Since I've neglected my main PC for some time, decided to make a major cleanup and a few extras.
First, disbanded these silly RGB fans:
They came with a case, and are connected with a shitty proprietary connector. Wanted to disband the controller as well, but decided to leave it be, as it has PWM control for up to four 3-pin fans.
Switched the LED button for a reset, and connected a smaller reset button to a clear CMOS header. Life saver for a RAM tuning on a MSI boards.
Needed to get my front case panel able to fit three 140mm fans:
It's factory limited to 2x140mm or 3x120mm, but with most of the metal chunks blocking the 140mm fan airflow (compromise I'm not willing to make). Still decided to leave minimum connection bridges for a stronger structural support. Now it fits 3x140mm fans with just a little airflow obstruction. It could also fit 420mm radiator, but I'm not doing it in this case anyway.
Those two are Akasa 140mm, temporary solution until a batch of P14s arrive.
Also widened the front mesh usable surface by almost 30%, with the means of cutting the plastic shell, without compromising the structural integrity (needs to be pulled hard when unmounting):
Tried this garbage fan to replace one of the RGB ones at the rear exhaust position:
It was a fan that came with CM Q500L, I guess the rifle bearing is a good analogy, because it sounds like a machine gun. Luckily I have many questionable quality fans at my disposal, so I've tried this one:
And fell in love with it, so I've decided to sleeve the wires, and change the white header for a black one:
But it's still going to be replaced by a P12.
Completely rewired the back of the case:
Installed another P300 3TB drive because it sits unused in another PC, as I've finally figured how to integrate the factory HDD cage without the shitty plastic drawers and make the drives silent. These Toshiba drives are LOUD. Up until now it was one drive just lying on a foam freely, the cage was absent. Forgot to take a photo of the solution, but it's a simple foam tape (for doors and windows) attached to a drive's sides and used as a rail to slide them in, not touching the metal directly, and the friction holds it in place nicely.
Washed the CPU tower heatsink, cleaned all the fans thoroughly, took apart the GPU, repasted. Haven't done the super glue trick for the whine, because I don't have the thermal pads to replace them ATM (coming along with a P14, P12 and MX-6 order directly from the Arctic), and before applying the glue I need to completely clean the card first. The Factory pads are falling apart, the GPU haven't been opened, the paste was almost dry, and consider it's saved from the depths of the mines of Moria...
bought from friend back in 2020 as he had this lying around without any use (he got it from his brother but my friend had and still has an ATX build)
