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Case Mod - In Progress AcidBurn mini-ITX mod, CaseLabs Mercury S3

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by Pennywise, 20 May 2013.

  1. Pennywise

    Pennywise Minimodder

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    AcidBurn mini-ITX mod, CaseLabs Mercury S3

    I have been wanting to do a mini-ITX case mod for the longest time.
    With CaseLabs new release of there Mercury S3 case, I just couldn't put it off any longer.
    My color choices for AcidBurn are Green, Yellow, Black, and White.

    The hardware I will be using is:
    -CaseLabs Mercury S3 case (XL side windows, top window, 2 tone color, 240 radiator mount)
    -EVGA Z77 Stinger board
    -EVGA GTX 690
    -EVGA SuperNOVA NEX750G Gold power supply
    -Intel i7-3770K Ivy Bridge cpu
    -Cougar Dual-X Green Led case fans
    -Koolance GTX 690 Water Block
    -Koolance CPU Water Block
    -Koolance D5 pump-Koolance D5 pump base
    -Koolance 240mm Radiator
    -Koolance Chrome Compression fittings
    -Koolance UV Green Coolant
    -Roccat Kone Pure Mouse
    -Roccat Isku Keyboard
    -Roccat Kave Headset
    -Roccat Hiro Mousepad
    -MDPC Sleeving
    -Seagate 3TB Hard Drive
    -I haven't decided on a SSD or Memory yet.
    -I will be building a custom reservoir, and case feet.

    I would like to give a special thanks to my sponsors:
    CaseLabs for there newest case, the Mercury S3.
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    EVGA for there continued support of the enthusiast community.
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    Koolance for there high quality liquid cooling products.
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    Performance-pcs for there continued support to the modding community.
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    Roccat for there high quality products.
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    Adata for your outstanding products.
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    Last edited: 6 Jun 2013
  2. Pennywise

    Pennywise Minimodder

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    Reserved for final pictures
     
  3. KrunchR

    KrunchR What's a Dremel?

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    No pictures make kittens sad.....

    Good spec. Lets see some work!
     
  4. p0Pe

    p0Pe gief cake?

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    No pictures - no worklog:) Read the rules.

    I am thinking of a mercury mod myself. Get them pics flowing!
     
  5. torment lm

    torment lm Danish Viking

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    *Drooling :I Cougar Fans :I
     
  6. Pennywise

    Pennywise Minimodder

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    Here is the CaseLabs Mercury S3 case.
    I have opted for windows on both sides and the top.
    The actual windows I'm using on the build are full size windows, which is in one of the pictures below.
    I have chosen the black and white 2 tone.
    It has a 240 front radiator mount and a motherboard tray with ssd mounts.
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    A complete Koolance water cooling setup.
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    Here are the new Cougar fans and the rest of the parts from Performance-PCS. These fans are so quiet.
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    And the treasure trove of parts that will be going into the case.
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    I decided to through a couple pieces togeather to get some measurements and see how everything will fit.
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    I have also built the prototype to test out an idea I have for a reservoir.There were 2 ideas that I was trying out. The first was the water flowing down the outside of the tube like a waterfall.The second is to have bubbles that float around a cylinder reflecting light off the LEDs.The final one will have only 1 tube.
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    Here are a couple YouTube videos I made for you.Let me know what you guys think.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE7SVh3dS5Q
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU6SpSSwbjE
     
  7. imersa

    imersa Parvum Princess

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    Good work so far, love them both. Think I like the waterfall one most!
     
  8. Pennywise

    Pennywise Minimodder

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    So I finished my reservoir. I cut out a gasket, but am going to keep looking for a clear one that will work.
    I decided to go with the bubbles in a single tube. I can always conver it back to a waterfall later if want.
    In keeping with the theme, I also cut out some flames out of acrylic.
    The battery was dead on the camera for a couple pictures, so I had to take some with my phone.
    Here is a link to the video of it.
    Let me know what you guys think.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OowLqZMTjkY&feature=youtu.be


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  9. Pennywise

    Pennywise Minimodder

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    The rest of my MDPC sleeving came in.
    I had ordered all my toxic green on a past order, but I wanted to put in some yellow and white.

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Pennywise

    Pennywise Minimodder

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    I have had a few questions about the Cougar Dual-X case fans, so I made you guys a video.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jFYfVQFb_0
    Well, hopefully I will be able to get some work done on AcidBurn this weekend. I am also trying to help my buddy finish up his DA Edition mod this weekend. We will also be finishing up the decals on some of the hardware. We will be putting on the custom led case feet this weekend. I will take a couple pictures of his mod for you guys.
    Here is a picture of the feet that I built for it. I was able to get a led flashlight partially into the tops, so you could get an idea of what it will look like lite up. Let me know what you guys think.
    [​IMG]
     
  11. Pennywise

    Pennywise Minimodder

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    I got a couple things done tonight on DAs build.
    Here are a couple pictures for you guys.
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  12. Pennywise

    Pennywise Minimodder

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    Ok, so I'm finally done with the DA edition Build.
    Here are a couple photos. DA is going to take some nicer pictures of it this week. I'll put some up when he get them done.
    Time to get back to my AcidBurn mod.
    Hope you guys like the pictures from the DA rig.

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  13. Pennywise

    Pennywise Minimodder

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    Its been very busy for me lately, so I've been fitting in my AcidBurn mod when ever I can.

    The power supply's logo was was upside down for me, so I decided to fill it in and build out an EVGA E.It was hard to tell when all the dents and flaws were out so I sprayed a coat of black gloss on it. I still have a few more flaws to sand down.

    I was planning on trying my hand at airbrushing flames on the outside of the case, but It will take to long to get my skills up to were they need to be. I put up a picture of my first attempt at flames. I defenatly need to practice more.

    I have decided to have a local airbrush artist Dan with Splat-Designs.com help me out with the flames on the outside of the case. I went out today to preview some of his work. I am very excited to see what he can do with AcidBurn. He is a very talented artist.

    I was also able to get my 24 pin cable sleeved and sewn as well.It is going to be very tricky to get all these cable in here, and make them look good. I took some pictures so you can get an idea of the process and see how the cables turned out.

    Let me know what you guys think.

    Power supply
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    My first attempt at airbrushing flames.
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    Let the sleeving begin.
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  14. dreps

    dreps Minimodder

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    very nice sleeving! good work up so far man ^^
     
  15. Vetalar

    Vetalar *learning english*

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    interesting build!
    and custom stickers is very good way to made common things (fans, ssds and such) unique and individual! graabed this idea for my next build :D
     
  16. Pennywise

    Pennywise Minimodder

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    Thanks guys for the great feedback. I'm so excited to see the airbrush work. He will be working on it next week.

    I would like to welcome Adata to the list of Sponsors for AcidBurn.
    These guys make some outstanding products.
    [​IMG]
     
  17. Cheapskate

    Cheapskate Insane? or just stupid?

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    Excellent fit and finish work.:D The sleeve ties would stand out less if they were done in neon green.
    I absolutely love the opaque lit feet idea.
    Clear gasket: Get 2 sheets of HDPE (Or 2 smooth sandwich box lids) squeeze out a big glob of silicone in the middle, smash between the 2 sheets down to a uniform thickness, let dry for a century. When it dries you can cut to fit.
    -You obviously noticed just using silicone might pop free under thermal expansion, thus you need for gaskets.
    Experimental idea: You might be able to use mold casting release spray on your res parts, add silicone, dry, remove and trim. -never tried it, so not sure.

    I'll quit my mad rant now.:D
     
  18. Pennywise

    Pennywise Minimodder

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    I havent found a neon green thread that will work for this application, but I just picked up some white that I will try.
    Interesting idea for the gasket. I thought of using something kind of like that, but thought it would leave bubbles in the silicone. I may have to give it a try. I have a ton of other stuff to work on first though.
    Thanks for the comment on the case feet. Those and the reservoir are my favorite parts on my builds. I haven't even started the feet for this case. I keep tossing around different ideas on how to make the feet, but haven't decided on one.
     
  19. Darkwisdom

    Darkwisdom Level 99 Retro Nerd

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    Looking good so far.

    Like the waterfall Idea; the green flame in there looks a bit tacky in my opinion.
     
  20. Pennywise

    Pennywise Minimodder

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    So I tried out the white thread and I can't make up my mind on the black or white. What do you guys think? I'm kind of partial to the black.

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