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Case Mod - In Progress The CaseLabs STH10 Project

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by dipzy, 14 Jan 2013.

  1. dipzy

    dipzy Minimodder

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    This is my first build log. It’s been a few months since i started to get my parts in for my new build.
    It's going to be a big one and there more i still need to get but i hope to complete it by summer.

    For now I’m going to re-use certain hardware from my old rig just to get it up and running and will swap them out as and when new parts arrive. It will be a long one but i want to do it right and i hope you guys enjoy it.

    Here's what i have so far for the new build:

    Caselabs STH10 White Reverse
    EVGA SR2
    2 x E5646 at 2.4ghz
    2 x coolermaster hyper 212 evo
    2 x 2GB Corsair XMS3 Ram
    EVGA GTX460 SC 1GB
    120GB Mushkin Chronos SSD
    1TB WD Black
    Silverstone Strider 1500W
    Corsair AF120 quiet editions for case

    The RAM and GPU will be getting replaced in a few months and possibly the SSD for a higher capacity.
    I look to watercool next year but for now will run on air until i'm happy with the hardware inside.

    So lets get started :D

    Here we have the box containing the parts of the case, its much bigger than it looks.

    Now time to assemble the STH10

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    Size comparison against a Antec 1200 rig owned by a friend who helped me assemble the STH10. The 1200 is a pretty large case itself but the STH10 takes it to another level.

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    Got the case home after 1hr 30mins it took to assemble, removed the FT02 from the desk and put the STH10 in its place. The size of the case is unbelievable, its just enormous but i like it :)

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    I did order front I/O audio and USB panel but i'm loving the clean look with only the switches but may put it in at the end to make connecting headphones easier rather than fiddling around at the back.


    Shots of some of the hardware going in the rig.

    EVGA SR2, what a monster!
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    Intel E5645 1366 Xeons @ 2.4ghz each
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    Corsair AF120 Quiet Edition double packs
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    Coolermaster Hyper 212 Evo coolers
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    These coolers cost me £50 for both and should do me nicely until the time comes to put the rig on watercooling


    A bit of modding to the I/O 3.5" bay device.

    First the fire wire cable, will never need to use it so i cut it off

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    Next cable to go was the AC'97 audio connector which was branching from the HD audio connector. Never was going to use it so i cut it off. RIP AC'97

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    Final result, i tried to cut close as i could to the plastic connector.
    This will be hidden by heatshrink once i braid the cable

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    I then got on to mounting the front intake fans on the 120x3 flexbay radiator mount. My choice of fans were the Corsair AF120 Quiet Editions.

    The 120x3 flexbay without fans

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    Now with fans

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    And a nice shot of the flexbay mounted to the case. Had to re-arrange a few 5.25 bay plates. I was going to get 3 of the 120mm flexbay fan mounts but then i thought of getting the 120x3 as it would look sleek, much cleaner and eliminate the tiny gaps between each fan. I'm happy with the final look :)

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    Still can't believe how big the case is :D

    Got around to getting the strider out of the cupboard, gave it a clean with hoover and mounted it in the case. Due to the unusual power connector, i ordered the spacer so that it can be rotated 180 degree's.
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    It’s resting on a PSU bracket with two strips of rubber tape to eliminate any vibrations.

    I have ordered two full sets of cables for the PSU, one to braid and one to keep spare. I will also order some fan extensions and some sleeving to hide the ugly cables on the I/O device.


    Installed the two Xeon's on the mobo
    and then mounted the SR2 on to the motherboard tray. It makes life so much easier :)

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    Shots of the motherboard tray with SR2 installed back into the case

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    After a painstaking 2 hours got the coolers mounted :)
    Took me ages to figure out that i had to take off the existing Xeon back plates and put on the supplied 1366 that were in the accessory box, completely forgot about them

    Then there was the pain caused by the mounting system of the coolers, found it fiddly when doing the first cooler but got the second put quicker.
    Still not bad for a £25 cooler :) i seen much worse cooler mounting.

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    I thought that these coolers will cover a few DIMM slots but thankfully they only covered 1 for both CPU's. I'll be using the red DIMM slots for Tri-channel so using ram with tall heatsink won't be any issue at all

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    Shot of the back of motherboard tray without its cover.
    Cooler back plates, took me a while to figure out how to install them, instructions were not as good as they could have been.

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    Got ram on order, should be this week ;)

    Enjoy :)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: 3 Mar 2013
  2. Guest-23315

    Guest-23315 Guest

    That was a pretty good first post!
     
  3. dream1

    dream1 What's a Dremel?

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    OOOH il love BIG BIGGER BIGEST STUFF SR2 Omg looks so good :)
     
  4. dipzy

    dipzy Minimodder

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    Thanks guys been very busy over the past few weeks with the build, got ram coming soon and will begin to order sleeving soon :)
     
  5. dipzy

    dipzy Minimodder

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    Just a little update.

    Haven’t got much done recently with work and also many items getting delayed such as the ram :grr:

    But I did manage to get my sleeving today from Nils and also my bitspower blood red fitting.

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    Gotta love the drawings :D

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    Had a little bit of Friday night fun :D

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    Bitspower Deep Blood fitting with the included Haribo, all gone by the way :D

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    ^ I just love it :D
    Wanted a colour that would match the fitting and the red sleeving i had was bit too bright. I was having a look on the MDPC-X website and came across Colour-x sleeving which looked much darker and similar to the fitting colour so i order it. From the pic you can see, its pretty close and i'm very happy i ordered that sleeving :)

    Next update will probably be of the front I/O device cables sleeved up, the front fans and extensions sleeved and also pics of the ram if they ever come in stock.
     
  6. bulldogjeff

    bulldogjeff The modding head is firmly back on.

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    I was looking at this and thinking, wow that looks nice followed by, that looks pretty big, then as i read though and scrolled down I saw the pic next to the HAF... That thing is feckin massive. Even makes that SR2 small. I 'll be keeping and eye on this one, looks like an epic build.
     
  7. dipzy

    dipzy Minimodder

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    Thanks mate :)

    The SR2 does look tiny lol

    Btw that case is a antec 1200 not a HAF but is still a large case however the STH!0 just eats it :D
     
  8. bulldogjeff

    bulldogjeff The modding head is firmly back on.

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    lol I should have spotted what it was but i was to busy drooling over the other one:D
     
  9. dipzy

    dipzy Minimodder

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    After weeks of waiting, they are here.
    I present to you the Platinums :D

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    Shot of ram under CPU0

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    Shot of ram above CPU1

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    Very close, about 1mm from heatsink

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    Final shot of all modules on the mobo. They look so damn good :D
     
  10. morgansk

    morgansk I've got wood

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    48 GB!!! :jawdrop:

    Holy Moses, that's some RAM. In your intro post you said "The RAM and GPU will be getting replaced in a few months and possibly the SSD for a higher capacity" - surely you're kidding?
     
  11. gungravevn

    gungravevn What's a Dremel?

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    I think it is 24 gb not 48 but those rams look so damn pretty. Do you have any plan to watercool it soon?
     
  12. dipzy

    dipzy Minimodder

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    Lol

    I originally was going to use my current 4GB as temporary ram in the SR2 until i got the platinums.
    But the GTX460 is going to be replaced and also the 120GB SSD :)
     
  13. dipzy

    dipzy Minimodder

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    Yup, its 24GB :thumb:

    I will watercool, mostly likely around summer time. Next i need to get GPU's so saving up for that at the moment
     
  14. dipzy

    dipzy Minimodder

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    A tiny update :)

    My measurement for the size of the filters i wanted :lol:

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    After two weeks, received my custom fan filters today from Demciflex :D

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    Shot of the filter for the 120x3 flexbay rad mount, looks pretty nice i thinks :)

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    Here we have the filters being installed on the top side panels and how it look on the case with panel installed. They come with a magnetic frame that has adhesive on the back for cases that magnet's do not stick too.

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    You can hardly tell that the top side panel is filtered :D

    Reason for them is that while i have been doing bits and bogs to the build, dust has accumulated a bit in the top chamber. Bottom chamber will have rads with fans blowing out.
     
  15. AverageNinja

    AverageNinja Almost an EpicNinja

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    Nice update Dipz!
     
  16. dipzy

    dipzy Minimodder

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    Thanks dude :)
     
  17. dipzy

    dipzy Minimodder

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    Decided to do some sleeving this weekend.

    Did the fans and some 60cm extensions, yes they will be needed :lol:

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    Some pics of of the fans installed and the extensions.
    Not the best job, but i'm pretty happy with it.

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    Fans being externally tested

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    The fans were changed out due to the Corsairs being a bit loud for me plus the motor was giving out a croaky noise that bugged the hell out of me. These Phobya G-Silent fans are much quieter

    Also my new sound card arrived :D

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    Sounds awesome. Headphone pod with volume control and a choice of connecting 1/4" headphones and mic or 3.5mm headphones and mic.

    The headphone pod connects to the headphone and mic jacks on the sound card. So now i can leave both speaker and headphones connected and switch between the two from the software :D
    With this, i can also keep a clean look on the front of the STH10 with no visible audio connections :)

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  18. AverageNinja

    AverageNinja Almost an EpicNinja

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    Nice update dipzy! Dat soundcard :naughty: :)
     
  19. dipzy

    dipzy Minimodder

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    Thanks, yeah loving the sound card:D

    Next might then GPU's, a pair of 670's
     
  20. Hukkel

    Hukkel James' minion

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    SR-2 DROOOOOOOOL

    Nice soundcard alright. Man those cases are H-U-G-E
     

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