another one of my updates!

This update is all about painting, and the completion of the radiator being mounted onto the back of the case, as seen in the video in the previous update. So far I am really happy with the progress that I have made and the end result of the mod.

The coming photos are in no real order, but I have tried to show kind of like "Before-After" shots of the various parts. I ended up painting the entire frame, all panels, the rad bracket and radiator itself. I also wanted to get rid of all silver inside of the case, so I even painted the screws and pop rivets. I must say that it is looking mighty sexy!






















Now that this is completed I will start work on the top panel if time permits so that I can get a start on the watercooling. This panel will be a second priority though as I have some parts rolling in now for my Silverstone TJ07 project, so my focus will then be on completing that project with any free time going into this one.

So with that said, I would like to thank you for once again reading another one of my updates! Please let me know what you think! :)

Best regards,
Justin "MetallicAcid" Ohlsen

​
 
In. I really dig the rear rad mount. External rads usually end up looking pretty rough imo, but this is a great execution. I'm thinking about an ft03 build as well; I planned to go with a 9x120 external rad but this is looking awesome.
 
What's your plan with the plastic lift off side cover? I'd leave about 3/4" of edge all the way around and replace the removed piece with smoked acrylic

That way it's still removable and keeps the stock design
 
failwheeldrive said:
In. I really dig the rear rad mount. External rads usually end up looking pretty rough imo, but this is a great execution. I'm thinking about an ft03 build as well; I planned to go with a 9x120 external rad but this is looking awesome.
Click to expand...
Thanks mate! I have thought about an external solution such as what you had mentioned too, but decided that I wanted to give myself a challenge and have an external design that looks integrated into the design.

Reality said:
What's your plan with the plastic lift off side cover? I'd leave about 3/4" of edge all the way around and replace the removed piece with smoked acrylic

That way it's still removable and keeps the stock design
Click to expand...
I actually going to cut a big hole into the side panel, create a new metal plate that will cover it partly, and have acrylic to cover the gaps, like this:



I will keep the side panels sock though until I have the milled panels infront of me, and to protect against dust when I move from my TJ08B-E to the FT03 before any cuts are made :)

Best regards,
Justin
 
Welcome to the latest update!






Sponsored by:









Welcome again guys and girls to another update :)

So the other day I moved over my PC parts from the TJ08-E case to the FT03, and wanted to share with you the progress that I had made! I am using the stock cables for now and will progressively shorten and resleeve the old cables whenever I find the free time. This rig is still air cooled for now until I get in the water cooling parts.

So without further delay, here are the photos that I took during the rebuilding process.





























































I would also like to note that I have not completed the lighting in this case. This too will be completed as I am shortening the PSU cables.

So that is it from me guys, I hope you liked the update! And as always, stay tuned for coming future updates :D

With kind regards,
Justin "MetallicAcid" Ohlsen

​
 
Welcome to the latest update!






Sponsored by:









Hello there! Here comes another update!

In this update I would like to just thank Inet for deeming my project worthy of sponsoring 2x Be Quiet 80mm PWM fans. Two fans may not sound like much, but at 200SEK each, they are nearly double the price of a regular 120mm fan!
I have to comment on Be Quiet and their build quality regarding these fans. They are astounding!! They feel solid to the touch, and come with 2 mounting options.
Option 1 using just regular screws and option 2 using vibration dampening plastic pins to hold the fan into place.

So thank you Inet. I am really looking forward to working with these fans!



















By the way, I have a mini text update for you :)
I am getting my panels milled this Wednesday, and hoping to get them painted over the weekend.
All of the water cooling parts are being shipped mid this week, and I can expect them at the start of next week.
The 2nd GPU has come in.
I have 2 more sponsor announcements when I receive sponsored parts.

I cannot wait!!
Justin "MetallicAcid" Ohlsen
​
 
Amazing looking project you got there. If it comes out anything close to the render it'll be awesome.
 
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