Case Mod Alienware Aurora ALX-XL

[kier]

Alienware Aurora ALX-XL is sponsored by:







Update!!!

To start with I have placed the EK bayres to see how it looks







Installing the pump onto the bayres





Small tutorial about this









Time for the Nvidia GTX680







Also made a tut for placing the EK-FC680 onto the Nvidia GTX680



Don't wanna see the vid!!! Thank god we still have pictures

Removed the plastic









Also removed the block





Dismantled the bracket





The EK block

[IMG]http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx233/kier1976/NEW/Alienware/A3/EKWB/DSC09755.jpg[IMG]





First cleaning up the GPU



Placed pads and compound



Mounted the EK block



Also installed the EK-FC link













And backplate





Second GPU finished















Connected all together with the EK-FC Bridge Dual Serial







And offcourse....placed it right away











Made a minor adjustment into the CPU cooler. Placed LEDs for a nice effect, bright Alien eyes









I was still searching regards the radiator recesses on both sides. Here's the first idea.
Playing with some mesh and air outlets









But no...didn't like this.
So cut an aluminium strip, bended a lot of vents and assembled

















Made it black







Next ..... The Nvidia Logo should come back. Therefore I made ​​a little cover where the Nvidia logo is displayed.



Like this









Frosted the piece





Just to see how it will look I cut out the name by hand.
This is NOT the final logo, soon there will be a better one (with Nvidia claw)



To give this a bright shine, I have used a piece of glowpad







Placed a small piece







For the cables, I cut out a recess





This will no longer be seen through the cover



And another recess for the remaining connections mobo



And a recess for the GPU power. Bottom PCI-e power is tight, but possible







And last... Busy again with acrylic tube





After some measuring, Made 2 holes ​​for the fill ports













That's it for this weekend To be continued!

[elAwesome]

Looks awesome!
Can't wait to see it finished.

[kier]

Thanks

[siliconfanatic]

lookin good! subtle modding, seems more like its just been cleaned up. takeing a design and enhancing it w/out changing it too much! i like!

[matiss]

Wheres kier on the outside theres awesomeness inside

[kier]

Originally Posted by siliconfanatic

lookin good! subtle modding, seems more like its just been cleaned up. takeing a design and enhancing it w/out changing it too much! i like!

Thanks that was the hole idea, like the Alienware shapes allready. only thing is to clean up the place

Originally Posted by matiss

Wheres kier on the outside theres awesomeness inside

Thank you

[The_Crapman]

This is looking superb! I thought the rad vents looked really good without getting painted, but then again i do have naked metal fetish...

[kier]

Lol thats the first time ive heard that one...Naked metal fetish, me like. Thanks

[TheNr24]

OMG SWEEEET Kier does it again!! Improving on the looks of this already badass looking case is impressive!

I seriously can't believe they don't powdercoat the inside of the case themselves though, I thought that was pretty standard on high-end (gaming) cases nowadays?

And the leds in the eyes, the reversed tubes on the stock cooler, the cable cover, brilliant but they should've thought of that! On the one hand they go to extremes to light the inside up (some pretty clever stuff on that end, especially the lighting up of the connectors on the back of the case, so handy!) but then they make it so you'll never want to look inside.. (dat cable management )

To be honest, I think Alienware is just secretly using you as their designer, I wouldn't be surprised if they released an AURORA II exactly like yours when you're done fixing this one. Hahaha
At least that's what they should do, it would certainly help to justify their pricing.

Btw, ekwb does some amazing design, damn, even their packaging is gorgeous.

About time for an update though, don't you think. on a related note, how's Danbo doing an update to that thread would be most welcomed as well!

[kier]

thank you for your kind words.

At this moment the alienware is beeing poadercoated
I hope they will use some ideas in there next design

About Danbo....he's still alive and standing right next to me, waiting to be finished

Soon!!!

[Si_the-dude]

Absolutely amazing dude! Total computer porn! LOL

[siliconfanatic]

*cough*update*cough*

*whistles innocently*

[Waynio]

Challenging internals & your doing a very sweet job of it, I expect this one has been quite a fun challenge.

Lot of nice touches in this Kier.

[kier]

Alienware Aurora ALX-XL is sponsored by:







Update!!!

It took a while but here is a new update of the Alienware Aurora. After some doubt what I would do, paint or powder coating I decided to do it myself.
purchased a number of cans primer and Black.

Put the primer on







Let it dry for a night and then applied several layers of black
And again, hung to dry. Looks good i think









Internal also used some black for the heatsink and other small stuff ... still need to exchange the connectors





Always fun to play with Alien eyes



I also gave the midplate a black layer. This to get a illuminated green border using a CCFL. I first made the top ​​white, after that a black layer



Placed the CCFL







Time to place the PCB for the lighting etc. For this I have cut a aluminum plate



Placed like this









After extending some cables







Power on for testing





And it's working again





Always good to know before the cable management begins











Searched and found my sleeve stuff again for sleeving the big bundle







I discovered that the pins of the big block are not so easily to remove. 've Tried al kind of tools, but it isnt possible without demolishing. I just miss the slots for the pin remover.



So change of plans ... going to use sleeved extenions now. Sorry no sleeve update this time

I also did the lower back. Because I made ​​the Aurora a bit higher, I also need to extend the back.
For this cut, bent and drilled an aluminum plate



Cut and bent another aluminum plate





First plate mounted on the existing PSU cover



And made the other plate black and mounted it. Must still bend it a bit and still make some openings with mesh in it..I think, but this is how it fits.

















Finally the choice of the fans for the rads. The Scythe SY1212SL12H ... pretty thin fans but very noisy.
definitely need some adjusments









More coming up!!!

[Pranja]

Nice update Kier.

I am waiting for more.

[KoSoVaR^]

have you tried to remove the pins from the backside ?? they must be removable somehow :O!, if not do this:

Step 1:
Cut the cable leaving it some 3-5cm slack of wire

Step 2:
strip all the wires

step 3:
Crip the cables from the 24pin cable with male pins and attach it to a male 24pin housing, do the opposit with the special connector cable

Ready to sleeve!

[KayinBlack]

I was able to sleeve mine pretty well, though I'm redoing for this set of connectors that's going inline. barring a few double and triple crimps, you can get down to the connector end for almost everything. I'm putting in a midplate in my setup so you can't see the ones you can't anyway.

[siliconfanatic]

Nice to see your still alive, kier! But always chech here 'fore ya call it quits+ move on

[kier]

Originally Posted by Pranja

Nice update Kier.

I am waiting for more.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by KoSoVaR^

have you tried to remove the pins from the backside ?? they must be removable somehow :O!, if not do this:

Step 1:
Cut the cable leaving it some 3-5cm slack of wire

Step 2:
strip all the wires

step 3:
Crip the cables from the 24pin cable with male pins and attach it to a male 24pin housing, do the opposit with the special connector cable

Ready to sleeve!

Thanks you, but i allready ordered the extensions...no excuse i know

Originally Posted by KayinBlack

I was able to sleeve mine pretty well, though I'm redoing for this set of connectors that's going inline. barring a few double and triple crimps, you can get down to the connector end for almost everything. I'm putting in a midplate in my setup so you can't see the ones you can't anyway.

Did you remove them from the backside, like KoSoVaR said? i really couldnt disconnect the pins from the front.

Originally Posted by siliconfanatic

Nice to see your still alive, kier! But always chech here 'fore ya call it quits+ move on

Still alive yes, very busy with other mods...also coming up soon

[Ace_finland]

Great modding there kier, turning out much better than i thought it would be! Is the green nvidia logo made with an el-panel? looked like one but i wasn't sure. If so how big are the inverters to get it to ac current?