My first real project FINISHED!

[Tim]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
depending on how thick the metal is, the snips might give a cleaner and straighter cut.

I personally use a jiggy for straight cuts. Makes things the easiest when you get the bit ment for thin metal.

messure out the panel thickness and tell the guy you dont want edges to pop out. But any tool you use, if its a saw minus a dremel will cause the edges to pop out a little.

If worse comes to worse and you do botch it:

I think this might fit:
http://www.performance-pcs.com..._387&products_id=22420

Email hank with the exact messurements of your stock one, and he'll tell you if it will fit or not.

From what I understand it's 1mm thick. That should be thin enough correct? If it's only tin snips required and that will work best then I almost feel comfortable doing this myself!

I'll post again when I have everything together and I'm planning and measuring the cut on the top panel.

 

[Tim]

I will have 6x120mm fans in my setup overall,
I found a 6-channel Rheobus on the egg which I had a few bucks left on a gift card, 4.84 was what I had left to pay, woohoo!

 

[Tim]

I started fooling around with the case today.

I took the entire thing apart and it looked like THIS. (Photo by whymeintrouble @ broadbandreports.com, I forgot to take one of my case naked, but it's the same case)

I couldn't find any roofing tape at any hardware stores I went too, but I was able to find these two items, one is like akasa paxmate, just a lot cheaper (look at the spelling on the box), and the other is a ducting insulation with a sticky back. PICTURE HERE
I used the two together. First a layer of the ducting insulation, second a layer of the althorn absortion pads, and in some places where it made sence, 1 layer of ducking insulation and 2 layers of althorn absortion pads. Here are my results with that thus far.

Picture of the insides.
Picture of the front without the bezel
Picture of the inside of the door with pads on it
I put padding in each of the drive bay covers

You notice I have the pump and res sitting on a shelf in the bays. I'm pretty sure this is where I'll end up putting it once I have a good mounting scheme. I reversed the flow of the side fan to blow over the video card area and I then covered it with althorn padding. Not shown in the pitcures, each panel got 1 layer of insulated ducting and 2 layers of althorn padding and they both fit well onto the case. On the front bezel and door, I put padding in areas of the back of the bezel, as well as a strip on the middle of the door as well as the little vents on the side of the door except about 4 inches from the bottom where the front fan can draw in air.

That's all I felt like doing today, and I don't really have everything I need yet to keep going.

I'll have more to say soon

 

[Tim]

Update. IT LIVES

I finally got everything in mid last week, and started measuring and testing things out. I decided to buy a more beefy PSU, so I picked up a Silverestone 750watt modular unit. It fits into the system fine, and its black finish and black modular cables go well with the colors inside the case.

I did end up having some troubles modding the top panel to fit the MCR-320, but in the end it works and doesn't look too bad for my first shot at real case modding. First, I drew out the shape of the cut, and used masking tape to cover up the rest of the panel, then using snips I made the cuts. I also used a 1" drill bit to cut a hole for the danger-den derlin fill port.... BUT afterwards I realized I put it just a hair too close to the hole for the rad, so I went into the electric shop here at work and found a plug to use, painted it black, and all looks well. I placed another hole right above it for the fill-port, and it worked out just fine without looking like I screwed up too bad. When I went to put it all together (Rad grill, panel, and rad) The AC Ryan rad grills predrilled holes did NOT exactly match the holes on the MCR-320, so I had to ream the holes out quite a bit to get it to fit right. Thankfully the screws I used had large enough heads to work out just fine.

Late last night I started putting everything into the case, and it looks just wonderful! I didn't take any time to route wires greatly, as I plan on making something with sheet metal this weekend to assist in wire managment. As is, the rocketfish case has basically no room to hide wires behind the MB tray as it's just too close to the side panel. The only wires I really had success with was the rear fan wires because the just aren't that thick. I finished putting everything together around 12 a.m. or so, placed paper towels in all relevant areas and filled up the system and ... POWER ON. I got everything right the first time it seems, as the screen flickered to life and I went into the bios.

I must say, this setup definately meets my expectations for quietness. The 6-channel rehobus helped me tune the fans to the right level, and with all the panels on, the only thing I hear is the Hard-drives when they start thrashing (I can be happy with that). This setup is WORLDS better in the quietness department then what it was replacing.

When I woke up this morning, I checked and all of my paper towels were dry. I put them back (after taking a couple of pictures with my cell phone, didn't have time to break out the digi-cam as I was already running a little bit late for work) and left the system running, and will double check again when I get home. It'll be a 29 hour leak test rather than a 24, so that should be good.

Here are the pictures (bad quality cell phone, sorry!)
Side view panel off
Top view of case
8800gts 512's in SLI and the Thermalright hr-05 sli
CPU and MCP(northbridge) waterblocks
Front panel view (really bad quality)

I'm going to be working hard on the wire-managment this weekend, and will post good quality pictures after I'm finished! You could say the bad quality photo's above are my wire managment for now heh.

I'll update again when it's ready!

 

[aigomorla]

lol hows your temps?



Glad to see it worked. About that bottom elbow. You might want to consider replacing it with something i intend on dropping on persephone.

Basically get a copper 1/2 elbow at the hardware store, heat your tubing an wrap it around.

You'll get much better flow.

Now the only problem with this is you need to use silicon sealant on the tubing edge or water will leak out slowly or you'll suck air into your loop.

Anyhow how you liking that res? Its supposed to be the best top on the market right now.

 

[Tim]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
lol hows your temps?



Glad to see it worked. About that bottom elbow. You might want to consider replacing it with something i intend on dropping on persephone.

Basically get a copper 1/2 elbow at the hardware store, heat your tubing an wrap it around.

You'll get much better flow.

Now the only problem with this is you need to use silicon sealant on the tubing edge or water will leak out slowly or you'll suck air into your loop.

Anyhow how you liking that res? Its supposed to be the best top on the market right now.

EDIT: Using the latest version or core-temp

On stock clocking, and the fans all on medium, The idle temps are hovering around 28c, room ambient fluctuating 26-28c. Load tems are averaging at about 35 and 36c with a couple of peaks at 37c running orthos and super-pi.

It's funny you mentioned the copper elbow. If you recall that PM I sent you about the brass fittings I got my hands on. The inside of the brass one I had looked less open than the plactic elbow, so I went with that.

BTW, here comes my final results with hiding the wires

 

[Tim]

I'm finally finished with my first project ever, and I'm pretty happy with it.

Today I cut some sheet metal peices, bent them around and made cuts to allow wires to run and such, then covered the sheet metal with a layer of that el-cheapo akasa pax-mate knock off brand I posted about ealier and mounted it to the case.

Here are the results!

All ready for the side panel to go on.
Without the side-fan
View of the motherboard.

I'm going to do some gaming now, and clean outside of the case up later and takes pics of it to post.

Opinions wanted and welcomed!

 

[Baked]

Why did you stack your HDs together w/ zero cooling?

 

[manimal]

Nice build!!! That fish cleans up nice ^^ Lets get some exterior picts as well.

 

[Zepper]

Nice job, but I was mulling Baked's question too. Those drives will get very warm, particularly the top one. I would have left one of the drive cages in (maybe relocated a bit forward).

.bh.

 

[Tim]

Due to popular demand (your thoughts and me coming to my sences) I relocated the HDD's... and now I can't even hear them!

Thanks for the tip on that guys!!!

New location of HDD's

Front view, door closed. (Fingerprints and smudges, still haven't cleaned up the outside just yet)

Door open

 

[DerwenArtos12]

I have to agree actually, those hard drives are going to get hot! What is in that little box just in front of the power supply? Is that just to hide wires in? And is that a quick disconnect or just a coupling in the water line up in the 5.25" bays?

All in all, one of the cleanest builds we've seen in a while! The matte black of the insulation really accents the case nicely. It also makes the little wire shield blend in, almost can't tell it's there except you can't see any wires.

 

[Tim]

Thanks for the compliments guys, you'll see my post above I fixed the HDD problem thanks to all of your suggestions.


Derwin, it's a t-connector, then a shut-off valve, then connected to the dangerden fillport. And the little box is actually just to hide wires in. I cut up some sheet metal and bent it into shape and covered it with that stuff... I like that stuff.... a lot

 

[Baked]

Much better now. Grats on the setup.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Ah, good stuff, nicely done! I'm still not sure about that elbow but, if it's working, rock on.

 

[Zepper]

Drives be much happier now... Cookin' mod!

.bh.

 

[WoodButcher]

Originally posted by: thepladfad
I did end up having some troubles modding the top panel to fit the MCR-320, but in the end it works and doesn't look too bad for my first shot at real case modding. First, I drew out the shape of the cut, and used masking tape to cover up the rest of the panel, then using snips I made the cuts. I also used a 1" drill bit to cut a hole for the danger-den derlin fill port.... BUT afterwards I realized I put it just a hair too close to the hole for the rad, so I went into the electric shop here at work and found a plug to use, painted it black, and all looks well. I placed another hole right above it for the fill-port, and it worked out just fine without looking like I screwed up too bad. When I went to put it all together (Rad grill, panel, and rad) The AC Ryan rad grills predrilled holes did NOT exactly match the holes on the MCR-320, so I had to ream the holes out quite a bit to get it to fit right. Thankfully the screws I used had large enough heads to work out just fine.

Haha! Congrats man. Now your a carpenter.... The best of us aren't "that good", we just hide our mistakes better!
I'm real happy for you, when a plan comes together as nicely as your did it is a great satisfaction to sit back and say, "cool, nice job, it all works". Now your in trouble though, you have the knowledge and confidence in your own ability. 10 bux says your tweaking it inside of 2 weeks and a fullblown rebuild inside a year if you don't build another!
Nice job!

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: WoodButcher
10 bux says your tweaking it inside of 2 weeks and a fullblown rebuild inside a year if you don't build another!
Nice job!

ROFLROFLROFL...

20 bux says he's gonna retweek his design once he see's how i pulled some thigns on persephone.

Remember he just finished his first case mod as well, and a very nice job too at it. He's gonna think everything as objective now, and not dream!

 

[Tim]

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: WoodButcher
10 bux says your tweaking it inside of 2 weeks and a fullblown rebuild inside a year if you don't build another!
Nice job!

ROFLROFLROFL...

20 bux says he's gonna retweek his design once he see's how i pulled some thigns on persephone.

Remember he just finished his first case mod as well, and a very nice job too at it. He's gonna think everything as objective now, and not dream!

lol
You'd better bet I'm watching aigo... I'm a superb idea theif!
On another note, I'm already drawing out a non-airflow restrictive HDD bay conceiling device (I have plenty of sheet metal left and an abundant supply of cheap-O "sound dampening material, I over-purchased)

After this, I plan on drawing out a shroud for the top like derwin suggested... of course doing this might turn out to require a paint job, muahahah!

PS, woodbutcher just got his 10 bucks as I spend an hour or so drawing out an HDD conceiler today.

 

[aigomorla]

Whisper..

i just finished persephone. she's installing vista as we speak.