Permafrost
Compo Whore
looking good dude!!
Fractal - Project CJ
- Thread starter Wraith
- Start date
Wraith
Bettyswollocks
New update time 
So after much deliberation and lengthy discussions it was agreed that the Z97 Deluxe was just too Black and not fitting for the theme of this project, it lacked that little subtle detail that my previous motherboard had which was the Asus H97 Pro-Gamer sadly that board lacked SLI support, but through the darkness there was a glimmer of hope, I know that Asus also do a Z version of the Pro-Gamer and remember that TTL reviewed it recently, so I very cheekily asked Tom if I could swap the Asus Z97 Deluxe for the Asus Z97 Pro-Gamer and do you know what? The man from Del Monte... he said YES!
So here we have it a slight change to proceedings and a minute step back in the build not to mention the 3rd time I've had to install Windows on this build :lol: but I think you'll agree with me that the aesthetics are just perfect for the theme.
Motherboard aside, the brushed Aluminium stand offs have arrived! and I'm pleased as punch with these little beauts, there is something about machined metals that catches my eye, these 6 stand offs will be fixed to the under side of the roof panel and then via the witchcraft of magnets will attach to the top of the case, but before then the LED strips are to be cut soldered and fastened to the under side.
So we are almost at that finish line for this build log and over the next 4 days I shall be throwing many images into the thread so stay tuned it's going to be modding madness.
So after much deliberation and lengthy discussions it was agreed that the Z97 Deluxe was just too Black and not fitting for the theme of this project, it lacked that little subtle detail that my previous motherboard had which was the Asus H97 Pro-Gamer sadly that board lacked SLI support, but through the darkness there was a glimmer of hope, I know that Asus also do a Z version of the Pro-Gamer and remember that TTL reviewed it recently, so I very cheekily asked Tom if I could swap the Asus Z97 Deluxe for the Asus Z97 Pro-Gamer and do you know what? The man from Del Monte... he said YES!
So here we have it a slight change to proceedings and a minute step back in the build not to mention the 3rd time I've had to install Windows on this build :lol: but I think you'll agree with me that the aesthetics are just perfect for the theme.
Motherboard aside, the brushed Aluminium stand offs have arrived! and I'm pleased as punch with these little beauts, there is something about machined metals that catches my eye, these 6 stand offs will be fixed to the under side of the roof panel and then via the witchcraft of magnets will attach to the top of the case, but before then the LED strips are to be cut soldered and fastened to the under side.
So we are almost at that finish line for this build log and over the next 4 days I shall be throwing many images into the thread so stay tuned it's going to be modding madness.
Wraith
Bettyswollocks
Update:
So it's roof and lighting and little detail day, forgive me for the state of the photos, it's never been my strong point even with some top tips from Feronix and JR23 on the use of ISOs, White balance ect ect ect, still I'll never make a photographer :lol:
50/50 CMD LED strip all cut down and cleaned of the original adhesive that comes as standard and glue gun primed and ready for action (burns all round).
A quick light test with just the panel and all is good.
Popped her on to the top of the case for a trial to locate where the stand offs will be screwed for final fitting.
Just a couple of little internal details to go and I'll be done, the SLI bridge is nothing more than a 25 x 75mm piece of 3mm acrylic with 4 holes counter sunk into the rear for the standard Asus ribbon bridge to drop into and fixed in place with a drop of hot glue all finished with a covering of Satin Black adhesive vinyl, simple yet effective.
The last thing I need to do is to address the cables, while they have trained well they need just a couple more days to settle into their curves and I can then lace them as they sit to make them look more uniform.
So it's roof and lighting and little detail day, forgive me for the state of the photos, it's never been my strong point even with some top tips from Feronix and JR23 on the use of ISOs, White balance ect ect ect, still I'll never make a photographer :lol:
50/50 CMD LED strip all cut down and cleaned of the original adhesive that comes as standard and glue gun primed and ready for action (burns all round).
A quick light test with just the panel and all is good.
Popped her on to the top of the case for a trial to locate where the stand offs will be screwed for final fitting.
