Scratch Build – In Progress *** PHINIX NANO TOWER *** --- MOTY 2011 nomination !!!

Cheers mate, that's what I thought. I think, those pieces being just internal parts can stay without clear coat, cause they won't be touched at all.

Now, another question - leds - those SMD led strips will be touching rear of the panels. Should I put some isolation tape on them and make holes for leds? I want to avoid any shorts there and I guess some parts of those strips may conduct...

 

Probably a good precaution. You put this much effort in, you may as well go that little bit further

Photos made my day btw.

 

Nano update for Nano tower...

 

Yeah, I think I will have to do this... Will be doing some of them this weekend.

 

OK! Now...

As I said at the beginning of the project - I wanted this build a smallest and baddest powerful machine ever built, so wanted a latest graphic card in it. I had GTX295 for a bit of a time and that was the latest and most powerful from nvidia garage. I wanted Fermi, before it came out. When it came out, GTX480 was not a perfect one, we all know it... Now when we have GTX580 I decided to go for it, NanoTower deserves it! So, I got it. I bought Gigabyte GTX580. After this I had to speak with Vincent from Bitspower about changing plans... few MSN conversations later - Vincent let me know that Bitspower HQ is sending me a beautiful latest GTX580 water block I've been tracking this package for few days now and I can say it's here, just waiting for delivery guy Yep, my GTX580 will be watercooled with this sweet block!
For now, just a product photo. This weekend - new update and new photos of this fantastic block

 

You so need to make that block glow orange mate .

 

Yep, will use my yellow leds for it

 

Wow that is one hell of a bad boy of a block you got there, can't wait to see it in all it's glory mate!!!!

 

Wow its such a simple design and it looks awesome

 

Looking good dude!

 

Thanks guys! Block arrived and I could put my hands on it last night
Fantastic piece of kit, looks amazing, what is really great it comes with all the stuff plus the back plate! Photos this weekend!

 

Awesome looking block! Can't wait to see all this hardware stuffed into that teeny tiny case.

 

lookin real nice phinix

 

Loooooovely block. Can't wait to see more shots of that one.

 

*cough*customblackoutplate *cough*

 

UPDATE TIME !!!

Yes, I know.. it's about time!
I was busy (well, busy killing myself by going on a diet) so spent only little time on my Tower. However, I did a pretty big progress. How big? Let's say I can play Dead Space 2 on my NanoTower
Yep, hardware is installed and going strong! Today I went through hell cause had to attach all cables in power chamber and install PSU. Guys, I'll be honest with you - power chamber is so small and tight that I couldn't add now even a single wire Of course that was the whole idea - minimalism in every inch
I'm glad all fit in nicely, no issues.

So here it is, 47 photos, summary of last few weeks work.

Here's a Tower waiting for cables...






Two weeks ago I started to cut up my beautiful PSU. I'm not gonna lie to you guys, that was heart breaking job
I started from labelling 24pin cable.




What I wanted to do was to "sleeve" those wires, but not with sleeve, I wanted them to look as thin as possible, so used yellow 2.4mm heatshrink, 8cm length for each wire, just for pieces that will come out from power chamber.






I really like the result... very nice




I also had to "amputate" most of the pre-soldered cables, like SATA line, 4pin CPU power, floppy bit. Then had to secure those wires...




Next was soldering 24 pin cable.. Jeez, it was taking ages! I was doing 8 wires per night






I used Mark's method - taping wires first, then soldering




Next I had to attach all cables firmly to PSU.








Also prepared slim SATA cable for DVD drive.




...and started to attach SATA cables inside power chamber.




Prepared power cables for drives...






... in the meantime, look what I got! My missus bought me a present on my Name's Day




Hmmm.. I don't really know what I'm doing wrong but my soldering iron is going down pretty quickly.. this iron end is ruined after few hours of work




PSU in the Tower...














That was just a try-out Then I had to attach SATA and power cables before screw PSU into the power chamber.










...and PSU installed and covered











DVD installed...








That 24pin cable looks pretty....






All done...




...but does it play Crysis???





Hell yeah !!!!








I started it without graphic card first, in case some soldering went wrong and PSU was going pufffff..... All went ok, it worked fine, so added GPU.

Changed back plate first to single slot one. Looks ugly but will be sweet after I install water block. This is GTX285 version, so no hdmi hole.






Here is the latest state of Nano Tower:







Sorry for those fingerprints and dust - I didn't clean it after installation. Glamour shots will be at the end of the project!

Now, there is still a lot of work ahead of me, so please keep an eye on this log, soon will be adding new update!

STAY TUNED FOLKS !!!

 

Very tidy, the yellow cabling looks nice. Did you solve the sata cable saga, I can see a couple of yellow ones in there.

 

What time do you call this?
But no seriously, that's excellent work, great sleeving

Regarding the solder iron tip, make sure you clean the tip regularly with a wet sponge or a brass pad. I use the latter method to great effect. Tin the tip with clean solder each time and make sure it's cleaned and tinned regularly throughout the work. Clean and tin. Clean and tin.
If the protective coating layer on the tip is pitted or work down, the tip will very quickly disintegrate. Might be worth changing it out.