[Build Log] Ebay or the Highway -|- BritishBob

*Have a suggestion to improve the thread/build? Post it or PM me.

Back Story

Ok, so I am off to University in September to study Computer Networks and Security. I built my sig rig about a year ago. Rather than using my rather expensive rig to test software, settings and OS's wit I figured I would just build a decent second machine and that's how this build was born. I don't have the funding to buy the most recent components, or even old components new, so to save money I turned to eBay. Most of the parts so far have been brought second hand, or are second hand. However the Hyper 212s and PSU will be brought new. The PSU is second hand, thank you MacG32.

I have been buying various part of the last few months and due to this and that the machine just hasn't been built, but more on that later.

Just a quick note:

This build won't be finished for a fair while, expect monthly updates rather than weekly or daily... This is due to funding, or lack of it, and one really annoying problem. The problem was the CPU brackets, they have now been removed and I know love Goo Gone, it's awesome.

Parts List/Planned Parts List + Cost
Open for Parts list. (Click to show)
Current total expenditure = £416.16

Current Progress

• Motherboard, CPU and RAM Delivered.
• Acquired a case and temporary PSU.
• Thread started - 21/08/2012
• Get the back plates off the Motherboard. 01/09/12
• Cut out some of the optical drive bays for the motherboard/212s and cut out the I/O sheild. 31/08/12
• GPU delivered and tested. 5970 ready for installation and usage.
• Fit and mod case for PSU.

Still to do.

• Buy a second 212
• Boot using an old hard drive
• Acquire hard drives.
• Fill/smooth the front of the case. [Optional]
• Mount the hard drives somewhere.
• Buy a RAID card.

Cpu backplates...

At some point, someone out there thought it would be a good idea to glue the CPU backplates onto the motherboard with a tacky/sticky glue. This mean I cannot mount the 212s and they are extreamly hard to get off.

Some pics of these damned things:
Before: Pictures (Click to show) 21/02/2012
Ordered a sticky glue removing solution. should be 7-14 working days.
01/09/12
Goo Gone arrives and is used.

After: Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
Case Modification

I need to cut out the floppy drive housing and some of the 5" drive bays to fit the motherboard and 212s.
Before: Warning: Pictures! (Click to show) After: Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
Replacing the screws
Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
Edited by BritishBob - 1/7/13 at 7:44am

Pictures

Components

Motherboard Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
RAM Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
CPUs Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
Case (Still in bits after cleaning) Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
PSU Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
Old PSU Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
GPU Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
Other Stuff Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)

Current Build State

PSU is in. I can actually build it now. Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
GPU is here and works... Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
It doesn't blow up. 05/09/11 Warning: Video (Click to show)
Goo Gone arrived, backplates removed and case cleaned up a bit more. 01/09/12 Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
Cutting finished, still waiting on the Goo Gone.... 31/08/12 Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
Replacing the screws removing labels. 26/08/12
Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
Test Fitting 23/08/12
Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)
Edited by BritishBob - 1/7/13 at 7:46am

People have subbed. 2 more than I expected.

Just some test fitting. The not sure which way the 212 will be mounts, but there's just enough clearance either way.
Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)

Update: Operation Replace and Add screws.

I basically replace the screws for the expansion bays, as they were odd screws. They also have different threads. My HAF X to the rescue. The screw heads are all the same, but the threads are slightly different. I also added screws for the exterior panel's and added some thumb screws to the side panel.







The labels were annoying me. So they have now gone... R.I.P. Pentium 3 and windows 98... When the Goo Gone turns up I will clean up those nasty stick patches.







Edited by BritishBob - 8/26/12 at 10:03am

So I finished cutting. Had to go and get some more cutting disks as I broke my last one. It's a bit messy but there's no sharp edges. I/O shield was harder than I thought.
Warning: Pictures! (Click to show)