[Build Log] The Big Red "Devastator" CaseLabs THW10 - Custom Powder Coating

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Final Top 100 Pictures Post #3


Welcome to my build log! This is not my first build, but it is the first time that I’ve done a build log. I’ve have learned a lot over the years from hanging out on OCN, so this is my opportunity to contribute back to the community.

I will do my very best to make this build log fun, entertaining and informative, with lots of pictures. I am a total amateur at photography, but I do have a Nikon D3300 camera, which isn’t high end, but should take much better pictures than a cell phone can. Hopefully I can improve my photography skills along the way as well.

Here’s some background on how I got started on OCN, and how I got to this point. Back in 2012 I was planning to do a new build, and I wanted to build it in a red case. After doing some googling, I found The Big Budget Boomer Box build log. When I found the build log, it was already over 2,000 posts long. I just got completely sucked in, I was in complete awe! It took me several weeks, but I read every post until I got caught up, and have been on OCN almost daily since then.

So I want to thank @cpachris for getting me hooked on water cooling!

I also want to thank all of the many great builders and modders here for all of your contributions. There are so many great build logs here!

Scope of Project - Estimated Completion:
This is going to be a long term project for me. I have always been one to “quick tear it down, do the upgrade, and quick get it back together I need my rig”, I’m sure many of you can relate to that. My current machine is serving me well, so now I can take my time on this one without having to rush anything. I want to enjoy the ride!

I estimate this to be completed no sooner than the end of this year 2017, or more likely early 2018. When it’s done it’s done. I am very busy at times, so there might be several weeks or even several months at a time when little may get done. Just hang in there with me and you’ll be glad you did.

Plus the hardware I plan to put in this build will not be available until the second half of this year. I have lots to do meanwhile. I see so many people buy all their hardware first, and then by the time they are done with the build the hardware is a generation or two old. By the time I buy the hardware for this build, the case, radiators, fans, most of the water cooling, plumbing and wiring will all be done. It will be a complete chassis just waiting for some awesome hardware.

Naming:
No this does not have anything to do with any transformers, I just like the name "Devastator". I’ve had this project and name rolling around in my head for several years. Way back when I first started gaming, Duke Nukem 3D was my favorite game. I had memorized every map, knew where all the good weapons were, where all the armor was, and the “Devastator” weapon was my favorite weapon in that game.

Secondly, this will be my main rig for years to come, and I want this build to “Devastate” anything I throw at it, whether that is gaming, photo or video editing, as well as mass storage, and whatever else I want it to do.

Third, my fantasy football team is named "The Devastators". I won my League Championship this year too.

Case Selection:
I waited years for CaseLabs to come out with the “Gemini” case, but it has been delayed, and once I saw the THW10 case come out, I decided that would be the perfect case for me. I was planning on starting this build some time this year, early 2017.

However, after CaseLabs got so busy last Summer that they had to stop doing custom orders temporarily, I was worried that they might be so busy in the future that they would not ever offer custom orders again. I really wanted a reverse ATX case because I sit at an “L” shaped desk, with the computer to my left, and I want the main side to show from my chair, and also the video card blocks can be seen much better in a reverse orientation.

I know that most likely no resellers are going to carry the THW10 case in reverse ATX, and certainly not in the configuration that I wanted, or in the color I wanted.

So I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the THW10 on the last day for custom orders (at that time) which was July 31, 2016. I’m super glad I ordered it when I did! It took 16 weeks, and finally arrived the weekend after Thanksgiving. I was at the end of a long list of custom orders. And now, as of this writing, you can still order the case, but the only two choices you have is the color black or gunmetal, and ATX or HPTX.

My Custom CaseLabs order:
MAGNUM THW10 - Customizable
Case Color: Gunmetal
Form Factor: XL-ATX
Orientation: Reverse
Left Door: XXL Window CLEAR
Right Door: XXL Window CLEAR
Standard Power/Reset Switches with Sleeved Cables
I/O Panel: USB 3.0/HD Audio
Flex-Bay Configuration Left Side: 140.2 (280) Mount with Solid Bay Covers
Flex-Bay Configuration Right Side: 140.2 (280) Mount with Solid Bay Covers
Top Radiator Mounts: Two 140.4 (560) Mounts
Bottom Radiator Mounts: Two 140.4 (560) Mounts
Reservoir Mounting Plate Two Single Mounts

Also ordered
2 x Flex-Bay 140.1 (140mm) Fan/Radiator Mounts
Caster Kit
Flex-Bay 5.25 Device Mount – Short
Flex-Bay 5.25 Device Mount - Short HD
Flex-Bay 5.25 Device Mount - Short Adjustable
Ventilated PSU Cover
Switch Assemblies - Style: Switch Plate - No I/O
Replacement Retention Clips Gunmetal
Along with a bunch of extra screws and misc hardware

Theme:
No real theme per se, just a “nice clean build”, and “max rads - max fans”.

Colors:
Red – Gunmetal – Black - Chrome

Projected Hardware at start of build log
Motherboard: Asus X299 Rampage equivalent
CPU: Intel Core i7- Skylake X
Memory: G.Skill 64 GB
GPU: 2 x EVGA Volta Titan or 1180ti equivalent
PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 T2
SSD: Samsung 960 EVO 1 TB for OS & Programs
SSD: Samsung 850 EVO 2 TB for games
HDD: 4 x Western Digital Red 8 TB in RAID 10 for mass storage

Actual Hardware Used
Motherboard: Asus Rampage VI Extreme
CPU: Intel Skylake X Core i9-7900X Silicon Lottery delidded 4.7 GHz bin
Memory: G.Skill TridentZ Royal 32GB 3600 16-16-16-36
GPU: 2 x EVGA RTX 2080 Ti XC Gaming
PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 T2
SSD: Intel Optane SSD 480GB for OS & Programs
SSD: Samsung 850 EVO 2 TB for games
HDD: 2 x Seagate Iron Wolf Pro 12 TB for mass storage

Cooling:
Radiators: 4 x Hardware Labs Black Ice SR2 560mm
Radiators: 2 x Hardware Labs Black Ice SR2 280mm
Fans: 30 x EK Vardar F3-140ER and 2 x EK Vardar F4-120ER with custom painted fan blades
Pumps: 2 x Aquacomputer D5 with USB and Aquabus interface
Pump Top: Bitspower Dual D5 Mod Top Acrylic - Polished
Pump Mod Kit: 2 x Bitspower D5 Mod Kit - Chrome plated
Reservoirs: 2 x Aquacomputer Aqualis XT 880ml with Nano Coating and Aquabus interface
Fan Control: Aquacomputer Aquaero 6 XT and Aquacomputer Aquaero 6 LT
Fittings: Bitspower Silver Shining
Tubing: Bitspower Acrylic 16mm hard tube
Water Blocks: Bitspower for SSD and HDDs and Watercool Heatkiller for CPU, VRMs, and GPUs

Miscellaneous
Sleeving: MDPC-X
Lighting Control: Aquacomputer Farbwerk USB & Bluetooth version and Asus Aura software.




So let’s get started with some unboxing pics



Nicely packaged



Mother board tray. Everything comes wrapped in thick plastic


The only piece that was damaged was the center divider that was on the bottom of the box. It was bent/bowed in the center from all the weight in the box. At first I thought I was going to need to get a replacement. I'm thinking "oh no this will take me weeks to get another one", but I was able to straighten it out. I very carefully put the center of the bend at the edge of the table, put my forearms on each side and bent it straight. I had my doubts before I tried straightening it, but after I was done, it was so straight that I could not tell anywhere that it was slightly bent before. Phew!



Top and bottom mounted to center divide


Front panel on


Outer panels all on











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