ABS/Tagan Black Pearl - evolution of a water-cooled rig

Believe it or not, Wezly - I did actually consider that. The issue I have is there is virtually NO room behind the motherboard tray in this case (my major complaint with the case). SO, it could be done, but I'd have a rat's nest behind the mobo tray, and I'm trying to keep that area neat and tidy.

The PCI-E cables barely fit back there. And, as you can see, I cut my holes larger than I would really like them. In retrospect, I should have gone ahead and used a small hole, then re-attached the connector. Unfortunately, this isn't very practical for me, since I change components so often. (I've actually contemplated re-doing the mobo tray, but perhaps I'll just use this as lesson-learned and apply that to my next build).

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I think that if shazza were to water her palm plant more often, it would make her midplate appear straighter.

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:rofl:

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Originally Posted by Wezly

Oh.
Right.

Haha my bad.

Nice picture!

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I could have explained it better so its my bad also

and yes I am a paint genius I even spelled the word tension bad :ROTF:

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Originally Posted by melle.k

and yes I am a paint genius I even spelled the word tension bad :ROTF:

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I saw that and second-guessed myself! -_-U

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So shazza, why don't you have multiple midplates and mobo trays to swap between?

And since you sleeve your cables, can't you flatten them out and tape them to the back of the tray all over? Could you post some shots of the back and illustrate how the cables will be routed?

(That's right! I'm forcing you to work on your hobby! It is no longer fun it is a full-time profession that eats away at your soul)

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Can't you flatten them out and tape them to the back of the tray all over? Could you post some shots of the back and illustrate how the cables will be routed?

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:eek::eek::eek: Tape ????? :eek::eek::eek:

I'll show some pics as I get further along.

And regarding melle's pic - yes, the tubing will need to be just right whichever version I go for. My method is - estimate tubing length - attach - take apart - recut a smidgeon - put back together - check it - take it apart - recut - put back together ... you get the picture.

No wonder it's taking me a month of Sundays to get this done!

EDIT: the more I look at all these silly photos, I see why many people are leaning to the black midplate. Of course, I know it has to be my decision, but can't tell y'all how much I appreciate the different viewpoints).

Fine, metal tape, whatever! haha
Some sort of fastener that allows the cables to hug the wall... :shakes:

Hey there Shazza,

I love this build, I'm using the same color scheme and your is very inspirational. I am also using the micro x58, my question to you is how are you going to run that pesky 8 pin power connector for the board power?
That is my only real gripe for that MB, and the fact that is was damaged on arrival:mad:

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Originally Posted by shazza

estimate tubing length - attach - take apart - recut a smidgeon - put back together - check it - take it apart - recut - put back together

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I don't have much experience but that seems like a logical way to make it perfect :up:

cant you ad a few Saturdays to you building days :D

good luck with your build. I will be watching and enjoying

Hay Shazza I suddenly felt a little insecure when I saw that you had brought my comment about the black midplate to everyones attention. :rolleyes:
I must say I was greatful as I kept reading on, that I was not shot down by red flames. :rofl:
Personly I do like the black, I feel it accentuates the red (dam I hope thats the right word) allows the red stand out, make a statement without being to overpowering,
I think it's best I just stop there, hay. :yepp:

As I read through the other comments, I think I read the the midplate is just a temp.
If so and you intend to make another one, then having two bends at 90 degrees down each side would really help keep it straight, the bends would only need to be 10-15mm.
Having the bends face down would be strongest way, if you intend to place any weight on top of it or it will bend, more like the sides will kink actually.

One other thing I also feel would look good/better and thats mounting the EK res to sit flush on the midplate.
This would also help to make the res look more stable.
If you copied the way the Captian did his pass throughs with the Lezlies, the res could sit flush and would still have a water tight seal. :up:

Just my 2 cents, humm well more like 1.8 cents with the Aussie exchange rate. :rolleyes:

Oh and next time you water the palm, cocos said she would really like some high nitrogen fertilize as well, I'am sure she would much appreciated that as well.:up:

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Originally Posted by Wezly

Fine, metal tape, whatever! haha
Some sort of fastener that allows the cables to hug the wall... :shakes:

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Gotcha ... will do.

