Ultra Aluminus Mod in 2 Weeks...

[markkleb]

I just got this case today from Radioshack.com (LOL, Radioshack) for $49 after rebate.
I noticed on the Ultra website they are having a modding contest in 16 days.

I have some H20 stuff left over from Redchrome and a couple of crazy 120mm fans ($29 ea)

I was thinking of using my new DFI Expert mobo and making it REALLY quiet.

First HDDs, do you think it matters if I use 4 or can I use 2?

Video cards, what if I was to use 2 7600GS in SLI (no fans, no extra power,real cheap)

H20, does it matter?(for wow factor)

Inside color? The outside is blue. Right now it looks nice as brushed alum.

Right now I am fixing the air flow by removing the stupid sidways HDD cage.(blocks 75% of the incoming air)

 

[zekrahminator]

Well hey, it's your build. If I were you, I'd find some way to get red lighting in there, put those 2 uber fans in, and make an amazing aircooled mod. 7600GT's are virtually unmoddable, get some X800GTO's and put silencer's on them. I'm thinking that Zalman will have what you want in terms of kickass-looking CPU cooler, and you shouldn't put in too many hard drives. It's alot easier to hide the cables of less equipment. Then again, I AM talking to the KING of hiding cables. Also might be nice to make a fan controller with 3 settings- Quiet, normal, jet engine . This is just if I were you though.
Edit- Forget about X800GTO, X1600 might be a bit better for the price http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102668 .

 

[markkleb]

the 7600GS's have a large heatsink(no fans) that I could custom paint and put LED's in.(and are silent)

2 HDDs are better(cheaper, lol)

I was gonna use a Swiftech Apogee on the CPU with a single rad where the exit 120mm fan goes. I was thinking about putting the Water pump above the PS so you wouldnt see it.

What do you think I should do about the inside color?

 

[FLY3R]

That is the cheepest looking case I have seen, i talking about the metal in the inside, i bet its razor sharp. I think this mod could turn out nice, And that could be a really decent system for cheep.

 

[markkleb]

CHEAP? this case is alum with a very nice paint job. The edges are not sharp and it has a very solid feel.

Ok, just ordered the PS. I figured it was a Ultra Contest so I would use a Ultra PS. I was wandering the web and came across this,
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1273338&CatId=106

It has the real flexable cables the 8 pin power cable the DFI mobo needs and 4 Satas.

Nice thing about this case is the Extra pieces come in a box along with the box that houses the Firewire/ USB/ Speak, mic jacks. You can mount it (or not) in a floppy or cdrom space.
Its kind of a cool idea. Also there is a bunch of screws and a Manual? This is the first time I seen one of those in a case.

The case is Alum (the thickness is like the Qpack) They put braces where they are needed so it feels solid to me.

Another cool thing is all the lights and switches pop out (much easier to mod without the wires in the way)

Oh yea one last thing before I start modding, this sucker is big! It feels like I can put 2 RedChromes inside. There is not gonna be any probs finding room to do anything.

EDIT: last night I ordered 2 XFX 7600GS OC video cards. I got them because they were the cool Black and green ones and they have no fans.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150146

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

What do you get if you win? or 2nd, or 3rd place?

 

[markkleb]

Ur picture in the paper...

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

OMG!!! Are you serious!!! WoW!!!

 

[markkleb]

Ok some of the stuff will be here later today (VC's and PS) Water stuff wont get here till Mon and cpu (opty 148) Tues.

I came up with an idea. I remember seeing it in a comp before (lol, RedChrome). I removed the cage to the HDDs so there is a straight shot out the back past the chipset cooler and Videdcards. I am gonna get a 5" diam clear plastic tube to go from the bottom 120mm fan straight to the back where the cards all connect. I am gonna cut the back side of the tube where the video cards are so air will be sucked in in the bottom front and past the chipset cooler (swiftech) over the Video cards and out the back. That way the H20 will only have to cool the CPU.

I am using the Swiftech MCRES1000 w/ MCP350 pump mounted above the PS. Because there will be very little hose I am gonna use the AN fittings and Braided steel Race car hose.
The AN fittings are very cool as they use smooth bends so flow wont be reduced.

Like the RedChrome I plan on using 4 HDDs below the CDRW with a Scythe Kama fan.

I got a Ultra Xfinity PS with the Flex cables. They should be a lot easier to hide. The PS is Blue Chrome, has two 6 pin conn for SLI and a 8 pin for the DFI mobo and a BUNCH of extra connections.
( I like that Gold Lifetime Warranty sticker)

I love getting new stuff.

 

[BigD6997]

nice, those silenx fans are nice, but to $$... paint the 5 1/2 cage black, and fill the "ULTRA" in with neon green paint, i think thatwould be siiicckkk

 

[BigD6997]

ohhh ohhh better, cut the ultra out, and put green leds behind it!

 

[markkleb]

They cant be 14 db (mabye 10 feet away) but they are nice and move a lot of air. If you turn them down abouy 25% on a control they are silent though.
I really like the ACcooling fans but the Silenx fans are quieter but $29 ea? what was I thinking?

 

[markkleb]

ohhh ohhh better, cut the ultra out, and put green leds behind it!

Thats a SWEET idea, I wish I had thought of it. LOL

Ok I think I got the colors, I am gonna paint the mobo tray Flourescent blue and the rest of the inside Black.
But the panel that is brushed alum and says ULTRA will stay Brushed Alum but as per BigD's killer idea i will cut out the letters and back light it. Like RedChrome the wires will be gone and the HDDs will be below the CDRW. The bottom is the coolest part to me. I got a 4 3/4" clear tube that will run from the front 120mm fan to the video cards for cooling. Also because the chipset is in the middle I bought a Swiftech cooler

http://www.frozencpu.com/vid-20.html

I will take off the fan and it will stick into the tube and be cooled by the fan in front. This will allow the H20 to just cool the CPU, eliminating extra blocks and hoses.

 

[T4 GTR]

Put UV leds in there at angles and sequenced Red, Green, and Blue LEDs

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Would you recommend that case btw?

 

[BigD6997]

it seems like a nice case + a good price for a all aluminum case, i want to get it and make a integrated water cooling in it,all hiddin and stuff

 

[markkleb]

The RedChrome was a lot easier to hide stuff. But this is alum and east to cut, LOL

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

I can't wait to see how it turns out. How much money do you have to spend on modding comps? First, Lego. Then, RedChrome. After, Ultra. Are you rich?

 

[markkleb]

I keep using the same pieces over and over, lol

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Oh...but you spent $1200 for RedChrome. Now you got SLI, new case, new PSU. What's your secret? You can whisper it so no one else hears.

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

That is sick! That's crazy! Too much time on your hands. Wow... that's so smart. Are you going to sell that too once your done with it?

Can you state the specs?

 

[markkleb]

I would like to sell it so I can go on to the next project.

The cool part is with the Silex fans and a controller its SILENT (no fans on the Video cards) and it cools the chipset too.

 

[wtf8269]

Awesome job Mark! Keep it up. Hope you win this. It'll make a good rep for you and TPU.

 

[BigD6997]

i still say u use my idea!, andthat is a very good idea, die it with uv die, then put a uv light in there

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Wow! You really want to win this! I hope you do.