[hexgear] | idoru |

[B NEGATIVE]

“The future is already here – it's just not evenly distributed.

The Economist, December 4, 2003”
― William Gibson

Welcome everybody to my latest log and one that I have had to keep quiet for a few weeks now so im glad I can finally get this rolling.

Its a very very great pleasure to introduce a new case maker to the world,run by 2 of my good friends and all round nice guys,Nate and Hans from their new case company,HEX GEAR.

Im working on their new case,the R40 mATX.

http://www.hex-gear.com/

The case is a steel and aluminum constructed unit with a emphasis on quality and sleek lines,they have aimed this at the watercooling community with solid rad support (240 + 360) and has nice options available for those wanting something a bit different from the plastic fantastics.



Obviously,as Im doing one,its going to be heavily but subtly modded,again sticking to the ethos that I dont want to lose the 'Character' of the case but enhance it.

The theme? As a longtime William Gibson fan,I took cues from his near future 'world' and adapted the 'look' for myself. Copper...polished,mirror black and forced copper patination. Patina'd copper tube work. Normal I blow out and tell you what Im going to do with it but not this time,you will have to wait and see but I promise you this..its going to be pretty awesome!

As im discussion with a few interested parties,hardware specs are....fluid...right now but its not all about the hardware,this is about me stretching myself into new techniques and doing something special for a pair of good friends.



“When you want to know how things really work, study them when they're coming apart.”
― William Gibson, Zero History

I think some pictures are in order.....

The cable routing for the hidden PSU cabling

Thats all you get for now,I still have my awesome DFM LAN box to finish before I give this my full attention.
This is going to be a slow burner but the ride will be worth it.


“Secrets...are the very root of cool.”
― William Gibson, Spook Country ​

 

[Cru]

you people really seem to like that case

 

[Tripp]

Looking forward to update matey

 

[tinytomlogan]

Come on then! Get a move on son!

 

[Bartacus]

Multiple forum stalker mode engaged. Target: B Negative!

 

[Davva2004]

B NEG, I think I speak on behalf of the whole forum when I say - nay, scream at you to get the damn thing built and take thousands of pictures for us to abuse our tainted bodies to with lustful abandonment.

Amirite guize?

 

[NeverBackDown]

B NEG, I think I speak on behalf of the whole forum when I say - nay, scream at you to get the damn thing built and take thousands of pictures for us to abuse our tainted bodies to with lustful abandonment.

Amirite guize?

Its so fucking true... finish and hurry up!

 

[B NEGATIVE]

you people really seem to like that case

More than my last one,i can tell you that!

Looking forward to update matey

Soon,it will be mainly hardware choices for the near future,dont expect any modding to break out till the new year.

Come on then! Get a move on son!

This man is keen.

Multiple forum stalker mode engaged. Target: B Negative!

Im on to you son......

B NEG, I think I speak on behalf of the whole forum when I say - nay, scream at you to get the damn thing built and take thousands of pictures for us to abuse our tainted bodies to with lustful abandonment.

Amirite guize?

I love your enthusiasm! This one will be a labour of love(ly details and PC porn),there is no rush.

 

[Tripp]

Are you gonna do your paint in the essential parts in the header you put I the OP?, the pearl essent rust/ turquoise finish because if so I will cream myself

 

[JayCobs]

Can't rush good, quality PC Porn. I will wait...patiently...temporarily...LOL

 

[B NEGATIVE]

Are you gonna do your paint in the essential parts in the header you put I the OP?, the pearl essent rust/ turquoise finish because if so I will cream myself

Im actually chemically patina treating the copper,the paint will be either a piano black or...well...I still have half a tin of silver marble to use up.

Can't rush good, quality PC Porn. I will wait...patiently...temporarily...LOL

Have a beer and relax.

 

[Tripp]

Im actually chemically patina treating the copper,the paint will be either a piano black or...well...I still have half a tin of silver marble to use up.

Ooooooooooooooooooooo I look forward to seeing what you pull of fella

 

[Bartacus]

Just the words "silver marble" are enough to make my pants move. :drool:

 

[B NEGATIVE]

After the wait for LUMO to be finished,I am now devoting time to this build.
And what a great way to start by introducing Crucial memory to the build with their excellent storage and memory solutions.

After speaking the the helpful guys at Crucial UK,they sent me 3 of the yet unreleased M200 series SSD's and the Ballistix Elite memory kit I like so much
You can see the drive specs here: http://uk.crucial.com/gbr/en/storage-info

Ram.
For now its the lovely Ballistix DDR3 kit that I love so much,however..this may become DDR4 after all......

Currently working on the copper cover boxes for them and the panels that are being re-cut are being lasered right now,new copper SSD mounts and pump mounts also!

Also does anyone know of a copper plater that will do alu extrusions?​

 

[Highlander89]

Lovely hardware you got there mate! Seems like an interesting build, I love the patina'd copper thing you got going on there. Do I hear a hint of steampunk? I just luuuuv steampunk.
Good luck with your build!

 

[B NEGATIVE]

Lovely hardware you got there mate! Seems like an interesting build, I love the patina'd copper thing you got going on there. Do I hear a hint of steampunk? I just luuuuv steampunk.
Good luck with your build!

Thanks!

Brown boxes...the best kind!

Even better is whats inside...thanks ASUS UK!

 

[B NEGATIVE]

"That's something that tends to happen with new technologies generally: The most interesting applications turn up on a battlefield, or in a gallery.”
― William Gibson, Spook Country

Now things are moving along with the hardware,ASUS UK sent me 2 980 STRIX cards to go with the z97 GENE that is on its way.

The coolers on these cards are something else,all metal with reinforcers around the card,shame its being blocked up but...well.....you know......blocks are <3....

Im not sold in the back plate...a nice solid copper replacement is required...

That reinforcer loops around to the IO plate so the card is rock solid,I will have to try and incorporate that into the WC kit...I like the idea of more stiffness to the PCB.

A pair of very solid feeling cards,thanks ASUS UK for stepping forward,they are an amazing addition to the build.

Also,the 36% HCL and peroxide are here for the acid etching of the copper panels,when the panels arrive then I will be diving into that with excitement!
Im not really keen for chem burns tho...a few practice runs on scrap need to be done too.

“Somewhere, deep within her, surfaces a tiny clockwork submarine. There are times when you can only take the next step. And then another.”
― William Gibson, Pattern Recognition ​

 

[remember300]

Cant wait to this mate, loved the last one this one is gonna be stunning!
And that font looks like its from firefly ... love it!

 

[Agamemnon]

Glad to see crucial now put the stickers on their ssds the right way up, on my m500s the pretty label is on the side with the screw holes so when mounted you can only see the tech specs. BTW this build looks like it is going to be epic

 

[B NEGATIVE]

“Stand high long enough and your lightning will come.”
― William Gibson

The board has arrived,a nice purty Z97 GENE,to go with the stonking GPU's.

It comes with all the usual bits and bobs and a quite lovely black chromed I/O panel.

Not often im even remotely interested in stock coolers but these STRIX ones are nice to look at for a change.

The matt finished board with teh awesome rams.

I like the roughcast look to the stock heatsinks but they do pick up fingerprint grease easily.
You can see the two colour finish ASUS make a point of mentioning...not really my thing....unless they expanded it to a whole board look rather than the VRM only.

Got room for a 40mm rad top and bottom,I will be using XSPC AX rads for this...I have always wanted to use them as they look so good and are ideal for painting.

Next on the list is waiting for Bitspower to finish their New Year and getting the loop planned out,drilling holes THEN painting for a change!

“Things aren't different. Things are things.”
― William Gibson, Neuromancer ​