Tha Leviathan

[JayCobs]

With the knowledge gained and input received from my first build, Projekt Suma Kuhl 2013, I have decided to pursue a case build from scratch. This will be a long term build. There is no budget. With that said, I can't say how long it will take. I don't want to think about how long it will take. I will drive my self into a psychosis calculating the time frame for this. There is a very good chance my current hardware will be obsolete at completion; I don't care. I think my MoBo and CPU ARE currently out-dated. Anything worth working for is worth having right?

The expectations here is to build the last case I will ever need, period. I will attempt to build a case that has the best attributes in my opinion of cases currently offered, sans a removable MoBo tray. As much as I like them, this case will be so massive it's not necessary.

Space for my components will not be an issue.

I invite you to endure this journey with me.

This is the beginning of the end...

With the frame completed, I placed it in my den for eval...

Size comparison. Is it big enough? ^_^

Plotting the rad mounts...

Rads installed...

Much more room for the lungs to breathe compared to Suma Kuhl...

Mid plate installed...

Flushing rads like a bawse...

Rear plate installed...

Hmm... might be able to fit a PSU back there...

Local hardware store had the perfect solution for massive stand-offs...

I made friends with a step drill bit, and made some holes...

Starting to come together...

SkyNET is back online for the time being

Medication CAN be useful. Well, the container at least. It is propping up the GPUs until I can fabricate a bracket for them. I will not have the traditional back panel I/O config.

That is it for now. I am currently searching for someone with a drill press so I can finish the top panel cuts for the 3rd rad. I'll be back with updates once I do.

Stay tuned...

 

[clone38]

That my good sir is a nice build so far looking forward to seeing it finished

 

[Feronix]

Curious to see where this version is going. Not looking bad so far

 

[JayCobs]

Minor update...

I began clearing some clutter that has consumed my cave since I started building Projekt Suma Kuhl 2013. I found a Bitspower 250 res. I switched up the coolant route to accommodate it.

I also switched up my GPU connection with some spare Crystal Link I have. I'm satisfied with this routing and plan to make it permanent. The black tube is temporary, of course. That connection will be cleaned up with a Bitspower pass through right above the MoBo. That connection will be acrylic. I also plan to use a Bitspower pass through for the GPUs. The flow will leave the GPUs, exit under the MoBo, travel around the rear of the case back plate, and connect to another Bitspower pass through for the pump block connection. I want to hide that connection. The white tube leaving the pump block to the mid plate will be replaced with acrylic also. For some reason, NO ONE has Bitspower Black Sparkle C47 fittings for purchase, which is driving me BANANAS!!! :dammit: I have left my email for stocking alerts at every website I can find. To date I have not received an in stock notification. My goal is to have the "business section" all acrylic. The final build will most likely be sans the 250 res. I've just never been a fan a huge res. Especially with the current flow path because now the res is no longer part of the flow.

I'm stumped as to what I should do for the GPU support. These water blocks are HEAVY. The standard mounting offered by cases currently will not suffice. When I had the GPUs mounted in PSK 2013 they still drooped slightly. I've contemplated purchasing some lighter blocks. It will be MUCH cheaper to manufacture a solution myself. My first idea is to create an adjustable bolt that will fasten to the mid plate. I can drill a hole, tap it, and adjust it to the required height. At the end of the bolt will be a small square plate coated with rubber which will make contact with the lower GPU. My second idea is to fabricate a mount similar to this:

I like this one. It will be easy to duplicate and offer adjustment for future GPU upgrades. However, this will require a much larger footprint. I've seen builds where a wooden stick was used and solutions of that nature [never seen a medicine bottle though! :lol:]. I require a bit more rigidity.

What do you fine folks think I should do? :huh:

 

[JayCobs]

Miniscule Update...

I realized that if I don't sign in to a website then they can't access my contact info for in-stock updates. FAIL

Current pic of Tha Leviathan!:

Since I changed the PSU mount to the rear of the MoBo tray, there is no reason to have so much room at the bottom of the case. I took that down about 4 inches. I accidentally rotated the bottom portion 180 degrees when I reassembled it. After hacksawing this thick-@&$ aluminum for hours I had no energy left to correct it. Turns out I like the drain port at the front of the case, so this might work after all. Don't mind the tube | acrylic routing. With every tear down I experiment with something new.

To solve my GPU support problem I decided on using two acrylic tubes for the bottom GPU that will connect to two Bitspower pass-throughs. Then they will connect under the mid-plate [out of sight] to possibly a Y-joint. Then back to the pump. I currently have a few spare fittings supporting the GPUs in the pic. My plan is to have the LEAST amount of tube | acrylic visible in the "money area".

Here is the beginning of the fan controler box:

These Sunbeam controllers are at Performance PCs for like $9 a pop. I pulled the trigger on 3 and they all work! I will cut another piece of aluminum for a two-bend-one-piece solution. One piece will be much cleaner than two now that I look at it. For anyone thinking about getting one of these fan controllers, note that the LEDs are BRIGHT!!!


I also installed case feet:

You can't see them in the pics here.

That's it for now. Next tear down I will take many more pics as the interior mods should be drawing to a close.

Stay tuned...

