Project: Watery

This project is going to be based around acrylic, and lots of it.

The basic plan is too have the PC parts (inc. water-cooling stuff) in a solid case measuring 320 x 320 x 400 (mm) and then around that box I intend to have a resevior covering both side panels and the front panel. This will be made using 10mm acrylic cut to 45* then cemented together.. The Motherboard will be mounted flat on the top (like a MM Horizon or something). More details >here<

Anyway, I decided to make a start today.. The Radiator will be mounted on the bottom so its gonna need some air flow, so I set about making some legs today. The front of the case will have a 'skirt' so these needed to be quite long. They are made from offcuts of 1" Aluminium...

I started with a pilot hole...

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/2920/97000748ci5.jpg

Then drilled out with a 4.3mm hole so it can be tapped to M5. I'm using paraffin as my cutting compound because I was told to..


http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/2135/79997277uz7.jpg

Then tapped to an M5 thread

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6007/58339263ht8.jpg

All four tapped up...

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/678/53127899hk1.jpg

My machine of choice...

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/7420/51194482ra7.jpg



(they were orignally going to be 'ribbed' but the machine wasn't being helpful, so I went for 'smooth!')
And, the finished articles....

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/63/33274771ob7.jpg


(they still need to be fully polished...)

I also can't believe it took me 2 or 3 hours just to do them... :rolleyes:

1st Side Panel (Right w. rad Grill)

Here are some pics of the first side panel.

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/5773/11404378jo4.jpg

It will eventually be sand-blasted but I can't ATM due to my arm. Its made of 3mm Acrylic and measures 290mm x 290mm x 3mm and was cut on a Laser-Cutter.

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/8224/47823665go2.jpg

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/7756/19165356ck9.jpg


I'm hoping to do the base panel, top panel, mobo panel and some other stuff tommorow aswell :D

AJ¬

Update!

I spent a good 4-5 hours designing and then cutting these panels out..

They are the Top, Front (still needs etches), Bottom and rear panels. The notches in the front and rear panels are for the motherboard panel, and I havn't made a hole at the back for the I/O ports yet because I don't have an mATX I/O shield to hand at the mo!

They all fit together using a series of male a female teeth as it were... Here are some of them flat together...

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/4986/42852579qj3.jpg


A close up of how the teeth fit together.. They are 10mm long and 5mm deep (i'm using 5mm acrylic for these)

http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/2852/79344421cl9.jpg


The rear panel. I still need to mill the hole for a DVD drive, but I'm still deciding between brands and sizes. The rear PSU port should take basically any PSU (fingers crossed! :dremel:)

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/5705/84621379im9.jpg

And how it basically looks now..

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/3949/26122980ms5.jpg


I did do some more work, but unfortunately I also ran out of battery in my camera :sigh:
More progress tommorrow! :thumb:

Update!

Right, I told you all that I ran out of batteries yeserday, so I went down to do some work this afternoon, and took some pics..
Here's how it was as of last night...

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/1812/26553846pv5.jpg

So anyway, I pulled out my now defunct Hiper Type-R PSU and took it with me to test fit in the PSU port this afternoon

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9582/40985265sg6.jpg

Fits like a glove :thumb: (I'm relieved becuase I was basing the hole distances on an internet diagram :worried:)

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/109/94888328jv7.jpg

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/521/44189418wa7.jpg


Space is quite tight, but I've quadrouple measured everything and there is enough room for sure in there.. (i'll also be using a slightly bigger PSU)

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/553/73695524dz1.jpg



with the motherboard tray in.. It attaches to the front and rear panels with 8 20mm tabs (4 on each side)

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/4160/87994150yy0.jpg

and finally, showing the dimensions..

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/2355/54146756rd9.jpg


http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/216/49327459fz8.jpg

And last, but not least in the slightest, I need to thank some sponsors!

Firstly, Willie from HWLabs and Specialtech For hooking meup with a special edition Black Ice GT-Stealth 240 radiator! Thanks alot! :thumb::thumb::thumb:

And Mario from Feser 1 for organising a package full of green water-cooling goodness! Thanks indeed! :rock::thumb: :D

I got a lovely package from www.specialtech.co.uk and inside was.....

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/5104/54989320ca1.jpg

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4303/11183732cq5.jpg

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2052/88434914za6.jpg

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/944/32036241fu2.jpg

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/5417/99143437go0.jpg


A HWLabs Black Ice GT-Stealth 240 radiator in Chrome :jawdrop::jawdrop:

Thats how it came, factory polished...

SOoo, after gazing into the chromey-ness for a while, I test fitted it to Watery...

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4740/96609906oe2.jpg

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/2474/35632665ug3.jpg

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/6708/19252029ag3.jpg

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/6453/41931061lk3.jpg


It fits exactly, bar the side panel holes being a few mm to far to one end.. :clap:

looks like damn interesting project Mankz looking forward of seeing where you are going to take this idea.. :up:

wow, reminds me of the DD torture rack.

can wait to see some more progress :D

Looks fantastic so far, saw it over on bit-tech too. The panels are perfect, wouldn't mind having a laser cutter lying around myself.

Yep! :D

I wanted to build this because...

a) those DD racks are soooo expensive for what they are..
b) its quite alot smaller, and will undoubtablybe cooler..

good to see Watery hit XS

Thanks Beasty...

You sure do get around!

Suscribed :d very nice build!! :d congractSSSS i wait more photos.

I have to Suscribed to this. That looks great :clap: can't wait to see the finished product :up:

Always amazes me to see some of the talents that reside here at XS.
Nice work and look forward to following this project.:up:

wow thats going to be a real piece of art there. Ive always wanted to build my own case. This kinda inspires me to do so. After I get finished with my current project that is.

Keep the pics coming, nice work. :clap: :clap:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mankz_91

Thanks Beasty...

You sure do get around!

---

Are you calling me a forum whore??? :D :D :D


nice rads

Looks amazing so far... I'll be keeping a close eye on this one!

I definatly have to second everyone here... this is quite amazing. What hardware do you intend to run in it?

Nothing too special...

I'm going to be using this as a school system, so along the lines of 775 mATX with an e2160 or so...

Thanks Guys... Really means alot...:D

So,I now need to decide on my final colour scheme... I've allready decided on having a silver/chrome DVD and PSU to go with the Radiator,and the coolant and tubing are akllready set on being UV Acid Green, so I need to decide what colour Sleeving and fans I want..

Here are a couple of shots of what I think would look good...

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6...resizedvt3.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1...ernalrelg0.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/8...esresizhe7.jpg

I'm planning on using ACRyan slleving stuff, aswell as Kameleon Fans...

So, does anyone have any better ideasforcolour schemes or fans I can use ect?

I personally like black and red...

looking good there. keep the pics coming...

chrome colored fans to match the radiator...
or blue led fans to light em up...

I'd love to see a black/white theme in that case--using black tubing with white accent lights \would be prettay darn spiffy, one of my color-scheme petpeeves is when lighted fans take away from the watercooling :D

Looks good! Keep us updated!

One finished resevior.

Took far too long, and the glue I used had a lovely lable saying 'limited evidence of carcnogenic effects' which is really reasuring....

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...1/DSCF2279.jpg

Built using 8mm acrylic that was laser cut. The inside is 20mm across, and the entire thing holds < 1.5L .


http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...1/DSCF2281.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...1/DSCF2282.jpg



Here it it full up with Acid Green Feser One and using Feser Hose.


http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...1/DSCF2283.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...1/DSCF2284.jpg

(during the filling of the res using one of the G1/4" holes as the top, and doing it with the top screwed off and not using a funnel, I managed to spill some over my phone and keyboard. Both still work perfectally. :thumb:

This thig is really going to be sweet!

Fine job so far. :up:

maybe it's just me but it's one of the smallest cubes i've ever seen, and that's just the way i like it! :up:
Looking good so far, keep the updates coming. :)

I'm at home now, so I don't have acess to all the tools I need, so I havn't made much progress.

I put all of the case bits I had together, and took some photos...:

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...1/DSCF2286.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...1/DSCF2290.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...1/DSCF2291.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...1/DSCF2293.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...1/DSCF2297.jpg

Looking good Mankz! :up:
I love how small the cube is, the MM cubes are to big but this one is just right.

Colors should be fine, keep us updated!

Looks awesome! I personally love the smaller cubes (hence the MM H2G0 I have) and I am liking the look of it a lot. :)

That is really beautiful work! I sometimes wish I had access to all those tools, but then I realize that I probably wouldn't have time to make use of them. :shrug:

Will you be able to blow or vacuum out the rad? Or, are you planning to put some kind of filtering on there? I am always amazed at the amount of crud that builds up in my rad's fins, even on a monthly basis.

