Shazza's Modest Mountain Mods Build

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Originally Posted by shazza

For me, keeping them on top made wire management more cumbersome, but I'm sure it can be overcome. My drains are very convenient to use, although the use of the 90 degree fittings is controversial and probably not absolutely necessary. I did, however, try the CPU loop with no 90 degrees and found no temp difference - so went with the shorter tubing.

My disclaimer is that I am not an extreme OC'er ... so I define performance as decent temps and ability to run the system very quietly when I want to. How it looks is actually secondary, although I like things neat and tidy.

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Haha, no need to worry about a flame or anything. My questions are purely for assisting me with my newest MM build. I've had a Horizon for the past two years: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=150496

I wanted an update to the Horizon so I went with my new CYO Horizon case. Out of all the cases, you've done the best with wire management. As a result I'm seeking your advice on optimal orientation for the sake of routing and cable management disregarding the performance part of the equation.

I appreciate all the insights you provided so far.

One other question, as this is my first build with an anondized paint job, I'm looking for bay covers to cover up the slots I'm not using. Would you suggest the anodized bay cover or the acrylic ones? I've used the acrylic ones in the past with my powder coated ones, but I'm wondering if the anodized ones are better.

[QUOTE=shazza;3585825
It varies from 1 to 3 ... but I do have my rad fans on the controller (3 fans soldered into one lead). It's still controlling, but looks like I blew out the LED ??? Dunno, got another on order though.[/QUOTE]


My controller works well with two fans per channel.
Having three fans per channel, the led rpm flashes from 1500 RPM's( speed of my fans)
to 0 RPM's every 2 seconds, but keeps the fans at set speeds.

these controllers may not be able to handle more that two fans per channel, tho its rated for 1A per channel and my fans are 0.24A per fan.

Well see how long it lasts.

If you get another one and it does the same thing or not with three fans on one channel, let me know. If not i will RMA this one.

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Haha, no need to worry about a flame or anything.

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No worries, ranker ... I didn't interpret your questions as flaming. Re the bay cover ... I used acrylic in my first MM build. I think it looks better if you have something interesting to see behind it. My preference is the anodized if you're just covering one or two slots. The cover I have on the bottom right bay is a Lian Li fan holder ... I used it to give myself another exhaust fan. I had it because this originally started out to be a 343B build.

@ Nemon ... I'll let you know what I find with the new Kaze. The rating should take three moderately powered fans, but not sure what I've done to mine. Odd to me that only the LEDs are out on 3 / 4 connections.

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Originally Posted by mcoffey

I know what you mean. Anyone wanna buy some spare 343b parts......:rofl:

Just went thru your work log again, some really great work you've done on this one, and definitley gaves me some more ideas for wire management.

Superb build:up:

andyc

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Thanks so much for the kind words, andy. Yeah ... I've got some nice parts for anybody doing a 343 build :yepp:


Well, I finally figured out how to make those bays look like they belong in my case:


http://shazza53.smugmug.com/photos/4...52_9A83u-L.jpg


(Apologies to the serious-minded here, I just needed a break from finally cleaning up all my mess from this build)

Shazza, I have to say that I'm blown away by your work. You are by far the coolest Grandmother! Mine just sits around eating dry biscuits, drinking earl grey tea and watching Coronation Street...


I look forward to your future offerings. :)

nice build. hows the murdermod sleeving kit? I'm ordering mine today. how much do you get?

oh, and BTW "Elderly Grandmother who enjoys gaming and trying to build a PC"
REALLY?

Shazza, great sleeving job and excellent setup, in every case. I actually really like the Lian Li air cooled build, it's really slick.

Fantastic photos too. It brings me a lot of pleasure to view a work log that someone put some effort into and that has great pictures.

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Originally Posted by charles_h

Shazza, I have to say that I'm blown away by your work. You are by far the coolest Grandmother! Mine just sits around eating dry biscuits, drinking earl grey tea and watching Coronation Street...

I look forward to your future offerings. :)

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Hey ... I like biscuits too :p: Thanks, Charles ... it's been fun.

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Originally Posted by retrogamer1990

nice build. hows the murdermod sleeving kit? I'm ordering mine today. how much do you get?

oh, and BTW "Elderly Grandmother who enjoys gaming and trying to build a PC"
REALLY?

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You get lots with the Psychopak ... enough for you PSU and lots of other sleeving as well. Well worth it, in my opinion. And ... yeah, just a lil ol lady here, trying to keep up with you guys. Can't wait to finish Fallout 3.

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Originally Posted by BlueAqua

Shazza, great sleeving job and excellent setup, in every case. I actually really like the Lian Li air cooled build, it's really slick.

Fantastic photos too. It brings me a lot of pleasure to view a work log that someone put some effort into and that has great pictures.

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Thanks for the compliments, BlueAqua. Means a lot coming from you.

This build is almost over :( It's been a design/build as I progressed - never meant to get this intense. A couple more hardware updates, and it will be pretty much done. My next one will be better planned, but will be sometime later this year.

I love those latest pictures, very creative. :clap:

You definitely have a talent for builds and could easily sell them professionally. :up:

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Originally Posted by shazza

@ ranker ... you know, I've had them both ways. I ended up going with the bays on the bottom because I wanted to set my reservoirs on the top of the bay casing. I thought this might lead to vibration, but no issues - so I decided to leave it as is. My case sits on my desk, so the location of the optical drive isn't a problem.

I am the master of trying to figure out how to fit components in without having to use additional screws / holes / etc. (cause I have no skills in that area). I'm sure you'll be able to come up with a much better way to mount everything. I may still try the (UN) Designs brackets, but so far things are sturdy and quiet.

