My Next Rig, Project "Chibi"

FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!.

Hello everyone! So after all these years of my I7 920 system and it's constant case changes upgrades etc. I have decided that it is finally time for a new system mostly to satisfy my addiction to building computers. After building several computers for myself and god knows how many for friends/family and various clients I've come a long way in regards to my skill as a system builder which has led me to this project.

I decided I will name my new rig "Chibi" which basically means tiny/cute. The reason for this is that after years of my personal system being full/mid sized towers I decided I much prefer matx systems which are smaller and in my personal opinion, more attractive. The goal of this project is to pack as much power as I can into a matx system while keeping the system as energy efficient, quiet, low temps, and low maintenance as possible. With that in mind lets get started on my current planned parts list! (Subject to change)

Core Components
CPU: I7-3770S
GPU: (2) Power Color AMD HD 7850 2GB
Mobo: Gigabyte G1.Sniper M3
RAM: G.Skill F3-12800CL9Q-16GBSR1
PSU: Corsair AX650
SSD: 512GB OCZ Vertex 4
CD/DVD: LG GH24NS90
Blu-Ray: LG WH14NS40
TV Tuner: Undetermined
Monitor: (2) 22" (1) 24"

Cooling
Case: Fractal Design Arc Mini
Fans: (5) Scythe Kama Flow 2 120mm 900RPM
Radiator: (2) XSPC RS240 Dual 120mm radiator
CPUWB: Swiftech Apogee Drive II
GPUWB: (2) EK-FC7870 - Nickel + Acetal (Unless a company releases a better looking WB)
Pump: MCP35X (In the Apogee)
Res: Undetermined
Tubing/Fittings: Size/Brand undetermined, but it will be compression fittings
Coolant: Anti-freeze (with Ethylene Glycol) Mixed with standard pure water.

Mod Work
I will be modding the case to fit the extra radiator as well as hopefully adding fill/drain ports to the top/bottom of the case. I plan to custom fit and line the interior of the case with sound dampening material as well as have every cable individually sleeved. Lastly I plan to cut a window into the side panel and line it with some form of lighting connected to an on/off switch so I can sleep at night

I will be using this system for work, school, gaming, folding, you name it.

Lastly I plan to build a server or NAS for my mass storage needs as I have a bunch of computers in my house and they all seem to have the same music/pictures etc so it just makes sense to have everything networked and made redundant with RAID6 or something like that.

Anyways, that is the current mission/plan! Let me know what you guys think, and I hope you look forward to all the pictures/progress updates when it comes time for the build to go down
Edited by DEW21689 - 11/1/12 at 4:54pm

Reserved for future photos/progress updates

Modded the case removing the bottom drive bay Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Drilled holes to mount the XSPC mounting bracket with my XSPC RS240 and fans. In retrospect I should have done it a little further up to have about an extra half inch to an inch of space inside of the case but it still turned out pretty well. I cut and filed down the front panel's fan mounting clips but it looks almost like I didn't need to, I will never know now =P Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Cut the hole for the fill port, it went pretty well I think, a shame I couldn't have put it slightly higher up to be at the same level as the G1/4 thread of the radiator but its barely off so it shouldn't be to hard at all to connect. Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
The RS240 and fans fit in the top panel with no problems but if I wanted to use the rear 120mm fan I needed to widen the screw holes a bit as these kama 2 fans are slightly thicker than standard fans so I don't know if regular ones would have this issue... Anyways heres what I did and woops my hand slipped but oh well its covered by the top panel =P Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Shot of the radiator/fans installed and showing the rear fan as well... Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Had to cut my video card brackets with a dremel as the EK ones didn't line up AT ALL with my connections, they claim it was a glitch with their cooling configurator >_< I finished smoothing out the edges so it doesn't look as crappy as it does in this photo but I forgot to take a picture of the finished product. Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Edited by DEW21689 - 11/1/12 at 4:46pm

Hehe, thanks. I'm expecting FedEx to deliver my radiator stand which I plan to mount internally where I removed the drive bays, and my Danger Den fill port which I will either place at the top of the case or the front/top of the case depending on how space/tube routing will allow. So sometime next week I should hopefully upload those photos, hope it helps/inspires you on your build!

Ran into a few bumps...

The XSPC RX240 will not fit in the front of the case without removing the 5.25" drive bays. I ordered an RS240 which if I can measure worth a cent will work. The RX240 still works at the top of the case without any modifications, but I will test the RS240 at the top as well to see if that would allow for the rear 120mm fan mount to be used just for anyone who might be curious about that.

I also did not have a powerful enough drill or the right bit to drill the fill port but it will fit where I intend to place it, I will likely head to home depot or the local hardware store to pick up the right tool for the job.

Anyways, thats where this project currently is... I will try to resist my urge to kill over the fact that the RX240 didn't fit =P

The XSPC RS240 fit almost like a glove into the front of the case, as noted in my photo section I should have moved it up half an inch roughly for more space in my case, I'm tempted to get another RS240 for the top panel in place of the RX240 since my fans seem to work so well with the RS240, but I will see how much airflow is lost in the RX240 before I make that choice.

More to come!

I went ahead and ordered another RS240 as I learned that if I put it in with the barbs facing the 5.25" drive bays that I could fit the rear 120mm fan into the case, this will give me 4 fans intaking air and one exhausting air (From personal experience I've seen better results with positive air flow in low airflow systems like my own, and it helps eliminate dust when done properly with well managed cables)

Fill port went in quite nicely, hope the side panel window goes as smoothly.