Case Mod - In Progress Project - StarCraft Tribute

I think that F2 looks better. The black mesh matches better. As for the pump, if you can find another place for it, having push and pull fans is better. Lastly, on your rad it looks like the fans are pushing against each other, not facing the same way. Good luck with the pump, I know how hard it can be having to find a new place for something like that.

 

Yes, I am staring to like the F2 option better with time. I might be able to have it in the HDD bay, but I'm sceptical to the flow from res to pump then, don't want it to be a problem and maybe let the pump run dry when filling etc. Either that or take awat a set of fans, someone even suggested just to remove one fan on the side to make room for pump, wont the airpreassure be unbalanced if that even matter?

Yes you are correct, just put them on there to get the measurements, but thank you for pointing out

 

DAM that paitings looking marvelous.

 

Indeed it does, mad props the the airbrush artist! Thank you for the feedback!

 

YAAAAY Milestone reached. Recently passed 30,000 views here on bit-tech.net
Huge thank you for the support and kindness you shown and also a shoutout to my sponsors!
Dm-finearts, Plåtspecialisten Örebro, Fractal Design, Corsair, Aquatuning, Mayhems and NZXT
Without you all it wouldn't be possible, yes it sounds cheesy but it's true.

Hope you will continue to follow the StarCraft Tribute project
Take care
Best Regards
Johnny
PenguinMawdz

 

Update!

Hello everyone!
Here's a little update on what I've been doing the last day or so.
The SLR is out and running somewhere so the note 2 got the job today.

A overall shot of how it looks at the moment.

The majority of what I've been doing is to find a solution on how I will solve the reservoir and pump issue but at the same time get it to look good.
To simplify the mounting of the res and also give a nice and neat way to hide some cables I cut a metal plate to sit over the rubber grommets.

Enkel plåt utskuren men obehandlad.



Another metal plate, though this one was laser-cut. Unfortunately the result wasn't acceptable, so I will get a new one done.


Used some foam to simulate the hight of the res.

Thinking about if I should reproduce this plastic lid in metal? Either way should I paint it and how?



Some test sleeving, not quite sure yet how I want to do with the sleeving colors and combination.

I think I have decided to go with having the pump where the HDD cage usually is placed. I will remove it completely to get it down in height some more. Because then there's a minimal tilt in the right direction. It shouldn't be a problem. If so, when filling up the gravity force/water pressure will give it all force it needs.

The drawback with this is that I don't get a single HDD slot available. Either I'll have to go hardcore SSD solutions or find some other space to push it into, however that's unlikely since this case is already packed^^.
When removing the HDD cage the aesthetics is drawn back, to solve this I will cut out a 3:rd metal plate to cover most of that side. Then I must find a nice way to let some air trough that plate or somewhere else so the front fans can bring in some fresh air.

One last thought before I sign out, should I go for a black finish on all the new plates or should I go the extra mile and get them painted like the rest of the theme even though it takes longer time?

Thank you for all the feedback, helps very much!!
Until next time, take care and mod on!
Johnny

 

Awesome job... looks so great :3 ^^

 

Project - StarCraft Tribute - 14th November

UPDATE!

Hello every happy soul! well hello to you even if you aren't, I have some good news to come with!

To begin with I can do a recap of what has happend the last year with a small.. ehm.. smallish wall of text! About a year ago I was waiting for an agreement to settle with a company and take act.
I was searching for someone who had enough of Bitspower fittings that was required to complete the watercooling loop. In the beginning the loop was designed differently, that was before the huge popularity wave of acrylic tubing or so called "crystal link" for use for the whole loop instead of just between GPUs.
After time I realized was almost double the cost of the already redicolous cost of the watercooling loop. I also stumbled upon space diffulties with the design,
Well, back to searching. Said and done I finally found someone who had all the fittings I needed, though no one had the amount I needed. Therefor they had to order more from Bitspower, who was just moving to another factory. This step delayed it all a very long time. After 6 months of digging my own grave, walking backwards and forward waiting for them. Finally they were here, what a joyful moment!

With all this said I want to present to you my latest sponsor Sidewinder Computers!
They provided me with a very good deal on all the components! And normally they have very good prices so definetly check them out if your in need of something!


Since then I have been working to get this project completed until the end of the summer as I will be moving away for a year or two.
It was a real marathon with few hours of sleep the last days. I was leaving the 1st of September 06:00 in the morning. The project was put together, completed, refilled, leaktested and ready to take it's first breath about 04:30 in the morning. It died as quickly as it started. The dissapointment was horrendous and the dissapointment was somewhere down in the basement.
I didn't want to leave home without a working computer, in perticular this one! I chose not to bring my working gaming machine since I thought that my motivation to fixing it faster would be greater. There after I was computerless for over a month... Hasn't happend in over 5 years and remember I'm still quite young^^ I was busy all days and the little freetime I had went toward troubleshooting.
After have tried EVERYTHING that was possible to do, asking for advice, frustration.. The conclusion I came to after so much troubleshooting that I'm sick of the word by now, is that either the motherboard or the CPU was defected, something that must have happend after my testrun. Even If your careful with things, I guess they can go faulty..

