d3daiM

This is a conventional mod.

Yes, this is my first true build / mod log. Why "relativ" you ask? Relativity is a special thing I live by, and it is this relativity that will influence the result of this mod. If I can manage each step in my build here with patience and hope, I will definitely have a worthwhile product. If I rush on any step of the process, relativity states that my project will not turn out as well as I have planned it. However, I have no intention to rush (the project will more than likely take months to compete), so I'm sure I can pull it off.

You may be asking at the end, "Where is the theme?" Not all themes have to be apparent. Mine so happens to be an internal theme, a challenge of myself to learn about my abilities. Such a theme is clearly more visual in my head than anything I could create. I hope you can understand this as you view my mod

Alright, enough of the philosophical junk..on to the mod!

First off, all of the main components are going to be carried over from my current TT Armor (good riddance) build.

For a refresher, that includes:

• DFI LanParty UT NF-4 Expert
• AMD 3700+ San Diego
• OCZ Gold GX XTC 2GB PC4000
• XFX 7800GT
• NeoHE 550 PSU
• X-Fi Extreme Music

This mod is aimed at being original, yet pragmatic. My aims are to create a mod that will allow me to continue my love for overclocking, but should still look one-of-a-kind. I should be able to mount it proudly upon my desktop, or go lanning with it. I realize this may hinder some ideas for modding, but, this is my top priority (a case for ME). This all goes back to Relativity.

My new rig is mostly going to include of a new custom water cooling build and a custom modded Lian Li V2000 server case. Unfortunately, I am going to need to do most my modding without the components being used in this computer. I need this computer operating for obvious reasons. Once I am complete with my mod, THEN I will take a long day to transfer all these main components and complete the build.

Yes, that makes it a bit tougher, but it is necessary...

The parts for my custom WC include:

• DangerDen MCP655
• DangerDen Maze4
• Swiftech Apogee
• Bonneville Heater Core w/ Custom Shroud
• DangerDen Fillport and Fillport Reservoir
• Danger Den MCT-40 Coolant
• 7/16" Tygon Tubing

Only a *FEW* of the case mods I have thought of so far include:

• Window w/ Mesh and Plexiglass
• Water Passthrough (Through the center divider)
• Possible LCD job somehow
• Custom 5 1/4" Bay grill
• Hole in top of case for fillport
• Do something to top..
• Mirror Black interior and exterior paint job
• Carbon fiber interior (drives? what else?)
• A reset switch (didn't come with one)
• Maybe a new power switch?
• Custom (hidden) LED job
• Insane wire stealthing and cable management
• Possibly a seperate line and transformer to power all lighting and fans

Other mods I have to do include:

• Remove IHS from CPU
• Lap all heatsinks
• Volt mod 7800GT

The theme of the case is going to be UV green on a mirror black finish. I might mix in a few more colors emphasizing different sections of the case with my LED job. Should be neat. It also seems like I will be getting a lot of this Carbon Fiber film from mnpctech.com for a cool effect. I want to strictly enforce cable management on this project as well.

*I have noticed that my camera is not the greatest model, it does not seem to perform well under bright circumstances. I hope you may understand as you view my pictures. Thank you.*

__________________

Performance Shroud FAQ | Extensive Guide to RMAing

d3daiM

Well, here are some pictures of all the parts just to start it off.



Here is the empty case. I ripped out the HDD brackets in the bottom chamber. I also removed the fans and fan grills and the annoying speaker that was placed conveniently (sarcasm) right smack in the middle of the center divider..LOL. I DID have a picture of the case before I removed all this stuff, but I guess I deleted it somewhere along the lines. No biggy though.



Side panel on..



Front..



Back..



Bottom?! Have you ever seen then bottom of a case look so pretty? Yes this case is perforated EVERYWHERE. Plus the chrome wheels give the case some bling. The wheels themselves have many features believe it or not. There is a brake, just in case if you park your case on a hill. There is also an option to "mod" the case with rubber wheels, which I did right away for noise reduction purposes.

__________________

Performance Shroud FAQ | Extensive Guide to RMAing

d3daiM

This mod will focus on my carbon fiber film mod:



Ready to mod. Two hard drives, one DVD burner, and one floppy disk.



Hey hey! That was quick!



I will be using these little shindig adapters primarily to convert the hard drives for use in a 5.25" bay, but they will also serve to absorb heat/cancel noise.



And we are good-to-go (no emphasis on Taco bell commercial)

__________________

Performance Shroud FAQ | Extensive Guide to RMAing

d3daiM

Hooray, an update.

Amidst my shroud painting, I noticed a package in the mail. I open to find this.



Cool. My Laing chrome conversion mod came in.



Well, I set to work.



Ripped apart the old pump.



After about two minutes of work, the conversion is complete.



Ooooooh, shiny!!

Probably the easiest mod I've ever done lol. Not only does my pump look cool now, it should also perform better with chrome fittings and a chrome base that actually has a cutout that the fluid moves through.

__________________

Performance Shroud FAQ | Extensive Guide to RMAing

d3daiM

Ok, time for an update!

My shroud and heater core mod is done and painted.















All that is left is to sleeve, but I will do that all later when I have an idea of how I am going to be assembling my rig.

Read all about the making here.

Or

Make your OWN, by following my FAQ here.

__________________

Performance Shroud FAQ | Extensive Guide to RMAing

d3daiM

Fillport:



Prepared



Drawn out



Drilled.

Oh no! I knicked a little :\
That will be a lesson for next time



Nothing I couldn't fix.
Looks pretty good.

__________________

Performance Shroud FAQ | Extensive Guide to RMAing

d3daiM

I also went to work on that pesky USB panel you always heae people complaining about:



Yup, there it is




After a little cutting I came up with this. It really is a lot straighter than it looks heh.

I plan on putting an etched piece of acrylic with the RelatiV name on it, backlit by a LED or two.

You can be certain you'll hear more about this little ditty again.

__________________

Performance Shroud FAQ | Extensive Guide to RMAing

d3daiM

Now, for handle mod



...handles I had laying around.



...all taped up and drawn out..



...cut.



Great! They fit! Not like I wasn't expecting them to... :P





Holes drilled.



Ready for paint..

I will paint and install them later, when I'm finished painting my case..

__________________

Performance Shroud FAQ | Extensive Guide to RMAing

d3daiM

A great idea I had today. I'm going to mod and put an LCD on my power supply! Ok..here we go:



These are the pieces to the, cheap, LCD..





Ripped the pieces apart a bit, got rid of unnecesary junk. Needed to make it smaller..



Inside the unmodified PSU.



Some wiring..



I had to make this little voltage regulator. A little test of my breadboard work



Finished with my wiring..it works!



Ok now to cut the PSU case for the LCD..Stenciled..





Cut and drilled!



Ready for paint...

I'll get back to the painting and mirror finish later while I'm working on my case's paint job

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

While we're dealing with LCD's in this feature of my mod, why don't I introduce my ($170) Aqua-Computer Aquaero VFD screen and fan controller.



Here is the box in all it's glory..LOL



The naked aquaero *covers eyes*



Because this is a VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Device) you can change the color of the text displayed quite easily buy using colored film that is used in photography.

So, I picked up a film sampler pack from Rosco with, literally, hundreds of different color. Unfortunately, I just wanted to darken the blue text so I didn't use other colors, but the red and green really did very cool.

So all I did was I taped the film behind the Aquaero faceplate.



All assembled



Running. Now it is blue text instead of the turquoise. HOOAH!

The Aquaero can display up to six different temperature monitors and can control up to 4 diffent fans with a max load of 15W. You can use the buttons on the front or software via USB to assign up to 2 temperature monitors to each fan and supply a maximum threshold temperature where the controller automatically adjusts the fans until that temperature drops. There, of course, is MANY more options you can mess around with. Read more about it here:

http://sharkacomputers.com/aqcoaqr3wvfd.html




Wanna see these two displays running alongside eachother? Check it out!!

__________________

Performance Shroud FAQ | Extensive Guide to RMAing