Project - Colossus

[lasher]

Hello All,

Welcome to my Project Log.

Project Colossus take inspiration from a classic 1970's movie called Colossus: The Forbin Project.​

For those who are interested heres a little about the film - ( Geek alert! )

Plot

Dr. Charles A. Forbin is the chief designer of a secret government project. He and his team have built an advanced supercomputer, called "Colossus", to control all of the United States and Allied nuclear weapons systems.

Colossus is built to be impervious to any attack, encased within a mountain and powered by its own nuclear reactor. When it is activated, the President of the United States announces its existence, proudly proclaiming it a perfect defense system that will ensure peace.

Almost immediately after the broadcast ends, Colossus displays a cryptic warning: "THERE IS ANOTHER SYSTEM"

It is revealed that Colossus is referring to a Soviet project very similar to Colossus; a supercomputer called "Guardian" that controls Soviet nuclear weapons. Both computers promptly demand a link to allow them to communicate with one another.

Such a link is set up, whereupon the computers exchange messages of simple mathematics. Scientists and officials of both sides monitor the activity on video screens. The communications become increasingly complex, eventually extending into a math theretofore unknown to mankind. Then the two machines begin communicating in a binary language that the scientists can't interpret.

This alarms the President and the leader of the Soviet Union, who agree to disconnect the link. Colossus and Guardian at first ask why the link has been disconnected, and then when told it was due to the insistence of both country's leaders, the machines then insist that the link be restored. After repeatedly requesting that the link be restored and being told that it will not, Colossus finally and ominously states "RESTORE LINK IMMEDIATELY OR ACTION WILL BE TAKEN". When asked repeatedly by Forbin, "What kind of action?" Colossus simply does not respond. Then, after repeated and unanswered requests as to the nature of the action Colossus finally replies with, "MISSILE LAUNCHED - TARGET USSR". When the Soviets are told of this they tell the Americans that Guardian has retaliated with an ICBM launch targeting Anderson Air Force Base in Texas. The US President, realizing the seriousness of the situation, finally orders that the link between the two machines be restored immediately. When told by Forbin that the links were being restored and asked if Colossus will intercept the incoming ICBM with an anti-missile missile again Colossus ignores the question, instead simply waiting for the link to be restored. After the U.S. and U.S.S.R. finally restore the link. Colossus successfully intercepts the Soviet missile before it strikes. However, the link is restored too late for the American missile to be stopped, and a Soviet oil complex and neighboring town are destroyed.

All that the scientists and officials can then do is watch helplessly as the two computers exchange information without limitation. Guardian/Colossus, which has hitherto communicated by text, orders that a voice be synthesized and soon announces that it has become one entity. The machine concludes that humans are frail and illogical. It was designed to look after mankind. Therefore it decides that humans must be guided and controlled for their own good.

Working by direct personal contact, the scientists and governments attempt to fight back, first by attempting to overload the computers. This attempt fails and the machines identify the individuals responsible, ordering their immediate execution by firing squad and that the bodies be left in its view for 24 hours. Forbin's Soviet counterpart ("Dr. Kuprin") is killed by KGB agents under orders issued by Guardian at a clandestine meeting the two governments arranged in Rome (shown on the theatrical release poster). Forbin himself is not killed because the machines intend to use him for their further development in a new machine base requiring all of the island of Crete.

Realizing that the computers were themselves impervious to attack (as originally intended), the governments undertake a plan to covertly disarm the nuclear missiles, one by one — a process which, using the normal maintenance and servicing schedules, will take three years. Unfortunately for them, Colossus detects this plot and, in the final scene, responds by detonating two missiles in their silos with the announced justification "so that you will understand that I will not tolerate interference".

Also in the final scene, the machine, which heretofore has only communicated with the American and Soviet governments who have hidden their actions from the public, announces itself as "the voice of World Control" in a broadcast to the general population of all countries. It declares that Man has a choice between the peace of a human millennium under its authority or one of "unburied dead". In a final remark, addressed to Dr. Forbin, the machines predict: "In time, you will come to regard me not only with respect and awe, but with love." Forbin replies: "Never."

Taken from Wikipedia.

So, moving on heres the task in hand.

The Case

Lian Li PC-X2000.

Now as you can see its huge. Very tall,same width as a standard case. Split into three zones with the PSU up top and HDD storage below.

Heres a few images showing it equiped with some hardware. You will notice it has side mounted drive bays to keep the front and top as clean as possible.

So what's the project going to involve?

Well, for starters it going to be water cooled, the challenges are radiator installation. although its tall it does not have sufficient space to mount a rad the size i require horizontally. This mean its going vertical and in place of the three 140mm pre installed fans. This will involve cutting the bottom zone tray. Pump / reservoir will be installed up top with the PSU. Room up top is restricted due to the drive bays, so I will be removing the drive bays!, that's right there going. Never really liked the side mounted bays as I feel it destroys the clean looking lines of the case. Who wants to see a horrid DVD drive or fan controllers in full view. Well not me that's for sure. Therefore a little lateral thinking, AutoCad 2000 and my trusty dremel will have to come out to play.​

Other mods: Cable management on this case believe it or not is an absolute nightmare. I really do not know what Lian Li were thinking when they made this beautifully crafted case. Ovbiously not cable management! There is no room behind the tray and side panel save a few millimeters. Now on my previous case ( V2000 ) you could with a little cutting create room for cable to pass the tray holing the motherboard. Not in this model, the runner holding the removable tray cant be cut. This will mean extensions with the main cabling hidden up top.

Windowed side panel. Obviously if these mods are taking place ill want to see them, the stock version does not have a side panel therefore I bought one. I'll show you later in the log. First off though it needs some modding relating to the drive bays mentioned earlier.

Lighting. I'll be installing some discrete lighting. Now one thing i absolutely despise is blue and red LED's. Im not knocking those who do like it, you just wont see any on this build other than the post lights on my motherboard.

Motherboard. This needs some attention. Biostar must have been on acid when they decided on the colour scheme for the motherboard! Lime green and orange. Hmmm this will be a challenge. Not to worry though as im hopefully once the market settles going to upgrade.

well ill leave it there for today and keep you posted with the mods as i wade my way through them. Im hardly an expert on modding cases so i expect to hit a few brick walls on the way. These im sure with a bit of pondering over a cuppa ill overcome.​

Thanks for looking, comments welcome.

 

[Bocephus]

Only thing I can say is about the case. I cant stand the tall wide support being the first thing you see when looking thru your window, basically reducing your big window by one third and blocking the view of internals

 

[lasher]

the support bracket was the first thing to go in the scrap pile! Basically there to support the gpu incase they sag and provide a little stability to the case. The gpu will be supported by other means, will post up tomorrow

 

[Bocephus]

the support bracket was the first thing to go in the scrap pile! Basically there to support the gpu incase they sag and provide a little stability to the case. The gpu will be supported by other means, will post up tomorrow

Lol, I dont blame you one bit

 

[lasher]

Next up - Cooling.

Funds are a little low at the moment so I'll be bringing out of retirement my older equipment with a couple of new additions.

Radiator - Thermochill PA120.3. This Rad is the original model with older fan spacing and cools great. I've had this for some time now but cant part with it as it does the job admirably. Only mods to this were done some time ago on a previous build. Basically a lick of white spray paint. This needs re doing really but for now it will go into the build in its current state.

Pump - Has to be the Laing DDC Ultra 18w.

Reservoir - XSPC pump mounted.

Barbs - Traditional 1/2" style. Would love to upgrade to Bitspower fittings but cant justify the cost.

Tubing - XSPC White 1/2" ID 3/4" OD

CPU Water Block - Heatkiller 3.0 LC

Fans - Bitfenix White LED Spectre 120's on the Radiator and 140 Bitfenix white LED Spectre on rear. Cooling the HDD's on lower compartment will be two Geild Silent 8's on low tick over to keep the noise down.

Next step is preping the board.

After removing the Noctua NH-D14 i took the board out and removed the Biostar badges off the heatsinks as the were bright blue!

also removed a couple of stickers on the rear headers.

All clean and Heatkiller installed.

When cleaning the chip and installing the block i use this product and applied Artic Silver Ceramique.

Whilst i had the board out i installed a new power switch and hooked the white ring up to the HDD LED header on the motherboard.

The hole from the previous switch was just slightly too big so I used a rubber gromit to seat the switch on.

Installing the radiator.

Due to the radiator being a 120 model i removed the 140mm Lian Li fans and the drilled out the rivets holding the bottom tray. Then with a jigsaw and dremel cut away just enough of the tray to allow the rad and fans to fit.

Shot below ( little blurry ) shows the radiator installation.

thats all for now more to follow later......

 

[Runebeard]

Looking good so far Lasher

Agree with you and Caveman that the gpu support HAD to go, would completely ruin a window. Nice job getting the rad to fit man. Can't wait to see more

 

[adicool96]

Awesome lasher just curious what hardwares gonna go in.

 

[lasher]

All hardware is listed in my sig at the bottom.

Redundant parts bin!

Cut out the drive bay mounts that were riveted in. The drive bays also form part of the latch mechanism for the sides so had to fashion some new latches from the scrap. No pictures but will try to remember to take some later.

installed the mobo and rad, just working out the best loop positions for the tubing, installed extensions for the 8 and 24 pin. Used the Bitfenix and NZXT extensions rather than wasting hours of my life trying to braid the cables myself. Managed to scratch the radiator installing it but its not going to be visible when fully installed. will probs still touch it up as i know its there!

Picked up some slot protectors to try and mask some of the somewhat colourful board!

will be playing about with fans pushing / pulling through the case to see what best temperatures will be.

Back shot of the case. need to mount the lighting controller better ( NZXT led strip - will come to what thats going to be lighting up later )

 

[adicool96]

Srry dude i usually access oc3d from my android phone so i cant see sigs.

 

[SnW]

Srry dude i usually access oc3d from my android phone so i cant see sigs.

Here you go bro,

Biostar Tpower I55, I5 750 @ 4.2Ghz, 4GB Kingston DDR3, Custom water loop - Thermochill PA120.3, Heatkiller 3.0 LC, Laing DDC Ultra, XSPC res top, XSPC white hose, Asus 5870, Antec Quattro 1000, Lian Li PC-X2000, Win7 ultimate.

 

[adicool96]

Thanks dude.

 

[Aurus_OC]

Looking good dude! Keep it up!

 

[lasher]

Ok next step is the drive bays.

After removing ( cutting, swearing and cursing! ) the top brackets and making new latches for the rails that hold the side panels on i designed some fan grills to mask where the bays were. These were modelled on Autocad then laser cut.

New latch ( the camera flash makes everything look dusty but believe me its clean - honest! )

Fan grills

Sprayed white and mounted on panel. Bitfenx 120 Spectre installed. Both sides were done to keep the symmetry of the case.

This mod will allow installation of further single 120 radiators if required later and keep the top compartment nice and cool, PSU now gets clean cool air as does the pump and hidden Zalman fan controller.

Installed some braided cables ( Bitfenix and NZXT varieties )

Next step is installing the loop and adding some lighting to the front of the case. This requires some cutting and a very steady hand! will show results in a bit once i get the shots uploaded.

 

[lasher]

Ok

The front of the case is removable, this gives access to a dust filter for the fans and three speed fan controller. ( excuse the carpet, this is my workshop / sanctuary where i can escape the family and do my modding

)

As you can see the strip is basically etched in the brushed aluminium finish. I want to add lighting to this strip. Using a dremel and some cutting discs i cut the line. NOTE - Use a good cutter, i used a dremel and some good quality discs, these are prone to shattering so some eye protection is necessary. I think five discs shattered cutting this line and the bits can go everywhere.

When cutting with a rotary cutter always mask off the areas you don't want scratching as they have a tendency to jump.

Cutting complete, have a good tidy up, you do not want metal dust in your rig! Really hard to show this cut as im using a 5mp camera - hardly the best.

Nice clean cut and more importantly straight!

Test fitting some lighting, used the NZXT pre sleeved lighting strip, might try with cathodes later and play about with the effects. Really hard to photograph but the effects pretty cool and with the NZXT theres three levels of brightness that can be selected.

Installed the water cooling.

Still very much work in progress as have lots of other bits to finish but its up and running. idle temps 22 degrees full load never goes above 40 degrees when folding. Will keep updated as i tinker with bits and bobs.

 

[JezEngland]

wOw great work

 

[Runebeard]

You've got a steady hand to cut a straight line that long Lasher! Top notch dude! Loving you've maintained the cleanness and symmetry of the case

 

[TMaksimov]

Great job, Lasher! Looks fab!

 

[DrBoomstick]

That really does look great dude, keep up the good work.

 

[adicool96]

That line looks like it came with the case. Amazing dude you should make a video on how to cut straight. I once tried out my dads dremel in went all wavy. I think lian li should at that line to their case.

 

[Sihastru]

So far is looking good, I like that case a lot. Thinking outside the box.