case for water cooling

[bigKr33]

I need a case that has exceptional quality yet not too large. I was looking at the cooler master stacker and it is still an option, but if i can get a case thats smaller that can hold all my water cooling that would great.

My goals for my water cooling setup is that the case must appear unmodded. That means no radiator sticking out or external plumbing, everything has to remain internal. The parts i have are in my sig, but the only thing thats stumping me is finding a case that can fit a 120.2 radiator. I was looking at some of the lian li cases, but i'm worried that the radiator won't fit on the top leaving no space for a optical drive and fan controller. The lian li cases i was looking at was the pc-65, v1000 & 1200. The other company i was looking at was the thermaltake cases. I think the thermaltake i was looking at was a vb8000 ( i think?), but it had too much bling to it. And yes i do plan on modding if i have to.

[±Pink=FloYd±]

pc-65.. nice case.. wont break the bank.. and its not that large

[Bootsy]

cmstacker original plenty of room:)

[bigKr33]

Yeah i think i should just still with the cooler master considering its the only case i've actually seen in person at fry's electronics. What i do want to do is paint the stacker entirely black.

So now i'm pretty much changing the topic, but what kind of paint do you use for painting computer cases? Do you need to use a primer and then the color coat?

[Nanometer]

cmstacker original plenty of room:)


:banana: :banana: :banana:

[yuckfou]

get the gigabyte case.

[LvMike]

Where do you want to place the Rad. the CMstacker rev 2 mounts the PSU in the botom only. and has dual 120's in the back. Its a nice case for a top mounted rad but obviously a bottom rad will be a pain.

the CMstacker rev 1 (original) has dual psu mounts so you can mount where ever, top or bottom.

I have the rev 2 and can tell you it is one of the best cases i have owned. i would have liked the rev one better though. The case is SOLID through out and will stand up to some heavy cutting. the doors are reversable and the case rivits are easy to get to if you want to pop them.

The CMstacker has a lot of nice little features that make it atractive, (thumb scres everywhere, tool less design with a tooled option and included casters.

just my 2cents

[LvMike]

The best paints for metal cases are automotive paints. The key is to use a primer, and sand between each coat of paint. When you do paint it, lay the paint on very light, dont try to do full coverage with one or two passes. The gradual build up will make for a better quality finish with out runs or bubbles.

Hold your can level and move your body , as you sweep down the case. After each coat sand the case, (wet or dry) and as you come to your final layers or your clear coat move to the highest grit you can and for best results wetsand the layers.

When im done with my cases i ALWAYS apply a good sealent or clear coat to protect the finish. On my cases i usualy do the following

Sand case to give primer somthing to bite
primer
sand (400-600 grit)
primer
sand (600-800 grit)
pimer (sometimes depending on case and desired finish quality)
sand (800-1000 grit)
paint
sand (800 grit)
paint
sand (800 grity)
paint
sand (1000 grit)
paint
sand (1000 grit)
paint
wet sand (1200-1600 grit)
paint
wet sand (1200-1600 grit)
clear coat
wet sand (1600 grit)
clear coat
wet sand
clear coat

i GO through a lot more painting and sanding than most people but the finish is automotive quality and for me and the people who pay me its worth it. you can get away with 1 coat of primer and 3 coats of paint, but i alway liked the more labor intensive finish better.

[yuckfou]

key word when case painting : Patience

[Makubex_GB]

The Gigabyte Aurora should fit everything nicely and I think it's smaller than the Stacker.

[bigKr33]

Okay guys i finally bought my cooler master stacker from fry's for only $160, and thats including tax. I'm having an issue with the case though, the little brackets that you clip on to the dvd drive don't line up properly. What i did was center the dvd drive best i could and just screwed in the bolts, works ok, but not as good of a mount as it could be. Can you buy cooler master dvd drive acessories so i can mount this drive better?

I like this case and all, but the only think i'm not really liking is noise. I mean its not that bad, but i only have a total of 2 case fans running and my thermaltake big typhoon and its the same noise level of my antec p180 when it have 4x120mm case fans total including the heatsink which makes 5 total. Right now in my cooler master i have 2x120mm arctic cooling one of which happens to be off. They both run with 56cfm@ 26dB, they are very quiet, but ones only running and i have yet to change the 80mm on the top which is very very quiet. I think the reason why i'm getting this noise is because of the simply fact that this case lacks the insulation of a p180. Once i get my water cooling on my cpu, and gpu though the noise in the case will go down quite a bit. Then again i'm going to be running two panaflos on the 120.2 rad, so the noise should even out, i'm getting a vl fan controller too from xoxide.com

Does anyone use insulation for their stacker that works well?

