PC Build Project Log: My wife dun screwed up!

So a few weeks ago I was sitting on my couch watching the first episode of Jericho for probably the 427th time (I dare you to tell me that show isn't awesome) when, out of boredom I decided to look at PC parts. For the last 5 years I've had nothing but laptops, my desktops of old being thrown into one form of storage or another.

After getting caught up on a few of the more modern advancements in GPU and other component technology I started to piece together a system. Then, once I had a rough idea of the build I took the hardest step anyone has ever taken when it comes to preparing for a gaming pc build -

I went to ask for my wife's permission.

Fortunately, she said yes and even suggested that I use a very old Antec Server case that we've had, completely empty, since we first moved in together almost a decade ago. I pulled it out from behind Christmas and Halloween decoractions and 7 propane tanks, took it into the living room and began to dissasemble it piece by piece to get an idea of just what I could do with it.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psjevuthfq.jpg

First thing I noticed was that it had some vent holes on the side. I frickin' hate vent holes. So, off to Lowes/Home Depot to purchase various supplies - acrylic sealant, sandpaper, painters tape, etc.

Masked off the back and applied acrylic and let it sit for two days -because I was busy.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...pspdq5cetu.jpg

After looking at it I realized that I was going to have a lot of scraping to do to prep this surface. I should have masked the front and sealed from the back and but live and learn I guess. By this time though I'd already sealed both side panels this way. The only way to remove the excess acrylic was to take a razor blade and peel the stuff off like skin and then use a 120 grit sanding disc for my orbital to bring it down and level-ish, resulting in this.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...pst1r0wg5l.jpg

Scuffed up the entior of the chasis and sanded down the top and bottom bezzels.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psod1glmyu.jpg

Roughed out a side window cut and masked the front of some of the vent holes that hadn't filled all the way.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psazkwljik.jpg

Drafting designs for fans that won't be incorporated and measurements.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...pshqfqvb0z.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psholwflfa.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psvwsr22ot.jpg

And this is where I'm at right now.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psp1a5ouxq.jpg

The jiggsaw I was using was not wanting to cooperate, so I'm now having to go back and smooth out and level these cuts. That's happening this weekend hopefully and then I prep everything for paint.

Color scheme is going to be flat black and flat green with a custom stencil that I will either be airbrushing or piss canning across the frame. I'll have a component listing later but the high points are as follows:

Asus Mobo
Asus Posiedon GTX 780
i5 proc (undecided)
16gig RAM (for starters)
Double 5.25 inch Resevoir for a Proc/GPU/Chipset Watercool Loop
Samsung 250gig ssd
WD 2TB HDD x2
23 inch Asus LED/LCD x2 monitors, swivel mounted.



Oh, and I need a desk for a desktop, so I get to build that as well.

:D

Should be a nice setup. Enjoy!

Definitely awesome, keep us posted with your progress!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eljefefx

Asus Mobo
Asus Posiedon GTX 780
i5 proc (undecided)
16gig RAM (for starters)
Double 5.25 inch Resevoir for a Proc/GPU/Chipset Watercool Loop
Samsung 250gig ssd
WD 2TB HDD x2
23 inch Asus LED/LCD x2 monitors, swivel mounted.

Oh, and I need a desk for a desktop, so I get to build that as well.

:D

---

While I give you credit for your mod work, that's a bit much for me anymore. I'd rather just pay the extra money for a nice case (NZXT Switch 810 atm for the copious room for watercooling and fans)

As to your build list:
An Asus Sabertooth Z77 motherboard would be pretty solid for your goal and look bitching in the process (which is what it's all about.)

I'd recommend an i5-3570k processor. It's unlocked for easy overclocking and the Haswells are not noticeably faster than the Ivy Bridge series were. Honestly if you could pick up a 3570k or even a 2500k used on the cheap you'd be set. I got my used 3770k, mobo and 16gb of RAM for about $350 and haven't had any issues with it.

As to your watercooling loop, chipsets haven't gotten hot enough to need waterblocks in years. Not since the LGA775 for Intel stuff anyhow. It's mainly dress up at this point and does very little. Swiftech has a new pump (MCP50x) due out within the next month or so that develops more pressure and flow than the old MCP35X, while being quieter and cooler. I'd hold off if you can to snag one (that's what I'm waiting on to rebuild my loop since my last pump failed.)

Have you decided between soft tubing or bending acrylic? I would love to do the acrylic, but not sure I want to spend the cash when I have still yet to get a waterblock for my GPU.

If you've got the pockets for a 250gb SSD go for it, best bang for the buck right now (roughly $.50 per GB.) I waited and snagged my 256gb SSD from a Newegg Shell Shocker for about $80.

Most important question: Why stop at 2 monitors? Go for 3 and get that sweet surround vision for gaming :D Just cut the bezels to fit them right next to each other and you're good to go.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sergechronos

While I give you credit for your mod work, that's a bit much for me anymore. I'd rather just pay the extra money for a nice case (NZXT Switch 810 atm for the copious room for watercooling and fans)

---

Despite the fact that people in my job field are typically seen as WoW-playing virgins, I enjoy having projects to work on. Hell, I just got the plans for a picnic table that I'll be building as well.

Quote:

---

As to your build list:
An Asus Sabertooth Z77 motherboard would be pretty solid for your goal and look bitching in the process (which is what it's all about.)

---

That's on the list but so is a ROG mobo.

Quote:

---

I'd recommend an i5-3570k processor. It's unlocked for easy overclocking and the Haswells are not noticeably faster than the Ivy Bridge series were. Honestly if you could pick up a 3570k or even a 2500k used on the cheap you'd be set. I got my used 3770k, mobo and 16gb of RAM for about $350 and haven't had any issues with it.

---

Good to know, will check that out.

Quote:

---

As to your watercooling loop, chipsets haven't gotten hot enough to need waterblocks in years. Not since the LGA775 for Intel stuff anyhow. It's mainly dress up at this point and does very little. Swiftech has a new pump (MCP50x) due out within the next month or so that develops more pressure and flow than the old MCP35X, while being quieter and cooler. I'd hold off if you can to snag one (that's what I'm waiting on to rebuild my loop since my last pump failed.)

---

I'm not set on the chipset yet but figured I might as well if I was putting in the money for the system plus yes, there is the aesthetic purpose.

Quote:

---

Have you decided between soft tubing or bending acrylic? I would love to do the acrylic, but not sure I want to spend the cash when I have still yet to get a waterblock for my GPU.

---

Have yet to decide. I'm entirely new to WCing and I'm still trying to get my bearings on everything. While soft acrylic might look better, I'm not sure it's suited to this particular case.

Quote:

---

If you've got the pockets for a 250gb SSD go for it, best bang for the buck right now (roughly $.50 per GB.) I waited and snagged my 256gb SSD from a Newegg Shell Shocker for about $80.

Most important question: Why stop at 2 monitors? Go for 3 and get that sweet surround vision for gaming :D Just cut the bezels to fit them right next to each other and you're good to go.

---

I have to make a few concessions and space for expansions in the future. If I went all out like I want to it would end up being a $6,000 build. Thanks for the info though. Good stuff.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eljefefx

Despite the fact that people in my job field are typically seen as WoW-playing virgins, I enjoy having projects to work on. Hell, I just got the plans for a picnic table that I'll be building as well.

---

Understandable, and I'm all for building stuff the way I want, cases are just too much trouble anymore. If I were to build another, it would be a desk with the components built into it under a glass surface. Would just require cannibalizing a case and a metal desk for ease/simplicity. Understandable why you'd rather mod that big server case though, if I had had one that big laying around I might would've done the same. Happy with my purchase though. I totally agree on the vents though. No vent holes unless there's a fan (and filter) behind it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eljefefx

Have yet to decide. I'm entirely new to WCing and I'm still trying to get my bearings on everything. While soft acrylic might look better, I'm not sure it's suited to this particular case.

---

Well I would advise using Primochill's Primoflex Advanced LRT tubing if you want a soft bendable tube as it doesn't contain any plasticizer (which leeches out and gunks up water blocks eventually.) The new big thing is using hard acrylic tubing and heating and bending it (using small mandrels of course) to fit perfectly. Looks pretty slick so long as you have some DIY capability and you don't anticipate changing the lay out of the internals very often. Thought about it myself, but decided against it for now. Going to wait for that new water pump and reservoir to come out.

Feel free to ask me WCing questions if you have any, I've built a few of them and can probably get you at least pointed somewhat in the right direction. Of course, goes without saying: Use only distilled water.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eljefefx

I have to make a few concessions and space for expansions in the future. If I went all out like I want to it would end up being a $6,000 build. Thanks for the info though. Good stuff.

---

Glad to be of assistance. So long as you're not in a rush for it, you can ball on a budget :D My whole build cost me about 1/3 of original MSRP but took about 6 months to get the components I wanted.

Yeah I'm looking at six months at the very least for all this. Standard tubing is still looking like it's going to be what I'm going with only because of the fact that this will be expanded upon at least once a year from here on out. And yeah, Three monitors will eventually happen.Tomorrow though I'm going to get a stand up picture of the thing and maybe photoshop/mspaint a few plans just so that I have a better visual.

Eh, once I get the pump and reservoir situation nailed down (and some progress on the car) I will probably switch to the hard acrylic. The flexible tubing takes up so much damn space..And kills air flow..Course the moment I've got a 240 and a 360 that are sandwiched between fans. Think I'm at about 14 fans total on the case ATM. So probably doesn't hurt it that bad.

Had some time this past weekend to work on it some more.




http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...pswzsprkxq.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psgjufddto.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psigo0sdyo.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psikth6r3q.jpg


I've been on leave all this week but today was the first time I had to work on it. Well not exactly. I got a sheet of 11x14 acrylic and in the process of making the cut the damn thing spiderwebbed on me.

Picked up another one yesterdayand a cutter. I scored it out but because it was a two angle cut I went ahead and followed the score with the dremel. Got the two sided Scotch 410 tape laid down and the acrylic pane set. I'll let it set with the weight of the side panel for a few hours and then tonight I'll tape off and line the outside with silicone caulk. Once that dries I'll be painting the caulk seal red to match the other accents.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psazu3r6ml.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...psbzcaolh7.jpg

Looking good. Are you doing a flat black or a glossy?

Looks flat or semi-matte in the pictures but could be wrong.