Project Yoshi - Hex Gear R40

glent

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[Foreword]
So this project came as a surprise to me a few weeks ago. My Girlfriend bought me a Hex Gear T shirt some months back (Awesome right?) and it turns out she also won the recent giveaway raffle for an R40 too! She kept as it as a surprise and told me some random eBay delivery was coming one day. The aim of the build is to demo what the case can achieve with no major modifications. For this build I will be using my preferred choice of angled fittings rather than bending tubes. I've done a fair few builds, both styles and this is what I feel is the right choice this time.

As the build came as a surprise I didn't have as much time as I normally do to prepare. I began searching for a mATX motherboard to complement the R40. Having recently finished two Red, Black and white systems I opted for something different. I stumbled across the Gigabyte M5 and knew that was the board I needed, sadly due to it's age I had no luck sourcing one. Thankfully a good friend of mine had one sat idle, and sent it over to me (Thanks Mike!)

In the future I may revisit this case as I have some other mods planned, such as ATX motherboard support. So the name project Yoshi, I must confess the names of my builds either mean something of significance or not, in this case not really. So why Yoshi? heh, my son recently took a liking to all things Mario, and I just happened to see Yoshi in the corner of my eye.

[FAQ]
What case is it?
It's the HEX Gear R40, a recently released mATX flat packed unique case, now retailing from the UK

Why use angled fittings rather than bending PETG?
A few reasons.. First I had many spares from past projects, second I like the look they give rather than bent tubes, and finally they help to control the amount of liquid visible. Im going for a simple black, white and hint of green scheme.

What Colour is the Liquid
Is a custom made batch. Started with Mayhems Pastel White, added UV green and Laser Green. I wanted something as close as I could to match the green around the PCIe and DIMM slots, but added some uv to produce something with more eye candy.

Why Slim rads?
Just a personal choice for this build, not a limit of the case. The top and bottom plates of the R40 are interchangeable. So you can have either a 240mm and PSU or 360mm in the roof. The top and bottom of the case has chambers for either fans or rads on the outside too, depending on how you set it up. The 240mm slim in the roof allows me to use push/pull or grants me extra viewing room around the components. You can use thicker rads in the R40


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[Current Progress]

Before we jump into the log I want to share the current progress shot - 28/07/15.




  • Case: HEX GEAR R40
  • Motherboard: Gigabyte Sniper M5 (mATX)
  • CPU: TBA
  • GPU: MSI R9 270X
  • RAM: 2x 4GB Kingston HyperX Beast 2400Mhz
  • SSD: TBA
  • HDD: TBC
  • PSU:Bitfenix Fury 750G with custom sleeved cables
  • Radiator 1: DarkSide - Dual LP240 Extra Slim Radiator
  • Radiator 2: DarkSide - Dual LP360 Extra Slim Radiator
  • Fans: NoiseBlocker 120mm
  • Pump: XSPC D5
  • Reservoir: EK-XRES D5
  • Fittings: Bitspower Multi Links + few misc for fill/drain
  • Tubing: PETG tubing clear
  • CPU Block: XSPC RayStorm
  • RAM Block: XSPC
  • GPU Block: Alphacool GPX M05 270 MSI 270X
  • Lighting: TBA
  • Sleeving: Telios Self Sleeved
  • Other: E22 FG01 Fan grilles 1x240, 1x 360. C

Right then, we'll start with a quick look at the actual build process of the R40, as it comes flat packed and takes little to time assemble





















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The whole process is extremely easy and takes no time at all. An interesting aspect of the case is the ability to swap to the top and floor plates around. The reason being is that one supports a 360mm radiator and the other a 240mm radiator and the PSU. it really is child plays, hence my 4 year old son helping out





The board is stunning, let's hope we see more like it soon from Gigabyte!

]




Now I had some XSPC parts spare for this build, and I was delighted to see that XSPC also produced a motherboard block too, so I ordered it from OverclockersUK















image upload no compression




[Test fitting the parts ]























































[Tubing MOCK UP]
The real challenge was to pipe up every block but keep a sleek a minimal look. I've tried a few different combinations and it's still work in progress at the moment



























I was a few fittings short and looked at my options, sadly the BP fittings I have here are not so easy to locate in the UK and could not find any stock , so picked up some similar style ones.







I was then able to link all the blocks and experiment with the tube run, this is where I am at currently



I still need to tweak and re-align the pump, so the tube from the res to 240mm rad will straighten out









Sleeving and liquid to follow





Thanks for reading
 
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it's coming together nicely, it does kind of remind me of the pipes screensaver for windows at the minute :P I would reduce the overall height of the tubes personally, bring it in a bit closer to the motherboard. But then I'd also bend the tube instead of using fittings.
Any reason why you've gone with no bends?

I am liking it though :) it's only constructive criticism.
 
IMO the use of fittings gives a more industrial look to the build + I believe its a bit easier? I've only bend acryl for 1 build so far and double bends can be a real pain.

Awesome case - only thing I'd like to see is a way to cover up the cables coming out of the PSU. Only way to make it look good is buying custom sleeved cables or doing it yourself. Extensions won't look good in this case. Perhaps they could make a PSU cover optional on purchase?

Looks like it is going to be a very nice build. Do you have fans hiding in the top and bottom compartments?

EDIT: Sry should have looked close on the pics. You do have fans there :)
 
IMO the use of fittings gives a more industrial look to the build + I believe its a bit easier? I've only bend acryl for 1 build so far and double bends can be a real pain.

