Full Retard

[PunkisDead]

My old rig is nearly 5 years old. It was my first custom built rig and I love it. The specs are just getting ridiculously low (first gen i7 950, Radeon 4870x2). It does have a custom water loop but that just makes it impossible to do easy upgrades. I also have issues with the two striped OCS Vertex Max Iops SSD's, causing the rig to crash regularly. The resevoir sits on top of the PSU which is a bit of a worry and both the SSD's and the 2TB HDD were getting full. I thought this justifies investing in a new rig (any excuse).

It took some research to get all the gear together. I always liked the Corsair Graphite case, even if it is getting a bit old now. I like the rounded sides, as opposed to most more modern cases' angular shapes. Looked around forums and found a case built by some Devious Dog. He removed all optical and HDD bays to create a really open look. Loved the idea, but I wanted to put in a storage HDD and fully integrated Corsair Link System. Originally I planned just to copy his case front mod but ended up using his case top mod as well.

Watched a few (a lot) of Tom's reviews and decided to go for the Maximus VI Formula mobo, mostly because of the many features (wifi, Sonic Radar, RAM disc). Then the graphics card war started and a few weeks later Nvidea came out the winner (in my opinion), thus the choice for a 780ti.

Full spec list:

- Corsair Graphite 600T black case
- Asus Maximus VI Formula
- Intel 4770K CPU
- Corsair Dominator Platinum ram, 32GB 1600GHz
- EVGA Geforce GTX 780ti
- Corsair AX1200i. Overkill, I know but nice quiet fan at any time
- Corsair Hydro H100i CPU cooler
- Corsair Neutron GTX 240GB (nearly as fast as the Samsung but wanted to stick to Corsair components
- WD Black 4TB
- Corsair Link Kit
- MNPC custom side window

Fans:

- Corsair Air Series
- NZXT FZ 200mm red LED
- Originally planned to add some Coolermaster SickleFlows

Peripherals:

- AudioEngine 5+
- AudioEngine S8
- Sennheiser PC 333D G4me
- Qnix QX2710 Evolution II 27"Monitor
- Razer DeathAdder
- Razer Black Widow
- Numark DM 1100X mixing panel
- Hawaiian hula chick

The first arrival of parts. Exiting times!

The case fresh out of the box. Tempting to just go ahead and fix the components... The no hassles way

So let's start! My (t)rusty tools! Most mod geeks use Dremels but IMHO Dremels are for amateurs that don't know how to use real tools. Also, at the moment I can't afford one...

Case has been out of the box and packaging for less than an hour and I have removed all removable parts...

...and now also some unremovable parts. Took out HDD bays as well as optical drive bays and all fans. The fans never to be seen again...

...as I will replace them with something better! The stock 200mm fans look a bit acrylic and cheap. These look classier. Not sure about airflow or noise as I picked them purely on looks.

The top front fan will sit where the optical bay once was. A little ridge and two extending holes are in the way to mount the fan flat against the front so some material has to be removed. I recolored the area with a Posca texta. It still looks a bit rough but this section will not be visible after completion.

Fan just didn't fit as there was some pesky pop rivet still in the way. Removing the rivet would cause the case to fall apart, so this was the only solution

The two middle bushes had to be cut off as well.

Drilled the holes for the second fan. The holes sit very close to the opening. I was lucky they came up alright. Again Posca texta to make everything look swanky again.

Both front fans mounted. I am very satisfied with the result!

View from the inside.

The top cover didn't fit on. The cables for the case fan controller stick out too much. So more material taken out of the fan surround. Hardly any material left now, but it just works.

These are the cables that were in the way. They now run 1/2mm away from the fan blades... Tight fit.

Back where I started Case back together! Aside from the front fans mod I also moved the HDD bay back a little and the rear fan shows the first bit of red to be brought into the color scheme. Running out of parts now to continue any further.

 

[PunkisDead]

New parts arrived! Courtesy of my lovely wife who drove to the shop 15 minutes before closing time (I only just put in the order) and courtesy of PC Case Gear who handed her the stuff half an hour past closing time. On a Friday afternoon.

The only parts still missing are the Corsair H100i CPU cooler and some fan extension cables. They are sold out across the entire island (Australia -_-) So I started putting everything together rapidly, taking pictures along the way and then I realized...

...that the push pull setup I had in mind is not going to work. There is not enough space above the motherboard to fit a radiator. Now I could mount the radiator below the grid and the fans in the top compartment but that would look crap. I want to mount the radiator in the top compartment instead and the fans underneath. As I cannot take the watercooling set apart I will have to...

...take the whole thing apart again and make a hole in the top big enough for the pump/CPU block and the hoses to fit through. I will get some U-channel to guard the sides and most of the hole will be covered by the rad and fans.

With that out of the way, let's start building properly! I thought this deserved a picture. Best looking mobo I've ever seen!

It will be matched by some pretty RAM. Should be enough of it

RAM and CPU in mobo. Pitty I can't fit the cooler yet.

Mobo mounted in the case.

Fitted the PSU. Matches the colour scheme well.

Setting up the HDD tray which also houses the Corsair Link unit. Kind of working out where all the cables go.

This is the swearing part. There is absolutely no space left between the PSU and the drive tray. Tightening the back HDD tray thumbscrew was soooo much fun... Anyway, all done now.

Sexy!

Deserves another pic.

This side is shaping up well. It has the nice clean look I was after and so far nearly everything fits in place.

This side still needs some work...

Tidy enough now to fit the rear panel back on. Will have to wait until the next supply ship arrives at the island on Friday and hope it will bring with it the Corsair H100i. U-channel is also sold out and so are the fan extension cables. The custom side window will not arrive until late Jan but at least that is not an essential part.

 

[Feronix]

As said in the OP that's massive overkill on the PSU.

Looks nice and tidy though, I approve

 

[PunkisDead]

I integrated a Corsair Link System in my built, which manages fans, lights, power and cooling. The system is connected through one of the internal USB 2 headers. Unfortunately the motherboard only has two headers and my case needs two to connect four USB 2 ports. At the same time the USB 3 port in the case is supposed to be connected through one of the rear USB 3 ports which is plain ugly. I bough a adaptor cable to connect this properly to the mobo and this left me one unused USB 3 port, which I used to connect the remaining USB 2 header.... Don't think it will really work...

Windows 7 Ultimate already installed. And a new addition! This will replace the below average Intel stock CPU cooler. Also got my fan extension cables for some tidying.

Some u-channel around the sharp edges of the hole I made earlier...

...And just lower the CPU block/ pump/ hoses. Mounted the CPU block and radiator and tried to close the top cover. Didn't fit. Not a tiny bit... *$!^$%(%$^( Back to the drawing board

In order to sit the radiator a bit lower I removed a bit from the plastic top of the case. This required complete dis-assembly of the case again. At least I didn't have to remove any components.

It still didn't fit, so I had to remove a plastic edge from the top cover...

...still didn't fit so had to remove part of the plastic grid...

...and still didn't fit so removed all of the plastic grid... Was losing all hope by now, but at last it fitted on perfectly! Happy chappy!

And the end result with the cooler fitted. The thing with modding is, once you start you have to finish it some way. Makes me a grumpy person at times.

And one picture taken with flash so you can actually see something. Hope to post one more update at the end of Jan showing the acrylic side panel...

 

[tinytomlogan]

I really like this dude - will be on facebook shortly

 

[PunkisDead]

Stoked!

 

[FlangeBBK]

Very nice build dude, pity the colour on the illuminated GeForce logo cant be changed to red, that would be awesome!

 

[Dicehunter]

1 thing that would really finish of your build IMO, Light bar kit for the doms

 

[Chadwokie]

very nice rather like the red rings on the fans for some reason they keep catching my eye

 

[Meladath]

Incredibly nice, as you said the PSU is silly overkill

Great attention to detail, like it a lot.

 

[The Terrible Puddle]

Nice build. Love the fan intake instead of drive bays.
Sanding the green paint of the Geforce GTX logo would be good addition.

 

[Conchubair]

Looks sweet mate!

 

[fu4ien]

Dremels are for amateurs that don't know how to use real tools. Also, at the moment I can't afford one...

I see sarcasm here.
Awesome mod, my 600t now looks pity

 

[Feronix]

Nice build. Love the fan intake instead of drive bays.
Sanding the green paint of the Geforce GTX logo would be good addition.

Erhm, it's actually an LED.

Very nice build dude, pity the colour on the illuminated GeForce logo cant be changed to red, that would be awesome!

I agree. That's the only thing that I don't really like. It's beginning to look a lot like christmas...

Is there no way to solder a different colour LED and replace the green with clear acrylic. Would probably be a lot of work, but so worth it.

 

[Smithy 92]

That there is a really clean build. I love it

 

[The Terrible Puddle]

Feronix, actually it's a clear LED and clear acrylic with some green paint.

There's a good thread over at Overclock.net with people having modded their cards. http://www.overclock.net/t/1431233/geforce-gtx-logo-colour-change-on-titan

 

[PunkisDead]

Thanks for pointing out that thread! I have been looking for color changing mods but couldn't find any. Red would be much better.

 

[Gamepro105]

I LOVE THIS! i neeeeed to copy your idea for the way you mounted the rad!!

 

[SeraNoxa]

the rad mount is so nice !. if i had the 600t i would do this instantly also !

 

[yassarikhan786]

Really nice build and cable management, well done