Reality Bytes

[KennyT772]

FAN GRILLS! Only think you are lacking in my opinion. Also I wouldn't run the tubing under the ram cooler as it cuts off airflow to a degree and makes changing anything more complicated.

 

[BigJunit]

@ KennyT772 - The 2 x 120mm's will have a perspex 'shelf' over them with the same fan grill as underneath (you can kind of make this out in the second sketchup in OP)

But yeah the rear one needs something on the inside aswel as a grill on the outside to cover it up alittle.

As for the tubing under the ram cooler, your right its not the best place to route it but its the only way I can get to the HDD waterblock without kinking the wire. TBH the ram cooler is there more for looks than anything else so I am not to worried about loosing the airflow but, yeah as you rightly point out it will make changing the ram a tad more complicated than it should be. Soemthing it looks like I will have to live with.

 

[KennyT772]

Is the hard drive cooler really worth the cost in flow and cash?

 

[BigJunit]

Well I already had the cooler so cost wasnt an issue. As for flow I cant see it making a huge difference due to its design (i could be wrong though) - HDD Block Here

Also with no fans on the front of the case there will be little or no airflow over or around the HDD so I think the cooling is needed.

 

[tkpenalty]

Well... better HDD cooling does mean the HDD lasts longer. And hes putting it in a compact position; a TINY case.

 

[BigJunit]

Yeah I am starting to realise now just how small the case is lol. Thats before I have even made a start on the wiring!

Ah well I said I wanted a bit more of a challenge so its all good.

Small update, the side panel is now pretty much done. Used a sheet of acid green acrylic for the window (just a tad smaller than the mobo) Also have added a cutout of the res to stick through.
I have used some rubber edging to surround the cutouts, Once the glue holding the window in drys out this will need tidying up abit. But for now you get the general idea from the picture below.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts ....

 

[KennyT772]

Aren't 6 channels enough to control all of your fans and lights? With your current setup you can only have one cdrom drive..

Looks amazing though.

 

[BigJunit]

Cheers Kenny. I have only ever used one DVD/RW drive , no need for 2 TBH. The fan controllers will be wired as follows (note AC Ryan Fans have seperate connectors for fan power and light).

Controller 1 (Fans)
-120mm Rad Fan 1
-120mm Rad Fan 2
-120mm Rear Fan
-120mm PSU Fan
-Memory Cooler
-Mobo Heatpipe Cooler

Controller 2 (Lights)
-120mm Rad Fan 1 (light)
-120mm Rad Fan 2 (light)
-120mm Rear Fan (light)
-PSU Fan (light)
-UV Light in Pump
-UV Light in Rad

 

[KennyT772]

Cheers Kenny. I have only ever used one DVD/RW drive , no need for 2 TBH. The fan controllers will be wired as follows (note AC Ryan Fans have seperate connectors for fan power and light).

Controller 1 (Fans)
-120mm Rad Fan 1
-120mm Rad Fan 2
-120mm Rear Fan
-120mm PSU Fan
-Memory Cooler
-Mobo Heatpipe Cooler

Controller 2 (Lights)
-120mm Rad Fan 1 (light)
-120mm Rad Fan 2 (light)
-120mm Rear Fan (light)
-PSU Fan (light)
-UV Light in Pump
-UV Light in Rad

When I had my old 4 channel sunbeam controller I ran it as follows.

front 80mm 2x
rear 80mm 2x
vf900
Case Lighting

I would wire up the Rad fans to a channel, the rear and psu fans to a channel, mobo fans to a channel, the 4 fan lights to a channel (leds draw very little) then UV to a channel. Less knobs to deal with every time you go game and more simplicity in wiring.

I just checked your fans and controller and your controller can indeed run two of these fans per channel. At 12v the fans consume 2.8w. Your controller is limited to 7w per channel.

 

[BigJunit]

As you rightly say the controller can support max 7w per channel so one controller would be able to power everything I have in the case, Fan/Light wise. But I want to have as much flexibility as possible. So for example:

If I want the mem cooler on max but the mobo fan on low, i can. If I only want the rear fan light on max, i can.

Know what I mean, plus IMO PC's look better with more switches/knobs/dials etc. Kinda makes it look abit more technical, if that makes any sence.

 

[KennyT772]

As you rightly say the controller can support max 7w per channel so one controller would be able to power everything I have in the case, Fan/Light wise. But I want to have as much flexibility as possible. So for example:

If I want the mem cooler on max but the mobo fan on low, i can. If I only want the rear fan light on max, i can.

Know what I mean, plus IMO PC's look better with more switches/knobs/dials etc. Kinda makes it look abit more technical, if that makes any sence.

haha touche. Your mod man I was just throwing ideas at you to give ya as much flexability as possible.

 

[BigJunit]

lol no 'toucheness' intended. Bad wording on my part. The ideas are much appriciated, was just explaining my reasons for going with the 12 channels.

and LOL @ mod man

 

[D_o_S]

Looks awesome

 

[BigJunit]

Well today I completed the watercooling loop and started to fill it up. Everything was going well (a little too well) until I noticed the green puddle starting to form on the floor!!!

On closer inspection I noticed the water dripping from the radiator screws on the underneath of the case! Thankfully I had not connected the motherboard, HDD etc but had overtightened the bolts holding the radiator to the case.

So now the rad has an extra 8 holes in it and is now completley useless. But on a brighter note a new one is being shipped overnight so fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Just very frustrating to make such a stupid mistake on the very final stages of the build. Ah well live and learn and all that.

 

[Wile E]

Well today I completed the watercooling loop and started to fill it up. Everything was going well (a little too well) until I noticed the green puddle starting to form on the floor!!!

On closer inspection I noticed the water dripping from the radiator screws on the underneath of the case! Thankfully I had not connected the motherboard, HDD etc but had overtightened the bolts holding the radiator to the case.

So now the rad has an extra 8 holes in it and is now completley useless. But on a brighter note a new one is being shipped overnight so fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Just very frustrating to make such a stupid mistake on the very final stages of the build. Ah well live and learn and all that.

Bummer, but it happens.

Also noticed the Alphacool top and res on your DDC. Very Nice setup, indeed.

 

[JC316]

Jeez! That is one slick ass build man. I wish I had you patience to do something like that. When it's in the Case gallery, it will be a freaking 12/10! Great work.

 

[BigJunit]

w00t The new radiator turned up this morning and is all fitted now. Just leak testing and getting rid of the air bubbles now, will post some pictures when my batteries are charged.

 

[BigJunit]

Small Update:

The system is now in peices again to make some small adjustments after I powered it up during the week. Was nice to have it all running for a while though. Temperatures where 38'c - 44'c for GPU and 25'c - 32'c for CPU @ 3.1Ghz. I assume the arctic silver compond takes time to cure as I would have expected a much lower temperature for the GPU.

As for the case I have now got a stand to raise the bottom of the case off the ground to allow air into the radiator through the underside. Can be seen in the picture below, its basicly just 4 perspex cutouts bolted together with a green cathode tube between them. This should glow up quite nice in the dark. Will post more pictures when its plugged in:

Also I have cut a surround for the memory cooler from an off cut of green UV perspex. Its was quite hard to see the memory cooler against the black inside of the case when I had the side panel on, so this should make it stand out a bit more:

Let me know what you think?

 

[cdawall]

i think when you upgrade you should ship me your old system


10000/10 thats what case moddings about

 

[BigJunit]

Some work on the lighting today, also added a few perspex cutouts to sound/graphics cards and also to cover the radiator and fans.

I was thinking about either cutting or etching a design/logo into the piece which covers the graphics card. Anyone any ideas as to what I should have on there that would go with the theme of the case?

Pictures:

Also the stand for the case is finshed and the cathode underneath is wired in.

 

[cdawall]

it looks amazing IMO

 

[mullered07]

im sooooo jealous that is friggin sweet mate, you must have a lot of time on your hands or one pissed off wife....... or both

 

[BigJunit]

im sooooo jealous that is friggin sweet mate, you must have a lot of time on your hands or one pissed off wife....... or both

Thanks mullered07, She does seem to be getting more and more annoyed as the build goes on, wasnt to impressed when I spilt some UV fluid on the lounge floor either lol

Im sure she will get over it.

 

[cdawall]

Thanks mullered07, She does seem to be getting more and more annoyed as the build goes on, wasnt to impressed when I spilt some UV fluid on the lounge floor either lol

Im sure she will get over it.

whats going in it same as in you sys specs to left or all new build?

 

[BigJunit]

Yes all the same except for the HDD, brought a 320gb last week. Concidering a CPU upgrade to the 6000+ but not 100% decided yet.