[Work Log] Magi Melchior 01 - CM 690 II

The rig/mod has a name!!!

Thanks to Warsmith for the suggestion!

I coincidentally have 3 rigs right now in the house. My main rig, my file server rig and my soon to be HTPC rig.

So basically my main rig will be called Melchior, my file server Balthasar and my HTPC Casper.

Evangelion Wiki Attack! http://wiki.evageeks.org/Magi

Also I have settled on the font type and inner colour scheme will be black, orange, red and yellow. Most of the orange will be the parts and the red, yellow, orange colour coming from the LEDs.

So...I hope it’ll all turn out well as I’m only going to be using all the tools I own at my disposal. No laser/water jet cuts here...just pure Dremel work!!! XD

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PART 1
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Hello OCN, today we’ll start my build-log of still an un-named case mode. And yes it’s another CM 690 II mod...but this time it’s for the basic model.

I started this mod about a year ago after realizing that the Corsair 650D wasn’t really for me, it was too big, and my expectations of the case wasn’t fulfilled. So the road to modding my CM 690 ii starts.

The main inspiration came from Neon Genesis Evangelion...an anime that has made a major impact in my life. How? Let’s just say the Catholic teaching priests in my first high-school school didn’t want me to watch and didn’t want to answer the questions I had for them after watching the series. :P

Anyway here are some pics I’ve managed to scrounge up on the net and some screen caps.




So...with that my colour choices are Red, Orange, Green, Black and Yellow. For now I’ll be sticking to the Orange, Black theme...I know it’s been done before but what the hell...

Also this logo might be on either the front or side panel.


Right now I’m looking into Murdermod’s lighting effects as well as Xein16’s to achieve this look.

Lets look at the tools I’m using.


First off the Dremel Trio, this too was bought the same time I started my mod which was last summer. It’s been chugging along quite fine and has been really my jig-saw for the most part.

I’d have to sauy though that cutting acrylic panels with this is a nightmare. One side of the acrylic panel has shattered pieces but the other side has a perfect cut...so I advise anyone using this too to get a proper jig-saw with a straight blade. But it still does serve its purpose for my dad as a router.
Ah the infamous Dremel rotary tool...it just works. There are 2 reasons why I bought this new Dremel as opposed to my existing Mastercraft Rotary Tool.

1.) Make sure I have a fall-back tool if the other one gives.
2.) Compatible attachments.

So there you have it. Along with the purchase I got the Workstation kit which was one of my dream tools. I’m a model-kit builder as well so having this for small mods is so useful I’d recommend this to any scale model-kit builder out there. I use the workstation as a make-shift scroll-saw as well...it does really work well for angles and curves.
\

Here I tried to attach my old rotary too and guess what? It fits like a glove!!!

As you can see it does fit perfectly well and I’ll show some mods done for this tool. One thing to note though. The Mastercraft tool doesn’t have enough power since it’s about 4 years old but it still can do small jobs for my model-kit building. And this Mastercraft tool is compatible with almost all Dremel accessories as long as the chuck accepts the size...and there are multiple chucks included with the tool.


Here’s another shot of the workstation in action. Gotta love that 90* turn.


And with the addiction that comes with buying more power tools comes the addiction to buy their accessories and attachments. This time the Dremel Router Table attachment.


As you can see it’s a makeshift attachment with zip-ties and a piece of acrylic...I contacted Dremel and they sent me a newer tool holder for the router table as the one I bought was old, free of charge too so mad props to Dremel for the customer service. Speaking of customer service I also managed to break the cutting bit of my Dremel Trio on the first day and Dremel sent me a new one which was carbide tipped...for free too! So yeah...


On to the paints. You’ll notice I have several brands on the shelf because I can’t find them in one place. I tried Canadian Tire and found the Self-Etch primer and enamel paint, went to home-depot and found the rust-oleum paints. Don’t be fooled by that 2x cover...it’s a lie, I painted 1 RS240 and 1 RX120 and it’s ¼ used. So buyer beware.


Another tool in my arenal is the rust-oleum spray gun attachment...just hook it up to any aerosol can and it’ll act like you’re using a professional spray gun...spiffy!

Well I guess that’s it for the major tools I use. I’ll be updating more tools I use as the thread grows.

And so the build starts...


This was my initial setup, I’m trying to find a good balance on where to put the various parts.


As usual per modding community ROT (rule of thumb) measure twice, cut once.


And it’s off.


I wanted to have the RS240 sitting on top of the case because I wanted my GT AP-15’s pulling air from the outside, through the rad and into the case. I know the AP15’s are not designed for pulling...AFAIK but this initial build will be changed further on.


Sanded to perfection~~~

Well these pics were taken a year ago when I started and all of this will change in the coming months as I improve on the design.


Taking all the various components of the front panel and top panel. I’ll be moving the top inputs to the very bottom of the front panel so as to hide it from plain sight and have a continuous flow from the top and front. The top part will be covered with honeycomb mesh to improve airflow into the rads and case...it’s a dust magnet I know but that doesn’t deter me as I have THIS!!!

http://www.overclock.net/t/1094261/metro-vacuum-datavac-club/170#post_15373673

Lets leave it now for this first post. More to come as the weekend ends~~~

*Reserved for Final Pics*

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCOS 

Looks interesting... What are the specs?

Specs are on my Intel sig-rig. :D

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PART 2
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Anyway on to the work log...I’ve had a few hours to finish up what I can and take pics along the way...but for now I’ll be posting other things that I did before this work log to keep it up to date.

I forgot to mention the various parts I’ll be using so I’ll just put them here.

Main Hardware
Intel 2500k @ 4.5 Ghz
Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3 (Will be switching to a Gene V when I get more money)
4x4 Kingston KHX1600C9D3/4GX DDR3 1600 RAM
PowerColor HD 6950 2GB Reference GPU
1x Seagate Momentus XT 500GB Hybrid HDD
2x Samsung F1 1TB HDD
Corsair AX 750
LG Blu-ray Burner
Scythe KazeQ-12 Fan Controller
6x Scythe GT AP-15
1x Antec Spot Cool

Watercooling Hardware
8x 45* Rotary Adapters from TFC
5x EK ⅝ ~ 7/16 Compression Fittings
1x Bitspower ⅝ ~ 7/16 Compression Fitting
12x ½” Barbs
2x DDC (not sure what models they are but were bought from Kazenagi @ OCN)
1x XSPC Dual DDC Dual Bay Pump-top/RES combo
1x XSPC RS 240
1x XSPC RX 120
1x XSPC RASA CPU Block
1x EK Universal GPU Block Copper/Arcylic
Mini Enzotech Forged Copper VRM Heatsinks (10 pcs / pack)
Enzotech Forged Copper VGA RAM Heatsinks (8 pcs / pack)
12’ XSPC Clear Orange ⅝ ~ 7/16 Tubing
1x Enzotech 3-Way Splitter

So I wanted to put at least 3 HDDs on the case, at least 2x3.5” and my OS HDD which is a Seagate Momentus XT 500gb 2.5” drive...yes yes I know...I have more options when I consider a SSD as my OS drive...I’m still debating if I really need it. :/

Anyway...so I made a HDD bracket that fits 3 HDDs on it...I’ll be using a 3.5” to 2.5” bay rafter from Scythe to fit in the bracket.



As you can see I’m going to use one of the 120mm slots for the HDD brackets and the other one is left open for incidental air flow to the HDDs from the bottom.

I have my RX120 as a front intake so it will occupy the spot where the drive cages used to be in that’s why I had to make a custom bracket for it.

So far so good...I’m chugging along well...after this mock-up that i did...I took a long hiatus from modding as life was catching up with me...it won’t be until spring of 2012 that I got back into modding this CM 690 ii.

And while I wasn’t modding I had the chance to get some much needed hardware.


My GPU block, VRM/RAM heatsinks, bay pump-top/res combo and tubing arrived from DazMode~~~


Installation of the heatsinks using my mixing method chronicled here.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1239183/updated-4-7-2012-crams-tim-thermal-adhesive-experiments

I used my trust 40/60 mix on all heatsinks and just threw away the pads...didn’t want them falling off my GPU when in operation.


GPU block installed~~~


As you can see I could install the original backplate using some screws I found via Active Surplus in downtown Toronto.

Anyway that’s it for my post today...I’m pretty tired from all the cutting and sanding today...i prolly spent like 9 hours today just to get my goals done and I haven’t finish it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CN Darkside 

looking good cant wait to see it finished. Just hope the build log doesn't end up like the end of the original series

Hahaha...I see what you did there! Thanks tho...I can only be working on it for 2 to 3 days at a time during the weekends and at least 2 hours on week days so it'll be a VERY slow process.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legonut 

I love Evangelion and i think you should name it after one of the angels, like Ramiel.

Thanks I'll research the names and see what I can come up with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warsmith 

How about one of the Magi?

I was debating on it...and I might name it as one of them as I currently have a home-server and main rig and my AMD rig that's going to either my sister or an HTPC.

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PART 3
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So my GPU block arrived along with other things I ordered from DazMode...time to feature some of the other watercooling hardware that came in as well.


Mysterious package from an OCN member located in Canada using a USPS box. XD Lets take a look what’s inside!


Well well well..it’s the dual DDC units I ordered from Kazenagi with a Watercool Dual DDC top!!!


I will be changing this to the XSPC DDC Top/Res as I cannot fit this unit along with my extra Swiftech Micro Res inside the CM 690. It’s a bummer but I had no choice. :/


The XSPC Dual Bay Res...and it’s not 1 tank but 2 tanks split in half. I REALLY had a problem with this as I lacked 90* angled fittings...so I was kinda frustrated at the build at this time...BUT!!! BUT!!! Homedepot.ca to the rescue!!!


I bought these at Homedepot.ca for around $2 a pop...I bought around 8 of these...why? I was going to use them on another build. Anyway these are PEX ½” elbow fittings and I’ll be using them specifically just for the XSPC DDC Top/Res combo.


As you can see the elbows fit perfectly...this was just a mock-up of the entire loop before I started modding the case. I temporarily used dollar-store bought hose clamps...they worked but were REALLY ugly...so I ordered pinch clamps on flea-bay! I have a small thread over here.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1266331/alternative-pinch-clamps


Here’s a shot of the initial layout I had in mind...but this’ll change as the W/C guys over at the W/C Pic Thread suggested my loop was un-optimized. So I’ll be optimizing it once the mods to the case are all done and the case is painted.


And a shot of the various fittings I’ll be using for the build.

And that ends my post on the watercooling side. More to come later on!! Thanks for watching!