Case Mod Project- "The White Knight Z9" Finished-05/23/13

[dombak1608]

Hi, this is my first post on bit-tech forum.
At first, I'd like to introduce myself.
16 year old schoolboy from Slatina in Croatia. My name doesn't matter.
I'm really interested in modding, and that other stuff.
I apologize for my bad english in advance.

List of components:
MBO: Msi Z77A-G43
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K
RAM: Corsair Vengeance blue 1600MHz
GPU: Sapphire 7850 2gb- DUAL-X cooler
HDD: WD Black 500gb
SSD: OCZ Agility 3 60gb
PSU: XFX PRO 550w


Now, let me introduce my project.
16th of October 2011 I bought a Zalman Z9 case.
And shortly after that I already started with various modding.
1. I painted front panel, top, and mesh on the left panel.
2. Bought Silverstone Aero Slots, and paint it in white.
3. Bought SMD LED strip on eBay and mounted it up above my keyboard.
4. Made some cheap water cooling
5. Bought a new sound card(Asus Xonar DG)
6. Painted i/o shield in white.
7. Cuted 5.25" bay into 3.5" that I can put 2 3.5" fan controlers.
8. Put the new switch, because original one died.
9. Got the fans from eBay.
10. Got the thermometers from eBay, and mounted it on 5.25" bay.
11. My friend professionaly painted front and top panel.
12. Got the LED strips for case.
13. Made some small reservoir so I can push the air bubbles out.
14. Bought SSD(OCZ Agility 3 60gb)
15. Bought the real radiator(250mm*150mm)
16. Painted pci slots of graphics and sound card, in white of course.
17. Made better reservoir and bought tubing.
18. Made psu shroud, and cover for radiator of plexiglass.
19. Got some blue sleeve while I wait MDPC-X sleeve, and sleeved 8 pin cable.
20. Got Corsair SSD adapter, paint it.
21. Painted coolant.

Now let's put some pictures.
Sorry about quality(iphone)




















my fault for that white lines, used shitty paper.




switch for LED's




big box for SSD



mounted it on back side




beast

small difference








3m 1$

filling


some pictures with new tubing










can't see laser on pictures

everything cutted

like it?





painted blades





my favourite pic





after sanding, corsair logo is missing.



white matte

first coat

second coat

finish

finish

ssd mounted


now pictures with camera







Here's the video of painting coolant. Noise is made by graphics card.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thLQrvOqq8c&hd=1

[VALVe]

Nice work dude , hope u 'll find the sponsor soon! Good luck!

[Shurika]

Interesting idea! I also have Zalman Z9, but it still black. Why you use so huge power button? Are you dislike the stock button?

[dombak1608]

Originally Posted by VALVe

Nice work dude , hope u 'll find the sponsor soon! Good luck!

Thanks mate, I hope so.

Originally Posted by Shurika

Interesting idea! I also have Zalman Z9, but it still black. Why you use so huge power button? Are you dislike the stock button?

I use that button because my original one died(too much on/off). I'm looking for blue ring buttons 16mm.

[Squigly]

Originally Posted by dombak1608

I use that button because my original one died(too much on/off). I'm looking for blue ring buttons 16mm.

think this is what your lookin for

[dombak1608]

Originally Posted by Squigly

think this is what your lookin for

Yes, that's what I looking for. Thanks.


I have a great news.
I sold my MBO, CPU, RAM.
Time to get new one.
MSI Z77A-G43
i5-3570K
Corsair XMS3 1600MHz 8gb(2*4gb)

[Njuso]

fino si ti to odradio
svaka cast

[VALVe]

Originally Posted by dombak1608

Yes, that's what I looking for. Thanks.


I have a great news.
I sold my MBO, CPU, RAM.
Time to get new one.
MSI Z77A-G43
i5-3570K
Corsair XMS3 1600MHz 8gb(2*4gb)

Hurry up post some pictures of new configuration, I can't wait for see how it fit in case.

[Pranja]

Nice to see your project log on Bit-tech.

[The_Crapman]

i've admired the Z9 for a long time and almost got one a while back. Seeing this almost makes me wish i had. really nice work mate. i LOVE the ghetto reservoirs

[dombak1608]

Thank you all for your comments.

