Project: 'pimp' [black pearl,dual loop, powdercoated]

[lowfat]

Every other log has a name so I guess pimp will do :rolleyes:

Anyways.. Pics of old setup:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/IMG_1317.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/IMG_1360.jpg

I want to do a significantly better job this time around. I want this case done perfect the first time around.


Hardware used:
eVGA 780i
E8400
4GB Patriot Viper
2 Galaxy 8800GTs
800W Odin GT
Silverstone Commander ESA fan/light controller.

Loop 1:
DTEK Fuzion V1
ViperJohn 780i NB Block
MCP355 w/ EK X-140 top
MCR320

Loop 2:
2 x MCW60
MCP350 w/ Petra's top
Swiftech Micro-Res
MCR220

Here is the Black Pearl stock. Although I am sure most of you know what it looks like. :shrug:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/IMG_1363.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/IMG_1361.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/IMG_1364.jpg


case stripped and RadGrillz templates on.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1411.jpg

Radiator holes cut. Still need to clean up the edges a bit.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1413.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1414.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1415.jpg

And yes the doorstep is my workshop :down: Well off to work. Tomorrow I'll be cleaning the edges up and cutting the remainder of the wire management/tubing holes.

[ownage]

Looks nice Lowfat. I was just about to ask you on your process with the Black Pearl in the other 'should I buy The Tagan Pearl' thread. Guess this answers my question :D

[disruptfam]

NICE start look forward to updates!!

[Cptn Vortex]

Lookin good! Hard to keep up with both worklogs though! Lol

[Pellepel]

Nice start, did you use a rotary tool to cut the outline's of the radgrill?

[lowfat]

Nice start, did you use a rotary tool to cut the outline's of the radgrill?

Yes. Tried a jigsaw at first, but I found it too bulky to use.

[MomijiTMO]

eh you don't have to have a perfect hole since the rad grill will cover it up :D

[Dangals]

Looking good! - keep the pics flowing!

[Blacky]

Where I can get those AC ryan line tracing for rad drilling :)? between subscribed

[lowfat]

Where I can get those AC ryan line tracing for rad drilling :)? between subscribed

They came with the Radgrillz, you can also download them from the RadGrillz product listing on Performance-PCs.



So I am doing a test fit with the rads installed and notice that these.....
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/wrong.jpg
should of being cut off and not avoided. The 1 1/4 inch screws aren't long enough with them still there. So looks like all the time I took to actually keep them was in vain.

o well.

[Jamesrt2004]

looking good so far looking forward to grabbing a couple ideas :D

[lowfat]

looking good so far looking forward to grabbing a couple ideas :D

don't worry, I'll be borrowing a few from other installers as well. :p:

[lowfat]

fixed my screwups and radgrillz mounted.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1448.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1452.jpg

[Cptn Vortex]

Very nice!! Man I need to get some Radgrills! Will the ones you got work with Swiftech MCR series??

[lowfat]

Very nice!! Man I need to get some Radgrills! Will the ones you got work with Swiftech MCR series??

I am using Swiftech rads, so yes :)

some sleeving pics...
A few pics of the sleeving.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1455.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1457.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1458.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1459.jpg
usually you can't see through the sleeving on the PCIe cables, I think i just had too much light for the pics.

[lowfat]

So I no have reached a HUGE problem in the build. The radiator up top is blocking 1 PCI slot and 1 PCIe slot. Both of which are very important to me. Either I can loose my RAID card & soundcard, or I loose SLI.

Solutions:
a. Loose the 2nd loop. I have all the equipment already and I really wanted to do a dual loop setup.
b. Loose SLI. Either buy a new more powerful card, or stick with a single 8800GT.
c. Buy another HTPC/file server. Throw the bluray/hddvd drive,soundcard, and RAID array in it, then use onboard sound *shiver* for my gaming PC.

Still undecided what to do as of yet. The whole reason I bought this board was for SLI :mad:

Pick of the mock-up setup to make sure everything was going to fit and to pick where the wires would be run, and holes be cut.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1469.jpg
Excuse the :banana::banana::banana::banana:ty picture. Still trying to figure out a way to take a good pic of a case without daylight.

[Dangals]

Sorry to hear about your current dilema

just wondering is there a reason why both the rads can't be mounted down the bottom?? I am assuming due to a large number of HDD's but correct me if I am wrong.

If the 220 rad could be moved to the bottom that would allow you to keep all of your current hardware in the one machine.

[lowfat]

I don't think I have room enough to move the MCR220 to the bottom. I have a hard drive cage (with 4 HDDs), a microres, 1 pump, and both drain valves down there already. Although I still will try my best to get it to fit without loosing hardware.

[Dangals]

what is currently going in the bays up top?? have you considered a bay device that will hold the hdd's - that will free up a considerable amount of room at the bottom for your res, pump and drain valves.

I hope you can sort it out as it would be a shame to have to split it up if it doesnt work out...

[Alt]

Can you post a link to all the sleeving stuff you are using? I really wanna sleeve some cable but am totaly lost on what sizes etc... to get.

Builds coming along fantastic by the way.

[lowfat]

what is currently going in the bays up top?? have you considered a bay device that will hold the hdd's - that will free up a considerable amount of room at the bottom for your res, pump and drain valves.

I hope you can sort it out as it would be a shame to have to split it up if it doesnt work out...
I can likely move the hard drive bay up top, and quite likely be able to fit everything in the bottle, albeit beyond cramped (and likely no drain valves yet). Will post pics of mockup setup in the morning.

Can you post a link to all the sleeving stuff you are using? I really wanna sleeve some cable but am totaly lost on what sizes etc... to get.

Builds coming along fantastic by the way.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=44_135&products_id=832


and using this for heatshrink
http://cableorganizer.com/heat-shrink/heat-shrink3.htm#DUAL

The dual wall heat shrink is expensive stuff, but very good.

[MomijiTMO]

Looking good lowfat.

[b@llz0r]

Still undecided what to do as of yet.

How about mounting the fans outside the case covered by a shroud?

That should buy you ~25mm

[Eddie3dfx]

Another black pearl user.. looks great!
I'm glad you posted this because I was looking at how the 2nd card would fit with the 780i in this case and this kind of gives me the idea of how much clearance I will have to put a radiator/25mm fans flushed to the top.
What do you think of the fan controller?

Is the middle gfx card on the 4th screw connector from the top?

There is plenty of room in the bottom compartment for radiators.
I mounted 3 down there. One 320 on the floor, 1 120 on the left where the fan mount is.. fits very nicely.
One 220 the motherboard side (cutout side of the case that is solid and added rad grill)
just relocated the 220 down below and use the top for fan exit.

[yarden]

i hope some fatter tubing will be implemented this time preferably with out hexis coils??? :)

[Blacky]

great work so far :up:

[leo_bsb]

Buy the koolance shroud and mount the rad on top. It looks good and will match your case.
I thought you didn't need the pci slots, I noticed you would loose those first time I saw your case cuts.

[lowfat]

Another black pearl user.. looks great!
I'm glad you posted this because I was looking at how the 2nd card would fit with the 780i in this case and this kind of gives me the idea of how much clearance I will have to put a radiator/25mm fans flushed to the top.
What do you think of the fan controller?

Is the middle gfx card on the 4th screw connector from the top?

There is plenty of room in the bottom compartment for radiators.
I mounted 3 down there. One 320 on the floor, 1 120 on the left where the fan mount is.. fits very nicely.
One 220 the motherboard side (cutout side of the case that is solid and added rad grill)
just relocated the 220 down below and use the top for fan exit.


I haven't used the fan controller yet. I hope it works good :p:.

Yes, the top videocard in the picture is on the 4th 'screw'.

