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Case Mod - In Progress PROJECT#001 | Update 18 July 2013 - painting and fixing

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by LegendaryScott, 13 Jun 2013.

  1. LegendaryScott

    LegendaryScott Trying to live up to the name

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    [​IMG]

    Let me start off by saying hello. . Hello.
    I have been reading bit tech forums build logs for many years and have always said to myself: LegendaryScott, you should have a go at doing that. Alas work, baby, wife and above all lack of funds is an unfortunate hindrance to battling the modding sweats I’ve been getting lately.. Me Scott, Me Man, Me Need Mod.
    I am a virgin.. A modding virgin, that is. I have no experience in building or modding anything. The most I have done in the way of case modification is cut a little hole in my existing case to put a rocker switch in for cold cathodes.. I know, I know, very lame.
    So this project is basically for me being inducted into the wonderful world of modding. Its also for me to stop being that guy who just looks at build-log porn week in week out and does one himself, oh and finally to stop the sweats.
    I am therefore asking for help mainly. I have absolutely no idea what the frak I’m doing.

    Ok. Dremel, check. Drill, check. Safety glasses, check. Hammer, screwdriver, check.

    The case I’ll be modding will be the Zalman z9u3.

    I’m going to do away with the front, top and side panels. The main plan is to make the side of the case the ‘front’, with an aluminium frame surrounding the front (side) to display the nice stuff inside.

    Components--
    Intel Core i5 3570K
    Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H
    Kingston 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600MHz HyperX Genesis
    Sapphire HD 7870 GHZ OC Edition 2GB GDDR5
    PSU – An Xcilo thing its 750watt which was free. I’ll upgrade this to a better model soon.
    Samsung 240gb 850pro SSD

    [​IMG]

    This will also be air-cooled. As much I would love to be able to water cool, I just don't have the cash.
    The project will most likely be an ongoing build and if I eventually get the cash I’ll water cool this.

    So with a dremel, pencil, ruler and drill in my hands I ….. get a little daunted by the task ahead of me and decide to go to SketchUp and fiddle about and get a solid idea of what I’m doing.

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    This is a quick mock up in Sketchup. The mid plate etc will be made out of acrylic. And the outer frame out of aluminium..

    So I now have a fair idea of what I’m doing, I’ve ordered the metal and plastics and will await the arrival of the postman.

    But first to strip the Zalman :dremel:
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    Well, not quite strip. I just want to get rid of the front wall of the drive bay. but I really wanted to get my drill and dremel out.. die puny pop rivet, die.

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    As you can see in my SketchUp model I want to vertically mount the gpu. I haven't actually figured out how I'm going to do that yet but Ive seen some awesome mods with it done so know its possible, also I just ordered a riser so I'm not not using it ;)

    :dremel:

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    Testing with an old GPU. seems to be ok. but the 7870 will be a lot heavier so gonna need some inventive way of holding it.


    The front IO on the zalman
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    It had some nice bits I could reuse for the mod. I may even reuse that temp sensor, too bad its not in blue
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    :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:
    Well heres to my first build log post

    I'll be back later where you can see me fail miserably at sleeving :wallbash: :waah:

    Hopefully someone out there will read this and it wont be lost forever in the bowels of the forum.

    Like I said up there; I have no clue what I'm doing so please be kind and if you see me doing something stupid or planning to do something stupid please tell me, I would really welcome any help, suggestions or criticism.

    Stay awesome people:rock:

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: 18 Jul 2013
  2. LegendaryScott

    LegendaryScott Trying to live up to the name

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    <<Saved for final pictures>>
     
  3. The_Crapman

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

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    I've long been an admirer of the zalmans looks. Look forward to seeing what you do with her.

    P.s. John candy Cheesecake :thumb:
     
  4. LegendaryScott

    LegendaryScott Trying to live up to the name

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    Hey Crapman, unfortunately theres not gonna be much zalman left when I'm finished with it.
    Oh and thanks for being my first poster dude!

    You know John Candy rocks:rock:

    TEASER
    as I just got this LCD screen working
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: 13 Jun 2013
  5. LegendaryScott

    LegendaryScott Trying to live up to the name

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    Small Update 15-june

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    Hey people just a quick update.
    Found some time yesterday to cut up some acrylic and get the boxing up started on the inside of the case

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    My Livingroom workshop - the wife was not happy :duh:

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    Complete with obligatory cat pic :D

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    So I got this screen from ebay off a dude from china. Its pretty cool it displays system info and you can set it up to be an image viewer when your monitors are in standby. He even gives details of the source code to adapt the software, if you can use c# that is.

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    oh and my ssd arrived :hehe:
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    Thats it for now..
    I'll be modding today, getting that screen mounted etc.
    so hopefully I'll do a nice big update tomorrow

    and hopefully someone will win second place in my comments race
    Mr Crapman won it.. who will get silver lol..

    Stay awesome

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: 15 Jun 2013
    Asouter likes this.
  6. coolamasta

    coolamasta Folding@Home CC Captain 2010/11/12

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    Coming along nicely bud, loving that screen, got an eBay link to hand? ;)
     
  7. LegendaryScott

    LegendaryScott Trying to live up to the name

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    Thanks dude.
    heres the link LINK

    took aaaages getting here though
     
  8. miller

    miller What's a Dremel?

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    Interesting build, you've got some good parts to build with and I love that little screen but I've alwaya been a bit cautious about buying stuff from china, seems I was wrong and parts do actually arrive!
    I design with sketchup but often make cardboard mock ups as well just to convince myself I got it right before I start cutting materials, measure twice and cut once as they say.

    You can learn so much from your first build and even though you may have it all planned out exactly as you want it sometimes it pays to be a little flexible with the design and if something just doesn't want to work let it go and don't let it drag the build down, there's usually more than one way to so something :dremel:

     
  9. Asouter

    Asouter --------

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    Glad I took a visit to your build, I've been looking for a tiny screen for my build and that looks perfect, I've always like the Zalman stuff too, so looking forward to seeing this progress.
     
  10. LegendaryScott

    LegendaryScott Trying to live up to the name

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    @miller:
    thanks mate. some really good advise there. Its all a little daunting though, like I said Ive never done anything like this before and really learning as I go.
    As for the things from china, to be honest I really thought it was from America. If I knew it was from China I would of thought twice I think. Really glad I got it though. once Ive finished this build I'm gonna do a little C# programming learning and see if it can do some other cool things. Mod the mod :)
    Loving that quote by the way, never heard that before.
    Thanks dude.


    @Asouter:
    I'm glad that you visited too! Just wanted to say I absolutely loved d33p thought, lovely build.
    The screen would look quality on your Mini moto.. maybe on the handle bars!:rock:
     
  11. stuartwood89

    stuartwood89 Please... Just call me Stu.

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    I read that whole eBay listing in a Chinese accent, I don't know why! Screen looks awesome though, might see if I can pick something similar up for an upcoming mod perhaps.

    Good work on the mod so far. Having only just completed my first casemod, I know how time-consuming, expensive, dangerous and awesome it all is.
     
  12. LegendaryScott

    LegendaryScott Trying to live up to the name

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    Hey thanks Stu
    The Chinglish in the instructions was kinda funny too!
    Really time-consuming, really expensive, not so dangerous yet but f**king awesome, I'm absolutely loving my first build. I'm annoying the wife already with grandiose plans of a HTPC scratch build!

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    Again this is just a really short one. I cant really find the time at the minute to mod :sigh:

    Mounting the screen on the front wall
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    And I received a little package from Germany

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    Back soon

    Stay Awesome people

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  13. Furball Zen

    Furball Zen Shut up and Mod

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    Nice screen :)
     
  14. LegendaryScott

    LegendaryScott Trying to live up to the name

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    Thanks bro.
    Seem to be getting a lot of attention about the screen!
     
  15. Falqoon

    Falqoon Minimodder

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    That is a nice screen indeed. To bad I still haven't found a nice 20x4 (or so) character display that I can connect internal for a reasonable price...

    Great job on the build so far!
     
  16. LegendaryScott

    LegendaryScott Trying to live up to the name

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    Update 26 June 2013

    [​IMG]

    Easy :cooldude:
    Found some time this week to get to mod, which is great 'cause I get the modding sweats if I cant do much..

    So...

    As I said earlier I received my package from Germany. But thats about as happy as I got regarding sleeving.
    It was really difficult for me tbh. cut myself a few times, broke pins, fingers got super numb and it didnt turn out to be great. after sleeving for the first time I really respect you guys who make their wires look as beautiful as they do.
    Practice makes perfect I suppose

    I went with a nice safe blue and black combo to match the accents on the mobo. Loving the blue. Also love those little drawings!
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    Sleeving station
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    The box now has feet!

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    :dremel: annoying bits of metal die!!!!
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    So heres where Im at the moment. Ive got to cut one more piece of acrylic and the boxing is basically complete so its just the rest of the chassis to sort out

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    Aluminium mesh for the top and (front) side panels - kinda reminds me of a G5
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    :sigh:
    [size=+1]OK now be kind. . First time doing this. . Really not my skill set[/size]




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    yes yes. I know. I forgot to take off all the masking tape off :wallbash: what a :duh: plonker
    So I know what I'm doing over the next few days RE- sleeving

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    Thats all for now
    Hopefully more over the weekend

    Stay Awesome People :rock:

    [​IMG]
     
  17. stuartwood89

    stuartwood89 Please... Just call me Stu.

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    Considering it's your first time, it's a good effort. I've never done individual cable sleeving, but I have done traditional bundle style sleeve, and even that's a pain to get right.
     
  18. LegendaryScott

    LegendaryScott Trying to live up to the name

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    Thanks Stu
    Personally I think it looks shocking. Gonna read some guides, watch some youtube vids, practice a bit more and redo them.
    I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I get grumpy when it doesn't look right.
    Hopefully I'll get it right next time :sigh:
     
  19. miller

    miller What's a Dremel?

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    Nice work, mesh,mesh,mesh, I love mesh, don't beat yourself up about the sleeving that's a good attempt for first try and it does get easier but it's still a pain to do (I hate sleeving) did you accidentally cut a hole in your temp workbench or was it done to support the ally when cutting? I've never accidentally cut a hole in the table I was working on, nope never ;)

    [​IMG]
     
  20. LegendaryScott

    LegendaryScott Trying to live up to the name

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    lol :hehe:
    no dude I used a hole saw and really needed it to be stable. gonna be throwing away the ghetto bench after anyway!

    Mesh, mesh, mesh. I love it too. It looks really good plain as well, I'm having difficulties deciding whether to paint it or not but the aluminium is so easily scratched.

    but thanks dude for being kind about my sleeving
     

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