Under the pressure of my friend Hukkel who just finished his Diablo HTPC ( here ), I've decided to start a work log on my latest build.
I don't build PC very often, but they are work tool before anything and being a professional in the design/architecure industry they are generally pretty powerful machines. I generally don't go too far on the mod part, but this time I decided to do something more sexy.
Specs:
Case: Lian Li PC-X2000F
CPU: Intel 3930
Mobo: Asus P9X79WS
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 32GB
GPU (display): Quadro 4000
GPU (computing): 3 x GTX 580 3GB
Primary Hard Drive: SSD OCZ Octane 256GB
Secondary Hard Drive: 4 x 1T Hitcahi HDDs 7200rpm in RAID 1+0
PSU: Enermax Platimax 1500W
CPU Cooling: Corsair H80
Optical drives: 1 BR Burner and 1 BR drive (both Asus, can't find the exact reference right now...)
The goal of the mod is extremely simple: keep the PC as black and simple as possible
The build will be divided in 4 steps:
1- Blackening of all parts that will stay in the case after the first test build (this part is done as I start this thread). It include sleeving of all case cables, removal of unecessary parts in the case, CPU cooling sleeving, Mobo filming, etc...
2- Assembly of the system to test it, isolate eventual defective parts, have a precise idea of extra parts to order, gather all cable/extension to be sleeved, etc...The idea is to ensure that the sytem is functionnal and to minimize the orders. Living in Hong Kong, the shipping cost of the orders I place in Europe or in the US is substantial
3- Final air cooled system assembly
4- Watercooling of the system. It may sounds weird to build the watercooling loop as a last step, but firstly I don't have much experience in WC and it is difficult for me to have a clear idea of what I need, secondly the case has a particular design and there's a fair amount of hardware to fit in. I prefer to know exactly how much space I have left in the case before ordering anything in term of WC hardware.
As an introduction, I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures of this post, it's an excercise I'm not familiar with, I'll do my best to improve in the future
This log also has the purpose of gathering members advices and suggestions on the way to achieve the desired result.
Let's start by the main item, the case:
I'm in love with this case
And a shot of it will look with the side panel window:
The PSU will be clearly visible, which mean that I can't afford to let it in another finish than pure black (see issue at the end of this post)
The case cables have been sleeved (sorry for the blur, will post better pics after Step 1 completion)
The 2 largest cables have a different sleeving. I use Bitspower super tight sleeves, which, IMHO, are of better quality than MDPC (weave is tighter), even though it's harder to work with it (it's so tight that the sleeves don't expand as much as MDPC, it can be seriously tedious when the sleeves are tight on the cable). Unfortunately this brand do not carry the largest sleeve size, but I stumbled upon these products while shopping for heatshrink in HK. Not sure if I will keep them, it doesn't really hurt the look but I might change them for real good quality sleeves, time will tell. It has been a pain to sleeve these cables without dismantling the case, but doing it would have mean un-riveting the entire stuff...For those who know this model, it is entirely in brushed black aluminium, the rivets are black as well, and I was not confident at all in finding black rivets to put it back together...
The HDD slots have been easier to do as they can be unscrewed from the case:
Will have to straighten these guys a bit...
The visible white and red cables are the case fans cables. I started to sleeve them but stopped as I realized that I would more than likely replace them by PWM 4 pins fans.
Here's the hardware:
Mobo, CPU, CPU Cooler, PSU...
Graphic cards, HDDS, SSD, RAM, drives...
The H80 fans, sleeved and with black acrylic cirlces to replace the ugly stickers:
The H80 itself after sleeving:
Really hate the rand on the junction beetween the heatshrink and the CPU block, but for a reason I couldn't avoid the shrink to have this rand when shrinking. I guess it's due to the poor quality of the shrink...The shrinks at the connectors are pretty long but they will go behind the Mobo backplate and won't be visible, so I prefered to have something a bit bold but sturdy.
Let's have a look at the Mobo:
Waaaaayyyy too much blue for my taste. Can't do much about the RAM slots, but after a quick test the black aluminium of the Corsair Vengeance will cover them completely. But it means that to cover them properly I'll have to buy another set (64GB, who said overkill?)
Can't do much about the PCI slots either, but hopefully the massive GCs will hide them.
At least I can do soemthing for the SATA ports, time for a bit of 3M. I grabbed 3 black textures, the standard one:
To be used on perfect surfaces only as it is a bit refective
The now famous carbon:
And a great new product, a very sleek matte black. It has a kind of "frosted" texture:
It has a fantastic texture, the drawback being that it attracts fingerprints like a magnet and that it's pretty hard to clean (like regular frosted glass actually)
Put the carbon on top of the ports, the matte balck on the sides:
Been thinking about painting the Mobo with black Plastidip, but it wouldn't help on the connectors color side...Also, it would cover the Mobo plate and I'm totally fine with it as it is pure BW...Will probably buy black connectors (without cabling) and plug them in the empty slots...If anyone has any suggestion to "blacken" this Mobo I would be more than happy to hear it
Known Incoming issue: I had a look at the PSU and it is light grey with a massive "Enermax" logo. It means "Paint job". The issue is that after a closer look, the front and back plates screws are soldered to the printed circuit boards...Will detail in incoming posts
TBC...
Edited by Leiurus - 7/12/12 at 9:23am
I don't build PC very often, but they are work tool before anything and being a professional in the design/architecure industry they are generally pretty powerful machines. I generally don't go too far on the mod part, but this time I decided to do something more sexy.
Specs:
Case: Lian Li PC-X2000F
CPU: Intel 3930
Mobo: Asus P9X79WS
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 32GB
GPU (display): Quadro 4000
GPU (computing): 3 x GTX 580 3GB
Primary Hard Drive: SSD OCZ Octane 256GB
Secondary Hard Drive: 4 x 1T Hitcahi HDDs 7200rpm in RAID 1+0
PSU: Enermax Platimax 1500W
CPU Cooling: Corsair H80
Optical drives: 1 BR Burner and 1 BR drive (both Asus, can't find the exact reference right now...)
The goal of the mod is extremely simple: keep the PC as black and simple as possible
The build will be divided in 4 steps:
1- Blackening of all parts that will stay in the case after the first test build (this part is done as I start this thread). It include sleeving of all case cables, removal of unecessary parts in the case, CPU cooling sleeving, Mobo filming, etc...
2- Assembly of the system to test it, isolate eventual defective parts, have a precise idea of extra parts to order, gather all cable/extension to be sleeved, etc...The idea is to ensure that the sytem is functionnal and to minimize the orders. Living in Hong Kong, the shipping cost of the orders I place in Europe or in the US is substantial
3- Final air cooled system assembly
4- Watercooling of the system. It may sounds weird to build the watercooling loop as a last step, but firstly I don't have much experience in WC and it is difficult for me to have a clear idea of what I need, secondly the case has a particular design and there's a fair amount of hardware to fit in. I prefer to know exactly how much space I have left in the case before ordering anything in term of WC hardware.
As an introduction, I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures of this post, it's an excercise I'm not familiar with, I'll do my best to improve in the future
This log also has the purpose of gathering members advices and suggestions on the way to achieve the desired result.
Let's start by the main item, the case:
I'm in love with this case
And a shot of it will look with the side panel window:
The PSU will be clearly visible, which mean that I can't afford to let it in another finish than pure black (see issue at the end of this post)
The case cables have been sleeved (sorry for the blur, will post better pics after Step 1 completion)
The 2 largest cables have a different sleeving. I use Bitspower super tight sleeves, which, IMHO, are of better quality than MDPC (weave is tighter), even though it's harder to work with it (it's so tight that the sleeves don't expand as much as MDPC, it can be seriously tedious when the sleeves are tight on the cable). Unfortunately this brand do not carry the largest sleeve size, but I stumbled upon these products while shopping for heatshrink in HK. Not sure if I will keep them, it doesn't really hurt the look but I might change them for real good quality sleeves, time will tell. It has been a pain to sleeve these cables without dismantling the case, but doing it would have mean un-riveting the entire stuff...For those who know this model, it is entirely in brushed black aluminium, the rivets are black as well, and I was not confident at all in finding black rivets to put it back together...
The HDD slots have been easier to do as they can be unscrewed from the case:
Will have to straighten these guys a bit...
The visible white and red cables are the case fans cables. I started to sleeve them but stopped as I realized that I would more than likely replace them by PWM 4 pins fans.
Here's the hardware:
Mobo, CPU, CPU Cooler, PSU...
Graphic cards, HDDS, SSD, RAM, drives...
The H80 fans, sleeved and with black acrylic cirlces to replace the ugly stickers:
The H80 itself after sleeving:
Really hate the rand on the junction beetween the heatshrink and the CPU block, but for a reason I couldn't avoid the shrink to have this rand when shrinking. I guess it's due to the poor quality of the shrink...The shrinks at the connectors are pretty long but they will go behind the Mobo backplate and won't be visible, so I prefered to have something a bit bold but sturdy.
Let's have a look at the Mobo:
Waaaaayyyy too much blue for my taste. Can't do much about the RAM slots, but after a quick test the black aluminium of the Corsair Vengeance will cover them completely. But it means that to cover them properly I'll have to buy another set (64GB, who said overkill?)
Can't do much about the PCI slots either, but hopefully the massive GCs will hide them.
At least I can do soemthing for the SATA ports, time for a bit of 3M. I grabbed 3 black textures, the standard one:
To be used on perfect surfaces only as it is a bit refective
The now famous carbon:
And a great new product, a very sleek matte black. It has a kind of "frosted" texture:
It has a fantastic texture, the drawback being that it attracts fingerprints like a magnet and that it's pretty hard to clean (like regular frosted glass actually)
Put the carbon on top of the ports, the matte balck on the sides:
Been thinking about painting the Mobo with black Plastidip, but it wouldn't help on the connectors color side...Also, it would cover the Mobo plate and I'm totally fine with it as it is pure BW...Will probably buy black connectors (without cabling) and plug them in the empty slots...If anyone has any suggestion to "blacken" this Mobo I would be more than happy to hear it
Known Incoming issue: I had a look at the PSU and it is light grey with a massive "Enermax" logo. It means "Paint job". The issue is that after a closer look, the front and back plates screws are soldered to the printed circuit boards...Will detail in incoming posts
TBC...
Edited by Leiurus - 7/12/12 at 9:23am