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/9307/20791679yy5.jpg

A teaser

more!

A teaser?? You call that a teaser!!?!!?!?!?!

I WANT MORE PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

HEHE, you get what you deserve Parker...:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nate P.

HEHE, you get what you deserve Parker...:D

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Hahahahaha! Nate, my friend, my buddy! Your funny. :up:
:cool: :cool: :cool:

Nothing more until after the weekend folks, sorry! I'll give you all a clue, its got something to do with the motherboard.

is it xtreme backplate for mounting purposes?

Nope.. (I'm making one for my phase system though!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mankz_91

A teaser

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You are incredibly cruel. :(

No room in my home for a workshop of that scale. But that's ok because I'm here admiring your stunning handiwork! Well done acrylic looks incredible, and I look forward to watching this come together.

Mobo plate with green UV reative akryl plate on backside for prettyness?

^^ Bingo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mankz_91

^^ Bingo

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Wauw i'm not as stupid as I think :ROTF:

Well, it’s been quite a while since I’ve updated this project, but GCSE’s, work and sport have really gotten in the way of this project, which has actually been really fun to design and manufacture. My GCSE’s are primarily in May, and it looks like I have about 20 free days while I have access to the laser cutter during June, when I’m planning to do most of the work.

So, moving onto the project, I have decided for the n’th time to change back to an mATX layout, still using the two layers. Now, though, there will be the second radiator on the top level, although I am still undecided about whether to use single or dual loops for the cooling. I will be using an external DVD drive to both save space in the bottom layer and because I can then have the PC on a separate desk with the DVD drive over by my screen. Moving onto the reservoir, I was never really 100% happy with overall outcome, so I’ll be redoing that too, this time using separate layers of 10mm and 3mm acrylic, instead of using panels to construct it. The 3mm will be coloured and etched. As for hardware, most probably Intel, and I’m quite taken by the Asus P5E-VM G35i motherboard, as it has the features of an ATX board, but with mATX sizing. However, by the time I’m ready to install it, there should be G43i and G45i motherboards available, which should be good.

Anywho, thats where things are for the time being...

As always, thanks to my sponsors, who have helped me greatly throughout this project so far:

HWLabs SpecialTech Feser 1

piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiics

Res revision 2 in 9 days......

prepare for your eyes to bleed :D

what??? no dovetail joints? :)
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/5705/84621379im9.jpg

j/k... looks sweet... cant wait to see the final product

awesome workshop by the way!

Oh, and I quickly did this aswell..

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...91/special.jpg

This is so cruel, a teaser on 3-01 and nothing since then!

I'm sorry. It seems I like to make people suffer.

Once the rad is finished, next port of call is the PSU. How about a 1KW Silverstone Strider with all cables done murder-box style-ee.

Awesome reservoir. Can you post more pics of it?

Sorry, those are the only ones I have with me.

7 days until mark 2 res!

No prob.

Tommorrow, I'll tap it up fully and test it for its 'watery-worthy-ness'.

This one is 100x100x20mm using 5mm acrylic. Looks wise..:

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/9818/38225121ix1.jpg

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/9093/61067155el9.jpg

waooo that looks great.

I finished of the mock-up res today..:

http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/7653/68120752ke0.jpg

Then filled 'er up with some Acid Green!

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/5791/80667793fg4.jpg

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/580/26577710jl1.jpg

[SIZE="1"](the liquid around the base is from my attempt to pour ;)SIZE]

Conclusion: On the real one, I'll need 3 or 4 bolts per side to apply the pressure evenly across the total res. A small amount of Acrylic cement to the outside prevents any seepage between the layers.
I also found I needed to give the acrylic a really good run over with some Meths to get it really clean so no water could get out.

So, now all I need a PSU to sleeve for the next week or so :D

Righty-ho, res time folks.

Here is the final 1:1 CAD design ready for cutting tommorrow morning.

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4676/90357764si2.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9176/10289300ov4.png

As I hoped to describe via. the images, the little line 'thingy' is to underline the sponsors, and 'cos I felt like doing it and being different. The 3x11.8mm holes are for tapping to G1/4" threads, the two lower ones are plumbed into the loop, with the top one for bleeding and filling. The 8mm holes around the outside are for some titanium bolts I came across, 8 of the holes will hold the res together and connect to the case aswell, while the remaining 8 will be just holding the res together...

As at the top, I'm hoping to cut all the acrylic tommorrow :D

that looks awesome...

are you gonna etch anything in the top left?

Yup, and bottom right.

NICE project you got there

That looks great, a dual loop with the res would look sooooooo cool

As before, my PSU is supposed to arrive tommorrow, so while I'm going to be sleeving that, I though I'd sleeve some of the other other cables in the case.

My Sleeving of choice is AC Ryan's UV Green sleeving in various sizes. As for sleeving, I'll be doing it MurderBox style, so sleeving every cable individually with the 3mm.

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/3534/43071884iz3.jpg


These are the other current parts to be sleeved.

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/3390/82563550me1.jpg


Various bits of heatshrink and sleeving.


I've also got some new Feser 1/2" G1/4" Compression fittings comming in the next week or so from Mario @ TFC. These fittings will fit in brilliantly with the theme of the mod too :D
For this stage of the mod, a massive thanks to www.specialtech.co.uk, and especially Ayd for the sleeving, CCFL's, SATA cables and the PSU aswell! Most of this mod wouldn't be possible without their help:thumb:

Wooohoo! I got my res cut today!

I still need to etch the logo's and to tap the back panel with G1/4" holes, and M5 threads for mounting.

So, the pron.

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/1875/18290680ou1.jpg

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/6499/56392724wf7.jpg

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/2734/32684590dx7.jpg

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/205/37435222bz8.jpg

Any one drooling :D

Very nice stuff there!! :)

sweet res design! cool to see the product of your design.

looking forward to seeing it filled up :)

Thanks :D

Time for some water-cooling bling.

The second I saw these 1/2" compression fittings, I knew I HAD to have some for my build. I aslo got one of the Xtender shrouds to mount on the front 120mm fan for visual effects.

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/1479/39446360gf3.jpg

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/2815/98517957lw6.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9311/78665903cv5.jpg

Mmm.. Clear-ness.

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/8281/91680039ae8.jpg

LED's for the Xtender

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/7267/13738560vq0.jpg

Mmmm. Compressiony.

A BIG thanks to The Feser Company for the parts in this update :D

I was rather bored so I started sleeving today, swapped the molex's for UV green ones, and used 3mm AC Ryan green. No source of heat though, so heatshrink hasn't shrunk.

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/3500/96820852fq6.jpg

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/1491/11562692yp3.jpg

i use a lighter to shrink my heat shrinks.

The shrink is like 90c, boil some water?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by evil-98

i use a lighter to shrink my heat shrinks.

---

Yeah, I usually do, but I'm at school, and I don't smoke.

Looking really good. Great idea for the res, I always love to see people come up with their own creations. Time to buy a heat gun.

My PSU arrived today, and its very nice. Unfortunately, its going to be ransacked by yours truely. I'll need to shorten all of the cables in the PSU for my various parts, and change the units colour from black silver. Unfortunately, getting the PCB away from the bottom of the case is IMPOSSIBLE! so I may have to use silver vynal instead. :(

I might have to try and cover the PCB with cardboard and then. Waaah!

http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/4074/58447589pa3.jpg

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/707/59294220ou5.jpg

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/8460/35397789vs3.jpg

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/7602/42925069fm7.jpg

Next think on my list is a motherboard, then I can work out the required cable lengths.:D

lighter is ok.. for heat shrink but nothing beats a heatgun :)

looking good mankz

re: shrink... i just use my girlfriends hair drier... she hates it :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by disruptfam

lighter is ok.. for heat shrink but nothing beats a heatgun :)

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to much work imo :rofl: and i feel like i got more control with a lighter, my heat gun gets to hot anyways ends up melting everything :down:

Next stage in the project is going to be buying a motherboard, I was looking at this one:

XFX 630i mATX Motherboard because it really fits the colour scheme, while being a good all round board!

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/2263/45988734dr2.jpg

I fully de-sleeved the PSU, and will go and buy a hole load of solder, a soldering iron and one of those 'third hand things' to help me get my sleeve on.

My plan for this summer is to do all of the sleeving so its 100&#37; perfect and the exact right length aswell as collecting all of the hardware, and starting the customisation on the motherboard and the DVD and HDD drives.

