Case Mod - In Progress Project: "Heavy Duty"

Hi everyone,

First let me introduce myself. My name is Nikolay and i am from Sofia / Bulgaria. This is my first post in this forum and right away i appologize for my not so good english

So, let me introduce you to the project that i am working on for the last year. It is a low budget project, but i think it is not so bad. Hope you like it.

Hardware:

Case: Codegen ATX Server 9011/C11
Mb: Asrock Z68 Extreme7 Gen3
CPU: Intel I7 2600K
Ram: Corsair Vengeance 8gb kit
Gpu's: 2x GTX 460 1024mb + GTS 250 Physx (Temporary, hope so)
PSU: Cooler Master Silent Pro M 1000W
Fan controller: Kaze Q 4 channel
HDD: Barracuda 7200 Sata II 500Gb (Temporary)
SSD: ???????

Watercooling: (All EK)

CPU: EK-Supreme HF
GPU's: EK-VGA Supreme HF (only gtx 460's)
Pump: Ek-DCP 4.0
Rads: EK-CoolStream XT 120
EK-CoolStream XT 240
EK-CoolStream XT 360
Res.: EK-Multioption Res x2 150

So, it's time for some pics:

 

Welcome to Bit Tech. For a budget build, you have a lot of expensive parts.

 

Welcome!

Nice project you have there

 

Thanks guys,

Yes we can say that it is a mid-range budget project, but compare to other ones in this forum i think it's more like a low budget one.

Now, let me post some progress pics for you.

First i moded the top of the case to accommodate the 360 rad. Also fiiled in the existing hole with metal.




Moded the rear panel for 120 rad. Normally there was a place for 2x80mm fans.



Then i test fitted the rads again. No mounts for the 240 rad yet.





Pics are taken by phone, so the quality is not the best

 

I wish I could swing that on my budget Can't wait to see more. Subbed.

 

As you can see, after mounting the radiators in, there was no room for power supply and hard drives, and then the real modding of the case began

First thing, it was necessary to visualise the order and placement of the components .....




My plan was to extand the case by making a lower compartment for the rest of the components like PSU / HDD's / Pump ..... so i began the work right away





No fancy materials used - only metal (cheaper)
After adding the lower section it was time to cut the existing floor (i will explane why later )





I know that the cut are a little sharp and edgy but the whole case will be sanded before paint.

 

Front mouted rad in place....



and i closed up the PSU opening.

 

a low budget with all EK...
people have different math calculation or language definition of "low"perspective...

welcome to bit-tech..

 

WOW!!! It's a Russian car VAZ-2106
Nice)))

 

>people have different math calculation or language definition of "low"perspective...

novadays is cheaper to get used (or even some of new) WB than made it "@home". raw materials, tools and spare time will cost much more in current situation. 10 (even 5) years ago factory WB were as available as a spaceship in my/nearby country. today couple keystrokes and clicks and one can get nice WB with no hassle to just find good piece of copper...

 

Yes it is. We had many of them 15 years ago, but now they are very rare. This one will be transformed into a drift machine because of the RWD. It's a nice old Russian car

Ps. there are many bottles of vodka in the trunk - for better work progress and to worm up in the winter .....

 

Next step was to close the 5.25'' drive bay....





.....and fabricate the floor plate for 2x120mm fans. The case will suck fresh air from the bottom compartment and from the 2x80mm situated on the back.





till next time

 

update...

Making some holes for cable managment.

 

Great start! Looks like its going to be quite rugged! Gotta say, love welding parts onto a pc case

 

Originaly the case wasn't very strong - the materials used are very thin, but now with some welds it is sturdy enought.


Let's continue with a litlle update. All the radiators will suck air from inside the case, so i needed a lote of fresh air from outside - decided to install two additional 120mm fans in the back side panel to bring air for the front rad. Don't like dust, so will keep positive air pressure.



Closed the bottom.....



..... and start to fabricate the new panels.

 

i really wait to see how it end's up, start looks rough, but it's different to the finishing product, i wish you a good luck

 

PSU mouting bracket .....





The power supply can be mounted only one way - with the fan pointing down. Like that the psu fan will not fight with the 2x120mm fans on the middle plate.

 

I could be wrong but I think the top fan of the PSU sucks cold air in and the small fan in the back pushes hot air out. I assume those back 120mm fans are used to pull air out of the case so it seems like the PSU would just be helping in that cause. Please let me know if I am wrong.

 

The PSU on the picture is only for test - i will use "Cooler Master Silent Pro M 1000W". The fans situated on the back of the case are 2x80mm not 120mm and they will bring fresh air to the case.