Project: CES '09 LMM (Last Minute Mod)

Most recent update: 1/19/09, post #41.

I usually don't post worklogs... mostly because I'm too busy actually modding but I figure that I probably should for this one (even though it isn't really a "major" mod at all).

Anyway, last week (or perhaps the week before... I really can't remember) I was contacted by Super Talent Technologies (they do memory) to put together a display machine for their CES booth. Frankly, it's a little late in the year to be asking for custom display machines but, whatever, I'm game :rolleyes:

They dropped off the goodies on some Friday (was either last Friday or the Friday prior) and I've spent time collecting other parts, getting custom appliqués on order, and prepping stuff. Now, the catch with this build is that I get to foot the bill for all modding-related stuffs, water cooling, and appliqués. In exchange, I can put our logo and stuff on the case.

What Super Talent dropped off:

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/groupShot.jpg

Aside from the Antec 900, not too shabby :)

The two main items that I need to focus on 'showcasing' are the solid state drive and the 3GB DDR3 kit. I'm thinking that I'll work up some sort of bracket to mount the SSD up near a case window or something. Aside from that, I've mostly just been thinking about cooling (then again, when am I not?) and mucking about in Sketchup to see what'll fit and what won't.

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...aseConcept.png

Dual MCR220's, modded drive cages, some flat black interior paint, white LED fans, a custom cut window, black tubing, compressions, and stainless radgrilles on the side panels acting as exhausts for the radiators is the current plan... with the two main issues being mounting the radiators and getting ahold of an extra right-side (blank) panel for the 900. I can't get particularly wild with this build not only because I don't have the time to do so, but also because they want the case easily transportable/shippable (so, no external craziness).

Cutting should commence tomorrow. :D

Would anyone in the bay area happen to have a spare Antec 900 side panel? :para:

BWAHAHAHA ALEX awesome idea for the rads!

Seriously!

I have always thought about that case and how water would go in it. So here are a couple of ideas:

1 - The SSD, how about you cut a hole in the top of the case so the SSD fits perfectly in there and use lights to highlight it.

2 - Use a single Thermochill PA120.2 in the front of the case removing the HD cages and part of the 5 1/4" bays. Use this for the GTX280. And then use a PA120.1 mounted on the rear of the case to cool the CPU.

3 - To cool the memory, use a OCZ memory cooler, but put the Super Talent Logo on it, that way the leds highlight the memory.

Just a couple of thoughts. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

actually you could hang HD on the sides as you place those fans
i had a few hd hangging there as well

Sweet a Petra build!!!!!!

Great idea on the rads:up:

Sub'd

I'd cut a window into the roof (cut out the storage area in front of the large fan) and mount the SSD there, and light it somehow.

ooo! great idea on the Rads...cant wait to see the pics

Nice chassis mcoffey :up:


The idea ain't new, in fact its very similar to "para-flow" that Rick came up with and we mastered a few of months ago for a few custom Lian Li chassis.

BTW it works real good :up:

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/para-flow/para-flow.jpg

The idea has probably been around since the genesis of watercooling but nobody put a name on it until "para-flow". I wanted to do it for my build earlier on this year but I didn't have the case for the job.

This will possibly be a cool project, how about some white LEDs highlighting the two main components that you want to show off and everything else remaining dark.

Any updates?

Looks good. Good luck trying to prettify that 900.

wow, nice set of hardware to be dropped off :D looks like its going to be an interesting build seeing as you have to highlight certain hardware :)

Sorry for the lack of updates, but I've been busy juggling this project, the store, and personal stuff.

Anyway, I leave for CES in two days... and, boy, do I have my work cut out for me :rolleyes:

Here's a quick summary of where I'm at and how I got there:

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/stripped.jpg
Started by stripping the case (pulling all the cages, covers, and other crap out).

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/tapedPSU.jpg
A little blue painter's tape on the PSU as not to scratch it up while test fitting stuff.

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...arkingCase.jpg
Marking up the case to act as a guide for the primary cuts. I'm very much a hands-on, throw stuff in, figure out where to cut, go crazy with Sharpie kind of modder who's projects tend to change as I move through them--it's fun :up:

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...tingStarts.jpg
...and the carnage begins! :D Before anyone asks, yes, I'm wearing both safety glasses and earplugs (otherwise, I would have become blind and deaf long ago). What the picture can't show you, though, are my poor Logitech Z-2300's blasting away in the background (a mix of Muse, Led Zeppelin, and Audioslave, in case anyone is curious).

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/partialDis.jpg
By this point, I'm starting to drill the rivets out of the case to take it apart so that I can finish most of the cutting.

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/testFit1.jpg
Whadda 'ya know... it's back together again. After pulling the case entirely apart and cutting it up some more, I partially reassembled it so that I could test fit some of the components and check for any additional modifications that it needed. All that excess Sharpie really makes the cuts look a lot worse than they actually are...

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/testFit2.jpg
Looking familiar? ;)

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/testFit3.jpg
I'm also using the opportunity to mark spots where mounting holes will be needed and figure out the SSD mount (not shown).

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/testFir4.jpg
Turns out that a few more mm had to be trimmed from the motherboard tray so that I could mount fans up to the radiator on the right... Eh, at least I was close on the first go :rolleyes:

Which brings us to today...

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/primePrep.jpg
Here the case has been disassembled again, each panel deburred, filed, wet sanded, thoroughly cleaned, and hung for priming.

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/primeHeat.jpg
It started getting quite cold, so out came the dish heater to keep the panels warm (paint was stored in the front office, so I didn't have to worry about warming it).

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...meFinished.jpg
Finished priming and allowing things to dry for an hour before rushing into a color coat. I really don't like rushing paint because it's just one of those things that, if you take the time to do it right, can make the difference between an amazing mod and a mediocre mod... but, with so little time to work with, I obviously can't spend weeks on paint (which is why I'm not even considering external paint).

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/paintHeat.jpg
Applying color coats to the panels... in the dark.... with only the dish to keep the parts warm and cure the paint (probably about 45*F out by this point).

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...aintOffice.jpg
After things cured enough to be carefully handled, I moved all of the panels into the office and programmed the thermostat to hold the temperature at 75*F all night to help the paint cure (by the time I left, the temperature in the warehouse was lingering around 40*F... not a great environment for paint to cure quickly). The sad part is that it takes a full week for this paint to completely cure, so it won't actually be done until after CES is over... but that won't stop me from finishing the case anyway! :D

So, my 'to do' list for tomorrow (Monday) consists of the following:

- Cut the side panels (window for the left panel and one 'radgrill' hole for each side).
- Deburr, wet sand, clean, prime, and paint the insides of the side panels.
- Pop rivet the chassis back together.
- Start assembling computer.
- Pray all of the parts work (I haven't had time to test any of the components that SuperTalent dropped off).

Tuesday's list should go like this:

- Finish assembling computer.
- Fill water cooling system.
- Install Windows.
- Apply the custom Appliqués which should arrive on Monday (despite a few setbacks, Terry over at Shatteredweb has been great to work with, as always :up: ).
- Box the system up, stuff it into the 328 (since there's no way it's fitting in the roadster), and start the first leg of my drive to Vegas (breaking it into two days because I have to drop by SLO to deliver a TV).

Time for sleep.... :zombie:

looks great!

nice project you have there!
rad positioning is brilliant!
:up:

sub'd

I want that heater!, I have to make portable paint racks at my house so I can paint in the basement and then run the the fresh painted items upstairs to dry in the warmth.

I take partial credit for the radiator mounting idea :D

Also, I want to see the new pics!

can't wait to see this fully assembled! should be quite the little case for CES!

Hey nice to see the man with the shop in action :)
Enjoy CES! Best from Germany to you!

good luck at CES, need a big update of pics to see the outcome :)

awesome, see you at the CES It will be nice to meet you in person

good luck!

Great idea for mounting the rad's :D

Well, I worked late into the night last night (like every night for nearly the past week) and am almost done... should be able to finish everything up today. Sadly, there's no way I'll be able to make it to Vegas for the opening day of CES (because I'm driving, the best I'll be able to do is Thursday evening). I've had to take a lot of shortcuts and make a lot of compromises to get this thing done and I'm not very happy about that, but it'll still look pretty cool (just not up to my usual standards).

Pictures will be posted if I have time... otherwise you'll either have to go to Sands Convention Center booth #72421 or wait 'till Sunday to see it.

As a side note... Dave, your pump brackets are too damn strong ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Petra

As a side note... Dave, your pump brackets are too damn strong ;)

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Umm Sorry?? :up:

Can't wait to see how this turned out.
Good luck at CES!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by armeniandave

Umm Sorry?? :up:

Can't wait to see how this turned out.
Good luck at CES!

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:rofl: :ROTF: :rofl: :yepp:

I agree dave your brackets are DAYAM strong. :rofl:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Petra

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...aintOffice.jpg

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Heh, Quoc was telling me about your adventures with that system when I was down at your shop monday. xD
I saw all the parts leaning on the floor there, looks like you had some fun. :D

Looking forward to pics! And BTW, thanks for the stuff Alex, you guys are great. :up:

where is the final rig?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mit78

where is the final rig?

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Probably at CES

where is the final rig?

lol its at ces, I'm sure we will see final pics later when he has time

Yeah, the system is set up at the Super Talent booth at CES (booth number mentioned previously)... however, I don't really have internet access right now (at least, not in any meaningful capacity) and am typing from a hotel internet terminal/kiosk.

If any of you guys happen to be at CES, feel free to drop by--I'm in and out of the booth. If you can't find me, then just hit up Quoc at the warehouse and he should be able to give you my cell number if you're convincing enough ;)

well all the people still stuck at home... (ie ME...) will be patiently waiting your return to "internet connection"-land so that you can share with the rest of us the marvelous creation you have birthed for CES. Can't wait to actually go to CES some day...

Been trying to find pictures of the Super Talent booth for the last couple days but all anyone seems to put pictures up of are some close up shots the compant name and memory sticks.

>.<

Do we get pix soon now? :D

Want to see pics!!!!!!!!!

I'm going, I'm going... lol

Sheesh.... I just finished catching up on my e-mails and the warehouse is still a mess from having built the damn thing :rolleyes:

Looking forward to seeing this, it's given me the inspiration to start cutting up my A16.

Bump for some pics! :)

Peeeeetra? are you there?
you cant leave us without some lovely pics!

Okay, okay... I just finished sifting through photos and resizing stuff last night, so here we go!

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/assem.jpg
After getting the chassis riveted back together...

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/assemRight.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/radCheck.jpg
Checking radiator and reservoir fitment...

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/radFit.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...rk_bayCage.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...k_radAssem.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...acketCover.jpg
A quick spray and cook of the PCI bracket covers... That dish heater really comes in handy (even if the color and finish are a little different as a result.

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/pump.jpg
A little cutting, filing, sanding, tapping and... voila! Compression fitting equipped, G1/4 tapped D4 :)

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...riorTubing.jpg
Prior to the fitting of tubing.

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...ardInstall.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/wrk_vgaFit.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...vgaInstall.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil..._lastAssem.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...p_testFit1.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...p_testFit2.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...rk_memTray.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...rk_ssdTest.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/wrk_cpu.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/bleeding.jpg
Bleeding the loop...

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/winInstall.jpg
Installing Windows

Now some shots from the Super Talent booth at CES... as you can tell, I kept having problems with sagging window molding through the show because I just didn't have time to tack the molding down before leaving for Vegas. Heck, I was still applying appliqués on the show floor :rolleyes:

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...oth_left34.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...h_leftBlur.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil..._leftPanel.jpg

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buil...rightPanel.jpg

...and this one's just for you, Dave ;)

http://www.petrastech.com/ces09/buildlog/UND_window.jpg

Oliver ( Fr3ak ) has some more photos from the CES floor.

:clap::clap::clap:

Very nice, well worth the wait! What is the compression fitting behind the optical drive for? I'm guessing a fillpot leading to the res?

wow :banana: :banana: :banana:

nice one petra....especially when the blings on....

really cool...:up:

Nice project dude........congratulation ;)

That case rock :D

that's pretty sweet, all it needs is one of CD front panels

that is one kickass build petra. so far the best watercooling setup i've seen in the antec 900 case. really really creative work on the rad placement and overall placement or the parts.

That looks pretty awesome there Petra :up:. Makes the Antec 900 look like a great case for a compact water cooling system if you do some modding on it.

Awesome work!

Looks great! Agree with the comments on the rad placements ... makes a very clean system.

Very nice and clean look. Only 1 thing i don't like :P Paint that Dvd-rom inside of case :P

That looks really nice. Love the design and build.

How are the actual temps on the system? I am thinking of doing this on my TT armor with a 3x120 on one side and 2x120 in the top.

Excellent build. Sorry I did not make it to the Sands and sorry I did not see you at the XS party.

Alex that looks way cool!
When I release the rev.3 of
those brackets you will be able
to do that without any drilling.
I am impressed by how much stuff
you were able to cram in there.

Very nice! It'd be nice to get to build rigs for free.

Sooo that's what Alex looks like!!! I'd be at your place every weekend if I lived near you, so in a way I guess be thankful I live on the other side of the country lol.

In a more productive note petra do is there a version of the antec 900 without a case window because all the ones I'm seeing have a case window already built in that funky shape.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Borys

Very nice and clean look. Only 1 thing i don't like :P Paint that Dvd-rom inside of case :P

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Oh, there are a ton of little things that bother me about this build... the unpainted DVD-ROM, unpainted internals of the 5.25" bay covers, didn't have time to paint the insides of the two side panels (not that you really see them), the window molding (and the fact that I had to use it :mad: ), not having time to paint the exterior (deep, gloss black with lots of clear would have been nice), wiring could have been nicer, didn't have time to sleeve stuff, the cuts could have been better and could have used more clean-up... the list goes on and on... I'm my own worst critic :rolleyes:

Still looks good, though :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Camaroz06

How are the actual temps on the system? I am thinking of doing this on my TT armor with a 3x120 on one side and 2x120 in the top.

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Ya know, I can't really recall... Honestly, I put it together, checked the temps to make sure that everything was working alright, and moved on to more assembly. As for what you're planning, a triple and a dual fan radiator should be more than enough to handle an i7 system with a couple video cards.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DarthBeavis

Excellent build. Sorry I did not make it to the Sands and sorry I did not see you at the XS party.

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Thanks :)

I wasn't able to get away from everyone at CES early enough to meet up with many at the XS party (I think that I got there at like 8:30 or 9:00pm... but was there until like 3:00am). There's always next year :up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by atomic ferret

Very nice! It'd be nice to get to build rigs for free.

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Free? Hah... I ended up putting over $100 in fittings alone into that case (not to mention all of the cooling gear, paint, appliqués, and modding supplies)... and I didn't even get to keep it :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by silverphoenix

In a more productive note petra do is there a version of the Antec 900 without a case window because all the ones I'm seeing have a case window already built in that funky shape.

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Nope but the side panels are interchangeable and Antec sells the blank panel on their website. I ended up stealing a panel from some guy's home system (has a 900, works for Super Talent, offered it up so that I could finish in time for the show).

Hi Alex,
I didn't know you posted this. I've been messing with mine so much I haven't visted this section for awhile.

That is LOVELY! Seriously man. That is very much like my system. You have alot of the same hardware I do.

I think you have convinced me to go with the Black Tubing when I get my case painted, and start putting everything into it. I'm going with the deep gloss black. This has that elegant look to it that I like. It's artwork and tastefully done. I like everything about that rig.

I think if I go with the black tubing and a little accent lighting it will look nice and bright, but have that deep dark "jump right in it" black look too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by T_Flight

I think you have convinced me to go with the Black Tubing when I get my case painted

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Yeah, the gloss black tubing turned out quite nicely. I should note, though, that I decided to give the 3/8" ID, 5/8" OD Danger Den/Feser UV Black tubing a try for this build. The Tygon R-3400 is pretty stiff stuff so I had concerns about several of the bends and the DD/TFC stuff worked out nicely (much more flexible...but not quite as black).

I'll have to check my bend radiuses from the CPU to GPU if I stick with single loop. That another reason I went with the master Clear befor putting the show stuff to it.

That looks really nice. Does the black glow a color when under UV with the Feser?

Petra did you do a clear coat on the internal paint?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by T_Flight

Does the black glow a color when under UV with the Feser?

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Yeah, it glows a very pale gray-blue when placed under UV light.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DarthBeavis

Petra did you do a clear coat on the internal paint?

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Clear? Hah... :ROTF: ... nope.

I only had time to do a quick prime, wait an hour, and do a quick color coat (actually, it was a light spray of color followed by a 'wet' spray about 15 minutes later). This is why I've been complaining so much about cutting corners on the paint--still looked good but I had to break a lot of my own rules to finish in time.

wow.... nice build for such a short amount of time you had.

That looks great for the simplicity of it.

I wish still lived in the USA (or just visit), you look like a good bloke. :up:

Turned out great! I wasnt sure about the fans, but with the side and radiator grill on, it really adds a great touch to the display of the PC

VERY nice!

An unfamiliar rad replacement you got there. I also seeing the simple and clean work out there mate.

Congratulations. :up: