Hi BT, I'm not sure if this quite a build log, but I wanted to share my progress with my latest build. I know I like my context when sharing a build, so I'll do my best to not go waffling on. This has been going since Oct 2017 when I decided, after much thinking, that I wanted to build a smaller PC. At the time I had been involved with strike action at work, so money was a bit tight. I couldnt afford to build a entriely new rig, so made the decision to re-house my current setup and bought a Mastercase Pro 3 to see if I could make it work. I started a new job shortly after that, and finding free time to do the build became a bit harder, so progress slowed. I chipped away at the mod, and after a number of external things holding me up (disadvantages of doing things on the cheap sometimes) I finally managed to get it 90% built ready for my event AtomLAN 41 in August this year. I then moved into my first house, etc, and this is where we are today (Still sorting out that free time ) Parts: CPU: 4790K Mobo: Asus Z97-Pro WiFi ac RAM: Corsair Vengence Pro 16GB GPU: 980ti Hydrocopper SSD: Crucial M4 256gb HDD: WD black 1TB, WD Green 3TB PSU: Focus Plus Gold 750w Cable + Connectors: Pexon PC's Sleeve: Telios Cooling: CPU EK Supremacy EVO Pump: EK-XRES 100 D5 Rads: EK 280 XTC, Blackice GTS 240 Controller: Commander Pro Fans: Areocool Dead Silence 120/140 Blue Temp Sensor: Aquacomputer G1/4 straight through, Alphacool Eiszapfen G1/4 plug To start, I got home to the new case, ripped it out of the case and got some cardboard out to see what was happening. I had already bought a second hand EK rad to go with the Blackice I had from my old LANBOY build. Now that has been around quite a while. Still not much better at taking photos A quick look at the new Pro 3 vs the current TJ-07 I grabbed some cardboard and started brainstorming I wanted to get a feel for what I wanted to do, so hooked up the fans and spent more time thinking about it. One thing I did know - those blue LED's would have to change. I ordered some diffused white LED's and got to replacing all of the LED's on the fans. Getting there Apparently the 120 and 140 Areocool DS's are made differently. The LED's are placed facing different ways which gives a different effect between fans. Not a major thing, just having them next to each other they look a bit odd. The white LED's I used are the same brightness. Before/After Full Set Whilst this was happening I had drawn up a few parts on the PC, from my CAD (Cardboard Aided Design) and the parts I had that were not in use in my PC, including a D5 EK pump/res that I had bought in anticipation (thanks to el2k) . The first parts came back from the laser and went onto the case to test for fit. The PSU bracket was one of the things I had worked out I would need fairly early on in the CAD process, as I needed to move the PSU over ~10mm. Pump/Res to Rad mount A while later, a second (or third) hand GPU from another BT member (thanks keenan) had arrived, so I took the opportunity to partially strip my rig to test fit some of the parts in the case Throwing the Mobo and GPU in the case proved it was going to work, with only a couple of tight places. Mobo to HDD cage clearance Mobo to PSU clearance HDD to pin header was always going to be close, and I had had the idea of 90deg headers, which also looked like they were good to go I put the old rig back together and got back to the CAD I had already decided that I liked the hex mesh on the case and had made the pump/res mount and Mobo tray passthroughs to suit. With the midplate back in and the Mobo now properly bent to suit, I thought it would look cool to have the Mobo sort of punch through the midplate. I got back to the PC, and spent quite a while thinking about what I wanted to do. Hexagons did become a bit of a thing - I do have a fondness for polygons. After a lot of head scratching, this is what I had. Mobo Tray, Midplate, Front panel and there is a new bracket for the PSU as I gave it another 2mm clearance (12mm total) and some acrylic parts to match, including a new swirl plate for the D5 res I also wanted to give hex cable combs a go - so drew a few up to see how they would come out With those files at various different friends for cutting, I turned to sorting the case out to fit the PSU. A larger hole was cut and I modified a hole punch to pull a boss in the sheet metal to allow it to take a thread. The holes came out well, only needing a touch up of paint on the metal that had been stretched
The Mobo tray came back from laser cutting, so I went for a test fit with my old trusty socket A test board Not looking to bad Midplate in I made a few changes to the rev 1 Mobo tray and had another cut. After getting that back it was time to get some primer and paint on Mobo tray finally fitted with rivets to the main chassis Really happy with how the steel/acrylic interface came out Trusty old socket A back in It was at this point that the project stopped for a bit whilst I sorted my life out. I also managed to buy a new PSU, but I didn't do very well with taking pictures. Things get a little less well documented from here on in. I had a pile of wiring, paint, LED strips, and other assorted bits ready to go. I made plans and ordered a load of bits ready to have my PC off for a while. Then it was time to pull the TJ-07 apart and get the new build sorted. I then started on some wiring while the other painted parts were drying With the painted parts then dry and fitted, I carried on with the job of the wiring over a few evenings My fittings and tubing had arrived in the post, so it was time to mock up the loop I wasn't that happy with the loop layout, so had a think and decided the flow meter had to move and a 45 was needed to the GPU Some more wiring happened for the GPU's Fittings for the new loop design Midplate back in Made a LED loom for the CPU block with white LED's WS2812 LED Strip for the midplate Sub assemblies ready to go together Pressure testing using a G1/4" Transducer I had in the bits box Filling the loop and getting some colour in. I 100% didn't think about not being able to see the swirl plate through pastel coolant A quick shot of the back While sat on leak test it was time to dismantle and clean the TJ-07 to go into storage
And by that time it was AtomLAN. I set it up 2 nights before to do updates and make sure it was ready for LAN. Got to AtomLAN safely for it's first outing The LAN was great. A good friend of mine and co-founder of AtomLAN, Jimbo, has a very decent DSLR and offered to take some pictures. This represents pretty much where I have got to with the build. I do have a few other bits planned, for example a 3D printed base for the flow meter, and a desk info screen. Hoping to be updating soon with progress on those. Until then, thanks for taking the time to read
That's a proper tidy build fella, I'm really digging the concept of how you downsized without losing any of your hardware - I took the other approach (cheated lol) and waited until Lian Li released their PC-O11 Dynamic, like you I'll finish mine up in the new year (for one reason or another like you it's taken a while).
This is a really cool nicely done case mod, with some original ideas which is hard to do in this scene
Niiiiiiiiice! The color coordination and hex accents really work. All that lovely cable work lost behind components, though.
Thank you very much Thank's very much 23RO That's a nice case - and not too large for what it fits (A mate has recently built one)- looking forward to seeing what you do with that Thanks kim . Black and blue is a favourite of mine but the last time I didn't get a good contrast or match of colours. I've also gone away from UV CCFL's - it hurts, but I do like the way the mod looks. Dude, I love and look up to your work.Thank you for the kind comments Thanks Cheaps Yeah I know, up until now I was the only person who knew it was there . The design of the mod was stored in my head and it was one of those things that just didn't 'quite' work out with the space I had - but this was my first time with individual cable sleeving so I had a go at the 24pin first
Mini update, I've been working on some CAD for the info display, an update on that in the new year. Unfortunetly the 3D printer is mis-behaving, once I've got that sorted I'm excited to start printing some parts. New 970 EVO turned up yesterday. Fitted it with an AquaComputer kryoM2 to hopefully keep it cool. Almost like someone measured it Have a great Christmas
Those AquaComputer Kryo M2 heatsinks are worth their weight in gold I'll hopefully have my rig rebuild complete early in the new year, ironically it's pale blue/black non RGB to lol
That’s good to hear - a heatsink sounded like a good idea. I was looking at the EK version too, but I have a soft spot for Aquacomputer, I’d love to do a full system one day. Sweet - you got a build log up?
My CPU block is Aquacomputer (A Cuplex Kryos NEXT Vario PVD/Nickel), my pump/res and GPU block are HeatKiller - German build quality is second to none and worth every penny IMO. I don't know if I'll log it, what with it being a rebuild (the way I really want it this time), I'll definitely post some end result pics when it's complete.