I sent it back to the retailer(again), I think they have a "WANTED" post of me in their office at this time. So much trouble I've had with this motherboard. 1st exchange was because of aesthetics reasons as you can see in the earlier posts. 2nd switch because of dead bios, had to update it to be able to have my new GPU working, Bios update is like a lottery, and I didn't win if you say so. They changed it as a goodwill!<3 The 3rd switch was now when I had troubleshooted the issue to either mobo or CPU, Thankfully they exchanged it once more, I didn't get a answer on what the issue was though.
I'm not kidding they have the best support! Thank you Inet.se! I am now on my 4th sample of this motherboard, as I have heard it's supposed to be a good and stable motherboard, unfortunately this is not my case.

Much hard work, knowledge and patience can summarise this update, but ohboyy what joy it was when it revved it's engine for the first time for real!
Now I have some pictures to summarise this, I have slacked a bit with taking pictures though. Sorry for this. Also some mobile pics.
I would love to hear from you!

Let's go!


What a beuty for a card! Sad to pick it apart to apply waterblock^^


No pictures on the mounting, hope you know how to do it

Like a bag of candy! Not to many per day though, I think you'll have a toothache


Bought these a year ago, they're already outdated ;(
Garbage next?
Well, let's see what we can do!
HOKUS POKUS...

...POFF!!! What do you think?! I LOVE EM' one of my favorit details on the whole build!

Continued working on the plate that will cover the front area of the side and housing the SSDs.

Something like that.

Test mounting, screws in from behind with a motherboard standoff in between.

Had to file down the threads because it didn't fit, had to glue the filed part into the ssd and screw in the other end.


Red primer, my father loved the color.

Didn't have a hole for the CPU 8pin so had to do some last minute surgery since I forgot to do that in the planning stages. I cut it in the top right corner where the hex mesh is so looks genuine.
hade inget hål för CPU 8pins kontakten att gå igenom då den andra inte var ett alternativ, så fick ta att göra ett litet snitt i hex meshen för att få en 8pins kontakt igenom.


Sleeved 24pin connector, pics doesn't do it justice

Connectors...

Connectors in galore!!

Reservoir

Doing some work.


Have 10metes acrylic pipe, if someone has a hardtime finding it, you know I have. It was very hard to get hold of. Managed to get a company called akriform to sell it to me even though I'm not a company

Now a day you can find it very easily at E22 Say hi from me (he doesn't know me)

It is TIGHT up there^^

Mounting on the way, it's very picky with the angles since it's not bendable..
Have a few places where it is a few mm of but can't really adjust it more, hope it's fine


Starting to come together

The mad scientists liquid this is.. aka Michael Wood, lol

TADA, well there was some tweaking afterwards to get the right color.

PLZ DON'T LEAK PLZ DON'T L... DOOOHHH!!!!
Had some problem with a few placed where a few drips were zipping out. After changing some fittings and rubber gromets. 1-2h later with tizzling and tazzling I had it leakproof.. so far atleast

tizzle

tazzle

Some entertainment in the middle of the night

Moments before I get my hopes crushed...



That was all for this time, now the project is finished, Now before you throw your banana at the screen shouting for final pics, keep calm Next week I am going to have a photoshoot so that I can give you as much please I can through pictures
So next weekend I may have e nice nice update with final result, summary and ending of this fantistic experience and project! Thankt again to you who have supported me! Also a HUGE thanks to my sponsors for their trust for a newcomer to the scene Fractal Design, Corsiar, Aquatuning, NZXT, Dm-finearts, Plåtspecialisten Örebro, Mayhems, Sidewinder Computers.
I'd love to hear feedback from you all!
Take care, until next time!
Johnny
PenguinMawdz

 

The end has come!

Update!

Hello all of you lovely people!

Now the end of this StarCraft Tribute project has come, after just over 2 years in progress.
It has been a long and educational experience, but everything hasn't been going that smooth during this time. If things went according to my initial plans I would have done it half a year instead, but as things happen both my fault and other factors delaying it.
It has tested both my motivation and patience. I've learnt so much it's hard to name everthing but it covers all from planning, business, expectations and my skills in working with all the different kinds of materials. I take all this with me in my plans for future builds, to hopefully deliver a even better executed project.

I would like to thank everyone that has helped me proceeding in this.
Especially a big thanks to my dad that has helped me alot when my head has gone bonkers
Also a big thanks to all my sponsors for even making this project possible in the first place!
fractal design, Corsair, Aquatuning, DM-finearts, Plåtspecialisten Örebro, Mayhems, NZXT, Sidewinder Computers

The last shoutout goes to hebbefoto that was kind enough to have a photoshoot of my final product!


And now to the eyecandy!
This is it for this time, please leave feedback so I know what I can do to improve until next time!














WIHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Thank You!
Johnny
PenguinMawdz

 

Not just a modded PC, but a work of art. Well done.

 

Starcraft is not my cup of tea, but damn that is a beautifull build. The lasered panels and the paintwork are sexy!

 

Really nice build. Artwork is great and love the colours and detailing.

 

beautiful build man i love it

 

Really glad that you all like it, even though it's not your cup of tea! When you guys call it not only a mod but an artwork I get very happy, mission accomplished

 

came out awesome! Would go well with my collection of Star Craft builds (( have more than any other modder so it should be with me lol )

 

Awesome job Johnny!

 

TY! Yeah, keeping the StarCraft builds going strong! Your an awesome mod Darth and like the job you did Husky. If your ever at his place or so, feel free to share