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Scratch Build – In Progress Another PC in the wall

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by 0liveO1, 23 Mar 2014.

  1. 0liveO1

    0liveO1 What's a Dremel?

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    Hi everyone,

    I wanted to share my new rig with you, built from scratch. I finished it a few weeks back already, but didn't have time to maintain a real-time thread here, since I was already doing it on a french forum.

    So, I'll start by showing some pics of the final build, and will later upload the worklog pics and description.

    However, if you do understand french, and are not patient enough to see the building steps,you can still peek at this thread : http://forum.hardware.fr/hfr/Overcl...ng/worklog-another-finales-sujet_279925_1.htm


    Just a few words before starting, I initiated this project since I needed space when my PC isn't in use, since my desk is located in the living room, and was quite bulky. So, I thought it might be a good idea if I could "fold" my desk when not used. And in order to avoid having the casing taking up space, I decided to incorporate my components directly into the desk, but not horizontally as most desk-PCs tend to be, but vertically !


    [Edit]
    Regaring the components :
    CPU : I7 3960x
    Motherboard : Asus Rampage IV Extreme
    RAM : Corsair Dominator Platinum + light bars
    Graphics cards : 2 x GTX 780
    Sound card : Sound Blaster ZxR
    SSDs : Samsung 830 512 MB + Samsung EVO 500 MB
    PSU : Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 1000W

    Watercooling :
    Pumps : 2 x Alphacool MCP655 + Bitspower Mod kit new silver + Bitspower Acrylic top
    Reservoirs : 2 x DangerDen DD-RAD-Reservoir
    CPU Waterblock : Koolance 370 (nickel)
    MB Waterblock : Koolance MB-ASR4E (nickel + acetal)
    GC Waterblocks : 2 x Aquacomputer Kryographics (nickel + acrylic)
    Radiators : 2 x Phobya 480
    Fittings : Mainly bitspower C47 + some EK 90° + many Alphacool T (3 inlets) + some rotating adaptors
    Quick disconnnect : Swiftech Lok-Seal Quick Disconnect Non Spill Coupling Set (QC-NS)
    Flow indicators : 2 x Bitspower BP-FI-CLBKSL (really useless...)
    Tubing : Acrylic 12/10mm + TFC 13/10mm
    Fans : 8 x Swiftech helix 140 + 3 x Coolermaster R4 + 3 NB XL2
    Geek stuff : Aquacomputer Aquaero 5 Pro

    So here goes the pics, enjoy !


    Overview :

    [​IMG]

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    Zoom on the right part :

    [​IMG]

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    Pics of the upper half, with tinted window in place :

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    Zoom on the window :

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    And in total darkness :

    [​IMG]



    Window open :

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: 5 Apr 2014
    davidm likes this.
  2. 0liveO1

    0liveO1 What's a Dremel?

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    Now the components ; an overview to start with

    [​IMG]



    The lower part :

    [​IMG]

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    Zoom on the graphics cards :

    [​IMG]

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    ... and on the pumps :

    [​IMG]

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    And bonus pic, zoom on the case on the lower left part (with my other PC which is a dedicated HTPC, my consoles and accessories, and my NAS) :

    [​IMG]
     
  3. 0liveO1

    0liveO1 What's a Dremel?

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    Build log incoming this week-end
     
  4. The_Crapman

    The_Crapman World's worst stuntman. Lover of bit-tech

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  5. Meelobee

    Meelobee What's a Dremel?

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    holy crap...thats awesome!
     
  6. 0liveO1

    0liveO1 What's a Dremel?

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    Thank you guys :)


    Ok, here goes the worklog.

    First things firts, the blueprints ! Or should I say the sketches. By sketches, I actually mean paper sketches, no professional rendering via Sketchup :D


    The initial idea :

    [​IMG]


    The closing and support mechanism of the right part :

    [​IMG]


    The cutting patterns from 6, 15 and 18 mm MDF boards :

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    Then, preparing the parts for assembling, using "IKEA style" fittings (for non-Europeans : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKEA )

    [​IMG]


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    Preparing for assembling...


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    ... but we're not quite there yet ;)




    First, we need to make some cuts for fans and cable pass-through :


    [​IMG]



    And after three layers of paint and two layers of protecting resin, using rollers :

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: 29 Mar 2014
  7. 0liveO1

    0liveO1 What's a Dremel?

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    Now for the case on the lower left part, which is going to house two 480 radiators, and serve as support for the foldable desk work-top.


    These are the cut marks for the two radiators :

    [​IMG]


    After cutting the "holes", I had to do some routing in order to make the fan grills flush

    [​IMG]

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    And then I drilled some holes for the radiator screws to go through :

    [​IMG]



    And once painted and assembled :


    [​IMG]



    I had of course to add a rear pane, with a cable pass-through hole :

    [​IMG]

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    Then I worked on the folding work-top. I had to add some "height" between the two parts, because of the gap created by the hinges. I therefore had to make some "wooded nipples" :D :

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    Once painted and nailed to the board :

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: 2 Apr 2014
  8. 0liveO1

    0liveO1 What's a Dremel?

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    However, paint to paint => no good, even when totally dry :


    [​IMG]



    So, I had to add some aluminium tape over the "wooden nipples". Et voilà !

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]




    Let's take a look at the lower right part of the desk :

    [​IMG]

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    The right door is going to act as a foot table, but has to be heigntened to reach the desk's work-top. However, this additionnal height must be "removable" in order to allow for the door to be closed when the desk is not in use. So, here's what I figured out :

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    And I decided to use a velvet touch film in order not to damage the bottom of desk's work-top :

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    With the mechanism "open" the doors can be closed with no hindrance. I also rounded one edge of the doors :

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    And when the mechanism is "closed", it can act as support for the desk's work-top :

    [​IMG]



    And for the final result :

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: 21 Apr 2014
  9. hoochy

    hoochy Need moar cooling

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    Wow! Seriously impressed by this - love the idea and the execution :D Fantastic job
     
  10. dwinsor

    dwinsor What's a Dremel?

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    This is something else. looks great and gives me some ideas for my new place (smaller than what I am in). Will stay tuned for the rest.
     
  11. Canardwc

    Canardwc @French_fab_factorie

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    Hi, Very nice work!!! Awesome!

    Could you please tell me wich riser you used?
     
  12. Hukkel

    Hukkel James' minion

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    I love the pc itself. The white top plate, the diagonal gfx cards.

    Very nice work and very nice hiding.

    Top notch!
     
  13. DarkSable

    DarkSable What's a Dremel?

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    Freaking GORGEOUS. I absolutely LOVE the angled reservoirs like that, and it's making me wish to hell that I had room to do something like it. (Hmm, maybe I turn my HTPC into an engine. :p )

    That being said, I don't know how you can stand having a TV as your monitor. Even a 27" monitor drives me insane. xP

    @Canardwc: If you're talking about the PCIe riser, it looks like he's just using a standard cruddy ribbon cable that he then painted or used RIT die on - cheapest place to find them is ebay.

    The really nice ones that aren't going to fail on your or fry your graphics card are made by a company called Samtec and are found on their website.
     
  14. Boorach

    Boorach Minimodder

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    Great job. Looks fantastic when folded away and when opened up.
     
  15. keir

    keir S p i t F i r e

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    Many levels of awesome there.

    Well done.
     
  16. 0liveO1

    0liveO1 What's a Dremel?

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    :) tanks a lot for your cheerful comments

    @canardwc > I bought shielded risers on amazon (not shitty ribbons :p ) : http://www.amazon.fr/KALEA-INFORMAT...1396298581&sr=8-1&keywords=PCI+express+blindé
    As darksable said, there are better risers although I don't know about samtec. I know 3M provides better grade risers, but they cost about 80$ ex vat...
    I will detail this part mater on in the worklog ;)

    @ darksable > that's exactly what I thought before trying. I really love the immersion a such big screen provides, and I think I will switch to a 21:9 monitor as soon as 34" models will be out :D
     
  17. Bladesingerz

    Bladesingerz Minimodder

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    Very nice build
     
  18. DarkSable

    DarkSable What's a Dremel?

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    Everything I've seen says that shielding isn't incredibly amazing - but then, that's a totally different product than I've seen before. Any chance of getting a couple benchmarks with and without it?

    3M's are damn good - Samtec is slightly more expensive, but you order to exactly the length you need and it comes as a three part cable rather than just a ribbon - for modders, it's a lot more attractive. :dremel:


    Hmm, now I'm kind of curious about it. xP
    I have a 27", 1440p monitor, but it tends not to get used as much because I've gotten so used to my 120Hz monitor. Perhaps it's time to break it out and give it a try again.
     
  19. 0liveO1

    0liveO1 What's a Dremel?

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    Hi all :)

    I edited the previous picture posts to add some description, and in particular the first post to give some information about components used.

    I don't remember the exact scores, but I carried out a bunch of 3D Mark benchmarks in order to test the system's stability when using the pci-e risers, and the scores were about the same as when the graphics cards were connected directly to the mobo.
    Regarding my setup, I don't think one, two or three parts would have made any difference. You'll be able to see why when I'll publish the rest of the worklog.

    Keep posted ;)
     
  20. 0liveO1

    0liveO1 What's a Dremel?

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    Hi guys, sorry for not coming back earlier, but here are a bunch of more pics.


    So, the desk's structure being completed, I moved on to the left vertical panel which is to support all the hardware.

    After identifying the motherboard positionning on the panel, I outlined the areas where I will have to drill for cable passing.
    This pic shows the outlines, as well as the threaded inserts which will be used to hold the mobo in place.

    [​IMG]

    The mobo is to be heightened using aluminium spacers cut out from a piece of aluminium tube :

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    There goes the drilling.
    First, a pic showing the components layout.
    NB : CM = mobo, Carte son = sound card, carte son fille = daughter sound card

    [​IMG]

    And this one showing the cables holes already drilled.
    NB : CG = graphics card, Alim = power

    [​IMG]
     

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