Project: Edge

[D-Cyph3r]

I didn't plan of starting this build log until I had something proper to show, but as i've already started doing stuff to the case, why not.

Basically i'm going to be using my A71 that i've been trying to sell for weeks now (I know, rather lucky it didn't go in the end). A quick reminder for anyone who doesn't remember what it looks like:

A quick run down of what'd be happening to give her an adequate make over:

-Laser cutting on the door

-Black internal powdercoating

-Custom top plate for vandal switches

-Custom Rails for base (no more wheels)

-A whole bunch of fancy anodised bolts and washers

-Green acrylic replaced with red+mesh

-Custom top radiator grill

Having had a large amount of debt written off money isn't a problem anymore (although I am still relying on selling alot of my old gear *hint hint wink wink*), so i'm hoping to get this build done and finished in a relatively short time frame.

READY. SET. GO!

Case stripped of everything not needed... which turned out to be pretty much everything. No more rear HDD caddy, no more front panel switches, no more front fan filters, no more front LED's:

As you can see i've started removing the Akasa stuff and lemme tell you, it's HORRENDOUS. Just to get the worst off the front and part of the back took an hour and half with a couple of stanley blades. >.<

Obviously still a lot more cleaning to to go yet:

And the draw I threw everything from the case in:

More very soon.

 

[PV5150]

Nice start mate...I'll subscribe to this one. Any details on what go-fast bits are going to be in this project?

 

[D-Cyph3r]

I'm gonna be moving my Intel machine over from the Mountain Mods:

QX6800

Asus P5E3 Deluxe

2GB 1800Mhz DDR3

9800GX2

CoolerMaster M700

X-Fi

150GB Raptor X and a couple of 320GB Hitachi's



Anyways, minor updates. Stripped case has been in the bat, getting scrubbed up to get the remainder of the glue off (I was gonna include a rubber ducky in this pic, but I cant find it >.<):

It looks scratched to f*** but it's smooth as it was new:

And my package from tastynuts arrived, some lovely looking countersunk anodised bolts and washers for the window (excuse the green acrylic in the lower part, it's gonna be replaced with red stuff soon):

More soon.

 

[Socks]

dude where did you find those anodised nuts??? ive been looking EVERYWHERE

 

[Lynx]

Dang this is gona be epic.

 

[D-Cyph3r]

dude where did you find those anodised nuts??? ive been looking EVERYWHERE

Tastynuts.com

Anyways, convinced my mate to finish off readying the case for powdercoating... my knuckles took enough of a beating from the stanly blades so I left him with the sandpaper.

Got a couple of deliveries today. A couple of sexy black/red dot Lamptron vandal switches and some very nice UV red Bitspower fan filters (for the price they are great, come with silicon vibration absorbers, plastic "easy fan screws" and 4 proper nuts and bolts to secure them to the case).

Also got enough braiding and heatshrink to make sure every fan, pump and power cable is nice and neat. Only done a single Redwing fan and a few fan extension cables so far as everything else is still in the Mountain Mods while the A71 is getting done.

Piccies later.

 

[rrjwilson]

Everybody loves some shiny nuts

 

[D-Cyph3r]

Another minor update. Parcels came today so I got about to readying the switches and fan extender cables.

Braiding isn't perfect as there wasn't any small heatshrink in stock, had to make do with 9mm stuff... still, none of it's gonna be seen anyways (only the actual cable):

Quickly tested the vandal switch on the cube and it works perfectly. Nice bright LED in the center.

The Bitspower fan filters are great aswell, come with a whole bunch of accessories (not pictured):

Case is ready to go off to Marcus this week aswell, once it's back things will be moved into it and we'll all start to get an idea of what the final product will look like.

 

[D-Cyph3r]

Case is with Marcus now and the last couple of orders have been made (red acrylic and CCFL's, couple more RedWing fans, a pair of Scythe HDD stabilizers, nothing major).

Tinytom will be handling the custom rails and rad grill and hopefully i'll have the powdered chassis back fairly soon so I can get about to moving hardware into it and getting an idea of what the final product will look like.

 

[zak4994]

This should be interesting...

 

[D-Cyph3r]

Been playing in sketchup today, being a complete n00b at these kind of things my effort is far from perfect, but it was fun getting a real idea of what this is gonna look like when it's finished.

Again, this is my first ever attempt with sketchup (or any modelling program for that matter) so nothing is in scale and I couldn't figure out how to get a red background behind the side panel text:

With blood red coolant pulsing through it it should look fairly freakin' shweet.

 

[tinytomlogan]

Great tool that isnt matey! Looking good will be good to see the Mk2 version done

 

[midnightray]

Nice build, mate. I'm no good at any 3d programs, always come out looking a pile of crap :dribble:

 

[D-Cyph3r]

Got my red acrylic today, so replaced the green stuff in the window.

Looks a little orange with the flash on:

But a nice deep red without:

 

[Socks]

reminds me alot of the murdermod stuff you can buy, nice clean lines with the red showing through..

 

[D-Cyph3r]

Pictures courtesy of Marcus of watercoolinguk.co.uk, much appreciated mate.

A couple of days then it's time to build.

 

[Socks]

Cant wait to see this completed, By the way, is this by any way inspired by mirrors edge? Just the clean lines...the accents....?

 

[D-Cyph3r]

Haha. Nope, no Murder Mod or Mirrors Edge influence (if it was white and red then it would look very good though).

The whole idea, as cliche' as it sounds, came to me in my sleep. I had this case up for sale for weeks until I had a weird dream about it. The top plate and anti-vandal switches, the countersunk washers and bolts for the side panel, the basic design on the door, the custom rails.... all came to me when I was sound asleep.

This is going to be my last build for a fairly long time (next year all my focus is shifting to my RAF application), so i'm determined to make it as good as it can be, hence all the custom stuff.

 

[D-Cyph3r]

After a few rather infuriating setbacks (including £30 worth of broken fans and a leaky res) it's up and running in a very temporary form.

Someone bought my 9800GX2 last night for the Buy-It-Now price so I got to send it away today, already have a 4850 and waterblock on the way to replace it though.

Anyways like I say this is still a temporary setup. Come friday/saturday/monday it should be very close to complete. Got some more fans coming so I can sort out the arrangement I have at the minute (stock Lian Li fan=crap) and the switch plate for the switches should be here next week aswell.

Anyways, pictures:

 

[PV5150]

Awesome stuff mate and I'm really liking the fan/dust guards on your radiator. Well done :worship: