Keeping it little

[lomez]

Hi all first post here and thought heck lets make it a build log to keep it a bit more interesting.

Well firstly lets get a list of the hardware Ill be using in this build.

CPU - I5 3570k
Mobo - MSI Mpower Z77
Ram - 8gb Corsair Vengeance Black
Cooler - Corsair h80i
GPU - 2 x Gigabyte WF3 7950's
Case - Nzxt Source Elite 210
PSU - ocz zt750w fully modular

Parts still to get - 2 x ssds samsung 840's 256gb, Fans still undecided on which to get.

Anyways this is kind of a new build rolled into a rebuild the only things i used from my rebuild are the case (lovely case for the price point) CPU and Ram everything else was bought new.

lets move on and gets some pics into this thread then

Firstly the olde parts shot

Off to get the mobo prepared

Installation of the Ram this has yellow writing to go with the theme but the colour pickup on my phone isnt great also considering swapping it for mpower yellow ram.

Cpu installed I still hate everytime i lock it into place the grinding and crunching noise they make.

H80i Unboxed and fittings

Motherboard now fitted into case.


H 80i fitted I kinda screwed up this 3 times with stupid things firstly didnt do my cable management on the fan cables doh the even worse the 2nd time I forgot to plug in the mobo 8pin cable :-S

PSU fitted was a tight squeeze under the mobo



GPU 1 fitted

gpu 2 fitted

Wires from the h80i splitters and headers tried to route these up behind the heatsinks to hide them

Powered on she lives


Cable management in this case isnt great im still not happy with my own attempts well i was till i saw the pictures haha

Part 1 of rebuild finished


I still have a few things i need to do on this build I'm going to mod the Side panel with a window, also I plan to mod the front panel for better air flow as its a solid panel at the moment and I want to put in two intakes at the front and a exhaust out the back. I also plan to get rid of the DVD drive and HDD and replace them with a fan controller and 2 x ssd's in raid 0.

The Hard Drive rack is going to be drill out also to help airflow then it will be a case of braiding the 24 yellow and black and cable managing everything a bit more.

I hope you enjoyed this part so far and I look forward to adding the mod pics as and when i'm able to do them.

 

[alienware]

Are you the same Lomez from AVF?

 

[vish93]

this looks nice

 

[lomez]

Are you the same Lomez from AVF?

I am the same person yes.

 

[alienware]

Nice looking build you've got there

 

[kenny'sghost]

Looking good man!

 

[lomez]

Nice looking build you've got there

Thanks are you by any chance Fallout your rig looks pretty familiar to me.

The rest of the build is on hold at the moment till I can source some U Channel and a decent looking mesh to insert into the front thinking of etching some plexi with the next logo on it to insert into the mess with some white/yellow leds in behind. Just picked up some Corsair AF 120's and im debating on whether or not to spray the inserts yellow or go with white.

So update time have been busy sourcing some items.

So list of items I need to source or have sourced

U- Channel for Cutouts - pending delivery Wednesday
2mm holed Mesh in Black - Pending delivery Wednesday
4mm Plexi - Got
Clear high tac double sided tape - Got
2 x case airflow fans - Got 2 x AF120 Quiets
2 x Rad fans - Looking at SP120 quiets
2 x samsung 840 SSD 128gb or 1 x 256 - i'm waiting this one out a bit to see if I can source this or a similiar model second hand or on a deal funds are running tight.
some sort of lighting want a very understated lighting setup in this but heck I can get led strips from everywhere so not over bothered about this part at the moment.

Well anyways I didnt buy the sp120's today with the AF120's because pretty much my h80i bricked when I updated windows and I havent been able to fix it so trying to get a replacement for that then Ill worry about the fans to put on it or might just ask for a refund and go custom cpu only as I cant afford the blocks and can only really fit in a 240 and 120 rad into this without crazy mods.

So here is my plan of action once the parts arrive.


The Red area wiill be getting cut out and then replaced with a 2mm hole mesh as seen here http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_2114.html

The idea behind this is there is 2 120 mm fan mounts behind it but with it being a solid panel the air intake would be terrible I would also like to cut out a nice small piece of plexi to be inlaid in the centre of this which is etched with the NZXT. logo with it being a simple design i thnk i could manage this but dont know if the 4mm i have is suitable think 7-8mm would suit more so I'll have to find a place where i can steal a small cutoff or 2.

The empty black box on the sidepanel is where the window mod will be situated. I'm in two minds again over this i would like a square window but think the u channel will sit better if i round the corners off.

I will drill out the harddrive rack and ghetto rig something for my standard hdd into the 5.25 as a short term solution till I get my ssd's.

As im very much a novice to all this im looking for feedback on a few things or even ideas to confuse me even more.

Things like ideas for window shape the front panel should I paint my fan inserts yellow stuff like that obviously braiding would be nice but again its trying to keep costs down.

I appreciate any feedback.

Update number 1

Right as stated in previous posts I wanted to do a few diy things to my case and have managed to do most of the structural things to it now. I have cut out a side window, removed the drive cages and vented the front panel. I still have a few things left to do though, seems I'm never happy at the moment with the aesthetics of this.

So things to do list.

Water cooling - this may require a roof mod of some sort If I find that stacking 2 x 240 rads in the front isnt working as expected read up a few bits and bobs on stacking and it may be a issue. there is a build on here with stacked 240's but he has a 360 in the roof also which I most definately dont have room for.

Purchase and Installation of raid 0 ssd's still waiting on a good deal for these.

As you may have noticed im back on the stock hoover cooler. This is due to my H80i bricking on windows installation causing the fans to be always at 100% tried trouble shooting it with no luck so its back at the store awaiting replacement. This was a short term fix anyways as I plan to now watercool this rig.

Braiding of the PSU I'm currently looking at outsourcing this as braiding is annoying and id rather pay someone else to do this to save my fingers and sanity.

Finally installation of a fan cooler and lighting of some sort I still havent been able to source exactly what I'm after especially on the lighting front.

so anyways heres some pics of how I got on today hope you enjoy.

front panel dissembled

Back plastic back was very sort plastic so just took some pliers to the braces.

MMM eggs and out she comes needs a bit filing to finish off and that parts done.

Masked up and marked out decided to make the mesh bigger then originally planned

Just the tool for the job im no professional though.

halfway there......

Mesh cut and fitted not the greatest thing Ive ever saw but then again im not the greatest with a jigsaw haha.

Hacking up the side panel now

Panel hole cut needs some filing done to it still.

U channel fitted oh this is fun except for the metal that bounced off my eyeball during the panel cutting sharp went looking for my safety glasses then stupid boy I was.

Plexi mmm I would howerver in future use something a bt thicker then 4mm - 6mm at least id say as the rate 4mm cracks at is unreal

Hardrive mounted in the 5.25 bays was going to ghetto rig it but heck akasa mounts were like a fiver and surprisingly good.

Lower hard drive bays removed the rivets were a nightmare in to the top 5.25 and boo intel stock heatsink haha.

Front panel refitted.

AF120's quiet had to flip them though as with the rings that way they were exhausting shame you cant fit the rings on either side slight flaw in design for me.

and finally side panel on everything back in jobs done FOR NOW!!.


Thanks for thaking the time to have a look at my build.

 

[FredEx]

Looking really good.

 

[alienware]

Thanks are you by any chance Fallout your rig looks pretty familiar to me.

The rest of the build is on hold at the moment till I can source some U Channel and a decent looking mesh to insert into the front thinking of etching some plexi with the next logo on it to insert into the mess with some white/yellow leds in behind. Just picked up some Corsair AF 120's and im debating on whether or not to spray the inserts yellow or go with white.

Yup I'm Fallout3 on AVF

 

[leathart123]

this is looking a really nice build and liking the moding

 

[lomez]

this is looking a really nice build and liking the moding

Looking really good.

Thanks guys, I know they are very basic mods in the grand scheme of things but its my first ever attempt at modding a case whilst im not 100% happy with how things worked out, im satisfied. Maybes now its time to ditch this case and get a midi so I can fit a 360 in instead of 2 x stacked 240's I'd like to see out this project first and use it as a "tester" as im a lot more comoftable hacking up a £28 case then a £120 one :lol:

 

[alpenwasser]

I know they are very basic mods in the grand scheme of things but its my first ever attempt at modding a case whilst im not 100% happy with how things worked out, im satisfied. Maybes now its time to ditch this case and get a midi so I can fit a 360 in instead of 2 x stacked 240's I'd like to see out this project first and use it as a "tester" as im a lot more comoftable hacking up a £28 case then a £120 one :lol:

Practice makes perfect . I am currently sleeving my 530 W BeQuiet! PSU (non-modular, an effin' PITA) simply to get practice for my upcoming big project. And I certainly won't touch my SMH10 or anything else important before having dusted off my Dremel skills on something expendable .

 

[JayCobs]

I like the mesh. Nice touch.

 

[iBeInspire]

Lovely job mate, looks ace
Slightly confused as to why the front fans are exhausting though, shouldn't they be intakes..?

 

[lomez]

Lovely job mate, looks ace
Slightly confused as to why the front fans are exhausting though, shouldn't they be intakes..?

I had to flip them like i said so they would intake when i fitted them i fitted them as exhausts to show the look I wanted rather then for full time use unfortunately it means you cant really see the "ring" ont he fan any more was thinking of modding the front panel so I can fit them inbetween the fron panel and the case. Think im gonna have to sell my GPU's too as I cant find full blocks for them damn you gigabyte and rev2 version 7950's pfft