Dear Bit-Tech modders and followers. Hereby I would like to start the build log on Bit-Tech. Tried to register for about 7 weeks, but due to some (technical?) problems it was unable. But now I’m finally here. The mod is already started a few weeks on two Dutch hardware website so I will post all those updates in this first post, after that I will just continue updates for al the forums. Something about myself: My name is Kevin, 21 years old and I’m a frontend/backend web developer from Holland. Building computers always was a hobby of mine, but since the beginning of 2013 I decided I finally wanted to do some casemodding myself. The project: The case I’m using is provided by Cooler Master, a CM Storm Trooper. It’s a beautiful case I hope to make even more beautiful! The name I picked for the project is Project Stealth. First of all because I like the name, and secondly I will be making some decent covers to hide various things such as drive bays and stuff. The colors I’ll be using are a lot between black & white (greyscale) and red for the highlights. Some common colors but the plan was to stick to the CM Storm theme. Some pics of the stock trooper: What hardware will be in? Intel Core i7 3770 Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD4-B3 8GB Corsair Vengeance (low profile) HD 7850 RQ will be replaced by a GTX660ti. XFX Pro 550w Cooler Master Silent Pro M2 620W Sponsors The build is sponsored by Cooler Master, Gigabyte and BitFenix. I would like to thank Marco from Cooler Master, Bernice from Gigabyte and Michel from BitFenix. Thank you guys so much for the faith for the build, the drive I get from you all is amazing! Lets start. I began sketching some ideas about the covers. After sketching a while I had cut some 1,5mm alu plate to the correct size. I wanted to make the psu cover out of two parts, and put the together with a angled profile and some nice bolts. Let’s glue the angled profile to the alu part. Looks good when put together in the case Then I started to figure out how I wanted to place the bolts. I tried several options. I chose to go with the last option, and drilled some holes in it (M4 size). Then I drilled M3 size holes so I could mill some M4 size thread, here is a test piece. Worked out pretty well. After the testpiece i tapped into the angled profile and put it together into the case. The covers will be painted later during the build in black. Some small piece about the hardware Yesterday I picked up the new processor, the i7 3770. Delivers a lot more power than my old Phenom II X4 965 BE. And some pictures of the mainboard provided by Gigabyte! Thanks to my sponsors! Cooler Master Benelux Gigabyte Benelux BitFenix Benelux Created some vinyl stickers for the build. Top psu cover: Side psu cover: Drivebay cover: Designed stickers to replace the original fan stickers: After designing the vinyls for the covers i worked on a color layout for the sleeving: Thanks to my sponsors! Cooler Master Benelux Gigabyte Benelux BitFenix Benelux Some covers are done, and I’m working on a custom side panel now . I wanted to make a full sized acrylic window because I would like to see EVERYTHING of the inside without opening the case. So I took a piece of acrylic glass and cut it to the right size. And measured the holes it needed. Measured the holes on the trooper to fit the window and took our nice thread milling set . After al the measuring, drilling, thread milling, and sweating some the panel was on the case . At this stage the edges of the acrylic glass lights up a little because the window is so clear. I decided to create a little frame around the window of 3 cm with vinyl sticker. So it’s still a nice big window, but with nice matt black edges. Going on to the covers. The first disappointment. I painted the covers very nice with a primer and coat of the same brand, and put several hours in it. Put the vinyl stickers onto it, but then I pealed of the carrier that holds the vinyl the coat I painted got off to. I used a lot of words that sounded something like *** ******** **** ***** and I was pretty upset. Immediately figured out how I was going to solve it, but the plan was created very quickly. I quickly went over to a DIY store to get some matt black adhesive plastic and removed the rest of the painting of the covers, cleaned them up and applied the adhesive plastic very carefully. Needed to reorder some of the stickers because I messed up some but then I was good to go. In the next update you guys see more of the vinyl i put on . Thanks to my sponsors! Cooler Master Benelux Gigabyte Benelux BitFenix Benelux Update! . In the meantime I finished the following things: - Sidepanel - Changed silver bolts to black bolts - Vinyl on the covers - Build in the hardware - Opened up packages!!! Over to the packages that came . At first I received a new CPU cooler for the project, from Cooler Master, thanks Marco! It’s the Seidon 240M liquid cooler. I bought a new power supply from Cooler Master as a sign of thanks for the provided stuff. The Silent Pro M2 620W New Sponsor!! As you may have seen in the banner, I got a third sponsor that is going to back up the project. BitFenix. Here is the package I received from them Thanks a lot Michel! Because a lot happened that didn’t required more information, i just let the photo’s speak for itself. I/O shield painted black Created a cover for the HDD in the same style That were the pics, hope you guys liked it. Now I’m going to begin with the sleeving of the extension cables provided by BitFenix. I’m also busy designing the front with fellow modder Asphiax. We are creating the front of the system in acrylic, with some nice features. Stay tuned Thanks to my sponsors! Cooler Master Benelux Gigabyte Benelux BitFenix Benelux
Still waiting on some tools to finish sleeving. In the meanwhile i provided myself with some candy. Bought two older HP 17" flatpanels to group with my 23" ultrasharp. Love the extra space when programming! I only need to spraypaint the bezels in black so it matches the rest Besides the two panels I also bought a new GPU, an Asus 660Ti Hope you guys like it and see you soon @ the sleeving update
Here is update 3! Took a while but I wasn't at home so I was not able to work on Project Stealth. Nonetheless, here is the sleeving! Hope you like it! There are a few cool things left to do now, like designing the front, designing a 140mm and 240 rad grill. Also planning to make a GPU backplate and a mobo tray cover. Sleeving is sponsored by dutch paracord supplier: 550paracord.nl the best paracord supplier in Holland! Thanks Nigel! Sleeving: Removing the original BitFenix sleeving: Put some tape on it and shove it up into the paracord: Melting the paracord on its place: Final result: The new GPU from down below: White leds in the case (Better photo will come at the end with a professional photographer) I'm very satisfied with the outcome, I was really sweating while sleeving because the original bitfenix sleeving is sometimes hard to remove, and if not removed properly the area where the pin starts is too thick to put back into the connector. Preview of the front, what do you guys think? We are working on it. Any suggestions? The front will be powered by ModWithMe. Thanks to my sponsors! Cooler Master Benelux Gigabyte Benelux BitFenix Benelux Dutch paracord supplier:
Thanks for your comment, I'm glad you like it!! Keeps me motivated Maybe tonight i'll post an updated model of the frontpanel!
Nice work! It looks very sharp and professional. I'm liking the colour scheme also. (Can't beat that GIF either...)
Thanks for the compliments! Thanks man! Here is an updated version of the frontpanel, hope you guys like it! First render has gone a bit wrong, the grey block at the bottom does not supposed to be there!
Thanks dude! Thanks man! Love them too! Thanks alot! Currently planning to change the whole interior... create a custom mobo tray and so on. I want to remove the drive bays and create a mobo tray over the full length, with some ssd's maybe on the right side.
Here is some eyecandy for you guys The 240 rad grill design is also finished . Besides that, planning to change the whole interior. Since I don't use the loads of drive bays the case has, planning to remove the whole part to make the inside more clean. Create a floor from begin to end, and a custom motherboard tray that covers the whole side. What do you guys think?
Hi mate, Just to say the build is looking awesome so far, loving the stickers, the fan grills, the colour scheme.. all of it. a cleaner inside would look good, maybe leave the top drive bay and cut away the rest or get a slot dvd and hide it somewhere subbed
Thank you so much man! Dvd ain't gonna happen, no need for that stuff and if so, I got an external! Thanks! Still so many needs to be done... So have a great time watching the process!
Hi all! It's been a while ago when I posted some updates but I was busy with planning out Project Stealth. Project Stealth is now totally stripped down and im going to rebuild it in another way. I'm going to create a custom mobo tray and the drive bays are going to be removed. Also, those plans got me two other sponsors involved Hell yeah! Welcome to Plextor and Plakjesuf (dutch vinyl company). Plextor provided me two awesome 256GB SSD's Many thanks Plextor And Plakjesuf will provide all the new vinyl that is needed. Thanks Plakjesuf! Current state of mr Stealth. Now i'm waiting for some beautifull CNC work to come, and i'm measuring all the sizes a million times because it has to be perfect See you next time guys! Thanks to my sponsors! Cooler Master Gigabyte Bitfenix Plextor Plakjesuf 550paracord
Hi Guys! Sorry for the delay! I've been offered a job which i could not resist! So had to work on that hard for a while, i also been on a holiday to Turkey to it has been a hectic time! I will begin with this project as soon the "project aside" is done which i just posted: Project Mustang BOSS 302 (http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=263215) Hope you guys understand. And of course this one will be finished! Thank you!
