PROJECT: MM Pinnacle 300 (previously Ugly Duckling)

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08-27-2009, 11:30 PM
Kibbler

Charles, for the grill, consider that seed of thought firmly planted (and occasionally watered). I pondered on the workflow required and it shouldn't be too difficult (hope I'm not jinxing myself here, cross your fingers). Remove panel, measure, measure, re-measure, cut, file, apply magic anodizing pen i.e. sharpie, reassemble. Should only take a couple hours, which naturally will translate to about 4-6 hours. If by the end of the workday I'm still comfortable with the idea, I'm hitting the dremel after dinner.

Like I said, your creative input is always welcome. :up:

Any other suggestions out there (for the grill or overall)?

The optical drive slot I'm not promising anything more than further consideration. I will likely leave it as-is, it's as what I'd envisioned all along. Colored acrylic cover maybe? I dunno...something to mull over. I'm open to ideas to tart up the top 1/3 of the faceplate a bit. Those three murdermod lines actually look kinda cool even though at first glance they looked like trickling blood or a mini velociraptor attack.
08-28-2009, 05:45 AM
bianco

that looks great bro!
yes, cut that case to give the radgrills a cleaner outline/opening. with your cutting skills, it should be like 'stock'.
optical drive, colored acrylic. that was my plan b. but i couldn't get a clean cut to fit the opening. and i'm too proud to consider laser cutting. haha.
08-28-2009, 06:35 AM
xaxis

I'm really digging it man! My first instinct was to be a hyper-critical jerk and recommend that all your hex head bolts be either cap screws or machine screws but not both ... but I wouldn't do a thing like mention something as minor as that, especially with its hugely subjective posture. :D

in all seriousness though your pulling your MM away from being an MM and into becoming it's OWN case... if that makes any sense... I kind of see MM cases (well all cases) but MMs in particular as the blankest of pallets to begin, with room for infinite potential. You're doing wonderfully. :up:
09-24-2009, 12:44 AM
Kibbler

1 month later...

Back from vacation!

Front and top panel cuts are done (filing took 3x longer than expected). After washing, "re-anodizing" and reassembly it looks just like the photochop on the previous page so there's no need for intermediate photos. Final photos are coming soon enough.

There's a new build brewing...favoring Westmere + 5870 (skipping Lynnfield, I tend to upgrade on the tick cycle) but lets see what nVidia has for DX11 first. I'm faithful to ASUS ROG so the next board will follow suit, ATX or mATX? Undecided. LiLi P50 + GTX360 to round out the package. Looking forward to it!

Thanks for looking.
10-04-2009, 08:33 PM
Kibbler

Work and SF4 and RE5 and new iPhone means not a lot of progress recently.

Front USB ports are blacked out, sleeved, and installed.
10-04-2009, 08:45 PM
emoners

man i wish i can make builds like you guys! :up:
10-04-2009, 09:30 PM
Neox69

Dude, this project is on-going huh? I like it... :)
10-04-2009, 10:21 PM
Kibbler

Quote:

Originally Posted by emoners

man i wish i can make builds like you guys! :up:

Most other builds take a tenth of the time this one has taken. ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neox69

Dude, this project is on-going huh? I like it... :)

Yup, STILL on-going. :)
10-10-2009, 08:15 AM
shazza

:stick: Just checking back in for updates (don't ya just hate it when people do that).
10-10-2009, 09:35 AM
ohms

Kibbler is my hero. Now I'm kinda afraid to put pictures of mine up once I get started because mine will look like poo...
10-11-2009, 07:31 AM
quattro_

love your work :up:

what type/size screws your using in the top radgrill ?
10-11-2009, 11:37 PM
Kibbler

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazza

:stick: Just checking back in for updates (don't ya just hate it when people do that).

And...sorry, this is not exactly the update you're looking for. :ROTF:

Pinnacle300 is 2 steps from being totally complete in my book: Soldering power/reset switches and drive eject switch...I hate soldering and I've been putting it off past all other tasks. I promise, I'll have the photos up soon.

For the next build...
I removed the GTX360 just before placing the order because I realized Sidewinder has it for $30 less, for that difference I'll gladly wait until Gary has it back in stock. Case will be purchased locally to avoid postage-rape.

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/2061/ppcs.jpg

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/7742/59790955.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohms

Kibbler is my hero. Now I'm kinda afraid to put pictures of mine up once I get started because mine will look like poo...

Thanks ohms, please do upload your pictures. No matter what you think it looks like there's always something to be gained from them. Either others get to learn something from looking at them, or you get to learn something from the comments others make. :)

Oh I replied to your PM. Take a look.

Quote:

Originally Posted by quattro_

love your work :up:

what type/size screws your using in the top radgrill ?

Thanks quattro. Those are 6-32x3/8" socket caps with a #6 washer. The MM panel holes are too big to be fully covered by the socket caps alone, which is what the washers are for.
10-12-2009, 06:30 AM
quattro_

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kibbler

Thanks quattro. Those are 6-32x3/8" socket caps with a #6 washer. The MM panel holes are too big to be fully covered by the socket caps alone, which is what the washers are for.

thanks, just want to add that your build is the reason i finally ordered my Pinnacle-24.
10-12-2009, 09:19 AM
shazza

Quote:

And...sorry, this is not exactly the update you're looking for.

Are you kidding, shopping is my favorite part of all this stuff :up:

Of course, I can't wait to see more pics, and delighted to see a second build progressing to the shopping cart stage!
10-12-2009, 06:27 PM
Kibbler

Quote:

Originally Posted by quattro_

thanks, just want to add that your build is the reason i finally ordered my Pinnacle-24.

Great to hear, good luck with it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazza

Are you kidding, shopping is my favorite part of all this stuff :up:

Of course, I can't wait to see more pics, and delighted to see a second build progressing to the shopping cart stage!

Sucks that GTX360 seems to be out of stock everywhere, or at least the places that will ship overseas.:mad: Anyone know whats up? I'm gonna have to check if SW will get them in soon and if not within a week or two then I better get one from PPCs before they're gone, too.

Now I'm worried if the case I want is still in stock as well...gotta make some calls.
10-13-2009, 02:21 AM
quattro_

=-=- edited = ooops out of stuck :( -=-=

get it form DD store :
http://www.dangerden.com/store/black-ice-gtx360.html
they ship WW and have very good costumer service :)
10-18-2009, 08:25 PM
charles_h

any updates Kibbs? :)
10-24-2009, 06:31 AM
Kibbler

yay for me (not going into this build though...)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3518/...fcfe6690_b.jpg
10-24-2009, 06:54 AM
anubis_is_evil

good looking block..love the black mounting screw by swiftech, too bad its not sell separately..

what do you mean that your not going into this build again kibbler ? new build ?...

keep the update kibbler..
10-25-2009, 07:47 PM
Kibbler

Quote:

Originally Posted by anubis_is_evil

good looking block..love the black mounting screw by swiftech, too bad its not sell separately..

what do you mean that your not going into this build again kibbler ? new build ?...

keep the update kibbler..

Yes, new build. Still working on specs. The case and watercooling parts I've already decided but I'm on the fence on the other bits, e.g. Lynnfield or Gulftown etc etc.
10-26-2009, 10:38 AM
Kibbler

Part 464: Wrap Up

464 days since the first post of this worklog, and I can call it, "done."

Of course, nothing is ever "done." Given endless time and resources a thing can be improved upon over and over again, always getting closer to perfection but never reaching it. Thus "done" is a merely mental switch that allows one to redirect their energies towards other endeavors.

For me, due to a combination of vacation, work, and other involvements requiring my attention, the "done" for this worklog already occurred about a month ago. But it couldn't be said to be physically "done" until tonight, the last loose ends tied up. It's not to say I didn't put my full effort into it, quite the contrary. It simply means I let things drag for too long.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2579/...414b2eb9_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2539/...2411e010_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/...fcd89f39_b.jpg

(Protip: Don't run the computer side-panel-less for more than a month before taking so-called "finale" photos. It will take your entire evening to clean it all out.)

So what's the next big thing? Well I already have a few parts on hand: A new Swifty XT, Koolance res, 2 HWL rads on the way, and I'm picking up the case tomorrow. same pattern. The ideas are rolling, the energy building up.

Thank you all for your interest and comments, I hope you will check out my next one, too. :)
10-26-2009, 08:18 PM
charles_h

Congratulations on a job well done Kibbs! :up:

Really nice work M8.

Looking forward to your next project. :)
10-27-2009, 02:58 AM
twwen2

Nice work mate, good to see it finally finished! :)
10-27-2009, 03:05 AM
Lagaaja

It was a long journey but well wirth it Kibb. Hope you've have enjoyed and learned from it :) Because that's what this whole community is all about:up:
10-27-2009, 03:19 AM
bianco

awesome job bro. and i'll surely take note of your pro-tip (running bare-sided). haha. thanks!
looking forward to the next project. :up:

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