Cheers,

 Stu

BEFORE

AFTER

 It’s not perfect, but it will do for now.

Front Panel - What to do? 

I have been giving the front panel some thought and it’s received a mixed response from others. Some have said that it’s too simple, while others say that the DVD RW detracts from the simplicity. I think I agree with those regarding the DVD RW. It sticks out like a sore thumb as it is. I was going to fit it so the bezel was flush with the front panel, but I have a few options open to me:

1, Stealth the drive

2, Use a slot loading DVD RW, with just a slot cut into the front panel and fit a push button (my favoured option at the moment)

3, Mount it flush and paint the existing bezel.

There will be a 120mm fan with LED’s mounted behind the grille on the front panel, but I won’t be doing this till I have decided upon the overall lighting scheme. Regards, the DVD RW, as I said the 2nd option is my favourite at the moment, but I have been trying to find a laptop slot loading DVD RW at a good price (cheap!), without much success. I have another piece of acrylic to work on once I have made my mind up, so any comments/suggestions really would be appreciated as usual!

 Cheers,

Stu

Here’s some snaps, bear in mind that this rig is still a work in progress.

There’s still quite a bit to do yet, and the fluid dye hasn’t come yet. Let me know what you all think so far fellas!
 

I made a bit of a cock-up when it came to measuring everything up for the rig. I was a bit lazy when it came to the PSU, and instead of measuring up my intended one, I used a spare one I had laying about in the workshop. Using the spare, I had plenty of room for the rad at the top. Last night I decided to do a test fitting of the rad, PSU and mobo, and that’s when I realised my dumb mistake!

The spare PSU I used to measure up with was a standard ATX size, and didn’t have modular cables. The intended one does have modular cables and it’s case was 20mm deeper. With the modular cable plugs the total difference in length was more like 40mm. So the frigging rad wouldn’t fit in!! I felt like chucking the whole lot with my dummy!

I had visions of me having to bodge it somehow, but I then decided to use another PSU, the Corsair TX650. It will fit a treat and still leave enough room for me to route the cables, pity it’s just cost me another £60 though.

Cheers,

Stu

I will post the blow by blow pics later!

 I have cleaned the case up since taking the pics and I think it looks quite good. I will try and get some more pics done today. I have decided on how to go with the front panel, and after a visit to my arcylic supplier and tring out some samples, I am going with plain white 6mm. It’s going to be finished with some chrome vandal proof switches and a 120mm fan grill which matches the 240mm one I have for the rad (polished steel). I basically want as little as possible on the front panel as I want the whole of the exterior case to have a clean and uncluttered look. The project is pretty much at a stand still till I get the arcylic. I had most of the kit for this build already but I have ordered some new stuff. Here’s what the rig will consist of when finished:

Components:

Motherboard: Abit IP35 Pro
CPU: C2D E8400
Mem: Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800 4gb (2×2gb)
Gfx: Inno3D 9800 GX2
PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower 750w
Opt. Drive: Philips 20x DVD RW DL
HD: WD Sata II 250gb
2x 120mm fans pulled from Antec 900 modded with red LEDS

WC Loop

Tygon 1/2″ Clear Tubing & 1/2″ Barbs
Laing DDC1+ Ultra with XSPC Delta Top
Swiftech Micro Res (temporary till I get a Aqua-Computer res)
Danger Den MC TDX 775 CPU block
XSPC RS240 Rad with 2 x Blackfire4 Kameleon Fans (120mm)
Primochill ICE coolant (with blood red dye).

 Cheers,

Stu

I got the finish on the aluminium to how I want it. It took ages to get a decent finish. I didn’t want it to be very highly polished but just enough where it starts reflecting light. All it needs now is a light polish once the builds finished. I decided to keep the original side panel cutout, because if I cut a new one I would lose the door catch. I will be spraying the plastic trim with some chrome or silver paint and fitting some arcylic.

I am going to be concentrating on the internals over the weekend and coming up with a theme (lighting, colours etc). I really liked that red and white theme that someone done and may go with something similar, with a bit of chrome bling.

Cheers,

Stu

Then I got to work sanding the case down. I went out and bought a palm sander this morning and it took me about an hour to do a rough finish. I then gave it a sanding by hand with some fine paper. My hands are still buzzing from the palm sander

Now I have come to a tricky spot, and thats what to do with the front bezel. I don’t know whether to sand it all down and repaint it in another colour or what? I like the bare aluminium look on the case and am thinking about going with that instead of painting. If I do, it means a load more sanding to get a nice shiny finish on it.

 I will post back when I have some more work done.

 Cheers,

Stu

 EDIT: Well bugger me, I have just been thinking about the front bezel and I reckon some mirrored  or coloured opaque? (not see through lol)acrylic might work well. I could mount some nice switches onto it and it would be a doddle to fix it to the case. With a nice grill over the front fan it would look pretty cool I think. Opinions would be appreciated!!

Abit IP35 Pro, C2D E8400, Inno3D 9800GX2, 250 GB WD HD, 4GB Corsair XMS2 -DDR800  

The case has been sat collecting dust for ages so I want to see what I make of it. As it was on aircooling it was crap. The throughflow was pretty restrictive. I do like the look of the case so my challenge is to pimp it up a bit. The wc loop will have a 240mm rad with just a CPU block for now. I will be adding a GX2 block somewhere down the line, but I want to get the case done first. The rad and fans are going to be mounted inside the case on the top and I have cut a hole ready for this.

I have an XSPC dual bay res/pump but this is going to be no good for this project as I need 3 drive bays clear so I can fit the rad, fans and tubing in. I am removing the bottom HD bays and will be using the floppy bays to house the HD. I need to do this so my 9800GX2 will fit OK. It should also help the air intake do it’s job as it won’t be impeded. There are two mounting positions for 120mm fans on the rear panel and these will be getting used. I am wondering whether it would be worth using these as intakes as well as the front fan, then have the rad fans as exhausts. Might have to experiment a little when it’s all built up.

Regards the cosmetics of the case, I am going to be sanding down and either polishing up or respraying, I haven’t decided yet. I do think it would look quite sexy with all the aluminium polished up. I want to do something with the door over the drive bays too, but I am pretty much limited as to what I can achieve with the door as it’s a hefty chunk of metal. I might replace it but I will cross that bridge when I come to it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I will post with pics as I get through the various stages. My first job will be to make all the neccessary layout changes and then I will be deciding upon the finish to be given to the case.

Cheers,

Stu