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Originally Posted by .:R32

Hey there Shazza,

I love this build, I'm using the same color scheme and your is very inspirational. I am also using the micro x58, my question to you is how are you going to run that pesky 8 pin power connector for the board power?
That is my only real gripe for that MB, and the fact that is was damaged on arrival:mad:

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Thanks, R32. If you look at the pics that follow, you can see where I'm running the 8-pin up in front of the board through a hole I cut (not yet the final version, but gives you an idea).

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Originally Posted by melle.k

I don't have much experience but that seems like a logical way to make it perfect :up:

cant you ad a few Saturdays to you building days :D

good luck with your build. I will be watching and enjoying

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Oh yes .. . I try to do a bit each day. Just a lot left to do! Thanks for helping me.

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Originally Posted by kgtiger

Hay Shazza I suddenly felt a little insecure when I saw that you had brought my comment about the black midplate to everyones attention. :rolleyes: ...

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All good points, Graeme - never be shy about posting criticism or ideas. Keep following, and perhaps you'll see why I'm not concerned by the res at this time. And, about that palm - she's not doing badly, considering the week of almost-freezing temps we had here ( I do smile at the fact that you guys think I would actually be trusted to care for plants of any kind ;) )



More mocking up:


What's it look like with the front panel on?

http://shazza53.smugmug.com/Computer...58_6dvMN-L.jpg




No, no, no - the stock mesh panel just won't do. We get something like this when the mesh is replaced with acrylic (readily available online). This is with the back panel on as well:

http://shazza53.smugmug.com/Computer...03_4nUGe-L.jpg




Don't worry about the crooked res - you already know I don't like it much. Here's why ... I'd like to incorporate something like this display into the side panel. So, I'd have to cut a custom window for the mobo section, adding an opening for the display. I haven't shown the display before, because I'm not sure I'm up to executing it (meaning framing it properly, I'm sure I could kill it in a heartbeat):

http://shazza53.smugmug.com/Computer...21_sT7Sq-L.jpg


And yes, I should be wearing gloves when working with the panels - or at least washing my hands after making a pastrami sammich :(

very nice and clean shazza! good work, go on this way! ;)

Panels are designed to be smudged.

I used to work for a computer case manufacturer, and the last step was to spray it with smudge-inducing powder.

It's inescapable.

always a pleasure to help shazza:up:

Thanks for the heads up on the 8 pin power connector. I have thought about this as well but having a smaller case I only have about 7cm between the MB and powersupply width wise, also not taking into account the heatsinks on the MB.

I have a feeling I will have to get very creative to make it work for me, the other option is going over the top.

Decisions, decisions.

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Originally Posted by shazza

...snip...

http://shazza53.smugmug.com/Computer...21_sT7Sq-L.jpg

...snip...

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I'm really not liking you right now shazza. :dammit: I've been working on an internally mounted monitor build since last Aug, you trying to upstage me?:p: Albeit, my build is a tad smaller than yours. :D

YGPM.;)

Do I have the understanding of this bit right. :shrug:
"adding an opening for the display"
Do you mean, cutting a hole in the new perspex window for the monitor (is it a touch screen?) is that what you mean?
Or have I lost the plot on this one? :rolleyes:

Really nice touch by the way. :up:

To clarify - my preference is to cut two windows in the Aluminum side panel - the regular one, then a smaller one for the display. I have a spare side panel with no cuts in it - so that fun is yet to come. This particular display is not touch - if I found one that worked well, I could change to that, but so far I haven't found a good one. This particular display is powered by USB.

(There actually is no acrylic / perspex on the side panel at the moment ;) )

shazza, My recommendation is that you remove the monitor from it's housing and mount it flush to the inside of the windowless panel, similar to how mine will be mounted. The tricky part will be the actual form of mounting, you could use 2 sided tape for the easy way or you could get more complex (like myself :rolleyes:) and use epoxy, threaded standoffs and screwed down clamps. Seeing how your monitor is mounted inside it's housing would make it easier to determine which would be best.

@waterlogged - that's my intent. Having a few issues removing the bezel, so sent a note to the manufacturer.

Hmm, if there's now screws, it's likely a snap shut design, trick is to figure which way it snaps. Can you post a pic of the back and a side?