 

[alpenwasser]

Wohoo, progress!

 

[JayCobs]

Minor Successes...

Cable management:rock:...

Current state of affairs. Corsair 5.25 box cannibalized from 800D for temporary fan controller mounts...

Rear access hole drilled. Finalization here will involve Bitspower Black Sparkle pass through and acrylic, of course...

Close up of fan controllers...

Stay tuned...

 

[Wraith]

Monsterous!! I agree with the GPU support take a look at my idea I've done some mock ups and built my own GPU bracket pretty sure you could do something with this idea Anti-Sag Bracket

 

[Mark3Max]

It's looking good so far Jay , Nice concept on the case.
I'm looking forward to seeing how you finish the exterior of the case.
It looks like you have the interior laid out pretty good.
I will definitely be staying tuned to this build for how ever long it takes to complete.

 

[NeverBackDown]

Wow nice so far! The fact that this would probably make a caselabs look small just goes to show how epic the case really is.

 

[JayCobs]

Wohoo, progress!

It's a celebration everytime!

Monsterous!! I agree with the GPU support take a look at my idea I've done some mock ups and built my own GPU bracket pretty sure you could do something with this idea Anti-Sag Bracket

That sir is an AWESOME idea. I've bookmarked that thread and will add my solution to it once conceived. You def gave me a different angle [pun intended] to attack this from. Gonna let that stew for a hot minute and see what ends up in my bowl. Thanks a lot! :notworthy:

It's looking good so far Jay , Nice concept on the case.
I'm looking forward to seeing how you finish the exterior of the case.
It looks like you have the interior laid out pretty good.
I will definitely be staying tuned to this build for how ever long it takes to complete.

Thanks for stopping by. I thought the guts would be the hardest part of the design, but, that was easy. The exterior is going to stretch my skills obtained so far. It's no mystery as to which case I'm favoring here.

Wow nice so far! The fact that this would probably make a caselabs look small just goes to show how epic the case really is.

I REALLY want the Magnum TH10 case, but, that price is STEEP! I knew I could build a similar case for a fraction of the price. If I win the lottery I will buy it for sure. I'm about $200 dollars in to The Leviathan, and almost half of that is paying for sheet metal cutting [makes case building SO much easier]. So, savings will be enjoyed. I'll have to check specs to see if Tha Leviathan is bigger than the Magnum TH10. I'm curious now^_^...

 

[alpenwasser]

I'm curious now^_^...

Not just you.

 

[ShaunB-91]

Subbed and looking forward to more, looking good!

 

[wassupdoc]

Great progress so far

 

[Permafrost]

wow looking good so far, i can't wait to see this finished!!

 

[JayCobs]

Not just you.

Caselabs Magnum TH10:
15" W x 25.06" H x 26.06" D

Tha Leviathan!:
12 5/8" W x 26 1/8" H x 28 1/4" D

The TH10 is a tad wider. Very similar cases indeed!

 

[JayCobs]

Did I buy too many fan controllers?

:huh:

I recently watched a YouTube video on the auqaero fan controller and it got me thinking about my fan controllers.

1 Sunbeam Rheobus Fan Controller has 4 channels. Each channel can handle up to 20W.

1 Noctua NF-F12 PWM draws 0.6W

If my math is correct [I am HORRIBLE at math in general] I can run close to 30 Noctua NF-F12s per channel?

Out of sheer excitement for such a low price I bought 3 Sunbeams thinking this is how many I need. They are 9 USD each!!!!

So...

Total fans for my build will be 20.

Can I run the entire build on one channel?

Of course, this is not my intent. I want to break up the fans in groups to control them individually.

My plan if I'm correct in concluding I require 1 Sunbeam:
Rad 1 = 4 NF-F12s | this will be Channel 1
Rad 1 = 4 NF-F12s | this will be Channel 2
Rad 1 = 4 NF-F12s | this will be Channel 3
Case fans = 4 NF-F12s |this will be Channel 4

I think I grossly underestimated the power of these fan controllers initially due to their price.

I am VERY curious because I plan on building my fan controller box today. If only 1 Sunbeam is needed, I will have to rethink it.

Is my plan correct? Thoughts??

 

[vorticalbox]

need to take into account amps as well as watts i believe.

0.6w @ 12 v is 0.04 amps per fan
20w @ 12v = 1.6 amps per channel

so 30 fans would be 1.2 amps and 18 watts total draw on the channel.

making 30 fans within the limit of the channel, as far as i can see it should be fine.

 

[alpenwasser]

Don't forget that some fans draw quite a bit more power when they're spinning up than when they're running at constant rpm's.

 

[JayCobs]

need to take into account amps as well as watts i believe.

0.6w @ 12 v is 0.04 amps per fan
20w @ 12v = 1.6 amps per channel

so 30 fans would be 1.2 amps and 18 watts total draw on the channel.

making 30 fans within the limit of the channel, as far as i can see it should be fine.

Excellent. Most number of fans I will have on one channel is 4.

Don't forget that some fans draw quite a bit more power when they're spinning up than when they're running at constant rpm's.

Duly noted. With that said, running 4 fans per channel should leave me with enough "room" for this spin up power draw, right?:huh: