[Build Log] The Define Project

Introduction:

Just got the R4 over my old R3. Decided to do it right this time and prep everything before I put the hardware in. That means, sleeving everything, custom length cables if needed and designing special adapters for stuff that don't fit right away:

Basically, I started this project back in October 2012, but went through a long learning curve of what stuff exactly to buy/use/etc'. So, in fact, I will be assembling the case only in the coming weeks.

* This log is also posted on various other forums, content may differ a little. My nickname is the same on all forums so you can look them up if you want.

Current deadline is set to end of March 2013.

Here's the official spec planned:

Board - MSI Z77 Mpower (former board was GB z68x-ud3h)
Cpu - i5 2500k
Gpu - Evga GTX 670 ftw (SLI planned once I hunt down another ftw).
Ram - 16gb G.skill Sniper 1866 CL9
Psu - Seasonic X-560 (this beast can carry a 2500k and two 670 ftws! prolly not the best idea, but for a fact, it can)
Case - Fractal Design Define R4 (well, obviously lol)

Water cooling equipment:

Pump - Swiftech 655 -B D5 w/Bitspower modkit in matte black.
Radiator - Black Ice GTS (2nd gen) 360mm
Tubing - Nickle plated copper tubings in conjunction with Bitspower Multi-link adapters
Coolant - Ice Dragon Nano Fluid
Cpu Block - EK Supreme LTx (nickle and plexi edition) or XSPC Raystorm
Gpu block - EK FC-680 (old style, also nickle and plexi edition, this one is from the last 2012 batch in October)
VRM & Chipset blocks - Liquid Extasy (should be here by April)
Res - Bitspower Multi-z Upgrade kit for D5 (also have 80 and 250mm versions)

Sleeving:

MDPC: Orange, Shade, Black, Aqua Blue MKII, White
Techflex Clean cut: Black & Grey (only colors available)

* The first post is gonna get updated from time to time so be sure to check it out for some new info.

Lets go:

Taken apart anything that won't be used, hdd/od cages & gromits:



Picked up 'Techflex' sleeving (Furryletters @ ebay):



Then, used it to sleeve the front panel:



I dunno about you guys, but I found the usb-3 cable really annoying, too stiff, slightly too long and hard to manage, in fact coming from the R3, it only gotten "worse", since now there's dual usb-3 slots so the cable is double (2 big wires going into one connector). So... I decided to rip off the original cable jacket. Then, I sleeved the wires over the main filter jacket and tomorrow hopefully, I'll solder it to a new connector (not the big bulky ones from the factory, just the blue part). It's a challenge I admit. I also didn't see anyone else doing this. Maybe it's too "crazy".

Sleeved a sata cable with grey cleancut:


Edited by adi518 - 3/13/13 at 8:12pm

All the pins are removable. I took one side off, slided the sleeving in, then some heatshrink and wrapped it up. However, some of the connectors are really time consuming.

Btw, I took my usb 2 header cable and split it into separate wires, makes better cable management and may ease on the motherboard connectivity. I had this problem where one usb jack didn't supply enough power to my iPhone and other more power-hungry devices like eHDD, etc'.
Edited by adi518 - 9/21/12 at 4:01pm

Made this just now:



Edit: I actually did the heatshrinks on the controller side too short, will have to remake them. :\

This is the fan controller that comes integrated with the case.

And a fan I sleeved last week:


Edited by adi518 - 12/31/12 at 12:55am

Ordered mdpc single sleeving in b-magic, yellow, grey mk II and black, plus some mdpc cable clamps.
Edited by adi518 - 12/16/12 at 5:46pm

I assembled my r3 like a noob so I didn't even bother to clean some residue left from the warranty sticker pulled by the store (they put one of their own)...



After cleaning



I'm actually tempted to de-logo this unit completely.
Edited by adi518 - 2/26/13 at 7:50am

I took 4-5 pieces of masking tape and stick it on the residue, then quickly pulled off. I repeated the process until satisfied.
Edited by adi518 - 11/9/12 at 12:06am