Yes I think I'll be able to get everything to fit in the bottom, except I am having problems finding a way to mount the 2nd res above the inlet of the pump. I could buy another res, but that means delaying this project another 2 weeks. I've been without a gaming PC for way to long already.


i hope some fatter tubing will be implemented this time preferably with out hexis coils??? :)
Fatter tubing? :ROTF: 3/8ID 1/2OD or bust. I'll be doing some very tight turns in this build, pretty sure the coils will become very handly.


Buy the koolance shroud and mount the rad on top. It looks good and will match your case.
I thought you didn't need the pci slots, I noticed you would loose those first time I saw your case cuts.
I would prefer to keep the case clean, without adding shrouds or mounting the radiator outside the case.

[lowfat]

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1472.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1473.jpg

This is the way I've decided to set it up. The Micro-res will hang above the MCR220.

I think I might even like it better with all the watercooling gear down below and the HDD bay up top.

Now to do some cutting.

[leo_bsb]

Well, you could had the cut on the other edge. Will you use all 5.1/2 bays? Can you reverse the top cover, so the rad cut will on front?

[lowfat]

Well, you could had the cut on the other edge. Will you use all 5.1/2 bays? Can you reverse the top cover, so the rad cut will on front?

The entire front and top is a single piece so no I cannot be reversed. I don't like having my optical drive anywhere except for the top-most drive bay :p:

[lowfat]

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1474.jpg

a case without wheels is no case at all :)

They are the Lian Li casters from Performance-PCs.

[Dangals]

Nice on lowfat :up: knew you would work something out to keep it all in.

Looking forward to some more pics!

[Jamesrt2004]

how are you mounting those HD's may i ask ?
and I want pics of where you cut for help with wire management :)
(if thats ok that is)

+ wheres other pump and Res going to go mate?

[lowfat]

how are you mounting those HD's may i ask ?
and I want pics of where you cut for help with wire management :)
(if thats ok that is)

+ wheres other pump and Res going to go mate?

I am just using the stock Black Pearl hard drive bays, which IMO are very well designed. Definitely better than the V1000 I use to have.

You can see both pumps in the one picture above. Right between the MCR220 and the PSU. The Switech Micro-res is going to be located above the MCR220, screwed to the front of the chassis.

[disruptfam]

looking mate.... what color power coated you going with black?

green tubing?

[lowfat]

looking mate.... what color power coated you going with black?

green tubing?

Either going with Charcoal, Gunmetal, or Anthracite. In that order depending on if they have the first two.

Green tubing w/ blue coils for loop 1. And blue tubing w/ green coils for loop 2.

[Darren1981]

Looks good mate.. nice like the bottom grill you have going


Stop teasing me with all these "Tagan Black Pearl" cases..

For the love of god or there lack of, here in Australia i cant find this case anywhere.. and will cost to much to ship i would say..

if anyone happens to know where to get here in aus please yell out cheers

[lowfat]

Looks good mate.. nice like the bottom grill you have going


Stop teasing me with all these "Tagan Black Pearl" cases..

For the love of god or there lack of, here in Australia i cant find this case anywhere.. and will cost to much to ship i would say..

if anyone happens to know where to get here in aus please yell out cheers

It might be called the A+ Black Pearl there. I've been told that is what it is called in the UK.

[Arni]

G8 idea with that grill :)

[weston]

Where did you get your desk chair? I Have the same one! also on the way is a V2000 for me, so It's cool to see so many of these to get some ideas! looks good so far

[lowfat]

Where did you get your desk chair? I Have the same one! also on the way is a V2000 for me, so It's cool to see so many of these to get some ideas! looks good so far

I bought the chair @ Jsyk. I really do not like it, and would replace it if i were not so cheap.

[lyl]

Are you going to cut the bottom of the case where the 120.2 sits?

[lowfat]

Work has been busy so not many updates for me.

This is the case as it stands
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1485.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1486.jpg
all the tubing and cable management holes are cut. Just need to finish the drain valve holes. Now here is the thing I am using these types of blades for the small circular holes;
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1490.jpg
However I am going through them like butter, and they are $10 a pop. Anyone have a better solution? I've spent a good $50-60 on damn dremel blades.

[majestik]

I would just get 2 small hole-saws... like 1" and 1.5".

[lowfat]

Are you going to cut the bottom of the case where the 120.2 sits?

I guess I didn't see this post, as you can tell yes i did.

And about the hole saws, I've tried a good half dozen times to use them. The last being today. I bit the bottom of the case pretty badly. Thankfully it is on the bottom and out of view.

[disruptfam]

i know you said a jigsaw is too bulky but thats what i used for my v2000 used the dremel for harder bits and the jig for the straight runss... only need that 1 blade

[lowfat]

i know you said a jigsaw is too bulky but thats what i used for my v2000 used the dremel for harder bits and the jig for the straight runss... only need that 1 blade

I am done all my straight line cuts, the only things I have left are the 2 1 inch holes for the drain valves.

[disruptfam]

hole punch?

[Pellepel]

I think you have to take the panels off for the hole punch. Was planning to do that this weekend for the drain loops. But since my case was all mounted. I just went out bought 1" hole bit. There's two part, a drill bit which is insterted to the center 1" hole bit. I don't know if that make sene, but I can pull up some pics if you want.

Drilling was a breeze too...

[lowfat]

I just don't have luck with hole saws. I ended up breaking the pilot bit in to two pieces last night trying to drill the hole.

Anyone ever tried using a rotozip?

[Tile]

My advice is to get a stronger holesaw designed to cut through steel. These holesaws have a bigger pilot drill.

[charles_h]

I just don't have luck with hole saws. I ended up breaking the pilot bit in to two pieces last night trying to drill the hole.

Anyone ever tried using a rotozip?
Rotozips are great but are also quite terrifying to use. :eek:

A 6amp@30,000RPM rotary hand tool can go wrong in no time. I've built jigs for everything I use the rotozip to cut.


For your 1" hole I suggest a step drill bit:

http://www.lenoxtools.com/enUS/Product/VARI-BIT_STEP_DRILL_BITS.html

I've got the VB2 and have cut over a 100 holes with it without issue.

[NaeKuh]

your having problems drilling a 1inch hole?

Or is this your having problems with a 4 3/4 hole saw?


nothing will get you that clean circle cut other then a hole saw btw. Well a laser or high pressure water could do it.

[Eddie3dfx]

Black and Decker Dremel!
I have a dremel, rotozip, and black and decker..
The black and decker will give you more precise cuts while the rotozip has just too much power and jumps quite easily.
I'm working on my tagan right now..

[lowfat]

For your 1" hole I suggest a step drill bit:

http://www.lenoxtools.com/enUS/Product/VARI-BIT_STEP_DRILL_BITS.html

I've got the VB2 and have cut over a 100 holes with it without issue.

problem is I can't find them for sale locally anywhere :down: I've been looking for a few days for a stepping bit now.

[lowfat]

My advice is to get a stronger holesaw designed to cut through steel. These holesaws have a bigger pilot drill.

It was a bi-metal hole saw, with as rather large pilot. I was rather shocked that the pilot broke.

[lowfat]

Found a stepped bit in town. All the remaining cuts turned out amazing. Its a shame I never bought one before. Case has been dropped off at the powdercoaters, so hopefully not too much longer.

[PaRn ssR]

Great mod

Quickly please...:)

[lowfat]

finally got the case back today, and i am not impressed. This is the 3rd case I've gotten done and by far the worst workmanship they've done. The colour is great, but there are spaces that were missed. Here are a few teaser pics before I am off to work. It is very hard to get a picture of what the actual powdercoat looks like. The colour is a dark brown (almost black) w/ a bronze flake.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1524.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1518.jpg

Will try to grab a few pics later on tonight.

[lowfat]

actually i took a few more pics, the quality isn't bad per say, just not exactly how I had imagined it.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1528.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1526.jpg

[MasterOfTheReal]

It looks almost "dirty" was the powdercoat contaminated maybe?

[lowfat]

It looks almost "dirty" was the powdercoat contaminated maybe?

the powdercoat itself looks great, it is just hard to capture in a picture. they just missed a few parts inside, bent a few things, and a few specs of dirt were coated over.

[MomijiTMO]

I think it looks awesome!

[BlueAqua]

Really does look great from these pictures. Great preparation to get it ready to powdercoat. Looks like you thought ahead quite a bit.

[lowfat]

Rads are mounted. As you can see in the picture just under the drive bays is one of the areas they did a poor job on :(
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1532-2.jpg

[lowfat]

I really hope this drive never dies as it definitely will not have any warranty now. The rest of it is getting painted as grey = eye soar.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/1000.jpg

[HaCKs]

You could always buy the same drive from a retailer, and swap the innards for your painted one, and return it, that way you still get your RMA.

[disruptfam]

the outside of the case looks fantastic!

[filmbot]

May I ask where you sent your case to get powder coated? Somewhere locally to you or is there places that service specifically computer cases?

[Eldonko]

Looks great

[lowfat]

May I ask where you sent your case to get powder coated? Somewhere locally to you or is there places that service specifically computer cases?

locally.

[OdinEidolon]

i really love the case. it seems it's gonna be a great mod!

[skinnee]

Exterior looks very good, but I see what you mean on the inside...the bottom of the drive bays looks bad, need to find a way of covering up their mistake spots. :D

[Eddie3dfx]

I think the powdercoating looks gorgeous!
So what mods do you think we can do with the front led/fan controller??

When I start it up, it takes the 2000 rpm fans and immediately starts it at 1600. I wonder if there is a jumper

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=68147&stc=1&d=1196631211

[elite.ire]

ant updates lowfat, or are u waiting for the new intel cpus ?

[lazy]

I really like how you installed the mcr320, i wanted to do that on mine but didnt want to regret the look.

[lowfat]

ant updates lowfat, or are u waiting for the new intel cpus ?

No updates as I have lost interest in it :shrug:

The powder coating just doesn't look good. At the moment I don't know what I am going to do with the case.

[Kibbler]

:( can they sandblast and re-coat?

[lowfat]

ya, but they would charge me. Pretty shady place :( . Next time I will definitely be doing it myself.

[Eddie3dfx]

ya, but they would charge me. Pretty shady place :( . Next time I will definitely be doing it myself.

I think it looks really good.
Can you post more pics of what you think is bad.

[BlueAqua]

That's too bad to hear. Lots of money down the drain is a real downer.

[RickCain]

No updates as I have lost interest in it :shrug:

The powder coating just doesn't look good. At the moment I don't know what I am going to do with the case.

That sucks! I'm sure you can sell the case (only) and do something else.

[lowfat]

Rads are mounted. As you can see in the picture just under the drive bays is one of the areas they did a poor job on :(
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b110/tulcakelume/log/IMG_1532-2.jpg

posted on page 3. you can see how there is bare metal at the bottom of the drive bays. And in between it is almost entirely missed. They were suppose to clear coat the entire case but didn't do the interior at all.

I'll finish it one day, but that day isn't today.

[charles_h]

Yeah, I'm sorry too lowfat.

If you want to ship it to me, I'll get it stripped and properly p-coated Bro.

[affiliate13]

I have really been enjoying following this build, i hope you can find a way to continue.
After all you have got this far and done so much already. :)

[elite.ire]

unlucky m8 :(, i hope you get it sorted and can once again follow your build with grave intrest :D

[emir]

The preject is going very nice my friend, except the bottom of the drive bays. But i'm sure you'll handle it easly, waiting for the update curiously.

[Eddie3dfx]

update??????

[lkiller123]

i know, no updates?!!