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Case Mod - In Progress Project: Nutman (update: August 22nd 2011 - FINISHED!)

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by Nutman, 21 Oct 2008.

  1. Guest-56605

    Guest-56605 Guest

    I now get to criticise my arch critique :D ;)

    Seriously though the rearrangement of the hoses and the clever use of the black certainly makes for a cleaner look under the UV and the green and blue coolants compliment each other superbly.

    Glad to see someone else appreciates the quality of the new BitFenix cables also :thumb:
     
  2. Nutman

    Nutman Never stuck with stock

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    And I hate having to Google a saying - and NOT being able to find the answer. What the hell is a "tea line"? :confused:

    Thanks. I'll do it much better in my upcoming scratch build. ;)
     
  3. Nutman

    Nutman Never stuck with stock

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    Haha, thanks for letting me off easily! :D

    And thanks for the kind words :thumb:
     
  4. riekmaharg2

    riekmaharg2 has completed the PowerCore scratch build

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    Nice work with all the wiring and UV :thumb:
     
  5. Nutman

    Nutman Never stuck with stock

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    Thanks :thumb:

    I started working on the final update - it's going to be a massive monster, but (hopefully) entertaining to read (and watch) - will definately give you all something to think about. ;)
     
  6. Nutman

    Nutman Never stuck with stock

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    This is it....

    This is the very last update in this worklog.

    This is the conclusion of my first project - 3,5 years of modding.

    Before I say anything, I would like for all of you to watch this video:



    Phew....

    It started out as almost nothing, but through the process I've learned SO much. I bought tools, hardware, modding materials, etc., and by now I consider myself a serious, skilled modder with a clue. When I started this case mod I had NO clue what so ever. ;)

    Also, I made lots of contacts during this build, creating a network of modding contacts. Always nice to have.
    I want to thank everybody who gave input and feedback. I really appreciate it and I hope to be giving you more to look forward to, as I start my new mod, which will be a scratch build.

    I've learned that the most crucial part of modding is PLANNING. Don't rush into something without having thought at least 2 times about WHAT you want to achieve and HOW you want to achieve it.
    Planning saves time, money, heart ache, injuries and can also turn out to become a really nice part of the modding experience. Really, sometimes planning IS the best part, while the actual job can be rather tedious or just plain mundane.

    Oh, and DON'T buy the hardware until you're almost done with the case. The numbers below will definately give you a good idea of what I'm talking about...

    Enough talking - let's get to the numbers.

    Hardware used during this build, listed chronologically:

    Motherboards: 3
    ---------------
    1. ASUS P5ND2-SLI
    2. Abit IX38 QuadGT
    3. EVGA X58 SLI LE

    Graphics cards: 6
    -----------------
    1. Club3D ATI Radeon 3850
    2. Club3D ATI Radeon 4850
    3. ASUS EAH4890
    4. XFX 4890
    5. XFX 4890 Black Edition
    6. HIS Radeon 6870

    CPUs: 4
    -------
    1. Intel Pentium D 3.4 GHz
    2. Intel Core2Duo E6750
    3. Intel Core2Quad Q9550
    4. Intel I7 920

    RAM sets: 4
    -----------
    1. Corsair XMS2 PC2-5300 3 GB (2x512 MB + 2x1024 MB)
    2. Corsair XMS2 PC2-8500 4 GB
    3. Kingston HyperX DDR3 PC3-16000 3 GB
    4. Corsair Dominator PC3-12800 6 GB

    HDDs: 8
    -------
    1. 120 GB Western Digital S-ATA150
    2. 300 GB Maxtor DiamondMax 9 S-ATA150
    3. 500 GB Hitachi S-ATA300
    4. 3 x 150 GB Western Digital Velociraptor S-ATA300
    5. 2 x 60 GB OCZ Vertex 2

    PSUs: 2
    -------
    1. Enermax Noisetaker II 600W
    2. Corsair HX620 620W

    CPU coolers: 4
    --------------
    1. Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 (Air)
    2. XSPC X20 Delta V2 (Water)
    3. D-Tek FuZion V2 (Water)
    4. EK Waterblocks Supreme HF Acetal+Nickel (Water)

    Chipset coolers: 4
    ------------------
    1. Thermalright HR05 IFX (Air)
    2. DangerDen Maze4 (Water)
    3. MIPS ABIT IX38 / IX48-MAX (Water)
    4. EK Waterblocks EVGA X58 SLI LE Acetal+Nickel (Water)

    GPU coolers: 4
    --------------
    1. Swiftech MCW60-R (Water)
    2. EK Waterblocks EK-FC4000 (Water)
    3. EK Waterblocks EK-FC4890 Nickel (Water)
    4. EK Waterblocks EK-6870 Acetal+Nickel (Water)

    Radiators: 6
    ------------
    1. Hardware Labs Black Ice Extreme II 240 mm
    2. 2 x Alphacool NexXxos Pro II 240 mm
    3. Watercool 80 mm
    4. 2 x Hardware Labs GTS240 240 mm

    Reservoirs: 4
    -------------
    1. D-Tek UV-Blue 5.25" bay reservoir
    2. XSPC Laing DDC Reservoir Top
    3. XSPC BayRes One
    4. XSPC BayRes Two

    Pumps: 3
    --------
    1. Laing DDC-1T RT 18W
    2. 2 X Laing DDC-1T 10W

    See what I mean?
    Since I started this case mod in March 2008, I've bought hardware and changed platforms like nobody's business. It's a really, really bad way of doing it, unless you just like to buy new hardware that you don't have a case for.
    I won't even begin to calculate how much money I've spent on this build and how much money I COULD have saved had I not switched platforms 3 times during the last 3,5 years. It's a frustrating number, I'm sure... but Ok, I've also sold some stuff that I got cheap or even for free, so that has certainly helped me finance my project.
    And finally, but definately not least, my wonderful sponsors have helped SO much. I'll thank you guys later in this final update. ;)

    Ok, let's also get some stats on the worklogs.

    I've been running worklogs on these 4 sites:

    Bit-Tech (http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=159199)
    OC Team Denmark (Danish) (http://www.octeamdenmark.com/forums...ate-18-01-2011-sleeving-cable-management.html)
    RealRedRaider (http://www.realredraider.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=16936)
    The Best Case Scenario (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20176)

    Number of updates: 32
    Number of pictures: 818

    These are the final pictures:

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    High res versions are available in this archive:

    http://hotmods.net/worklogs/project_nutman/Project_Nutman-Final_pics.zip

    So, any final words?

    No, I really think I've said it all, more or less.

    However, one last thing to mention is my extreme gratitude towards my amazing sponsors. Thank you SO much for sponsoring this project. Without your aid it wouldn't have been impossible, but it would certainly have cost me a LOT more! ;)

    My sponsors are:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Go visit their sites and buy what they're selling!

    To the active readers, the inactive readers, new friends, old friends, contacts, my sponsors and, of course, my wife: THANK YOU!

    Now, go follow me on Hotmods.net. :thumb:
     
    Last edited: 18 Nov 2014
    enormous, Hannes and The boy 4rm oz like this.
  7. Attila

    Attila still thinking....

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    Congrats on finishing your first project. :clap: Three and a half years is way too long to keep an interest in a project. But you did it. :thumb:

    Oh, and nice video. It looks like the video took a while as well. :hehe:
     
  8. craig - toyoracer

    craig - toyoracer Minimodder

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    Wonderful closing post Nutman. :clap: Great vid. :thumb:

    Case looks great, well done work :):) must be a great feeling finishing this after so much time, congratulations :clap:
     
  9. Nutman

    Nutman Never stuck with stock

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    Definately... 3,5 years is WAAAAAAY too long. However, I gained a lot from it, so it's not like I'm unhappy with it.

    The video took all weekend to produce - and, I DO mean ALL the weekend. Took quite some time getting to grips with Pinnacle Studio HD and also quite some time to select the images to use and to put together the order in which they're being shown. Would have been SO much easier to spread out the work on the video over a couple of months, but I guess the video feels more like a coherent product this way.

    Yes, indeed. And thanks. ;)

    But there are so many things about this case that really makes me YEARN for building my own one - for instance, last night one of the top fans gave up. It has been getting worse and worse, producing a "clacking/hammering" sound for the last couple of months and last night it stopped revolving. So, to take it out I had to drill out 4 rivets just to get to the fan - not the best case for watercooling, if you ask me. ;)

    The fan motor had dropped into the blades! Apparently, the glue that was supposed to hold the fan motor in place on the frame itself, is not up to the best of standards.....
     
  10. AnG3L

    AnG3L Ultimate Modder

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    Well done brother this is a really nice mod, small, clean and tidy its all about the details at the end!!! Mod on my friend I would love to see more from you!!! :)
     
  11. Nutman

    Nutman Never stuck with stock

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    Thanks, my friend.

    Will start a new mod today, actually. Or.... have actually started it already, but you guys didn't know that. ;)

    Video + worklog coming up reaaaaaal soon, I hope.
     
  12. flaK_7

    flaK_7 What's a Dremel?

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    well done !
    Really nice project u have here :)


    Congratz
     
  13. riekmaharg2

    riekmaharg2 has completed the PowerCore scratch build

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    Congrats on finishing you mod :clap:, you've ended up with a fantastic looking case :thumb:
     
  14. Gentleman_Dingo

    Gentleman_Dingo What's a Dremel?

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    Congrats! You have a sweet looking case and it looks like it was worth it. Time to take a break and go on holiday now! And by holiday I mean start 'Project: Nutman 2, the Decade Long Project'. ;)
     
  15. Angel OD

    Angel OD Pump Killer

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    About time I'd say! :p

    Not that I'm one to run my mouth about time... Never gonna finish my G5! :lol:

    Joke aside, it's a very clean and nice case!

    Truly something to be proud of sir! :thumb:
     
  16. Nutman

    Nutman Never stuck with stock

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    Yeah, thanks - I also find it quite befitting that I did the final video on the machine itself. ;)

    Thanks! Means a lot to me, coming from you! Oh, and if you really think this one is cool, might I suggest you keep an eye out for my upcoming scratch build? ;)

    Hahaha, hell, no! I'll start a new project, but it's much, much better planned already. And, when I'm done with the next project, I'll begin with the scratch build I mentioned earlier.

    Thanks Angel OD ;) Nice words coming from a really cool danish casemodder - and don't worry, you complete that G5 monster and we'll all be damn proud of it on your behalf, I'm very sure!
     
  17. The boy 4rm oz

    The boy 4rm oz Project: Elegant-Li

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    Verry well done mate, it turned out fantastically. All your hard work paid off.
     
  18. p0Pe

    p0Pe gief cake?

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    You actually finished it:p Who would have guessed xD

    The case looks great man! Will look forward to see you starting up the next log:)
     
  19. Nutman

    Nutman Never stuck with stock

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    Thanks. Yes, I have a fine machine now, but the mobo apparently sucks for overclocking. Can only get the i7 920 D0 to 3,5 GHz stable.....

    Thanks, my friend. Did you ever doubt me? ;)
     
  20. jokkos

    jokkos too busy to mod *sigh*

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    better finish it 'late' than never :D

    it's a great looking result though. Congrats!
     
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