Project Quakecon 2013

This is the introduction to the Quakecon 2013 build! It is already in its process, but I will now start to log what gets done to it, and hopefully it will be ready early next year for an eventually showing at Quakecon 2013 BYOC!

Earlier this year I took my first trip to Quakecon taking the "wait in line" approach. Unfortunately, this was the worst year ever for that approach and I was in line for hours. No worries, me and a couple of friends were featured on the once great G4TV. I think I will mark that one off as a worthwhile experience, one that I never want to do again though. Of course after going once, I've decided to make it a tradition.

My build for Quakecon 2012 is as follows:

Case: Thermaltake Level 10 GT
Motherboard: MSI p67-GD55
CPU: Intel i5 2500k
CPU Cooler: CM v8
RAM: 8gb Corsair Vengeance 1600
GPU: (2) EVGA GTX560 Ti SC
PSU: CM 800W Silent Pro Gold
SSD: Corsair Force 3 90gb
HDD: (2) Samsung 320gb 7200 RPM


Look at that killer cable management, it makes me...sick.


I've grown to love sleek cases, but this was my first love.


I had a little fun with my setup.

During my adventures at Quakecon, three things happened, four if I include the trauma that my feet experienced during the wait in line:
1. I met a lot of great people that I have continued to be friends with.
2. These very same friends and I won several tournaments.
3. I won the case I absolutely fell in love with while I was there having an adventure, the In-Win H-Frame.

Because I won this case, and because I fell in love with it, I decided to switch my build to it. As I've learned more and more about PCs I eventually decided to not only upgrade my system, but make it look amazing. With that comes this project, one to make my setup look amazing for next years adventure.

During these next couple of months, I hope to upgrade my PC in various ways:

Motherboard: Not dead set, but will probably be black or black and blue like an MSI motherboard. Aiming for more high end then my current, but I might not feel the need to do so.
CPU: i7 Haswell
RAM: 16gb Corsair Dominator
GPU: Looking to get an 680 4gb model, maybe EVGA classified, but this may very well wait until the release of the 780.
SSD: Probably going to upgrade if not to add a bit more storage, but to add aesthetics. Most likely candidate is the OCZ Vector. The Force 3 will then be put aside for a future plan to build a small form factor gaming rig (not to mention the i5) in the Bitfenix Prodigy.

As for the more immediate future the PSU, RAM, and CPU Cooler are all getting upgraded:
PSU: Corsair 860i
RAM: Corsair Vengeance +8gb in blue
CPU Cooler: Either the h60 or h80i. I still need a little bit of feedback on this one, maybe after showing the pictures I can get some. ^^

In addition to the new PSU, I will be creating a custom label to cover up the red and custom creating and braiding my own cables to fit the system. This will include all of the PSU cables, the front panel connectors, and any other wire that will be in there. I might use some u-channel for the window or the cutouts, but I need to see how it looks before saying it will be in there at the end.

For the very future plans I am wanting to build a fully watercooled PC in maybe a caselabs case (tower style) with hopes of having a window on both sides to show the internals and cable management. It is still a thought project so it could be anything, maybe UV cables and such. I also mentioned the Bitfenix Prodigy build, that will come as soon as this is finished so I can use up my spare parts for a great Lan rig.

And as for the pictures of what is currently besides me.


Before the addition of a hard SLI bridge and backplates. The window is not stock.


Which I just took, you can't see all of the screens, but there is a third.



For your viewing pleasure.


As you can tell the plan is to build an inside that matches the outside. so blue and silver/brushed aluminium works. Of course I'm not opposed to black and the bits of white.

Of course I will take any feedback and criticism. In fact I welcome it as it will all help in making this great.

Thank you if you took the time to read all of this!


Edit: Also, as you noticed I'm not starting from scratch. I have moved my older build. But, by the time this is over, most everything that was in from the start will be changed, i.e RAM GPU PSU SSD HDD CPU fan and maybe CPU/Mobo, not to mention entirely new custom cables.

looks sweet, dat CPU cooler D:

Build looks beastly.. love the setup

sonrise said:

looks sweet, dat CPU cooler D:

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I know right, temps are out of this world

and Thanks!

I'll be keeping an eye on this! It looks sweet!

Do to Christmas time and hanging with all the family, the unboxing and cable management has be relaxed a bit. I have cable management stuff on the way. It is seemingly difficult to manage the cables in a perfect way in this case. But I've looked around the sites and have found several items I can use. Also, When I custom create my cables, it will look much nicer.


We all know how corsair packages, they do such a great job.


I love the red box.