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I went with a slightly different idea. I wanted the larger amount of 5 1/4 bays because of the reservoir/pump combo I plan to use (if it ever goes on sale). So I did a CYO using a horizontal config and with all 4 sides with patterns having the 3 hole on the bottom.

I was thinking of it has having the same affect as a pedestal, but without the additional size to the case. The idea is that there will be a cooling chamber, if you will, on the bottom, with the 2 rads pulling air in front and back, and then venting right back out the adjacent sides, and then with all the left over heat up top venting through the holes on the top and back.

We'll see how it goes. I'm holding off on my build on the fair chance I may be out of work this summer, but that's giving me plenty of time to learn at the feet of the masters like yourself :)

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Originally Posted by Aielman

I went with a slightly different idea. I wanted the larger amount of 5 1/4 bays because of the reservoir/pump combo I plan to use (if it ever goes on sale). So I did a CYO using a horizontal config and with all 4 sides with patterns having the 3 hole on the bottom.

I was thinking of it has having the same affect as a pedestal, but without the additional size to the case. The idea is that there will be a cooling chamber, if you will, on the bottom, with the 2 rads pulling air in front and back, and then venting right back out the adjacent sides, and then with all the left over heat up top venting through the holes on the top and back.

We'll see how it goes. I'm holding off on my build on the fair chance I may be out of work this summer, but that's giving me plenty of time to learn at the feet of the masters like yourself :)

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I'm starting my build today and I think I'll try it with the opposite orientation. The only thing I worry about is that it makes cable management much harder.

awesome hardware

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Originally Posted by ranker

I'm starting my build today and I think I'll try it with the opposite orientation. The only thing I worry about is that it makes cable management much harder.

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Well if it was easy, what would be the point? ;)

peace,
Aielman

:yepp:

I was originally going to put the bays on top however because I am so picky about cable management I had to settle with them on the bottom. The SATA cables would have had to been almost four feet long in my case! I know your cases are a little smaller but the cable would still have to be long. It doesn't matter about the power cable because you can just extend it to where you need it.
In my case the bays on the bottom actually works out better because my case is on my desk. If you mount your motherboard horizontally then I'm not sure cable management would be too difficult. There is always a way too hide cables if you try hard enough.

Welllllll ... all good things must come to an end. Added my second 4870x2 card yesterday, and somehow managed to bork my Rampage Extreme. I had this problem before when I tried to add the second card, but the board was within the 30 day period at Newegg, so I got a new one. This one has been working great, so thought I'd try again. Dunno what I did :shrug:, but will see if my RMA is successful. If so, my brother will have a new setup, cause this is my 4th ASUS RMA, and I'm gonna try something else.

This build is coming down today :( It's been fun, and a great learning process. I really appreciate all the support you folks have given me.

In memory, as I wipe the tears away ...



http://shazza53.smugmug.com/photos/4...74_pUXbN-L.jpg



http://shazza53.smugmug.com/photos/4...50_2NSDd-L.jpg



http://shazza53.smugmug.com/photos/4...07_cascY-L.jpg



http://shazza53.smugmug.com/photos/4...43_i9MpC-L.jpg


My blingy 90 degree fittings
http://shazza53.smugmug.com/photos/4...90_WfSKJ-L.jpg





:wave: THE END (for now) :toast:

http://shazza53.smugmug.com/photos/4...01_Watcx-L.jpg

nice final pics :up:, except the end, the dead of the MB, very strange that it didn't work to put the card in CF ...

Shazza - please more pictures. All of them are very beautifully showing your system, so I guess you can even show more. Please do us all the favour. :)

Sorry to hear about your motherboard. But this just gives you the opportunity to redo the rig.

As we all know sometimes the journey is more important and fulfilling than the destination. :)

Shazza becareful.

2 HD4870X2 can draw 73amps on there own. Im running that setup.

Also another thing, not giving your HD's enough voltage will lead them to dying. This is very common.

So keep an eye on your voltages if possible.

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Originally Posted by Oli4v

nice final pics :up:, except the end, the dead of the MB, very strange that it didn't work to put the card in CF ...

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Thanks, Oli4v.

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Originally Posted by dualbrain

Shazza - please more pictures. All of them are very beautifully showing your system, so I guess you can even show more. Please do us all the favour. :)

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Thank you, Nils. Unfortunately, the only pics I have now are tear down shots -- just too sad to post :(

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Originally Posted by SiGfever

Sorry to hear about your motherboard. But this just gives you the opportunity to redo the rig.

As we all know sometimes the journey is more important and fulfilling than the destination. :)

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So true, SiGfever. No regrets ... it was a very entertaining journey. I'll pick myself back up and get started all over. Hubby's taking me to dinner to help relieve the pain ;)

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Originally Posted by NaeKuh

Shazza becareful.

2 HD4870X2 can draw 73amps on there own. Im running that setup.

Also another thing, not giving your HD's enough voltage will lead them to dying. This is very common.

So keep an eye on your voltages if possible.

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Yep ... that may be the case, although this PSU did handle two cards before when they were on air. The mb acts like one I had before that I killed by getting water on it ... but, I can't find any evidence of a leak. We'll see what Asus finds out.

its friggin anoying.

I have never seen a system with power consumption like this.

Honestly its quite scary if you think about it.

:rofl:

Shazza i asked jonnyguru his thoughts on dual psu's setups and how to set one up properly.
I'll keep you updated with what he tells me.

Seems like our only hope maybe to dual psu our systems. :rofl: :up:

Certainly was a nice clean looking set-up shazza and some great photo's too :up: