[Project] Annabel - Fold Box/NAS/Server

*Dued to the images per post limit, this log has been fragmented. You are on part 1. Check out the link at the bottom for the rest.

Not exactly a case mod, but posting this kind of stuff in "build logs" just lacks panache to the n'th.

This build, which IS GOING TO GET DONE(!!!) will be used as my server. I've highjacked my sister's computer to torrent and stuff, but it's so noisy that my dad closes it off at night. Also, torrents from emp on your sister's comp is never a good idea. So I'm getting some ballz and actually building my own.

The usual disclaimer before I start.

Here is how it works. For the sake of continuity and ease of reading, I will edit this first post every time I have too, leaving a date at every entry. For each entry, I will bump the post. DO NOT LOOK FOR MY CONTENT ON ANY OTHER PAGE THAN THIS ONE! I personally hate reading through 1345 pages of "wow nice job" and "I wish I had that case", so I arranged this thing as to spare you the trouble. But don't let that discourage you from posting lots of comments

Also as usual, every picture link's to it's Flickr page, where you are free to leave your comments. Please do so.

Ok. So the idea of this build is to use second hand parts, but solid second hand parts, as to pay minimum, and still get a decent folding box. Also, this thing has to be so silent that you can't tell if it's open or not. No lights, no high speed fans, but a sober, well built, discreet box that packs some heat, if you know what I mean.

Why Annabel you might ask? I don't know. I just thought about the name, and I thought it was great that I starting to name my stuff with girl names. Everybody does it's with their guitars and cars and stuff, Im joining the bandwagon. Even if I wanted to change, I can't... it's like it's locked in. Oh well. Or maybe I'll name it the same as my girlfriend to be? If I get one before I finish it that is. Whatever, there's a thread for that.

Planned specs. At this point, I'm pretty much decided on what to get, and I've already started gather some parts and making buying offers, so if there is change, it'll be negligible. Everything I have ordered or have in my possession is striked out.

• Case: Ultra Grid w/o window Thanks Tiger!
• Power Supply: Ultra 500 watt XVS, included with the case. I won't need anything more, I don't have an 8 series card to feed. Besides, my current PSU is an Ultra, and I trust their stuff. Rosewill 500W
• [B]Motherboard:[/B] Gigabyte or Abit P35. P35 is a champ at keeping the FSBs higher than Towely, which is just what I need to overclock my e4300 to hell's gates. I'll probably take an openbox from here. Thanks whe3ls! DFI Blood Iron!
• CPU: Core 2 Duo E4300 thank you Kopi!
• Memory: G.Skill or whatever the hell I can get for under 50$, either from here or NCIX.Thanks JBROWN! Patriot DDR2 800.
• GPU: No-name 7300 on PCI-e.
• Storage: IDE WD 40 gigger for the OS and apps, and a RAID 1 of either 400 or 500 gig Seagate 7200.10s. That's right, RAID 1. I want redundancy for my media, and 5 or 0+1 is out of my price range for the number of discs that it requires. Besides, who the hell needs really fast disks? NAS in a home network isn't a really disk-intensive. Oh, and also, my current media disk, a 250 gig IDE 7200.10 for non-critical storage and buffer for incoming torrents. Aka pr0n. Lol.

No optical drive on this sucker. I'll just borrow the burner on my current rig whenever the hell I feel like it.

Planned mods?

• The drilled kind of cable management.
• Probably sleeving. Maybe, for ****s and giggles. Yeah, sleeving costs nothing, and maybe it`ll help with the XVS power cable which according to reviews are as long as my e-peen.
• Full foam and/or Paxmate soundproofing. I`ll probably go the cheap way with foam from Rona and half an egg-shell mattress from walmart.
• CPU lapping. Since the case is going to be full of foam, I`ll be wanting to keep my temps as low as they can go.
• HSF lapping aswell, for the reasons stared above.
• LEDs? Ba. We'll see.
• Top secret mod concerning vinyl. I can`t say any more for the moment.
• Disk-corruption or formatting emergency button, to stay clear of the suits.

From here.... it's just a matter of buying the parts, you know, a nerd had gotta flip the burgers for his computers. No fancy plans here, it's a pretty straightforward build, and I'll be posting the pics and announcing the mods according to what happens and how I feel.


My parents and I had a little dispute in the past which resulted in my dad telling me to cancel all my purchases in parts for my server. Of course, this was impossible, but he ordered me to do so, as if I had no control over my very own money. I was so mad I had to take a walk for a whole hour to blow the steam off. I wrote a letter, they read it, we talked, and now it's ok, so I proceeded and bought all the parts I hadn't bought. Proof that civilized discussion and negotiation can take care of anything.

All the parts are ETA Feb. 25th. Curse Paypal for screwing over Canadians with bank wire transfers. Everything is ordered, except for my RAID array, which is gonna be purchased after my bike, as to save up a bit and not give the impression that I'm putting all my paychecks in another computer.

The cost breakdown for this thing as of now:


375 CAD, not bad consider it's gonna make the box I bought for 1500+ sweat. I guess I could have cut some more at some places, but there's a limit to penny-scraping. What I really have to find a great deal on now is hard drives for the RAID array, a pretty big, if not the biggest part of this build.


I ordered my case along with the PSU today, should be arriving next week if Tiger lives up to their reputation. 103 $CAD total, shipping was a buck cheaper than what I estimated.

The CPU is also in the mail, and I'm just waiting for the motherboard payement to clear, as with the RAM.

Now the dilemma is the following: do I get my RAID array or my bike first?


Today is a big day. I got my case from tiger, and the e4300 from Kopi, so my camera and my Flickr took a beating.

First things first, the unboxing of the case. Click the link for the whole gallery.


Yeah, that box was just asking for it. If you know what I mean.


Well packed. Nothing that a dumb fark UPS mailman can't bork, but mine came in one piece, not a scratch or a dent.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2409/...e20f23.jpg?v=0

First glance, I thought the paint job was WAY TOO GOOD for a 60$ case and power supply combo. Black gloss finish, I can't see myself in it, but still it's a nice paint.


Another interesting aspect of this case, the front is metal mesh. Even the product description doesn't mention that, I thought the front panel was smooth plastic from the pictures at Tiger.

See the gloss in the pictures? That's what I'm talking about.

80 mm side vent with a slick chrome ultra fan grill. Nice touch.


Back panel is plain, but functional. I'm eager to see what kind of air the stock fans move.


Plain Jane inside. We'll see if it looks any better with a Blood Iron .


Money shot?

Ok. Uploading to Flickr is taking forever. Lame.

Next up, the cable management drilling. I really don't feel like posting every single pic up here, because some aren't that good, but y'all nerdgers can get the gallery right here.

That little panel right there was ideal, I don't know why Ultra didn't have it cut out in the first place. Meh, I guess it would have been way too easy for me anyways.

First holes. Titanium coated bits are cool, but they still are made for wood, but it's the only thing I had.


After many holes in it and putting the cutter to work. That's when I wish I had a dremel or a nibbler or something.


I used this to finish off. YE OLDE-SKOOLE TOOLE!


Almost finished. The noise filing generated gave my momma monster headaches.


AC home wiring outer insulation, without the cables inside. Ideal for....


Good thing I don't have a window or anything, but it stays there and does the job, so I'm happy. There's also this DIY cool factor to it don't you think?


All cables through.


Much cleaner... I was thinking about doing some sleeving, but considering the VERY limited space available between the motherboard and rear panels, I don't think it's gonna be possible. I had to unbundle and flatten all the cables before putting the side panel on, and despite that I had some trouble.

Potty break, then I'm uploading the CPU unboxing (wrapping?) pic(s).

That was one long potty break. Now CPU.


Needs some cleaning, but otherwise A+.

Here is a little video update for mah nergers. ****ty video quality I know. Next one is going to be better.



Oh boy, I should have updated this before. Lots of new stuff.

First of all, I received my RAM from JBrown a couple of days ago. Here it is.


Those aluminum heatspreaders are looking good. They make my XMS2 look like they were bought at Wal-Mart.

After that, I receive what was supposed to be me super top secret mod for you guys: CARBON FIBER VINYL! I ordered some off ebay, the stuff is pretty neat really.


Only problem is that this stuff is a really pain to stick on. My method was to gradually apply inch by inch while removing the air bubbles with a hard covered book. While it worked, it's far from perfect.


Having a crappy camera has it's advantages: the imperfections don't stand out as much . Not but really, the back panel is the worst, there are air bubbles everywhere near the bottom. I tried bursting them with the pointy edge of a razor blade, it worked for some but there still are slight imperfections. The top section is the part that looks the most decent.


I don't really have a pic that makes the damned thing look like it does in RL. Too shiny, messes up my cams focus.

Just today, another box arrived.


This red piece of plastic on the box transformed my 110$ deal into a 170$ uber fail. I could have gotten a DK P35 shipped NEW for that price. I told whe3ls or whatever his name is to ship with USPS, he told me he'd ship with UPS and pay half the COD if there were to be any. It's weird how now he doesn't answer my PMs and emails.


Thank god, what was in the box was an actually motherboard and not a bag filled with rocks. I must admit that DFI has the twist for making attractive packages.


The mofo with the stuff mounted. Sadly it isn't lapped yet because I haven't dropped by Canadian Tire for the sandpaper, and besides I don't have my cooler yet. If you have something for me, check out this thread or PM.


It's a necessity: the modder's injury. I was tugging on a molex, slipped and a SATA connector decided to take a bite out of my finger. I loled at cutting myself with a blunt plastic part.


First OS installation, XP x64 for testing.


Idle temps are OK, 39 on stock cooling with fresh out of the tube AS5. Stock volts, thermal throttling and C1E disabled.


Load temps with dual core Orthos is 74, totally unacceptable. I'm not even risking an overclock, specially since Linux FAH client doesn't use just 50% of the CPU in SMP folding. I'm waiting for a cooler.


Currently working on configuration. First I'll be setting up Azureus, bandwidth scheduled and with a web UI, after that it's SMB shares, and after that I might consider setting up Apache... but boy that's a pain. You look leet editing config files via SSH with VIM, but it gets long after a while. Thank god there's TF2 .


Ok.... so.

Configuration is half done: I got FAH running in the background, Azureus is fully configured, complete with port forward and WebUI, also starts on boot. I should be posting some articles soon on how to do so, and possibly FAQs once we either switch to a Wiki or I get enough rep to post in the proper section. Upcoming config includes SMB shares for 2 drives and one RAID array.

However halfway through configuration, I tried to plug in a fan while the machine was running, and the power supply imploded. Dead PSU. Actually not dead, it boots once out of twice, but above a certain amperage, it won't start. This means that I can't boot with more than one HDD. Sucks. I've ordered a 500 watt Rosewill from a member here, echeck is on it's way.

In the meanwhile, I decided to finish the vinyl and lap my e4300.


I was afraid that the fan hole would be a problem with the vinyl. Turns out it isn't. The VGA vents are though... I could cut them out but it would take forever.

That's pretty much the last time I'm working with vinyl to cover big surfaces. All in all, I'm pretty disappointed with the film, for 25$ it doesn't look all that great. It's a server anyways, so I pretty much did this for my own personal lulz, but I wouldn't recommend it to anybody who wants to cover their ENTIRE main box. Accents like drive bay covers are easy to do and look pretty good though. I might be repainting this summer if I get REALLY bored.

Hehe. I've had this wicked idea that involves vinyl and the outside parts of my case... but I don't want to be copied, so I'm keeping it for myself until I get it done. Although it's simple, I don't think it got done before, and I think it's going to be pretty cool.

Also, no worries, OCN is gonna get free ad on the side panel.

Update! Cost is now known, for everything but the storage. Receiving my first parts most likely by the end of this week, and the rest of the stuff by the 25th.

That's it guys... be sure to not leave any comments.

Don't worry, the echeck for the 4300 is supposed to clear today, which means that I should be lapping by next week. More action by then.

Hahaha. Hilarious attempt at french. I loled right there.

At least you tried! Some people who live in Quebec don't even do that, so you get the kudos!