Project: ??? (Maybe Blackout... cliche?)

[thaddeus.cto]

This is my first worklog ever!!! I have a little experience in case modding, only because I like having my computer up and running for gaming. Creating a worklog where people are going to want updates will hopefully get me motivated to finish a project.. and make it look good. So, here is a list of thing I want to do, not very extensive:

1. Paint case interior black.
2. Sleeve unsleeved cables.
3. Add a side-panel window (or black mesh.. not sure yet)
4. Watercool the processor and 2 video cards (looking for a small OC, but I really just want to do it because I can, so a 2x120 rad should be enough.
5. Build my Logitech G7 battery charger and receiver into the 3.5 inch floppy drive bay (this one will take awhile, as I have a lot of learning to do. I have an extra charger though, so I can experiment.)
6. Stealth the DVD-RW drive. DONE!!!

Here is a list of my watercooling components:
1. D-Tek Fusion v2 CPU block
2. 2x D-Tek GFX2 GPU blocks
3. Swiftech Quiet Power 220
4. Swiftech 655 pump w/ speed control (would've rather had the rpm sensor version to detect if the pump is working, But I should be fine with out it... right?
5. EK-D5 X-Top replacement top for Laing D5/Swiftech 655.
6. 12 Bitspower 1/2" ID x 5/8" OD Compression fittings (just read that these won't fit my blocks, so either I'll get 3/8" ID tubing and Compression fittings to match, or I will just use the barbs on the blocks, and compressions on everything else. What do you guys think?)
7. 7ft Tygon B4-44-4X 1/2" x 5/8" tubing (again, might be replaced).
8. 16 Enzotech Low-Profile BGA ramsinks
9. 10 Microcool Microsinks

I've posted pics of my current setup in the Post-Your-Setup thread. I'll post some pics here, too... along with the parts coming in today.

I hope this thing goes well. I'm not bad at modding... just not good. I haven't too much practice, but hopefully being careful and patient will make up for that. If you have any thoughts on the parts being used, or any part of the modding, please post and help me out!

-Edit: Some current pictures:

-Tad

 

[thaddeus.cto]

I received most of my watercooling parts today. I've decided to ditch the 1/2" ID tubing and go with 3/8" ID 1/2" OD tubing, and to exchange my 1/2" ID Compression fittings for 3/8" ID compression fittings that will actually fit my blocks. Here are some pictures:

Outside of the case now:

Watercooling parts:

Empty case and paint:

I hope to make some progress tomorrow. Doesn't seem like anyone is interested in this... oh well, I've always wanted to make a worklog.

-Tad

 

[criccio]

As a fellow A05 owner, im interested! Subscribed!

 

[WiLLiSTER]

Sounds like a fun project. How do you open the stealthed drive?

 

[scrawnypaleguy]

I love A05 rigs, wish I had one myself. I'll be watching this!

 

[shadowlord]

looks promising / subscribed!

 

[SippieCup]

Sounds like a fun project. How do you open the stealthed drive?

push down on the bottom right corner.



i have a couple concerns though..

those fans are one of em. they are awesomely silent (i had 3).. however after abhout a year they all started getting loud as fuck.. i think it was coz' my dorm was very dusty and could have fucked w/ them, but if you are in a dusty envioronment.. you might wanna return those and get new ones.. (im now using hiper fans.. they are just as quiet, cheaper, and push about the same amount of air. maybe they will last longer though)

As far as your paint... powercoating would probably be a better option, but i can understand if its out of your price range..

i just lost all my spending money for college on a new suspension for my car (it broke ) the day i bought a friend who is dire straights a new laptop for him (light side points anyone?), and now my video card died and i have no money to replace it..


anyway, you got some kickass parts and that stealthed drive looks awesome! prove me wrong about the paint too . 'subbed

 

[thaddeus.cto]

Thanks guys!!! Glad to see some encouragement, as I've been having my doubts about the project, considering my lack of modding experience.

@WiLLiSTER: Sippiecup is correct. I stacked 3 very small pieces of mounting tape (the foam kind for thinkness), lined the stack up with the button, and stuck it in the proper area on the back of the drive cover. Works flawlessly.

@Sippiecup: I'm not sure how much powder coating would run, nor of any place where I live that does that sort of thing. I'll look around though, as I think it would be within my means. As for the spray paint: I've read in many case painting guides that self-etching primer with enamel paint works the best for a DIY solution... unless you can powder coat it yourself. The painting is what I'm scared of most.