Just a couple of little internal details to go and I'll be done, the SLI bridge is nothing more than a 25 x 75mm piece of 3mm acrylic with 4 holes counter sunk into the rear for the standard Asus ribbon bridge to drop into and fixed in place with a drop of hot glue all finished with a covering of Satin Black adhesive vinyl, simple yet effective.
The last thing I need to do is to address the cables, while they have trained well they need just a couple more days to settle into their curves and I can then lace them as they sit to make them look more uniform.
Blade Runner
New member
The whole thing is looking wicked but that top with the standoffs is stunning, a real eye catcher, as they say on Strictly - 10!
jimma47
New member
Agreed I love the modded top.
Wraith
Bettyswollocks
Thanks guys it's been real fun modding again I have to say the Define S is a perfect case for the modders among us, the shear space and cable routing space is incredible.
There are two things that put me off using acrylic sheet, one it seems to be the material of choice everyone goes for you only need to look at Josse Palacios' mods they are all acrylic works he does great work I can't fault him one bit but I find acrylic a bit boring, secondly it's very hard to work with accurately without cnc machines and getting the stuff to bend correctly is always a nightmare. The best part of using the fabric over frame technique is that you don't have to be pin point accurate and it's very forgiving, I hope that by doing it this way it inspires others to have a go and you don't have to break the bank to have a classy looking rig.
Cheers fella, I love how these panels have turned out, I had the idea 2 years ago and was seriously going to do it with the Corsair 450D but the Fractal modding competition just kicked it up a gear, I'm definitely going to be looking at how to remake the panels again at a later date with lighter materials.
There are two things that put me off using acrylic sheet, one it seems to be the material of choice everyone goes for you only need to look at Josse Palacios' mods they are all acrylic works he does great work I can't fault him one bit but I find acrylic a bit boring, secondly it's very hard to work with accurately without cnc machines and getting the stuff to bend correctly is always a nightmare. The best part of using the fabric over frame technique is that you don't have to be pin point accurate and it's very forgiving, I hope that by doing it this way it inspires others to have a go and you don't have to break the bank to have a classy looking rig.
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Permafrost
Compo Whore
this is the winner right here, also I really like the photography.
Wraith
Bettyswollocks
So it's come to this! more memory and hats off to MrKambo for selling me his old Dominator Platinum set, I now have a full set of banks and lucky me they are identical CL9 2133Mhz Domis. I think you'll agree that they looks much better as a family of 4 rather than a lonely pair.
Sadly the unique way the pump block is on the Kelvin the hose connections are freaking huge! and foul the first RAM slot by 4mm so I'm limited in which way round I can have the block as it also fouls the heat sink to the rear and stands proud of the M.2 slot below, so it has to be this way around.
and hats off to MrKambo for selling me his old Dominator Platinum set, I now have a full set of banks and lucky me they are identical CL9 2133Mhz Domis. I think you'll agree that they looks much better as a family of 4 rather than a lonely pair.
Sadly the unique way the pump block is on the Kelvin the hose connections are freaking huge! and foul the first RAM slot by 4mm so I'm limited in which way round I can have the block as it also fouls the heat sink to the rear and stands proud of the M.2 slot below, so it has to be this way around.
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Dawelio
Active member
Sadly the unique way the pump block is on the Kelvin the hose connections are freaking huge! and foul the first RAM slot by 4mm so I'm limited in which way round I can have the block as it also fouls the heat sink to the rear and stands proud of the M.2 slot below, so it has to be this way around.
Just like the S36 did to my Corsair Vengeance kit in the Arc Mini R2 case earlier.
Wraith
Bettyswollocks
I need to take them out tomorrow for a small upgrade so I'll do the measuring then and share them here
Excalabur50
Well-known member
Must be going blind how did I miss this one?
Doomslayer
New member
You must be ^_^
I know you can't do anything about but that CPU block is doing my head in lol
Wraith
Bettyswollocks
Ha ha it's been up since November :lol: but there were 4 other RIGs being done for Fractal at the time and of cause JR23, Snef, B-Negative and many others were blinding us with epicness too so it's easy to see how you missed it.
It does irritate me a little but not enough to swap it out.... yet! Just a shame that Fractal went with such large angled hose fittings.
Doomslayer
New member
IMO Fractal should have put them on the front of the block not on the side, Then a lot of people would be running into issues like you did.
I guess you could always change the block
