Case Mod - In Progress Project CoalMine - WaterCooled FT03 - Cables done, window! - Update 13.4 ! -

So lets kick another project on! New one did came pretty fast, really wasn't my plan. But yeah.

So I got Silverstone Fortress FT03 ! Small sized m-ATX -case, dimensions 235 x 284 x 487mm.
It's not very usual designed. This kind diffirent design was so close of what I have planned on my own, so this time I'll go easier way.

First look of the case. Sorry about bad lightning!




What I'm going to do? I dont even know everything either.
Anyway, sure is that I build watercooling on this build as well. I took parts from older build.. Window, second or even third one is sure as well. Lets keep eyes open for new ideas!
Cause small size of case, I dont even try to put radiator inside of case. I will build small box from wood (?), and place rad on here. I will bolt that box on my table. I will find out can I also swap pump at there..


Hardware:
i5 4670K - Delidding? - Already have
Asus Maximus VI Gene - Already have
Corsair Vengeance 4x4Gb - Already have
EVGA GTX770 - Already have
Samsung 840 Pro 128Gb - Already have
Kingston V300 240Gb - Already have
Seasonic X-650 - Already have

For watercooling:
EK Supreme LTX - Polishing? - Already have
EK GTX770 Fullcover - Already have
EK DDC XRES 100 CSQ - Already have
EK DDC 3.2 PWM - Already have
EK 16/10 Silver - Already have
EK ZTM Matt black - Already have
Alphacool 480 XT45 - Already have



This build takes bit longer time. I have no hurry this time. Couse this time I'll get new hardware, I got working pc all the time.

Would be nice to hear comments and thoughts about this project!

 

....

When finishing this, I will collect posts of updates and final pics at here.

 

Start !

Okayy. I looked case while before I start torturing..
First I took everything useless off. This is how it looks after screwdriver..




Picture of backside. We got 43mm space here.
Also couple of spots with M3- threads.




Last thing I need to take off, was frame for PSU. Just beacouse it was graceless and top of it was solid. PSU I will get soon, is semi passive. Fan is coming upward and hot air will fade off better that way. Power should stay cooler and silencer.



For size comparison, at the bottom is Cooltek's 120mm fan. Not going to use that, just pick it up to show you size of this case.


As first post says, case is 284mm widht.
Lets took off sidepanels, sidepanels mounting mechanism and some edges at bottom plate, we got exaclty 270mm..




PSU takes 150mm. Damn, I dont want anything noisy 80/92mm fan at there.. Hopefully I got space for 120mm Gentle..
Have to wait that PSU and find out how it is going..

So here was some small start. Would be nice to hear some comments!

 

PSU, RAM and Bottom plate !

Already got 1,3k views, wow! Its time for update!



This is what I got.





Its Seasonic X-650. Fully modular and semi-passive powersupply. This is used one, bought it from Finnish forum.
Didnt take cables at the pic. They are older ones, with colored cables, not fully black. So I will be using extension cables..




Corsair Vengeance memorys. 4x4Gb set, 1600MHz and 1.5V. Also bought from Finnish forum.



Then I have to get some plate at bottom, to cover extra holes. First I did model from board, so I cannot go wrong with final plate..
I used 3mm thick polypropylene from that another build. I got just enough for this piece. After I cutted and sanded it, I went and try to fit it...



And oh yes. I ****ed it. 5mm diffirence..
Would be backside so PSU would cover it. But no, how do I measured it..?


But yeah, I still got same stuff in white. Actually it doesnt matter at all, cause I cover it with black contact paper anyway.



Phuuh, this fits! Bit difficult to put in. At least it doesnt move much. And there isn't any big slits.



So power supply will be placed at there.



While fitting PSu I noticed way of power connector.. Its diffirent way than in my old superflower..
So that extension what came with case doesnt fit, there is no way to fit that thich cord. I tried to look new one, 90 degree angle for left. So hard to find. I found only one, which was bit ugly and costs pretty much..


But now I can make holder for PSU. Only two screws at down going to hold it on its place. Going to do those holders from 40x20x1,5mm profiled steel. Lets see what end up with.


I also ordered that new motherboard and rest of watercooling stuff.

 

Nice to see another FT03 build thread, looking forward to seeing what you do with it. it's a great case. Have you checked out the 'post your FT03' thread HERE? Don't rule out internal watercooling. I put two RADs in my FT03, A gent over at ChilledPC fitted three!

J.

 

Yea, I really like it. With some mods it is perfect!

Havent seen that. I link my log at there.

I'm not saying its impossible.. I just dont want paly with 80mm rads and fans.. Also wanna keep case looking clean, so I'll bring one big rad outside of case.

 

Hardware !

Got couple packages.




Main thing is VI Gene.. It feels and looks so amazing.. I've always wanted ROG mobo an finally got one of them.
CPU got 1-3 day delivery time.. It takes 13 days to arrive.


I installed RAM as well. Pretty tall heatsinks, but its ok. Mobo is 90 degree rotated, so I have to cover that ugly sticker..




Also tried how much space are there around mobo. Not very much extra.




Same package got couple Gentles more. And 3 metres more tubing, should be enough.




I bought same smoked acrylic as BlackBox got. Also bought 2mm thick polyethylene for plate under mobo. Lets see how that material react.
One package more should arrive this week, from aquatuning.

I've planned to bought aquaero too. Some extension cables are missing as well.

 

Watercooling accessories !

Okayy. Small update today.

I got this nice package earlier this week.



Small Finnish company send me some mesh.
There was veery thick mesh. 100x100 wires per inch. Will use this as dust filter for rad.
Another mesh got 14x14 wires per inch. I really dont have any usage for this atm. Let's see.
Size of these meshes are 150x1220mm. Open that picture as new tab so you can see thichness. I still got original lens on my camera..

Was kind of funny to make order like this.. Delivery costs five times more than mesh. I even got warning on paper. It says: Look out sharp edges of mesh! Awesome!



Another day I got package from Aquatuning.


Here is all I got from there.




Main thing of order was bit bigger rad. A bit..





I also took Yate Loon fans with rad. Only costs few more euros. Not going to use these at this build, but you never know what you need tomorrow..
Overall I got 4x120mm fans and 2 92mm fans. Smaller fans are Yate Loons as well, they only costs 1,25€ per fan..




I build these from couple different fittings. Inside of case, top of these fittings I got EK's compression fittings.





I also got EK's Blood Red- coolant today. Did not take picture of it.

See you next time I got some updates!

 

Bottom plate, Pump bracket & Radbox

Some update.
Along last week I did what I could. I have had fever and flu...



But, I got my hands on bottom plate.






I have to cut pretty much off from case. I guess inlet of tubes may need some reinforcements.




Also did some kind of bracket for pump-res -combo. I'll post plans of loop as soon as I can.





And I started doing box for rad. Wood is 18mm thick.




I driller some 10mm holes. From holes I started to cut with keyhole saw. About along the line. Then I attached kinda roll of abrasive paper at table drill and make hole cleaner.



I'm going to use dremel to make good and nice rounding.

I'll continue as soon as I can. I also should get some cord and accessories to get power for rad fans.

 

Update 10.2 !

Here I am again. Have done pretty much last week/weekend.
I have been work with aluminium, acid resisting steel, square profile steel, wood and electricity.


I made attachment for PSU from piece of 30x30x2mm square profiled steel.




2mm aluminium. Had small piece from older project's window.

Half of box. Cable clamp for rad's cord and power connector.





I had to raise power connector so I can use my old powercord.


I used same aluminium to make ssd-rack. Pending went bit oblique. It looks like holes are not in line, but really they are.




And the rad box...
I needed small piece of that aluminium for cable clamp too.



You can see that cord on this picture. Its data cable, 6x0,25m2. Six wires cause if I want to run pushpull for rad, I can control them separately.
I split those fan connectors. RPM -signal needed to come only from first fan.

Box is almost ready. Only embedding for rad screws needed to do.



I used milling maching for outer edges to get nice finish.




Ineer edges I sanded with dremel and by hands. Ended up with 320 paper.
I'm pretty happy about result.





Today I get longer screws for rad. Now I can finish that box.
Also I should paint all metal parts.



Tomorrow I'll post pic of finished rad box.

I would like to hear what you like about my project, feel free to comment!

 

Very clean woodworking.

 

That rad box looks GREAT!

 

Wow bloody hell this is lovely !

I'm a bit of a woody myself so kudos on that rad box. Looks fanny tastic !

 

This is really shaping up, The RAD box looks great! great job.

J.

 

Thanks guys! I'ts really nice to hear you liked it.

I've been thinking that my next case would be wooden m-itx..
I got pretty much tools for wood and better space for that. Warm car garage where I'm currently working with plastics too.

 

Update 12.2 !

I wasn't able to post update yesterday, but here you have better one.

This is how it looks now. Two layers of transparent black lack. Between layers I made gently sanding with 240-paper.





Personally I really like this result of lack. I have used it many times before as well. My speaker boxes got same color.

I got screws at Monday and yesterday I cut them at right length.




And today I cut this mesh and glued it.




I'll post better pics of this after I get this finished.
I would like to hear do you like it.

 

This looks really great! I really, really like the colour of the radbox. Great work on the fernis. Can't wait to see more of this

 

Looks awesome man cant wait to see what you do with this build! subbed

 

Thanks! These comments give me so much motivation!



I just came back from workshop, I painted those metal parts. I'll post pic about them at evening.

 

Update 15.2 !

I don't know is this even update..
I just post couple pics of painted parts.










Pictures were taken with flash, I'm sorry about that.
Cause flash, matt lac makes coat looking rough. But really it is pretty smooth and clean.

Project finally got name. Thank you spokesman of Bitfenix Finland, who suggest it for me at Finnish forum.