My latest build (Twice7)

[Wesley Crusher]

Originally from: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=181514

Here it is again :)

My goal is to put this into a Twice7:

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/01-guts.jpg

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/01-hdds.jpg
(Ok maybe not the hard drives)

Without it looking like my old setup:
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/01-old_twice7.jpg


STEP 1:

Went to Canadian Tire, picked up some Thin Metal jigsaw blades, and a pack of screws.
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/01-screws.jpg
No pic of the blades.. I used them before I started taking pictures .

Using the Thermochill grill as a template, I cut out the holes, filed and sanded the edges.

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/01-cutout.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/01-cutoutb.jpg

Test fit of the grill.

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/01-grill.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/01-grillb.jpg

It's mostly OK. It looks like I didn't make the holes big enough so I can still see the case behind the grill. I might go back and file it away, but right now my #1 goal is to get that stupid mess off my desk!

NCIX didn't ship me the FG120.1 that's supposed to go on the right side of the case... I will need to get that back. Not sure if I'll be cutting that one out.

To be continued eventually :)
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Had problems fitting my PA120.2 using the stock fan holes that MM put in the case.

Here's the fix! I messed up with the first hole... woops!
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/02-rad_hole2.jpg

Also had to tear away some foam that I used when the rad was mounted sideways.
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/02-rad_hold.jpg

Sitting flush against the floor:
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/02-rad_inside.jpg

Screws to mount the fans to the rad.. no proper screw driver to fit through the fan screw holes!
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/02-rad_screws.jpg

Rad mounted!
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/02-rad_mounted.jpg
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Somewhat unrelated, but here's the video card I am using. Watch for the next post or two to see why I posted this ;)

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/03-3850-s1.jpg

Accelero S1 + stock backplate for increased pressure!
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/03-3850-s1a.jpg

Check how close the Swiftech RAM sinks are to the fins:
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/03-3850-s1b.jpg

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/03-3850-s1c.jpg

Stock ram sinks:
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/03-3850-s1d.jpg
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Just realized the screwdriver + screw pic didn't make sense. Maybe this will help:

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/05-rad_mounted_a.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/05-rad_mounted_b.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/05-rad_mounted_c.jpg

I had to slot my jeweller's screw driver through the corner hole in the fan to fasten it to the radiator.
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My crappy sleeving job using bits and pieces hehe.
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/06-sleeving.jpg

Unoptimized settings for my E8500 OC.
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/06-e8500-oc.jpg

[NPH]

From that angle your video card looks like a geforce 4 ti with a heatsink XD.

I've never been good at mods like so, but I do like your ideas.

[WiseGuy]

this is why im hot

[LaNgEr]

this kid is bored. :D

nice work, man

[iheartyou]

Nice work Wes! ;ets see the finsihed product wen you get around ot it.
The gpu looks like a passively cooled 2900xto rhd3850/70

[Wesley Crusher]

Thanks guys. Finished product MAY end up in the BST forum if I get my way and find a cheap TJ07 :)

Vid card is a Radeon HD3850 256MB:

Fitting stuff in...

WOOPS!
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/07-vid2_0.jpg

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/07-vid2_1.jpg

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/07-vid2_2.jpg

The Accelero S1 is too tall for the case!

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/07-vid2_3.jpg

Swiftech MCW60 to the rescue!
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Some miscellaneous shots:

I wonder what this is for?
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/08-psu_shroud.jpg

I really need that missing FG120.1!
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/08-temp_grill.jpg

[ORION]

Swiftech MCW60 to the rescue!
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I wish I could find one of those with <2 weeks shipping time.

[Rez Prophet]

http://www.petrastechshop.com/

[ORION]

No California.

[Rez Prophet]

I ordered from them and got it in like 2 days.

[Wesley Crusher]

Finished modding my X-Fi with LM4562's for all of the outputs.

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/09-xfi_a.jpg

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/09-xfi_b.jpg

Rather poorly done.. I'm still learning how to properly solder surface mount components. Extra solder around the cap legs because the last one I had moved too much and broke the joint.

