denali6194
New member
I'm starting a new build and several people asked me to post pics throughout the process, so here she goes. Feel free to comment, make suggestions etc.
Here is what I'm running atm^^
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
I've recently gotten rid of my case, most of my RAM etc so I'm running on a bare-bones bench setup. It will be nice to test the new components without having to install them take them out etc. I should apologize, in advance, for the lengthy post. Anyway...Here it goes.
The build status is in the EARLY stages--I have one new crucial component and here it is:
The package arrives!
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
Inside is...
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
...MY NEW BABY!!!! She is packed so well...Surrounded by multiple foam panels on all sides and wrapped in a heavy duty plastic bag. Underneath the protective bag, the entire case is coated with a blue saran wrap like tape stuck to the case. Inside the case is packing material, bubble wrap, cardboard on the window etc.
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
The tape peels off easily and cleanly revealing this gorgeous case.
By denali6194 at 2011-10-01
Please. A moment of silence for the M8.
Every little detail is thought out. Even the accessories are are packed with care!
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
Every detail. The powder coat is drop dead gorgeous. Here it is, up close and personal.
By denali6194 at 2011-10-01
This is going to be fun. But before I get down to the details I have to say a few words about CASELABS.
First off, I have to thank TTL for doing his review of the Caselabs M8 a while back. If it weren't for that video, I may not have made such a great purchase--thank you!
I cannot say enough about Caselabs and my entire experience buying this case. Jim over at Caselabs was great, tremendously helpful, answered all of my questions and went above-and-beyond typical customer service. Thank you.
This was money well spent--not cheap, but the quality is more than worth it and this case will be with me for a long time. I highly recommend their stuff. If you want to get a case to put a ton of rads in, room for future upgrades, and something that just looks badass,then check them out--you will NOT be disappointed. Their website is finally up and there's a link below.
CASELABS
Sorry for the lengthy praise but if you happen into a CASELABS product you will understand^^
A few words about the case and where I'm going and what my preliminary plans are. I ordered the extended roof and think they claim it's 84mm but after measuring it seems more like 88mm which is perfect for 2 rads on top; you can easily have fans in push/pull on 60mm rads (push fans mounted inside the case).
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
I also ordered the radiator side mount. Three rads in total should be good. Overkill? Maybe. But hey, if I have the room, why not use it?
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
I upgraded to the XL window as well, in gray. I'm not unwrapping the side panels until I have to-sorry. Perhaps an unveiling at the end of this project.
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
The overall plan is to strike a balance between aesthetics and cooling power. I'm not going all-out lights and bling and I'm not going performance only with 35mm deltas either etc. The rads will be all business and the intake fans will likely bring it in the looks department, etc.
I am going to need more accessories but until I get into my case and see what kind of room I have I won't know what I am going to need.
My initial plans have already changed a bit. If you can believe it, I don't have the room that I though I would.
Before I bought the case, I intended the PSU side to have 3 fans in the floor and 2 fans on the front in-taking cool air and both rads exhausting. But the side rad forces the PSU on the floor blocking one floor fan. With fans on the roof for the rad, I won't have room for a fan up top on the front. This forces the HDD cage on the floor blocking one more fan. On the mobo side I'm still unsure about clearance with the top and bottom 5.25" bays. We'll see how things shape up once I get fans and rads in. I may post some pics of some of the room and clearance issues that I'm dealing with so people who are thinking about a CASELABS case have a better idea.
A few "certainties": This build is going to be slow going. This will be an all AMD build, so I'll probably be waiting for Bulldozer to hit. By the time they do, I'll probably be just about ready for mobo, chip, etc....I hope. And crossfired 6970s. I'm also waiting for the new Thermochill rads to get into stores since they just came out and I liked what I heard about the PA120.3s, mb a review or two, but I'm liking them and the XSPC stuff. Sooo... I'll post more pics as I get em'
Here is what I'm running atm^^
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
I've recently gotten rid of my case, most of my RAM etc so I'm running on a bare-bones bench setup. It will be nice to test the new components without having to install them take them out etc. I should apologize, in advance, for the lengthy post. Anyway...Here it goes.
The build status is in the EARLY stages--I have one new crucial component and here it is:
The package arrives!
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
Inside is...
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
...MY NEW BABY!!!! She is packed so well...Surrounded by multiple foam panels on all sides and wrapped in a heavy duty plastic bag. Underneath the protective bag, the entire case is coated with a blue saran wrap like tape stuck to the case. Inside the case is packing material, bubble wrap, cardboard on the window etc.
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
The tape peels off easily and cleanly revealing this gorgeous case.
By denali6194 at 2011-10-01
Please. A moment of silence for the M8.
Every little detail is thought out. Even the accessories are are packed with care!
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
Every detail. The powder coat is drop dead gorgeous. Here it is, up close and personal.
By denali6194 at 2011-10-01
This is going to be fun. But before I get down to the details I have to say a few words about CASELABS.
First off, I have to thank TTL for doing his review of the Caselabs M8 a while back. If it weren't for that video, I may not have made such a great purchase--thank you!
I cannot say enough about Caselabs and my entire experience buying this case. Jim over at Caselabs was great, tremendously helpful, answered all of my questions and went above-and-beyond typical customer service. Thank you.
This was money well spent--not cheap, but the quality is more than worth it and this case will be with me for a long time. I highly recommend their stuff. If you want to get a case to put a ton of rads in, room for future upgrades, and something that just looks badass,then check them out--you will NOT be disappointed. Their website is finally up and there's a link below.
CASELABS
Sorry for the lengthy praise but if you happen into a CASELABS product you will understand^^
A few words about the case and where I'm going and what my preliminary plans are. I ordered the extended roof and think they claim it's 84mm but after measuring it seems more like 88mm which is perfect for 2 rads on top; you can easily have fans in push/pull on 60mm rads (push fans mounted inside the case).
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
I also ordered the radiator side mount. Three rads in total should be good. Overkill? Maybe. But hey, if I have the room, why not use it?
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
I upgraded to the XL window as well, in gray. I'm not unwrapping the side panels until I have to-sorry. Perhaps an unveiling at the end of this project.
By denali6194 at 2011-10-05
The overall plan is to strike a balance between aesthetics and cooling power. I'm not going all-out lights and bling and I'm not going performance only with 35mm deltas either etc. The rads will be all business and the intake fans will likely bring it in the looks department, etc.
I am going to need more accessories but until I get into my case and see what kind of room I have I won't know what I am going to need.
My initial plans have already changed a bit. If you can believe it, I don't have the room that I though I would.
Before I bought the case, I intended the PSU side to have 3 fans in the floor and 2 fans on the front in-taking cool air and both rads exhausting. But the side rad forces the PSU on the floor blocking one floor fan. With fans on the roof for the rad, I won't have room for a fan up top on the front. This forces the HDD cage on the floor blocking one more fan. On the mobo side I'm still unsure about clearance with the top and bottom 5.25" bays. We'll see how things shape up once I get fans and rads in. I may post some pics of some of the room and clearance issues that I'm dealing with so people who are thinking about a CASELABS case have a better idea.
A few "certainties": This build is going to be slow going. This will be an all AMD build, so I'll probably be waiting for Bulldozer to hit. By the time they do, I'll probably be just about ready for mobo, chip, etc....I hope. And crossfired 6970s. I'm also waiting for the new Thermochill rads to get into stores since they just came out and I liked what I heard about the PA120.3s, mb a review or two, but I'm liking them and the XSPC stuff. Sooo... I'll post more pics as I get em'