I bought a new hardware.
MBO: MSI Z77A-G43
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K
RAM: Corsair Vengeance blue 1600MHz 8gb(2x4gb)
And placed it to case.

Case without hardware

Hardware

CPU and beast of cooler

I love it!


Much better

Mounted hardware


Working




24pin extension

Plans for the future:
1. Wait for the MDPC-X black sleeve, and heatshrink
2. Wait for the ATX remover tool
3. Sleeve the cables
4. Extend the cables of fans on the top
5. Buy the switch
6. Save some money

And plans for the far future(next year):
1. Buy new PSU
2. Buy a new graphics card
3. Buy the blocks for graphics card, and CPU.

I hope that I will make a new update soon.
Cya

[TeenGeek]

Looks really good, keep up the work!!!

[dombak1608]

Update my modding friends!
I bought a new PSU and 2 fans on sale.
PSU: XFX PRO550W
Fans: Arctic Cooling F12 TC
And I also painted the waterblock holder, left side panel, and PCI brackets(again-because first time I wasn't happy with my work ).
Some pictures:










sanding the brackets




finished




























I don't know what to do with cables.
Does somebody knows how can I turn off the temperature sensor on this f12 tc fans?

[SpleenBeGone]

Very nice work you've done. so far. I have to admit, I don't think I would be brave enough to make my own reservoir like you initially did, but I like where the whole thing is going.

[dombak1608]

Originally Posted by SpleenBeGone

Very nice work you've done. so far. I have to admit, I don't think I would be brave enough to make my own reservoir like you initially did, but I like where the whole thing is going.

Thank you, why don't you try?

BTW. I'm planing to paint the copper parts on radiator and reservoir.

[SpleenBeGone]

I just worry a bit about not fully sealed containers of liquid that close to some very expensive parts. Though I'm sure it is perfectly safe, as long as no one is shaking your case around or anything drastic like that.

[dombak1608]

Hey, ho!
I painted copper on radiator in matte black.
Also I figured that I can't put the second fan on left side panel because of psu shroud.
So now I can put only one fan on it.

Photos:














I don't have any pic while I painted that copper parts

[WALKYRIE]

Well done, nice build , I suggest you to consider for your next GPU upgrade the KFA2 graphic cards with white PCB, there are already a few KFA2 graphic cards made with white PCB, for the PSU the PC Power&Cooling is releasing also white painted PSU

http://www.ninjalane.com/newspost5297.aspx

[dombak1608]

Hi,
Time to make a new update!
I didn't have time to make an update.
These days I was busy with some small project on brother in law's attic.
We put white LED strip on edge of the billiard table.
Here is a video of it (I know that it isn't a case mod):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWu67WVbeOc


I got my 19mm blue ring switch from ebay


Shortly after that I welded what I needed


Ring looks great


Now it's time to use dremel


How it looks mounted




But, there's a problem

I can't put front side on case

Now it's time to use "real" tools

To get this


And final look



When I finished with the switch I modded my MX518 a little.
First, take it apart


Then sanding


And painting



Final look


After that I got my new GPU
Sapphire 7850 2gb with DUAL-X cooler

Package


Unwrapped


Box in the box


Small things


Sticker which I won't use


The GPU


Blue PCB




Compare to 9600GSO


9600GSO is a bit longer


Looking good






I won't buy water block for GPU(maybe in far future).

As I bought 5m of White LED strip for the billiard table, 80cm were excess.
I mounted it on the back of my screen.


And how it looks

I'm satisfied!

Now my plans are:
1. Sleeve the extension (I bought MDPC-X sleeve on Croatian forum from some guy, and He cheated me and few more people, We didn't get our money, and Sleeve- Life lesson )- I have blue sleeve, and I ordered Black heatshrink on ebay.
2. Order black sleeve, and sleeve some random cables in case. (When I get some money)
3. Engrave the logo on plexi
4. Buy better CPU water block (When I get some money)
5. Maybe make a plexi backplate for GPU

As You Can see, money is mine biggest problem.
Thank you for reading all this.

See ya in next update!

[patara]

my first case was too with automobile ovens but I did to castes and to me it was simpler than them to place











in branch pipes it is possible to cut a carving for a fitting looks more beautifully for confidence from above still to miss the mark with silicone