:D

work looks even better here, edit: just saw it on the other forum :p

looks good man,

What CPU Block are you gonna be using with your compression barbs?

:)

My photography really doesn't do this justice. I'll take some more photos tonight when I'm home with my tripod etc.

I hope you like it :D

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/9338/82752727dx3.jpg

http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/1482/22588941es4.jpg

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/2787/43944361aq1.jpg

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/2358/27585019ha6.jpg

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/4441/22505693is2.jpg

And fully done.

I still need to cement it to fully seal the res, and then tap to G1/4" threads.

For the CPU block, thinking Acrylic EK Supreme, or whatever takes my fancy at the time.

looks fantastic! subscribed!

Nice Res :)

cool.

Thanks :D

A few photos..:

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...w/DSCF3346.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...w/DSCF3347.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...w/DSCF3352.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...w/DSCF3353.jpg

I'll go off to B&Q tommorrow to buy a Soldering Station and a Helping Hand aswell as a some Taps and Dies and solder, then on tuesday probably, I'll order a motherboard and start working out cable lengths.

mmmmm ribbed

Quote:

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Originally Posted by b@llz0r

mmmmm ribbed

---

For her pleasure! :up:

Havn't done much today, I'm still trying to decide on a motherboard but I'll be using my exsisting Leadtek 8800 GT 512Mb graphics card, unless someones feeling generous :D

I took my old 10W DDC-1 apart today, It should be fine if I'm just cooling the CPU but if I cool the GPU and the NB I'll need a DDC3.2 for the extra 'push'

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCF3397.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCF3400.jpg

:D

Definetly subscribed:slobber:

Thanks :D

Not much to report bar COD:4 multiplayer.

I've ordered two of these ABS General puropse boxes measureing 85x56x21 and 150x80x46.

Quote:

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http://www.maplin.co.uk/images/full/n68ap.jpg

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The smaller one will go at the back between the PSU and the radiator and hold the fan wiring, LED wiring and the light switching. The larger box will hold the box, with a 40mm fan in the side, aswell as a flow rate sensor etc. and moniter water cooling.


Should be here with 48Hrs so then work can continue.

I'm still waiting for my 'little' bits to arrive, so this is a slight progress report.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCF3401.jpg

Here is what the case 'sort' of looks like at the moment. I really need to decided on my mobo soonish though as I need to work out the back I/O panel holes etc.

Otherwise, its colour scheme time. What do you prefer?

1. Just UV with Green Tubing and Coolant

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCF3403.jpg

2. UV with Blue LEDs and Green Tubing and coolant

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCF3405.jpg

3. UV with Green LED's, green tubing and coolant.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCF3406.jpg

Thanks. :p

Out of those I like the last one the best. Go green :)

My boxes arrived, and the DDC fits fine, but I need to give it a little diet to save some space.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCF3409.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCF3411.jpg

And my own personal criptonite.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCF3415.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mankz_91

And my own personal criptonite.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCF3415.jpg

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You have NO idea how hungry that just made me! >.< To top it off I'm not currently in the UK so I can't even drop down to M&S and grab some :p:

Some progess and some issues today:

Firstly, the Feser Fittings, allthough pretty, are HUGE. So big that they mean I've got to re-design the side panel (I had to anyway) and move the radiator 2mm down towards the back of the case.

The ABS boxes fit in exactly as I wanted them too, the read one, **snugly** between the Fans and the PSU, and infront of the PSU and the case. I've decided that having the DDC out on the bottom of the case would be a better idea. The larger ABS box will be used to hold an Aqua Computer Aquero and various other bits, prehaps a 2.5" HDD for me to put Vista on.

Anywho:

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCF3422.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCF3424.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCF3425.jpg

Its going to be tight with the tubing, so I'll be using a series of 90* angled Danger Den or Bits-Power G1/4" acrylic 'thingies' to solve the problems.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCF3428.jpg

And with a normal ATX Motherboard in. I need to buy an mATX one for the case, and then make the appropriate with holes in the back and the mobo plate.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...w/DSCF3430.jpg

As requested by the thread starter, this thread has been moved to the Computer Cases section.

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Originally Posted by Jupiler

As requested by the thread starter, this thread has been moved to the Computer Cases section.

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Thank you very much :up: