Pitch Black - Update 24/01/06 Finished (almost)

[r00t69]

Hi Folks,

After taking much inspiration from these forums I decided to start a new project. This is not my first build or indeed first mod but it is my first Water Cooled System.

Project Aims >

Noise
I am sick of turbines, as systems have become more powerful they have become hotter needing bigger and nosier fans to cool them. My current machine has an ATI 9800 Pro which came with a tiny little fan that was ridiculously noisy. So for me, WC is the way to go. The case I have chosen is designed for low noise and I will also be using low Db Fans which I can control.

Form/Function
Design for me is very important but it must be functional design. I will be concentrating on these area’s during this project with attention to neatness and little functional touches.

Power
As a gamer I want a system that will keep up with game requirements over the next 18 months so have spec’ed accordingly.


The Specs >

Main System
Case > Lian-Li PC-V1100b
PSU > Silverstone ST65ZF-GM
Motherboard > Asus A8N-SLI
CPU > AMD A64 3800+ Venice Core (will change for A64 X2 at some point)
RAM > 2GB Corsair DDR400
Graphics > 2x Gainward Ultra 2600/PCX (GS)
Sound > Onboard (for the time being!)
HDD > 2x Western Digital 36GB Raptors + 1x WD 250GB
Optical > Panasonic UJ-845 DL DVD-RW (Slot Load)
Card Reader > Lian-Li

Cooling
CPU Block > Aqua Computer Cuplex Pro
GPU Block > 2x AC 6800 Rev2
Rez > AC Aquatube (Black)
Rad > 2x AC Airplex 120
Pump > AC Aquastream Rev3 + FMJ
LCD > AC Aquero

[Big SturL]

Whoa, nice speccs! Now, get around the modding!!

[r00t69]

So here we go with some beauty shots

This is my 3rd Lian-Li Case and they just keep improving. The V1100 is just outstanding quality.








All the computational paraphernalia.


All the Aqua Computer Stuff.


And all the thingymajigs to get it all hooked up.

Yes I like to have everything upfront before I start

[r00t69]

And some design work...

The Water Cooling setup (thanks to some folks here for their input).

Larger Image

This is the layout for the top of the case. Like most people with a tower case, I imagine, I will have mine under the desk. I find it a pain to have to bend down to access the optical drive, media card reader, etc especially on this type of case with a front door. So why not move everything to the top!

Larger Image

[r00t69]

I am about a month into the build already so I'll spend the next few posts bringing you up-to-date.

Firstly my impressive work area


Next it was time to strip the case and wrap it up safely so it wouldn't get scratched while I worked on it.

[r00t69]

Next step was to make a bracket to hold the DVD/Card Reader/USB/FW/Audio stuff all together.





And then cut the case to match.



Hardly laser cut but not bad for my first attempt with a dremel



A couple of small scratches I'll need to try and cover with a matt black paint.

[Stompy]

Wow thats some awesome work! Subscribed!

[r00t69]

Next the top mounted Airplex 120. One thing I wanted was the top surface to be clean. So although there are loads of mounting plates/grilles for these devices I wanted to created them straight on to the case itself.






Unfortunately it wasn’t to be. The narrowness of the metal left between the slits and the heat built up from dremeling caused them to buckle. Sorry no pictures taken, I was just too sad

Back to the drawing board and this is what I did.


I mounted the plate on the inside in an attempt to keep the line clean.

[huren]

imo that looks alot better then having the grill mounted on the outside, great work with the slot load, usb etc jack points.
i can see that this case will shape out too be a great mod just by the way youve started, keep up the good work.

subscribed =D

[phuzz]

One way of getting rid of fine scratches:
Take an OHP pen (usually sold for writing onto CD-R's), and colour over the scratch.
Polish the area with different cleaning products, I find a combination of lable remover, foming clenser and silicon based polish all used one after the other works best.
Repeat if necerssary.
Works for me on painted steel cases....

Nice clean work, The AC gear seems to go very well with the LainLi cases

[r00t69]

This post brings me up to date with progress so far. And my first cock-up

[chant]
do not make cutting holes the 1st thing you in the day
[chant]

I went to cut the hole for the Aquatube with a Jigsaw and didn't do a very good job.






I'm still pondering how I will fix this.

Anyway I'll leave you with a top view of the case.


Larger Image

[r00t69]

Originally Posted by phuzz

One way of getting rid of fine scratches:
Take an OHP pen (usually sold for writing onto CD-R's), and colour over the scratch.
Polish the area with different cleaning products, I find a combination of lable remover, foming clenser and silicon based polish all used one after the other works best.
Repeat if necerssary.
Works for me on painted steel cases....

Nice clean work, The AC gear seems to go very well with the LainLi cases

Thanks phuzz. I'll give that a try with a couple of offcuts I have.

[Big SturL]

What tools/bits did you use to rounden the areas around the mounting holes?

[r00t69]

Originally Posted by Big SturL

What tools/bits did you use to rounden the areas around the mounting holes?

Dremel + Needle File + Patience

[Nexxo]

Dude, that is great Dremeling work no matter what you think, and a nice implementation of an original idea. Great work!

And I like the title too.

[LOTTARO]

Exellent dremell work!!!

[PirateTheMeep]

The dremell is with this one.

[GigantoR]

That looks great! Great idea movin the drives and such to the top.

[Firehed]

Very cool work. Not quite sure what I think of the Evo grill under the case... definately different but you also see the raw unanodized aluminum edges which I don't like much. How are you going to deal with the eject button for that slotload?

[jwill]

some great ideas r00t69, i like your style.

Originally Posted by r00t69

...
Sound > Onboard (for the time being!)...

from your schematics it doesnt look like there will be enough room for a pci sound card. this was an issue for me as well when i wanted to use two pci-e cards, a sound card and the rad mounted like you posted. have you noticed this?

also it would seem like a better idea to reverse the way you have your fans. since you would draw in cool air from the bottom and blow it out the top. youd also woudlnt be fighting the flow of convection. one problem with this could be the case would act like a vacuum depending on where the case will go.

do you think the edges of the case are going to scratch up your cds? any ideas to provent this?

excellent work so far though.