While it is much easier to express the concept in voice...and even easier with pictures...I'm going to attempt it in text for the benefit of those that may not have attended our Skype meetings or cannot today:

Our talks have been focused on producing a mod that not only stands out in a crowd, but retains the functionality needed for GK to make use of it. One concept dreamed up by Grumblestiltskin mentioned earlier in this thread (no doubt born of his rackmount lust) is to cram two complete systems into this case. After discussing a few options (some having been done already and thrown out for that reason and other practical considerations), the most viable seems to be partitioning the case in half with an aluminum or acrylic wall. This approach would normally not leave enough room for the height of standard video cards in this standard-width case. Thanks to server class hardware, riser cards are now available in PCI-E X16 formats in differing heights that may just let us squeak even a full SLI rig into each side. The center divider is preferred as it allows access to each system by removing the side panels, respectively, just as a conventional case, and the only serious fabrication will be a custom dual I/O backpanel with vertical slots for the GPUs, and the center divider. It also frees the case side panels from having wires and hoses attached, as in some other dual systems seen around the net.

Once we decide to go with this plan or not, further plans for the watercooling system(s) can be hammered out. With the room in this case, Anti-M has deemed it feasible to have two completely independent H2O systems rocking the same house.

The team is researching the possibility of building in a KVM switch that would allow one system to run two monitors, a switch to the other system also running duals, or one system on each monitor. This gives a tremendous amount of latitude and utility for the user...and we just plain think it'd be cool. Any leads to hardware that would allow this type of function are highly welcomed.

Brainstorming the Bezel. Dimensions tentative until watercool sys is sorted

GK likes his Tribal flames.

The bezel consists of 3 pieces, (2.5" x 5-1/4" x 2.5") Center portion protrudes about 2-/14" . Center isTranslucent Purple Acrylic. Sides are clear acrylic, painted steel or alum..

PRT Team & Donator screen names are laser engraved in center portion. Tribal design in lower portion of purple acrylic, thats either laser etched or cut for ventilation. If design is laser etched, thats where the front vented louvers are neccessary.

The bezel would open in one or two sections. (upper splits for access to 5.25 bays)

Matrix Orbital Character LCD

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That's SICK!
I'm guessing that you'd be able to see the intake fans running behind the purple acrylic?

Bill, you never cease to amaze... Top notch, brother!

Nice. I really like the Purple/Silver scheme.

I know I haven't really been involved in this project due to about 4 reviews backing up, so don't feel obligated to include me as a team member/contributor. I would actually feel bad if you did include me and I didn't deserve it. I appreciate the thought though.

I fully support you guys and would like to know if there was some specific way I could assist.

bill that is awesome, youre graphix skillz pwn mine . -hey you forgot your name on the etch , you have to be on it.

Foe- thanx for the offer, my office is right by a radio shack and i do work on the owners POS (point of sale)
system so im pretty sure he'll hook me up.

The dual system ides is awesome, it is basically what i was gunna do with my UFO case.
Ok, on this dual system, is it gunna be clone systems or are they gunna be diff mobo/cpu etc...? im pretty sure for the water cooling portion that we will have to put elbows on the barbs coming off the cpu block becuas the mobo will be about 4" closer to the side panel than normal.

-edit-
and i was thinking that if your could Grumb , cut out some hosing support brackets to keep all the tubing uniform and in line..this wont be till about the end of the build anyway.

-double edit-
HERE is a cooler master PciX riser package that comes with pci slot riser too, it doesnt give any measurments though.

I have to give props to the members posting in the public forum. The suggestion by markwalker84 to do each side of the case in respective PCApex and PimpRig themes has been well received by the team members also following that thread closely. He also suggested making the PCs serve differing purposes, which is a great practical suggestion. Given that the cost of twin high-end gaming systems, in both cash and space is restrictive, I see a server on one side and gaming/graphics/power-user system on the other as a very sensible solution. The server side can even be made to fit as tightly as a 1U server, leaving plenty of room for the gaming rig's more critical watercooling loops, perhaps avoiding the issues that BeachBum86 pointed out. I don't see this as a compromise as some very powerful servers are 1U in dimension.

These considerations are given more bearing due to Bill sharing with me the case dimensions. The interior width we are working with is "merely" 8-1/4", the depth from front to back 16-1/4"...smaller than my mid-tower. The height is more than adequate, and Bill confirmed there is plenty of room for a second power supply above the standard mount.

To accomplish the duallie, some measurements will be needed to figure out just how much room the respective systems will require. This would be dependent on our hardware choices, so I would love to hear some input regarding what specific motherboards, GPUs and processors we are planning to use, and then what watercooling components they will require. If the 1U server approach is acceptable to the team, a standard 1U dimension is in the 1.7-1.75" range. Subtracting the estimated 1/4" thickness for a center divider, this leaves roughly 6-1/4" to fit a top-notch SLI system. Using my own system as a (painfully inferior) guide, the dimension needed for standard components (no PCI-E risers) is roughly 5-1/2" from back of motherboard to outer edge of GPU, considering my card does protrude past the PCI slot. Not using risers will make the case more stable in transport, and seems like a desirable approach to me. If the 1U approach is just not enough room, the divider can be adjusted accordingly, in conjunction with risers if necessary. It is a tight fit, but definitely within the realm of possible, depending upon our approach, and how many features we decide to include.

Quote: Originally Posted by Wordbiker I have to give props to the members posting in the public forum. The suggestion by markwalker84 to do each side of the case in respective PCApex and PimpRig themes has been well received by the team members also following that thread closely. He also suggested making the PCs serve differing purposes, which is a great practical suggestion. Given that the cost of twin high-end gaming systems, in both cash and space is restrictive, I see a server on one side and gaming/graphics/power-user system on the other as a very sensible solution. The server side can even be made to fit as tightly as a 1U server, leaving plenty of room for the gaming rig's more critical watercooling loops, perhaps avoiding the issues that BeachBum86 pointed out. I don't see this as a compromise as some very powerful servers are 1U in dimension. These considerations are given more bearing due to Bill sharing with me the case dimensions. The interior width we are working with is "merely" 8-1/4", the depth from front to back 16-1/4"...smaller than my mid-tower. The height is more than adequate, and Bill confirmed there is plenty of room for a second power supply above the standard mount. To accomplish the duallie, some measurements will be needed to figure out just how much room the respective systems will require. This would be dependent on our hardware choices, so I would love to hear some input regarding what specific motherboards, GPUs and processors we are planning to use, and then what watercooling components they will require. If the 1U server approach is acceptable to the team, a standard 1U dimension is in the 1.7-1.75" range. Subtracting the estimated 1/4" thickness for a center divider, this leaves roughly 7-1/4" to fit a top-notch SLI system. Using my own system as a (painfully inferior) guide, the dimension needed for standard components (no PCI-E risers) is roughly 5-1/2" from back of motherboard to outer edge of GPU, considering my card does protrude past the PCI slot. Not using risers will make the case more stable in transport, and seems like a desirable approach to me. If the 1U approach is just not enough room, the divider can be adjusted accordingly, in conjunction with risers if necessary. It is a tight fit, but definitely within the realm of possible, depending upon our approach, and how many features we decide to include.

sweet, your on the same page as me then.

on the back side (server, if team desides on that) since server boards arendt that pretty how about we stealth the server board?

couple options for stealthing off the top of my head-
right side panel have a window and stealth the board in black or smoke acrylic.
or completely sleeper stealth, just drill out holes and make a duct over the cpu so unless you actuall look at the back of the case youll never know this is a complete All-in-one gaming machine.
just some thoughts...

for the gfx card cooling, it could be troublesome using a standard WB considering were losing about 2" off the width of the case, so maybe the poarflo WB that rotates so we can have the tubes going towards the front of the case rather than towards the side panel.

Yeah BeachBum, those PolarFlo blocks do look nice. The recesses could easily be painted in a color to match the case theme.

I also like your idea regarding the server side, and ducting the CPU. It'll be a bit tougher integrating the port into the panel graphics, but going aircooled on that side may be all that will fit. I have been looking over some server mobos, and there are quite a few dual socket 939 or 940 boards out there, but as far as I have seen, all of them will also require a GPU that could make for a very tight fit. I did find a single processor board with onboard graphics that might solve that issue, the TYAN Tomcat K8E S2865AG2NRF. Does anyone think that would be a desirable route to go, or do we go all out with a dual Opty like this ASUS K8N-DRE with the option to add a PCI-E graphics card instead of the onboard GPU?

As for stealthing that board...
Considering that we wanted to forego a large window, for the most part this board will be "stealthed" by being backed up to the gaming board on one side, and by a different case panel graphic on the other. I don't think a peek or two through that graphic would hurt a thing. Artfully applied, we could show just enough that everyone knows there's some serious power lurking inside there.

The hard part is deciding...which side gets the PimpRig and which gets the PCApex treatments?

i dont see anything wrong with the tyan board, since that side would be strictly server a pciX card wouldnt be necessary. the tyan board would be alot easier to get ahold of also i think. i like the partial stealthing idea through the window art, maybe show off a nice chipset cooler and the memory to keep people guessing



my vote is that PR should be the main gaming side, as the mod is "PimpRig Tribute".
That is a team vote though so more votes would be nice to get that part out of the way, one less thing to worry about.

Going Air on one side with onboard grafix is a nice idea concidering what were trying to do.... and you cant use two high end systems at the same time... so haveing a server with a switch to serv as a game server/ file server ect ect.... I like it.....

Although I do think it would have had more of a awe factor with dual water cooling.... some things just were not meant to be...

Quote: Originally Posted by Twizted Going Air on one side with onboard grafix is a nice idea concidering what were trying to do.... and you cant use two high end systems at the same time... so haveing a server with a switch to serv as a game server/ file server ect ect.... I like it..... Although I do think it would have had more of a awe factor with dual water cooling.... some things just were not meant to be...

Well, if someone wants to volunteer a way we can do it...I'm up for that.

Quote: Originally Posted by Wordbiker Well, if someone wants to volunteer a way we can do it...I'm up for that.

Well, why can't we make the case wider?
You originally mentioned that regular windows are played out and that layered panel designs might be an avenue to explore - how about using a layered type design on the panels to add an extra inch or two to the case width?

It's just an idea though - It may involve slightly changing the bezel design to fit (depending on design of course), but it may afford us a bit of extra space to play with

Agreed, Master_P, I also think we should perhaps look into side panel effects/etc that would actually serve to widen the case...

Perhaps I missed it, but even using a low-profile cooling solution and on-board graphics on the server side board, how much room would be actually be playing with on the gaming side, in specific, for all the usual suspects, a kick-ass GPU (or pair thereof), X-Fi sound card, etc?

Okay, here's my first draft of a water cooling design. The top would be for the gaming side, I'm thinking maybe a custom shroud, but a more conventional approach would also work. Definitely a custom grill in the same vein as the one Bill laid out for the front bezel. The rad choice was made because you can get away with much slower fans with the PA series. Slower equal quieter. A dual BIX would work here as well.

The lower would be for the server side.

Both sections would be completely isolated from the rest of the case improving cooling in both areas.

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Quote: Originally Posted by AntiM Okay, here's my first draft of a water cooling design. The top would be for the gaming side, I'm thinking maybe a custom shroud, but a more conventional approach would also work. Definitely a custom grill in the same vein as the one Bill laid out for the front bezel. The rad choice was made because you can get away with much slower fans with the PA series. Slower equal quieter. A dual BIX would work here as well. The lower would be for the server side. Both sections would be completely isolated from the rest of the case improving cooling in both areas.

that design looks pretty sweet bro, do you know if the second PSU will fit in there with the rad up top?

Quote: Originally Posted by AntiM Okay, here's my first draft of a water cooling design. The top would be for the gaming side, I'm thinking maybe a custom shroud, but a more conventional approach would also work. Definitely a custom grill in the same vein as the one Bill laid out for the front bezel. The rad choice was made because you can get away with much slower fans with the PA series. Slower equal quieter. A dual BIX would work here as well. The lower would be for the server side. Both sections would be completely isolated from the rest of the case improving cooling in both areas.

Its clean, space conscience and effective. I like how everything is isolated. Nice design Mike

Whats your preference for 120 x 24mm radiator fans Mike? I may have some here that matchs those specs.

The radiator shroud and lower duct are mods we can dibby out among us.

Anyone with experience in making a radiator shroud? I've got a brand dual BIX lying here ..waiting.
Its Blue. Paint the frame, we won't see the fins. Or you could encase the entire rad in a custom shroud.. Do some tribal licks on the sides. Anything is possible.

The lower duct would be fun. Think either fiberglass, plastic, alum, acrylic, sheet metal,... or even carbon fiber! Even if you don't have experience, This is an opportunity to create something you've never done before

I'm asking for 2 volunteers

adam, there was talk the other night on Skype of using 1U PSU beneath MB.

I like fans along the lines of the Panaflo M1A. In other words something pushing 80-90 cfm that can be throttled down with a fan controller to quiet operation. Anything pushing more air has too high a stall point to ever be reasonably quiet. The Panaflo is 120 x 38, if space is a consideration another brand might be a better choice.

I think you'd have to stick to a low profile rad and fan on the botton in order for the ducting to work and still clear the mobo.

As far as the PSU beachbum86, I beleive a 1U powersupply is exactly the same height as a 5 1/4" drive bay. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Turned on it's side it could share space with pumps. I think there are plenty of options with a 1U form factor PSU.

Since PR is where I got started "learning" about modding, I'll step up and volunteer, Professor Bill... I've got some little ideas percolating from the sheet metal + tribal flame licks thingee... Maybe with a little direction from you, since I already have the purpose and motivation...

A chance to learn something, even if it's by trial and error (and possibly the chance to make a total and complete arse of myself in the process)... Ok, I'll play your silly little game...

Sweet as GPN
Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Right, I've been bashing my head against a brick wall - trying to get some Ideas for the side panels.
I've gotta say, it's proving tough trying to come up with new ideas using a style that SO isn't my own.

I've also been trying to learn a bit of sketchup (that app ROCKS!!! I'm saving my pennies - hopefully should have enough to buy it just after my trial period expires - otherwise, I'll demo it on my work PC until I can )

It's just a rough idea, but I guess it's at least a start for me
Basically, It's a custom panel - thick enough to add some width to the case (bent and bondoed to give the angled edges - with the bezel facing edge at 90 degrees) with purple tinted acrylic, routed to sit flush with the panel surface.
The extra width would probably mean that the bezel would have to be widened also - might allow room for more stuff there?

Inside, there is a PR logo of sorts (just used a thumbnail image to illustrate this) mounted on standoffs inside the window (maybe a polished brass or billet PR or something)

Outside, mounted on short standoffs also, is a flame-cut panel. (please excuse the dodgy flames - not my forte at all)
The design in the pic's rather weak, but I'm sure that most of you can do better flames than me
The standoff mounting could allow some cool light effects and also provide an option for stealthing a panel fan (if needed)

So, am I barking up the wrong tree?
How we can improve this (assuming that this is something that we can build on from)

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