Semi-custom case build

[Boonstick]

Hi all,

This may be a bit of a "Marmite" build for some and I totally understand The aim for this build was to have the smallest case that was as quite and cool as possible. I sacrificed "beauty" for brutal functionality to achieve exactly what I wanted.
After searching for weeks for a suitable case I decided to try and make my own case, well kind of. I came across Spotswood cases who was building and selling industrial looking aluminium test benches that are totally modular. I got one of the Compact Test Benches what was at the time the smallest one he did and see what I could do with it and maybe make it smaller. After months of different configurations and versions of my setup I decided on the below.

I'm really happy with the results, I'm able to run the fans extremely low (about 700rpm under full load) and it keeps the GPU at about 41c will under full load. My only concern was dust but so far after running this build for about 6 months I've only have to clean it out once and with it being so open it makes cleaning extremely easy

I am currently planning on trying to make this build even smaller but I'm not sure on how a few things would work and may shelve them plans for now.

Specs:

Asus Maximus VII Impact mITX Board - Watercooled with EK Full cover block
Intel i7 4790K OC @ 4.6ghz - Watercooled with EK Full cover block
Kingston HyperX Fury 16GB DDR3 2400mhz - Watercooled with EK Memory block
Zotac GTX 980Ti 6GB - Watercooled with EK Full Cover GPU block
1x Samsung 850 EVO 256GB SSD
1x Samsung 850 EVO 1TB SSD
Corsair AX860i PSU

EK-CoolStream CE 280 Radiator
EK Bay Res w/2x DDC PWM Pumps
EK-HDC Fitting 12mm G1/4 - Elox Black
EK-HD PETG Tube 10/12mm
EK-Ekoolant EVO CLEAR
4x Akasa Apache Black 140mm PWM Fans
Corsair Link Commander Mini

Hope you enjoy and thanks for looking

 

[Wraith]

Nice! Not often we see extruded aluminium profile frame builds, will you be adding any covering panels or are you leaving it skeleton?

 

[Boonstick]

I'll probably leave it as it is with only the one at the bottom which is hiding all the PSU cables and houses the power button. I like how bare and simple it looks

 

[Dark NighT]

This looks incredible, it is really quite pretty.

 

[Asperatis]

oh my that's nice and tight, I'm liking this one! Only thing I might change or add is some colour to that coolant, especialy since you're running clear blocks Something like Mayhem aurora silver perhaps

 

[Boonstick]

Thanks guys!

Yeah, I've thought long and hard about coolant and I have to say I hadn't thought about silver before which I may look into but also I do like how all the tubes and blocks look empty. I filled it with clear as at the time it was all I had lying around and it's grown on me

 

[Dark NighT]

I dont think adding color to the loop will help with its aesthetics, the clear water fits the blocks and frame of the pc.

 

[Kilbane]

oh my that's nice and tight, I'm liking this one! Only thing I might change or add is some colour to that coolant, especialy since you're running clear blocks Something like Mayhem aurora silver perhaps

I think the clear coolant really adds to the simplicity of the build. On a side note, aurora coolant shouldn't be used as a 24/7 coolant due to the additives used to create the pearl effect can clog the small channels on water blocks etc.

 

[Asperatis]

I dont think adding color to the loop will help with its aesthetics, the clear water fits the blocks and frame of the pc.

Yeah on the other hand the blocks look epic like that as well and the fit in really well too

 

[sheroo]

That looks simple, minimal & functional. But we know that takes a huge amount of time & effort to achieve. It works for me, well done, I love it.

 

[Mysterae]

I'm really liking this, it reminds me of some lab or test equipment that I'd use .

I would like to put some covers on it though, mainly to keep the dust out. I ran an open computer a few years ago and it did attract quite a bit.

 

[Nafees]

nice work dude. ram cooling is different and amazing.

 

[Boonstick]

Again, thanks guys.

I'm really liking this, it reminds me of some lab or test equipment that I'd use .

I would like to put some covers on it though, mainly to keep the dust out. I ran an open computer a few years ago and it did attract quite a bit.

I know what you mean but I'm really not having too much of a problem with the dust. I've only had to give it a clean it once properly since I finished it, a quick dust down with a small paint brush and can of air and remove the front two fans and gave the rad a good clean with a vacuum.

nice work dude. ram cooling is different and amazing.

Ram cooling was purely aesthetic although it made the loop a lot more complicated This was my first attempt at hardline tubing and I think I ended up using twice the amount of tubing than it should have needed

 

[Davva2004]

Top job mate, simple, elegant, effective. Well done.

 

[coffeefoot]

Great job on this project. I'm thinking about how I would put covers on this piece.

 

[0100001]

Well there'd have to be some mesh...

 

[Boonstick]

Well there'd have to be some mesh...

Why's that?