[bigKr33]

The best paints for metal cases are automotive paints. The key is to use a primer, and sand between each coat of paint. When you do paint it, lay the paint on very light, dont try to do full coverage with one or two passes. The gradual build up will make for a better quality finish with out runs or bubbles.

Hold your can level and move your body , as you sweep down the case. After each coat sand the case, (wet or dry) and as you come to your final layers or your clear coat move to the highest grit you can and for best results wetsand the layers.

When im done with my cases i ALWAYS apply a good sealent or clear coat to protect the finish. On my cases i usualy do the following

Sand case to give primer somthing to bite
primer
sand (400-600 grit)
primer
sand (600-800 grit)
pimer (sometimes depending on case and desired finish quality)
sand (800-1000 grit)
paint
sand (800 grit)
paint
sand (800 grity)
paint
sand (1000 grit)
paint
sand (1000 grit)
paint
wet sand (1200-1600 grit)
paint
wet sand (1200-1600 grit)
clear coat
wet sand (1600 grit)
clear coat
wet sand
clear coat

i GO through a lot more painting and sanding than most people but the finish is automotive quality and for me and the people who pay me its worth it. you can get away with 1 coat of primer and 3 coats of paint, but i alway liked the more labor intensive finish better.

Well actually i really just want to paint the entire inside of the case black, and i have no idea how i would do your procedure. So would just getting some of that automotive spray paint just do the job? And i mean without using primer and just using the spray paint because i have no idea how you can possibly sand the inside of the case. I don't want the inside of the case to be shinny, but just like how the outside of a stacker is which is not glossy, but not flat or dull either.

[bigKr33]

Whats wet sand?

[npk]

As far as I know ( correct me if I´m wrong), it´s just applying a little bit of water to the surface before using sand.

[bigKr33]

cool thanks, but i just got news not too long ago that one of my step dads former employee paints cars for a living, and i'm in the process to see if he can do it. I really don't have a proper room in the house to do all this let alone the skill, but we'll see what happens.

Something i do plan on doing is buying the cooler master window panel and drilling two 120mm holes on the panel. Problem is though, i don't know what drill bit to buy, and what size to buy. Oh wait you need a dremel don't you?

My plans are to have the entire case on the exterior black gloss, and the interior of the case black. I'm going to remove the top 80mm fan, and just have it act as a vent. The rad is going to be mounted in the front of the case with the fans in the pull position pointed to the rear of the case. And if it all goes well i will have two 120mm fans perpendicular to the rad fans as an exhaust on the window side panel. I may buy some foam insulation to rid some of the vibration, and to lower the noise a bit, and get some rubber screws for the fan mounts. I'm going for a stealthy look, and i want this computer to be easy on the ears. I know i said i was getting a vl fan controller, but after looking at some of the matrix orbitals i'm going to get one of those instead in the next couple of days, preferably the mx610.

I will post pictures if this project every gets done, but most likely not till after May. I will post pictures hopefully

[bri1]

you can get a chenmings 602 and cut 2x 120 mm hole son top and put a radiator grill over it and have a bix 2 with 2x panaflos in it or you can go for a cm stacker and just put the radiator infront.

[bigKr33]

If you read my last post, i already have one, got it last week. And yes i am putting the rad in the front.

[Jumba]

Hiyas, I'm also in the same position as bigKr33. I am torn between the Lian-Li 1000 or the CM stacker. It's a real pity the 1000 doesn't have the space. Will the CM fit a triple rad (ie 360mm x 120mm)? And if so, whereabouts in the case would be best?

[JoeBar]

Front or top.

[mrkram]

i just got my stacker today and most likley will be putting a pa 120.3 on the top. so far i love it and haven't even put anything in it! :>

[bigKr33]

Yeah the stacker is really nice, infact it has so much room that i canceled my back order for the pa120.2 so i can buy a pa120.3 which i'm going to mount in the front. The stacker is a very good case for water cooling it has so much room, way more than my p180.

I'll post pictures when the rig is fully done.

[phelan1777]

another stacker slacker here, going to get a 120.3 as well. Where is it going? on top of things, where I like to be muhahahahaha


hey guys wonder if we can line them up and get a Stacker Convoy going ;)

[Jumba]

Sounds good, thanks for the feedback. Okay, next question... would a triple rad fit in the top of a Lian-Li PC-V1200 chassis? It is a fairly long case 210(W) x 490(H) x 625mm(D), but I'm concerned that if I try and fit a triple up top I'm going to interfere with the mobo or one or two of the PCI slots. Also, the "stealth" CD-ROM flap at the top front, can that be moved down? Thanks for any feedback - I'd really love a Lian-Li if I can get it to work.

