Well, here at last is my fist worklog. First up is the plans to the said mod.

As you can see it's more than just a mod, it's a complete new build. The main help and/or advise i need is for the water cooling loops. The rads are out of my old RG125 spares box so as you can imagine, they're very good at cooling hot liquids. This is the dilemma, do i split the loop into two or run it as one with the rads at strategic points? Any help is appreciated but as i have to make the case first, i have plenty of time to gather all your wisdom together and make a decision.
Thanx!!

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Woot!!

Just got my Bulgin SPNO switches today. FLIPPIN' HELL, they're expensive here in the U.K. So far i have the Plexi (£46 wasn't too bad really, got an off-cut), and the switches which cost £59.83!!

I'm sure Bill at MNPCTech said they're only about $9.99 each over in the great U.S of A. Boy, are we being ripped off or what? I knew this wasn't going to be cheap Really, but I want a case that i can keep and just upgrade when need be.
I also have here now a case with which i can take the essential measurements off of. It's an old P3 server case that i got off a friend.



As you can see it's a bit bigger than my current case but would you believe, it still wont be big enough to use the chassis. Any way, i would like the inside to be as bosh as the outside so i'm going to make it a donor body. Here she is naked (not a pretty sight i must add).



I'm sorry the pics aren't very good but i've only got my PSP camera to take the shots. It seems brill outside in the sun or under normal bulbs but it looks $@#! under these florescent bulbs.
That's it for today. Back soon i hope.

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Looking good so far my UK amigo, ill be watching this one

Hi all. Just a quick update.
Went crazy with the debit card a couple of days ago. These are the bits i have so far that's not worth linking because of multiple items on one page:
Laing DDC- 1 Ultra 18watt Pump
Danger Den Fillport(Black) X2 (I'll explain why I have two later)

GPU Ram heatsinks X8
Danger Den Aquadrive Harddrive watercooler for 1 or 2 drives

These i have the links to but i managed to get some in the bargain bin before they sold out:

Enermax Galaxy EGX1000EWL-DXX 1000w Modular PSU A/PFC |Specialtech.co.uk -
Antec 200mm Fan Big Boy 200 TriCool |Specialtech.co.uk -
Danger Den TDX Universal CPU Block |Specialtech.co.uk -
2X Alphacool NexXxos NBXS-A Silver Northbridge Cooler (12336) |Specialtech.co.uk -

Please say i haven't bought bad blocks!?!

This is my first adventure into watercooling so i'm happy to take any constructive criticism (even you Coelacanth, as you're a hard man to please i see).
Other bits i have are some of those really nice D-ring quarter turn quick release fairing pins for the two clear side windows, the black anodized countersunk 5M hex screws for the top side covers (the rads) and the mesh for the said rads. I've got the highly expanded mesh as i need as little obstruction as possible for the one fan to draw as much air through those rads as i can get without sounding like an aircraft taking off.

I'm sorry it's all talk and planning at the mo but i've had to fix my motorcycle before i started this project. Water getting in the tank, not good.

Homer voice activated:

Ohhh.. Monster Tower

end activation:

I used to know the name of that case.. nice find!

Quote: Originally Posted by mnpctech Homer voice activated: Ohhh.. Monster Tower end activation: I used to know the name of that case.. nice find!

I have one of those exact same cases sitting on my desk at work right now (though the smaller mid-tower version), and I have as much clue as you do, who the manufacturer is. No marking anywhere to give away the secret. At first I thought it was a Foxconn, but it might be InWin...

Quote: Originally Posted by Dex Looking good so far my UK amigo, ill be watching this one

Man, that's made me even more nervouse about how the end product will turn out to be.

Quote: Originally Posted by mnpctech Homer voice activated: Ohhh.. Monster Tower end activation: I used to know the name of that case.. nice find!

Have a friend who works as an computer engineer for a firm. It's a pity you're all the way accross the water, I could send it to you after i've finished with it. This is probably going to be my only mod but i felt it proper to put something back into this site, so that's why i'm putting up this worklog.

Quote: Originally Posted by Coelacanth I have one of those exact same cases sitting on my desk at work right now (though the smaller mid-tower version), and I have as much clue as you do, who the manufacturer is. No marking anywhere to give away the secret. At first I thought it was a Foxconn, but it might be InWin...

No, not a hint of who made it. I have to admit though, it's just about the ugliest case i've seen. I suppose it served a purpose back in the early 90's. I want something that i can stand next to my PS3 and be proud of. Guess i want something different from the norm.

On a different note, some more bits came today. Shouldn't feel like a kid waiting for his presents but i can't help it. WHERE ARE THEY ALL!!



Here is the MS Paint pic of the proposed water loop(s).


Also got a few pics of my workshop. It's a converted summer house but as we don't get much of a summer anymore.....

Man, it's a tight fit in 'ere.



Yes, the roof leeks. No point fixing it till it's dry (Heaven knows when that'll be).

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Hi all. Another days modding session done.
By-the-way, if you're wondering why i'm not working at the mo, it's because i quit a couple of weeks ago. thought i'd take a Christmas off for the first time since i was 13 years old. Joys of being a butcher eh?
Anyway on with the show. Done all the draft planning so its time to put it onto paper and get the measurements i need to start cutting.



1/100 scale. I've done it like because i had to pick it up in my mums little car. Had to cut it in half to get it home and i don't waste too much Perspex. All the off-cuts i can use for battening and L brackets etc.
As ever, double then triple checked the measurements. Don't want to make any stupid mistakes.



Can't go wrong if you make a pre-production 1/100 scale model eh?.......We'll see.
Right, time to head to the workshop.



Man, it's alright if you're a duck out there, but it's no good for using power tools.



Told you it was tight in here. Right second piece now. Maybe i'll be able to cut it tomorrow.
That's it for the pics, no light left the next time i looked up and you can see the noise the florescent bulb's creating in the daytime.
See you tomorrow if the home-made table saw works ok.

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Hi everyone. Just a quick one today. Look what i got in the post.



Not too much to go now then. Just the pump and the ram block to go. Got the marking finished for the cutting of the Perspex and the Polycarbonate next.


Just a little helpful hint if, like me, you haven't got a lot of worktop to get the big stuff on. The Perspex was nearly 2 meters long. I couldnt get it cut because i haven't got a circular saw but my Gramps had one....... Should have known. not only did it not have a good blade, but it was also a bit old. I looked for a carbide tipped blade on the net but they just don't make em for the old 5" Black and Decker's any moore. Anyway, it didn't have a lock button to keep it running and the blade guard kept pushing the Perspex up, very annoying. Will try to borrow, or in the worst case, buy a table/circular saw.



There, those are the only bits i wanted really. Felt good taking apart that ugly thing. I was drilling out the rivets on the In-Win Q600 (just saw BeetleMan's project) to take off the drive caddies and the I/O port and card bay, when i had an idea . Why don't i just paint it gloss black and screw it on my case.



Nah, that's too easy, and besides, it's ugly, just like the case it came off. Then i had a brainstorm. It's probably been done before but what the hell. It's easier to show you than try to explain. If you bring up the thumbnail and give me any pointers as to which LED's to use, or even if you don't think it'll work, let me know.
Thanx.

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Subscribed

Me again. Just a quick one. Didn't have enough Perspex so i had to go and get some more today. I sort of laid on the poor me routine because it was taking ages to cut the stuff with a jigsaw and they said they would cut it for me. Just got to wait now.

I also got my ram water block and some extra barbs in the post. Just my luck, the block was not a 1/4 BSP thread like I thought. ARRRRRRRG! Why couldn't they have said something on the description (Vadim Computers : HD-Memory Blocks - Aqua Ramplex RAM-cooler). I got this one because it cools up to 3 sticks of ram, and was half the price of the other block. I also found it wasn't very high flow either so i jumped in at the deep end and decided to tap a new thread and enlarge the trench in the block.



The first time i've worked with Perspex since 12 years of age. Thankfully it worked ok as I have a bench drill and very good drill bits. One thing i have learned, is that cheap tools are a false economy. In that i mean crap, not as in a good price.



Not bad for a first time tapping a new thread in Perspex. The red is high temperature bearing grease (made it a doddle). Next the Block.



This was the only way i could think of doing it. I first drilled the block, making the next as close as possible. Then I got my rotary tool with a cutting bit that looked similar to those vent tops, you know, the round ones that spin.....[runs down stairs, goes out to the shed picks up the bit, runs back in doors, takes a photo and downloads it to Pc].



That's the one i meant. Haven't a clue as to the technical name of the said item.



You can see here the two different stages of the job.



As you can see, i took it a little too far but with a little aquatic fish tank sealant and some PTFE tape on the screws that hold the plates, it'll be fine (i hope). The main thing is there is no resistance now so the flow should be much better.



I also took this time to plan the mounting of the rads. As they are not what you would call standard fittings, i have had to put some serious thought into the attachment, maintenance and mechanics of the said rads. The main reason for the spring loaded retainers is that i want to keep them sealed as much as possible to the side panel. This helps with getting as much air through the rads as i can with just one fan (200mm mind you). I know it looks rather over-the-top, but i can't think of another way of achieving this while not mounting them to the side panels.
Well, that's it for today. Hope i get a phone call about some Perspex Tomorrow.

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Hi everyone. The Perspex is here at last. It's all been cut nice and straight by the guys at Positive. If you in the U.K. near Poole, they're the place to get the Plastics from.
Right then, enough of the plugging, down to business.



First i needed some nice aluminium brackets. The main reasons i used ali were for looks, strength and weight. I found it easy to just rough cut the approximate length, then clamp the brackets all together in the Workmate. Most Workmate benches have a few notches of differing sorts on the inside of the jaws. Mine has a couple of round and triangle ones. If you place a bit of quoter circle or triangle beading on the inside of the brackets, then clamp them into the triangle notch as in the pic, they won't move around or warp out of shape while you file them all at the same time.



Now that's nice and straight. Just turned it over and filed the other side. I then took them out and de-burred the ends with a smoother file, making sure there were no sharp edges.



Then i sanded the brackets to get the file marks out. After about an hour, i wondered if i was being too fussy. I thought. You only get what you give, to coin a fraise.



Next, I took one of the brackets and marked out the placement for the holes i needed to drill. I found tha,t because i was using 15mmX15mm, I needed to do four on one side and three on the other, just to make sure I left enough room for the nice cap nuts. I drilled the marked one and then used that as a template for the rest by clampig the next one between that and a scrap piece of wood as seen in the pic above (well, a bit straighter than that is). I then just turned the brackets over and drilled the other side. Nice and easy.



Don't they look good. Nice and tidy, like little soldiers.



Now I had the brackets done, I could use one to mark the holes on the Perspex and drill them on the bench drill, not forgeting the scrap wood underneath(we were all noobs once apon a time).



I used the cutter for a counter-sunk seat. Screws are nice and flush with the Perspex then.



There, that's one piece done.



Starting to get somewhere now.

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Oh, and before I packed up for the night i welded the pieces of Perspex together that I'm going to use for added strength. I know i could have got 10mm thick Perspex but it would have neant buying a half sheet(1500mmX2000mm). First i set up the Workmate. I clamped my 1.5 meter level to the back edge, and then clamped a piece of scrap (but nice and straight) wood to make the 90 degree corner. That means at the worst, you'll have to sand two edges flush.



You wouldn't believe the problem I had trying to get a hyperdermic neadle for the aplication of the stuff. In the end i had to give up and use an ear dropper.

This nanny state thing is getting out of hand over here in the U.K.


Well, rant over. Frst sheet of Perspex I used the dropper on but it said for hard plastics I should apply a little adheasive to soften it up first, so I spread some on the other piece with a paint brush.



Then, using that 90 degree corner as the guide I lowered the second piece down on top. I then put one of my heavy toolboxes on top to weigh it down.
I'm also trying to decide on the fan grills. I want to cut my own and back-light them just like the I/O and card port. Anyone have a prefferance:


(1)



(2)



(3)



(4)


(5)

I need one 200mm and one 80mm.



Thanx.

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Hi. Sorry for the late response, but anyway...here goes:

It seems asif the hole which you tapered into that clear piece of perspex for the screw thread has cracks around it. Are those just surface chips, or do the cracks actually extend into the material? My concern is that if it does extend into the material, you will be having some trouble, because cracks = weakspots.

The fangrills which attracted my attention the most, are those where you actually used a font...the others are just too warbled. But this is just my 2 cents. Which do you prefer?

Otherwise, I realy like the ideas which you have sketched out and would like to see them come to fruition. Good luck, Dude. Consider me subscribed.

Quote: Originally Posted by Lithe_Joint Hi. Sorry for the late response, but anyway...here goes: It seems asif the hole which you tapered into that clear piece of perspex for the screw thread has cracks around it. Are those just surface chips, or do the cracks actually extend into the material? My concern is that if it does extend into the material, you will be having some trouble, because cracks = weakspots. The fangrills which attracted my attention the most, are those where you actually used a font...the others are just too warbled. But this is just my 2 cents. Which do you prefer? Otherwise, I realy like the ideas which you have sketched out and would like to see them come to fruition. Good luck, Dude. Consider me subscribed.

Hi mate. No worries. It's ok, it's actually just the grease that looks like cracks (thank goodness).
As to the fan grills, I think 1,2 and 5 are the best ones. I might use a combination of 5 as the PSU fan grill, and 1 or 2 as the 200mm fan grill. I've got a while before i'm at that stage of the build, so i've got time to choose with a few pointers from everyone's input.
Thanx for the feedback Lithe_Joint.

This is coming long nicely Jux!

tbh, I'm digging all of your fan grill designs... for this project, I think #2 will fit nicely.. it reminds me of the artist, Frank Loyd Wright's window designs

Quote: Originally Posted by mnpctech This is coming long nicely Jux! tbh, I'm digging all of your fan grill designs... for this project, I think #2 will fit nicely.. it reminds me of the artist, Frank Loyd Wright's window designs

Thanx Bill. I thought that one looked the most obvious choice, guess i just needed a pointer from people who really know what they're doing. You and Lithe_Joint have swung it for me.

I have to say, it took me 15 minutes to figure out your layout plan, and I still had no idea how big this is going to be.
For fan grill designs I would prefer No. 1 from the design while No. 2 is easier to cut but I had to look twice to recognise the writing.

Your water loop looks neat (not that I'd understand too much about it), especially how the CPU has basically its own radiator. And, is that a triple HDD cooler? They are awesome...

Quote: Originally Posted by DraQla I have to say, it took me 15 minutes to figure out your layout plan, and I still had no idea how big this is going to be. For fan grill designs I would prefer No. 1 from the design while No. 2 is easier to cut but I had to look twice to recognise the writing. Your water loop looks neat (not that I'd understand too much about it), especially how the CPU has basically its own radiator. And, is that a triple HDD cooler? They are awesome...

Hi there. Just to give you an idea of the size, it should measure aprox L560mm X H830mm X W230mm. It's big. Man I thought I had chosen, but you're right, it is the easiest to read. The HDD water block is the Danger Den double block but it still looks a lot better than a normal HDD caddy eh? Plus, it was only £38. Nice to see you're getting to know your way around PCApex.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jux_Zeil Hi there. Just to give you an idea of the size, it should measure aprox L560mm X H830mm X W230mm. It's big.

Wow. That is really huge! I prefer smaller cases but it really depends on what you want to do with it. IMHO, those huge towers just look over sized, but I'm ready to let you surprise me by some smooth design - just as "Black Ice" suggests.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jux_Zeil The HDD water block is the Danger Den double block but it still looks a lot better than a normal HDD caddy eh? Plus, it was only £38.

It looked a bit bigger than just double but they definitely look better than a normal HDD caddy. I haven't seen them on any stores (I would order them off), only on ebay. I'll definitely have to check out some other online stores...

Quote: Originally Posted by Jux_Zeil Nice to see you're getting to know your way around PCApex.

I really enjoy PCApex. Just so much modding going on which so much incredible hardware, ideas and designs. It makes my fingers itch in anticipation of finally doing my own mod... and chances are that I'll stop boring everyone around me with my mod-obsession.