Awesome case - only thing I'd like to see is a way to cover up the cables coming out of the PSU. Only way to make it look good is buying custom sleeved cables or doing it yourself. Extensions won't look good in this case. Perhaps they could make a PSU cover optional on purchase?

Looks like it is going to be a very nice build. Do you have fans hiding in the top and bottom compartments?

EDIT: Sry should have looked close on the pics. You do have fans there :)

You raise a good point and as you say the only way to tackle it is with good solid wiring, ideally with cable combs, which I'll be using. You could knock something up with plexi im sure!

The rad and fans I forgot to mention, yes the top and bottom compartments do allow for fans to fit above and below the rads, in the roof I have a slim radiator and could go for push pull, still not sure at this point in time.




it's coming together nicely, it does kind of remind me of the pipes screensaver for windows at the minute :P I would reduce the overall height of the tubes personally, bring it in a bit closer to the motherboard. But then I'd also bend the tube instead of using fittings.
Any reason why you've gone with no bends?

I am liking it though :) it's only constructive criticism.


Yeah mate, good call on the height. It's actually on the todo list today, just might be tricky to describe what it is I wanted to do . So here goes, I thinking about having the three main points in different stages, Like the GPU pipes are fixed, so I cant lower them, The CPU block pipes would lower, then the motherboard block lower again. Pics to follow though!

As for why use fittings rather than bends, I've done both in other builds. Personal preference tbh. In this situation I think the liquid colour should pull it all together, in a different situation with other colours I'd have gone for bends instead.
 
Needs a PSU cover imo, other than that it looks good. Did agree that the high tubings looked a bit weird at first but it works somehow and if this is how you want to do it then I do not see a problem :)

That girlfriend sounds like a keeper!
 
Yeah mate, good call on the height. It's actually on the todo list today, just might be tricky to describe what it is I wanted to do . So here goes, I thinking about having the three main points in different stages, Like the GPU pipes are fixed, so I cant lower them, The CPU block pipes would lower, then the motherboard block lower again. Pics to follow though!

Yeah I think I understand, looking forward to pics though :)

As for why use fittings rather than bends, I've done both in other builds. Personal preference tbh. In this situation I think the liquid colour should pull it all together, in a different situation with other colours I'd have gone for bends instead.

Aye that's fair, at least you considered it instead of just opting for the easy way :) Keep up the good work :)
 
Needs a PSU cover imo, other than that it looks good. Did agree that the high tubings looked a bit weird at first but it works somehow and if this is how you want to do it then I do not see a problem :)

That girlfriend sounds like a keeper!

Wonder if doing a LED lit acrylic sticker style cover on the PSU would look any good....
 
Needs a PSU cover imo, other than that it looks good. Did agree that the high tubings looked a bit weird at first but it works somehow and if this is how you want to do it then I do not see a problem :)

That girlfriend sounds like a keeper!


Yeah In my mind the taller tubing was what I wanted, in reality it just didnt work plus the extra weight adds some sagging. I went ahead and trimmed them back but I may raise the smallest of the now set, from mobo to mobo block as it seems lost now

She's a keeper for sure!

Wonder if doing a LED lit acrylic sticker style cover on the PSU would look any good....

Sounds like a good idea, still working on what to do with the PSU, it needs something to tone it down for sure.


I'm having a tough time photoing the actual liquid colour, it's more vibrant than the images show. The mixture is Pastel White, UV Green and Laser Green





Small update on the liquid and the sleeving process. I really didn't want to modify the case at all but I wanted a low key fill and drain port. The res im using has a port in the top and I could have made something removable really, but opted to drill out a hole and fit something more permanent and hassle free.

Some of the fittings, tubing and the pump appear to be slightly misaligned, This is because the rad is not fixed completely and I'm working on some dampeners for the pump, having misplaced the original mounts for the bracket.








For sleeving I was going to use Black,white,green and two shades of grey. At the last minute I droped the white and went for something more neutral instead. I still have the main 24 pin to do, so ignore any signs of the fixed and none removal able black standard bitfenix one























The cover plate, really helps too. Had I not been using custom cables and combs, hiding cables it still an easy task

 
Looking real good so far.

Regardign the PSU - In all Fairness all it really needs as I see it is a custom sticker to cover the current data-sticker given you use those custom cables. They don't stick out or anything imho.

What kind og ball valve are you using? Looks like a bitfenix logo, but the ones I know are way larger?

I'm thinking of doing by drainport with a Bitfenix Q or T adaptor and a Koolance Quick disconnect attached to the 360 rad at the bottom, and then a whole drilled trough the back panel. (The qucik disconnect won't fit otherwise...)

JMy4vM9.jpg


If that makes any sense...?

Oh and another question. How tall is that res tube? is it the EK-Res X3 Tube 150 (104mm long) ? I bet the 250 is too long to go in when it's a combo unit.
 
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Looking sweet dude!

Cheers mate! =00=

I'm approaching the end now and I’m torn really, I'll either call it soon after a few tweaks or perhaps add a few more things I’m not sure. The aim was clean and simple, I've achieved that so I don’t want to overdo it.. We will see next week

Ok I've managed to do all the cabling now and I’m pleased with the outcome, though I may tweak it some more, making use of other cable holes and such. I have a 6 fan splitter hub to integrate and I'm 50/50 if I should make it a centre piece around the back or hide it away, Also I have fitted 2x RGB strips today. Early testing is good but I'll need to wait until tonight to see it shows it's potential ;)

























I've also added the fans and E22 Grille, thanks for reading
 
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