[Mankz_91]

Smallest case i think you can easily WC without too much modding is a PC-7 SE. otherwise, if you like to get your hands dirty, get a Coolermaster Wavemaster and Mod it. take a peek at Project :: Wavemoster in my sig.

the answer is no. i think if you mount it far enough forwards you loose like 1 or 2 slots.

also, yes, you can move all the bezels around.

[clokker]

another stacker slacker here, going to get a 120.3 as well. Where is it going? on top of things, where I like to be muhahahahaha

I think all you Stacker guys are missing another (IMO, superior) location for the rad...the case floor.
I had a PA120.3 mounted in the front bays...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/clocker/mini-140.jpg
...but decided it was an inefficient use of space.
I modified the top panel as well, thinking of maybe mounting a rad up there...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/clocker/roof.jpg
...but decided against it because
a) it would have required removal of the PSU cage which is a major structural component in the rear of the case and
b) I've found roof mounted rads to be crankier to bleed properly.

I finally installed the radiator in the casefloor and couldn't be more pleased with the results.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/clocker/floorfannage.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/clocker/mini-totalloop.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/clocker/Mesh.jpg
Something to consider anyway....

[phelan1777]

did you flip your mobo tray to the other side of the case?

I was debating that last night, just think its funny that you posted the pics since yesterday, (GET OUT OF MY HEAD!):D :slap:

[clokker]

Yeppers.
Makes the tube routing more logical.

[phelan1777]

Yeppers.
Makes the tube routing more logical.


What did you use to get such a sweet cut for the top of the case, and mesh?

[clokker]

All the cuts were done with a fine-toothed jigsaw and the mesh is "modders mesh" from performance pc.

[JoeBar]

Very nice work! :up:

[clokker]

Thank you.
She gets retired (probably into the closet if past history is any indication) and a different version gets built into a Silverstone TJ-07 in the next two weeks.

The waterloop has already changed since those pics were shot and I'm hoping this will be the final s939 till I decide what to do next.

[Azh_fx]

deffinatly a stacker. (not the best looking though)

one to deffinatly avoid is the antec p180

[JoeBar]

TJ-07 is a very nise case!

[bigKr33]

Clokker you are my inspiration :) I'm actually really considering in flipping my mobo tray, but the problem is though, i don't know how you found a panel to mount on the opposite side of the case:wth:

You actually already applied the same idea i have, and that was painting the inside black. It looks really good, excellent job ;)

[clokker]

I'm actually really considering in flipping my mobo tray, but the problem is though, i don't know how you found a panel to mount on the opposite side of the case:wth:

What "panel" are you referring to?

[bigKr33]

The window panel, did you make or did you buy it?

[clokker]

I made it.
Originally it had the round mesh grill.

[bigKr33]

oic, so you cut the grill out. I still have the original piece too, but mind i ask you how you did that? You used a dremel of course, but did you buy plexy glass and just glue it on, rivets, etc..? I want to learn how to mod.

Maybe some tips or techniques?

Oh and thanks for replying back so quickly :)

[clokker]

You used a dremel of course,
I don't even own a Dremel and probably never will.
Regular straight cuts are much easier in sheetmetal with a jig saw and the appropriate blade- in this case a 24tooth metal cutting blade.
I clamped a straightedge as a guide and the entire window took less than 15 minutes to finish.
Minimal filing was required.

The modders mesh is "glued on" with Plumber's GOOP, an adhesive sealant sold at most hardware stores. It oozes thru the holes and creates a very strong bond...I doubt I could remove the panel without destroying it. GOOP would work well with Plexi as well, no need for rivets or screws.

Keep in mind that most of the casemodding we do is very basic sheetmetal work.
If you want to know what tools to use ask a shop that works with sheetmetal.
They'd laugh their asses off if you mentioned a Dremel.
A hand nibbler works well for small irregular type holes and a trepanning type adjustable hole saw for fan holes.
A drillpress comes in very handy as well.

[YanBooth]

www.mountainmods.com

[phelan1777]

tHIS sucks, after review, and looking at my 810, I can't flip the mobo tray. Cause the bottom plate and rear vertical supports and the mobo tray only sit one waY!!!:mad:

[D_o_S]

I'm sorry if you bought already, but personally, I find the Stacker too small.

[YanBooth]

Mountain Mods To Tha Rescue!

[phelan1777]

those are TO BIG! Now that is compensation for something ;)

[YanBooth]

too big? too NOT xtreme you are

lol, i am going to have a custom done by them soon that is over 24" (cubed)... im thinking it will be 26"

ya...