I'll post some pics of my progress tomorrow. I cut the area out of the top panel for the radiator. It doesn't look great, but I can use a file to touch it up, and the rad grill will cover it, too. If I mess up even further, I have an extra top panel... practice makes perfect.

-Tad

 

[ultimeus]

subs love your project.

Are you going to paint the PSU ? I think red is kind of ugly.

 

[timme]

Not really ugly, it just yells for attention

 

[thaddeus.cto]

I was actually thinking about replacing the PSU with a Corsair 750 watt, as it is black and shorter than the PC P&C 750 Quad I'm using corrently.

I'll post pics of my progress soon. Uploading pictures just takes a while for me with the number of pictures I have.

-Tad

 

[thaddeus.cto]

Yay for an update!!! It has been awhile, but I've been working, going to school, being a husband, and then trying to be a geek all at the same time. I'm glad being a father isn't in there...

Anyways, updates. The pictures speak for themselves. I've got about half of the priming done now, even though it is not reflected in the pics. I have the motherboard tray and 5.25 bay cage primed along with the parts shown in the picture. They've turned out well, though priming isn't hard. Very forgiving.

Let me know what you guys think. I've been thinking about mounting a 3x120mm rad at the top of the case instead of the 2x120. Also, I might have to mount the fans on the outside of the case, as my new motherboard (the MSI went out) has the second PCI-E 16x slot closer to the bottom of the board, and I don't think the rad will allow me to use the water block I'm going to use. So I could 1) buy two FC blocks for my cards that are thin enough to allow for the card to be installed in a single slot, or 2) mount the fans outside of the case. I'm leaning toward 2, as I think it would look pretty cool. I'll do some testing and see. It feels so good to post an update!

 

[thaddeus.cto]

Here are some pictures of the hardware updates I had to make to get crossfire running again. Well, that and I just HAD to get a new WD Velociraptor

 

[tribaloverkill]

Very good job so far And as for the name of this project,... "Blackout" is kinda taken

 

[thaddeus.cto]

Hey, a reply! And its from tribaloverkill!!! I feel like a celebrity just posted in my worklog. You've done some AMAZING work! Yeah, I don't wanna be a name stealer

 

[Cyberrad]

Looks promising! Can't wait to see the results.

 

[r0b0tc0rpse]

i like y the corsair, why 4 sticks?

 

[thaddeus.cto]

Thanks! I don't have a need for more than 8gigs of ram, which is why I have 4x2gig sticks.

I'm hoping to get some painting done today. I'll give an update soon after.

 

[thaddeus.cto]

Hello all!

I've decided to paint only specific parts of the case, and call the project Aluminack. Probably sounds dumb, but I like it. I painted the motherboard tray, hard drive cage, 5.25 bay cage, and the PCI-slot and Motherboard back panel. With everything put back together it looks really cool. That could just be due to this being my first really mod and I'm really happy with the work I've done so far. However, I found out last night that my with my current ASUS motherboard, my two crossfired video cards will not fit in the case with the radiator mounted at the top. So, since I want my radiator mount at the top, and I don't want to downgrade back to my MSI K9A2 Platinum motherboard, I found a DFI motherboard with the SB750 southbridge, and only three PCI-E 16x slots, which means plenty of room for two watercooled HD4870s. I'm going to hold off on it though until I start installing parts in the case.

In the meantime, I have some black sleeving and heatshrink on the way. I was also thinking of putting lighting in the case. I was thinking white or red. What do you guys think? Well, I'm at work, so its back to programming for me.

-Tad

 

[thaddeus.cto]

Some updates of the painting process. There are not many pictures as I was really just wanting to get the painting done. Guess it isn't much of a work log without logging all the work though.

Motherboard tray:

PCI back panel:

Hard drive cage:

All together, the case looks bent up, but I think it was just the camera setting I was using:

I'll take more pictures once the batteries for my camera recharge.

 

[thaddeus.cto]

The pump, rad, and res are being test fitted, and tubing is being measured and cut. I also finished sleeving cables, but I don't have pictures of all of them yet.

Pump and new EK D5 TOP:

Package from Sidewinder Computers (Great supplier!):

UN Designs brackets and Pump mounting:

Res:

Case:

Some sleeving:

The front USB/firewire/sound port cables are now completely wired. If you have any suggestions or comments PLEASE let me know. I have a new DFI SB750 790FX motherboard on the way, as the ASUS board won't allow me to install both watercooled GPUs under the radiator, and I've been having trouble the BSODs with the ASUS board, and I just like DFI better. Once I get the new board (tomorrow) I will install the water blocks and install all the parts and measure and cut the rest of the tubing, then I was clean my waterblocks and other parts, and leak test them. Then, FINAL INSTALL AND FINISH!!! Well, with the watercooling anyway.

-Tad

 

[thaddeus.cto]

Update time!

I have all the tubing cut, but I ordered some bitspower rotary L fittings for some spots to help prevent kinking.

A package? for me? naaaah... Wait, wife no like computers, package definitely for me!

Some iandh 4870 heatsinks:

Mounted iandh sinks: I was very careful not to overtighten them. They are not idiot proof:

New motherboard:

GPU heatsinks and naked 4870 (covers eyes):

Watercooling in place, for the most part:

 

[thaddeus.cto]

Preparing for leak testing:

And leak testing:

Final GPU block and RAMsink mounting:

New PSU:

Final watercooling loop construction:

Filling:

DONE:

CPU temp stays about 28-30 C idle, 40-42 under load, with the GPUs staying around 43 C under idle and load, and this is only with a 2x120mm fan radiator. I bet I could kick up the multiplier on the Phenom for a moderate overclock, and still be under 50 C under load. However, the fans are not the quietest, but not load by any means. I'm thinking of getting a fan controller though just to be able to tone them down a little when I want to. The PSU is small and fits better than my PC P&C PSU, but that fan gets really load. I'm not liking it too much, and might end up getting a different PSU, or just replacing the fan in this one. I'm also waiting on a new DVD burner, using SATA power and cable, as my IDE one wouldn't fit since one of the radiator fitting was blocking the power plug in the back of the drive. The one I ordered will fit.

 

[thaddeus.cto]

UPDATE!

Stealthed and installed a new DVD-R drive:

New pics of the system:

 

[nemesis27]

Damn nice man

I like how you did the flat black and chrome, nice little contrast. I really like the detailed pics of the water cooling setup and mounting. So you plan on adding a window to that, maybe something unique in shape? Possibly smoked acrylic... that would be nice and fits the theme.


...Hmm all black case, smoked window with (subtle) fiery orange lighting woohoo! lol.

 

[thaddeus.cto]

Thanks for the comments! I like that idea of the orange... feser makes UV orange tubing. I think that would look good, too. Maybe next summer

 

[Spawne32]

power supply cable routing seems to be an issue in that case

 

[Dark Sun]

Nice job. I like what you have done.

If you're going to put a window in, I would sort out a couple of those cable wires under the PSU.

I think fiery orange WC tubes would suit the Lan Party motherboard very well.

 

[Peanut Butter]

Really nice work. Love how the reservoir can be so easily hidden behind the HD cage.

 

[thaddeus.cto]

@Spawn and Dark Sun

I agree, I need to sort the cables out a little better. Which is why I'm starting a sub project this weekend: DIY Modular PSU! I'm not going to cut up the PSU case. Instead, I'm going to cut the 2 molex power cables and 2 SATA power cables a few inches from where they come out of the PSU, then I'm going to add a 4 pin molex connector (male or female... I don't think it matters) to the cut ends of the cables, after adding new heatshrink to these parts. I figured I'd do this instead of buying the 200 dollar modular PSU I wanted to get. I will not be making the other cables modular because once I get rid of the three unused cables, I can cut down on the clutter considerably. I understand the whole argument against modular PSUs, especially DIY modular PSUs. But the resistance added really should be negligible. What do you guys think: go or no-go on the modular mod (the mod mod)?

 

[thaddeus.cto]

Update time!!!

I've made three PSU cables (two molex and one SATA) modular. It all turned out very well, though it did take some trial and error when crimping the molex pins on.

Tools and supplies:

One of the victims:

Bare connector pins:

All three cables done:

SATA cable connection using PCI-Express 6 pin connectors:

A PSU end molex connector:

Cleaner wiring (Yay!!!):

I also reversed the crimp-on cables on the modular SATA power cable in order to better route the cable to plug into both the HD and the DVD-ROM drives. I did this because of the way the PSU is oriented in the case, which caused the SATA power connectors to be upside-down compared to the power connectors on the drive. One of the male-pin end PCI-E power connectors was faulty, which is why I didn't make the other SATA power cable modular. I do that later. Does the wiring look better to you guys?

 

[Outamyhead]

Looks fine to me, couldn't have done it better (especially as reconfiguring power leads scares the heck out of me).

 

[UT-Jackal]

Very clean, well done.

 

[Peanut Butter]

Looks like everything worked out great to me.