Thanks for clearing that up Shazza, this will be interesting to see how this all works out.
More power to you Shazza and Waterlogged for trying something different.

Ha Ha ... just received a note back from the monitor folks (they responded within one business day). Of course, they took the easy way out -

"We would strongly recommend you to not disassemble the USB Monitor in
anyways. (Like removing the front bezel)"

And with the usual comment that the warranty would be voided (which I already said I wasn't worried about). I don't blame them, but I'm getting ready to take the screwdriver out and attack it anyway :) Will post some shots if I have any luck (or not).

Go for the eyes!

FINALLY! srry but that was deserved been trying to post and get my account activated since the 22nd of december. been following this case mod, as i did manage to grab one of those black pearls from newegg for 99$...(to those who didn't take comfort....i recieved the case new....a wrench...that didn't fit anything for the case, some rubber belts about 3inches in diameter and all the standoffs for the mobo tray were meant for graphics cards...i also built this one in the dark seeing how the apartment i was living in at the time had horrible electricity...let's just say taking my girlfriend's jeweler's saw to the standoffs on the back of my crosshair III formula mobo was...scary to say the least.)(it also didn't come with the antivibration rings for the hdd's) ok now that my rant is over....

i'm wanting to mod the black pearl now, little scared as it'll be my first mod, working on getting all the tools and supplies now it'll be a while before i can actually do anything with it. but i plan to attempt to either do a dual or tri-loop watercooling design, mostly bc i want the case to be completely watercooled, but don't want any loss in performance for cooling the mobo and ram.

so i'm going to get 2 120.4 rads for the bottom adn then just a dual for the top, the dual will be for the mobo/ram. and then the bottom rads although agreeably more then i'll ever need one for cpu and one for gpu. hoping to upgrade gpu to 5870/5970 by the time i get everything together. or the 2 5870s...just depends how lucky i am. and i'll be using the 355(times 3) for the pumps.

don't know my colors yet, i like the dark red and i'm wanting more of a metallic grey on the outside. but thanks to asus/rog design i have a white light glowing brightly on my mobo, and a blue lit audiocard...so i might go for a more mild and "cooler" look of brushed aluminum and icy blue.

then i saw your idea for a built in display...pure brilliance...perhaps in the future i'll add one in. but that wont be for a long while still. and i kinda like it top mounted...gotta love popups :P

idk those are just my ideas for a build...i'll have to find some replacement covers...no. 1 best thing about having a mostly-goldsmith for a gf? she's great at cutting/working side panels :)

can't wait to see the finished product for your build it looks AMAZING!!! and please if u have any suggestions pm me or post them, i'll start my own worklog once i can get all the mats in. (p.s. have considered if i'm putting that much of my own money into this build might go liquid chilling...let me know your thoughts ^^)

Welcome to XS, 4GOTTEN. Good Luck with your project, and yes, get that work log started!


@ Waterlogged - didn't forget about posting pics of the display, just got sidetracked. We've tried every which way to get the plastic bezel off, and no luck. I've removed every screw I could find, and tried to pop every place I could. May just give it a go with the plastic on, although that isn't ideal. (It comes off the stand - just have it sitting on that for the photo session)

Some Pics:


http://shazza53.smugmug.com/Computer...10_zjDoQ-M.jpg




http://shazza53.smugmug.com/Computer...35_U2zpJ-M.jpg




http://shazza53.smugmug.com/Computer...86_at7U6-L.jpg




Metal for my new midplate came, so double checking all my cut locations. Temporary mock-up of the underside for tubing flow:


http://shazza53.smugmug.com/Computer...25_noZRC-M.jpg




http://shazza53.smugmug.com/Computer...35_UVrZA-M.jpg

Enough room, and the fittings don't touch. (and yes, that nasty res needs a cleaning).



And, didn' forget - someone (Wezly or kgtiger?) asked for a pic of the back to show how the cabling is going to go. This is not how it will be - just showing that all I really have to run on the backside are the GPU-PCI-E cables, the power / LED cables, and I'll have about 4 SATA data cables (those are the hardest to route). Oh yeah, will also have some USB cables messing around here and there.

http://shazza53.smugmug.com/Computer...68_tXEyk-M.jpg

looks very good. there is a nice kind off wave in the tubing:scope: