Archers custom chassis work log

[PhireSide]

Already sold it, so my PC is all over the show on my desk now. PSU is upside down, mobo sitting on top of its box. Actually, just take a look So I'm pretty motivated to get this case built and put my current hardware in it.

Sweet! I had my Pc like that once, but it was an old Celeron and I had fans Prestik'ed all over the show too. Ah, to be young and...well, dof for lack of a better word

Aren't you scared the GPU shifts and hurts the PCIe slot? It loooks like it could cause some damage if it were to move a bit

 

[Archer]

Welcome back everyone! Got a nice big update this time round

So last time I left with the motherboard tray starting to go on. With that all finished up it was time to get the 5.25 bays 100% in place. A little bit of drilling later... One side is in! Its attached with three screws onto that piece of square bar that also helps keep the motherboard tray in place.

Next up, the second side is in. All looking good so far

Next up was the part I had been dreading - getting the rear IO shield in exactly the right place. So out come the clamps! I had already taken my test fit motherboard (an old P4 mobo) out by the tame these pics were taken. But basically I had the mobo in the case. I also fastened some PCI slot covers into the bracket which served as an extra way to line everything up. All that was left after that was clamping it securely, drilling the holes and putting threads in. In the last pic you can see its bolted in securely

Continued in next post...

 

[Archer]

And guess what???? Thats it for the panel and frame work!!

A few minutes later and everything was assembled so that I could take it home. Enjoy the first shots of everything put together...

And one more for luck

Thats going to be it for a while. I had a small hickup fitting the power supply when I got home, so I'm busy figuring out how to fix that :/ All in all though its gone pretty well so far. Making only one tricky to fix mistake isnt half bad I think for a first timer, hehe.

Next time you should see the spacers behind the motherboard tray sorted out (worked on it tonight actually) along with a little bit of rubber that the PSU will mount on, helping to dampen any vibrations from its fan. I'll also work to get the feet sorted out, pretty sure I've got a good solution for it. And of course, a solution to the PSU mounting problem.

 

[PostmanPot]

 

[HavocXphere]

Looks good.

Are the filters going to cover the hexagons?

Total cost on case build (excl hw)?

 

[Ono'rach]

Me likey

Now just a million odds and ends and its done!

Its going to look delicious once the black powder coating and lighting is done

 

[Archer]

Filters are already in You should notice in some of the pics that the hexes seem to have something black behind them - thats the filter
Total cost so far is just under R2k

 

[Ono'rach]

Filters are already in You should notice in some of the pics that the hexes seem to have something black behind them - thats the filter
Total cost so far is just under R2k

Are those the filters in the last two pics?

 

[RaptorSA]

Jaaaas.... this looks great. This thing should definitely be called "The Hive"

 

[Archer]

Ahoy everyone
The project has stalled a bit since I'm to the USA for a few weeks, so I spent time with friends and family instead the last few weekends. But when I'm back I'll be working like a man possessed to get it all done

 

[PostmanPot]

You buying some more kit in the US?

 

[techead]

no holidays!! no excuses!! Get building pal...



edit: looking awesome btw

 

[Wall]

Wow, Archer this is awesome!

/Thread subscribed

 

[Archer]

Are those the filters in the last two pics?

Yip

You buying some more kit in the US?

Maybe..... Look what has arrived Didnt get all the gear out but these are the main components. Will take better photos when I'm back at home
MCP655 Pump
EK420 Radiator (for 3x140mm fans)
Lamptron FC6 Fan controller
EK 250 Reservoir
EK Supreme HF, copper base, plexi top. Might get this nickel plated, will see how it looks once in the rig
Not in the pic: compression fittings, green tubing, pump mods, 140 black yate loons, HDD silent mount kit. Tested the fans at work yesterday, very very quiet at 900rpm and less. Range is roughly 500-1400 so it should be very flexible in terms of silent everyday use and getting max overclocks for bragging rights

no holidays!! no excuses!! Get building pal...



edit: looking awesome btw

Haha, just a few more weeks and I'll get going again, promise

Wow, Archer this is awesome!

Thanks, should look a lot better when the above gear is put in!

 

[Ono'rach]

Update, woot!

Thats some awesome kit there man, no get those bad boys installed ASAP!

 

[Archer]

Another update! Sort of
Got the last bits of the case that are required for it to work - power buttons! And some extras for switching lighting on/off. In total, I got 4. Now all of these need to fit into a 5.25 bay (got a blank one). The original plan was to lay them in a simple line, with two USB ports in the middle (so two switches on each side of the ports). But I'm wandering... would there be a better way to do it? Lets hear your suggestions!

I wanted to take some photos for this so that you get an idea of size, but I'm stuck at work today so I will try get some pics up tomorrow. The switches are 18mm diameter, a bay is 145x44mm.

Also, does anyone know of a place near CT that can do electroless nickel plating?

 

[nakedpeanut]

Man I almost forgot about this! Archer stop slacking and finish this build already

 

[NetDude]

Awesome!!!

 

[Archer]

Oh look I'm back in SA So its time for some proper photos, and maybe a little more work on the case as well...

So here is mostly everything, minus the fittings and tubing

A little close up of the fan controller

More closeups, this time of the CPU block. In the second pic you can see all the fins it uses to increase the surface area for cooling

Next up, all the bits for the pump. At the back is the MCP655, front is just a cover, and to the right is a different top. It'll actually work as it is right now, but the pump isnt exactly the coolest thing to look at in stock form.

So first thing to do is strip the pump of all non essential parts (and leave them lying in the background). Next I put on the aftermarket top which I got for two reasons - one, it looks cool, two, it gives me several more options in terms of inlets and outlets to and from the pump.

Continued in next post...

 

[Archer]

Now I put on the cover. This also secures the top onto the pump. You just need to be careful that you dont pinch the o-ring at this point

And when thats all done, perfect. Looks muuuuch better dont you think?

Next up I put some fitting onto the pump. For an inlet I used a 45° compression fitting. On the outlet things get more interesting. I put T fitting in the line. One part goes to the rest of the loop (bottom of the first pic), the other goes to my drain port (top part, with the silver fitting). So when I need to replace the water I can just plug in a piece of spare tubing and open up the valve. And then hopefully it will drain nice and easily.

Then a few more pics showing the layout with some actual parts

Thats all for now! This weekend I'll be trying to get the case ready for powder coating, so that means a lot of filing and sanding. I also need to widen the 5.25 bays since the fan controller is too big for the hole in the side panel by about 0.5mm. Until next week then!