Here is it in the case. I haven't done a fanatastic job with the cables at the bottom, but I've also not had much time. Much more will be done soon.



I love the power supply, it just looks amazing.

Upcoming things include better cable management and overlaying stickers (maybe even a sticky metal plate with a design in it) over the current stickers. I would have liked to do fan up, but the design on the back of the case doesn't promote doing so. Also, ideas from other forum members have me thinking some sort of mod that I can do to place an h100i in the case.

Thanks everyone for their support and Merry Christmas! As you can tell in some pictures, it is a white Christmas in Texas.

it looks like there is a plate that the psu is attached to that wraps around the edge case in the bottom picture, are you able to flip that plate around and screw it back in the other way?

that in win case looks pretty great tbh i'm not usually a fan on in win. it looks like something from dead space and it does it really well plus the materials look very good quality too.

andrevautour said:

it looks like there is a plate that the psu is attached to that wraps around the edge case in the bottom picture, are you able to flip that plate around and screw it back in the other way?

that in win case looks pretty great tbh i'm not usually a fan on in win. it looks like something from dead space and it does it really well plus the materials look very good quality too.

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I'll get you a picture tomorrow morning, I couldn't find a proper one on the internet. I was thinking that (also very perceptive of you!), but the problem isn't just that, the actual aluminium sheets leave a hole for the button and connector but not for one if it was flipped the other way around.

Also, I agree, I was never a big fan of In-Win, but when I saw this at Quakecon I was amazed.

With the help of the forums I decided to go for the Phanteks PE in blue as my CPU cooler. With the performance and look, it should be pretty amazing.

Because of this change I have decided to change the color combinations of the MDPC sleeving I buy for my custom cables. As of now it will be B-Magic and White, with a 3 to 1 ratio (subject to change) of B-magic to white.

Of course any ideas are welcome. When I get Phanteks in in a couple of days, I will post up pictures.

Also, I have some MX-4 on its way to me to change out the TIM on my graphics cards. I've seen reviews on thermal paste, any thoughts on using MX-4 with the new CPU cooler as opposed to the included?

Thanks and see you soon!

Headsup you can put the 8pin cpu power up behind the motherboard itself and then you wont have the cable ruining the look of the build.

Brilliant, I actually didn't think about that. Much appreciated Tom, I'll do that when the Phanteks comes in.

Nice looking rig!

What case is that? Cant find it LOL

In-Win H-frame

Thanks.. think I read that in here somewhere lol idiocy got me again

Bullmecha said:

Thanks.. think I read that in here somewhere lol idiocy got me again

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Hah, don't worry about it happens. I appreciate you asking me. Some people will love the case while others won't. I just love the design of it, and again I am taking all thoughts and/or criticisms I can get. Anything to make this go better is welcomed!

Also, I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years!

PS: Any thoughts on putting some U-channel around the cutouts and maybe window? Does anyone think it would take away from the look or add? Oh and any any thoughts on changing the feet of the case? Anything you think I could do to make it look better, or what? I have a few ideas swimming around, but the input helps. Thanks!

Update

Alright, I finished installing the Phanteks cooler last night. Was exhausted after doing so, mostly due to cleaning my entire system. I haven't bothered with much cable management around the back yet, I might not until after I create my cables.









The lighting wasn't as good as I would have liked, but it just dimmed outside. I would use the overhead lightning but I can't stand the damned warm color, which is why I am looking into a bright white LED bulb.




As of now I am looking into getting new side panels made, from something more rigid then my current Acrylic. I might go glass or a thicker polycarbonate/acrylic.

The case with get wider with the addition of threaded studs (if anyone knows where I can get some either post here or shoot me a PM, they are a pain in the arse to find at a longer than 200mm length.) and changing the threaded couplings and ends.

I might get a brushed aluminum sheet to fancy up the graphics cards from just plain black, or I might go custom metal for them and the PSU.

I am planning on adding additional light going vertically on the right side of the case, and maybe filling in the holes in the case (those placed there for cable management) and put some LEDs in there and maybe using a bitspower mini-board.

Still looking into changing the feet of the case, or rather putting something more fancy down there at the bottom, though as of now it looks nice.

Again, any ideas are welcome, and as you can see I've used Tom's idea and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside as it looks amazing.

That cooler looks well good in this case!

Now to fix your PSU and GPUs

I'm thinking brushed aluminium plates on them, what do you think?

Could just go with the sticker idea, brushed aluminium stickers that is.

Actual plates would look a lot better than some el cheapo stickers imo
What colour were you thinking? Blue or grey maybe?

I was initially thinking the normal brushed aluminium color, although a blue wouldn't look to bad, I just don't want to go overboard.