[gOOCH]

make sure u heat the wire and metal of the chip for a bit, otherwise u confuck yourself with too much solder that goes all over and wont stick good

[Wesley Crusher]

It works... I tested the three jacks and it all sounds great :)

[SKULLCRUSHER]

Brian, you bring modding to a new level sir. Nice work.

[Wesley Crusher]

Thanks Gerry. Here is a series of pictures on how I mess the rest of this build up :)

SO
here's the clean side of my build :)
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/10-mobo.jpg

X-Fi with foam and some shielding
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/10-xfi.jpg

Back of case mobo side
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/10-backmobo.jpg

How I mounted the fanmate that controls the rad fans. Temporary solution that will probably stay for a while..
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/10-fanmate.jpg

I managed to keep one side clean at least.
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/10-top.jpg

The reason I needed the PSU shroud. SAFETY :)
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/10-psu.jpg

Where I stashed all of the cables. This case is difficult to manage, even with modular cables. I think my Scythe Quite Drives, and Nexus 80mm fans are partly to blame. I'm not keen on chopping off the tails of those fans yet...
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/10-cables.jpg

The whole side
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/10-psuside.jpg

Crammed the tubing in the top.
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/10-tubingtop.jpg

Some more foam to dampen pump vibrations
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/10-foam.jpg

[SKULLCRUSHER]

Too bad you cant mount that water sheit externally or something.

[iheartyou]

Damn Wes, nice work bro, thats awesome! The added foam adds to the zomg thats a pimp "Foam Carpet" you got in your rig.

[Sweetlou]

looks cool as hell but knowing my luck if i ever went WC sum time while im at work my comp will catch on fire and a black hole will open up to biggie and tupac coming out guns a blazin

[Cleavage Monkey]

So you wanna make me my new PC ? :D :D :D :D

[Wesley Crusher]

Thanks for all the comments guys. This rig is still nowhere near done. I've got a new PSU coming, as well as a new vid card and CPU. I also have some more ideas on how to mount my hard drives to help alleviate some of the space issues.

The goal of this box was to have everything internal. Once I put it under my desk, you'll see why.

I'd love to build any of you a PC. Just let me know what ideas you have kicking around and I'll try to put together your ideal machine. If anyone's interested shoot me over a PM :)

[mfkr]

So you wanna make me my new PC ? :D :D :D :D

He's doing mine as we speak...

or soon enough...

[Wesley Crusher]

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/11-8800gts512_a.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/11-8800gts512_b.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/11-8800gts512_c.jpg

[fab]

I haven't the faintest idea as to what you're doing half the time, but given what little I know, this is epic.

I looked into making a very basic operational amp circuit as a means to learn how to tinker with things... Still haven't gotten around to it. Always been curious about all this modding and tinkering stuff, but I've never had the cash to try it (and I'm sure I'd make a few expensive mistakes along the way). :lol:

So you soldered on all those LM4562's? Did you have to desolder anything beforehand? (I recall seeing the LM4562 on one of the suggested buy lists for an DIY opamp.)

Last question for now, I promise. In that last photo, is that brass looking plate a massive water cooling element for the processor? (I'm just guessing here -- forgive my complete lack of understanding if I'm way off.)

[Crayola]

yea, thats the waterblock. you can see the path that the liquid travels through and the in/out ports

[lefty]

wait... does that water get replaced every once in a while? also, doesnt it warm up after some time? ive never dealt with anything like that before, wondering how it works exactly.

[ORION]

Water has a higher thermal capacity then air, as such the general idea behind it is to sub in water circulation so that you a) raise the total amount of heat the system can accommodate and b) displace the heat over a larger surface area (radiators) with the option of supplementing air circulation.

[fab]

Are there any computers that get so epically overheated that they need a steam pressure release valve? :lol:

Seriously though, the water pressure's pretty low, right? I'm sure pressure would somehow impact it's thermal properties. :confused:

[ORION]

Are there any computers that get so epically overheated that they need a steam pressure release valve? :lol:

Seriously though, the water pressure's pretty low, right? I'm sure pressure would somehow impact it's thermal properties. :confused:

pressure's not really a big issue, circulation is the bigger focus. So long as the pipes don't burst everything is ok, it's much like the rad system of a car, you have a pump, a reservoir (optional), a radiator, a heat source and some piping.

[FourierT]

I am more interested in the camera you used to take those pictures. So damn clear. What model is it?

[Wesley Crusher]

Camera used: Fuji F30 (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf30/).Usually have it set to ISO400/Auto WB. I have a desk lamp that I use for lighting my shots.

For the X-Fi, yes I had to remove the stock SST op-amps. They're pretty junky anyway so I used snips and solderwick to remove them. You can order "samples" of the LM4562 from National Semiconductor.. it will cost about $10 for three samples.

I built a CMoy during the summer as a small project.. it was fairly easy. I put it in an Altoids tin (http://verbicide.ca/media/1/20070605-cmoy.jpg). You've probably already seen it, but I used Tangent's step-by-step guide here (http://tangentsoft.net/audio/cmoy-tutorial).

And finally, yes, it is a full cover EK block for 8800GT/S G92 version. Cools the GPU, RAM and MOSFETs. The little thermal-pads are for the FETs and I used Arctic Cooling MX-2 for the RAM and GPU. What is NOT visible is the outlet barb on the reverse side... that's probably what is confusing you most :)

I just received an e-mail stating that they FINALLY shipped my CPU block, so I will be able to re-build this system once again. There are a few other mods I have planned, just not much time to work on it last night.

[fab]

Yes, that is exactly the small project I was looking on doing. I got my girlfriend a nice pair of Sennheiser headphones for her birthday (such that I am now jealous and ironically she doesn't use them too much since the 1/8" / 1/4" adapter dongle is a hair too thick to fit into her stupid iPod case), and I wanted to make one for her as a) that's a complementary kind of gift for it and saves me of having to be inventive when anniversary time rolls around, and b) it's kinda cool.

I was thinking of using this (http://jseaber.com/cMoy/) as a guideline. The bass boost would be kinda neat as an optional feature.

And how many times have you had to rebuild this thing now? Is this building / water cooling business a lot of trial and error? I'm curious and might want to learn how eventually... but only when I can afford a $300-600 loss if I fuck up and destroy half the computer with faulty setup on my part. Until then, if I can ever afford it, I guess you can build it for me. :lol:

[Wesley Crusher]

Rebuilt this thing maybe 4-5 times now. Water cooling needs experience to set up properly. Compared to my first water cooling experience with my old A64, this thing is MUCH better built.

Regarding amps, my next project will be a PiMeta with a crossfeed circuit.

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/12-new_parts.jpg

[FourierT]

Camera used: Fuji F30 (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf30/).Usually have it set to ISO400/Auto WB. I have a desk lamp that I use for lighting my shots.


That's a nice camera. I have the Fuji F20.

[Wesley Crusher]

http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/12-new_loop_a.jpg
http://verbicide.ca/images/worklog/2008-twice7/12-new_loop_b.jpg

[mini]

Video/Graphics Card: Dual 512MB NVidia® GeForce™ Go 7950 GTX - SLI Enabled
Chassis: 17" WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 LCD - Stealth Black
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7200 2.0GHz 4MB Cache 667MHz FSB
Memory:4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz – 2 x 2024MB
System Drive: DUAL Drive Configuration - 80GB SATA 1.5Gb/s 7,200RPM 8MB Cache,200GB SATA 1.5Gb/s7,200rpm 16mg Cache.
Optical Drives : 8x Dual Layer CD-RW/DVD±RW Burner
Wireless Network Card: Internal Intel® PRO Wireless 3945 a/b/g Mini-Card
Sound Card : Realtek High-Definition Audio with surround sound

[fab]

Your chassis is an LCD? DO? NOT? WANT?

(i.e. I don't understand)