Tokara IV - Compact Wooden Case build... In 1 month.

Well, my Current case is just too big... Its more than 2 feet high and 2 1/2 feet long... I'm going off to college mid-August and I've decided I need a smaller case, with more power. Any suggestions are welcome.

Here's the specs.

24 in x 20 in x 7 in (L x H x W)

Hardware:
EVGA 780i - P08
Q6600 G0 L747A [ 445x9:4.0Ghz @ 1.55v ] I hope...
xFx GTX260 216 Black Edition [ GPU:740Mhz Shader:1515 Ram:1215Mhz ]
6 GB OCZ Reaper DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 [ 990Mhz ]
750watt Silverstone Modular Strider
3x HDD [ 2 TB ]
1x DVD-RW
1x Sunbeam Rheobus

Cooling:
Dual MCR320 w/ 6 High Speed Yate Loons
MCP655 (Have room for 2)
MCW-60r2
Apogee GT (may upgrade)
Ek-250 Reservoir
2x 80mm with air ducts to Mosfets and NB
1x 120mm to cool HDD


Current Build Stage : Design
http://i43.tinypic.com/f4nplu.jpg


A few problems include

1. Its going to be heavier because of 1/2" wooden planks all over the place. Not perfect for lans.
2. The front doesn't have any designs. Just a flat face. Any ideas?
3. The Window is sort of boring. But maybe simple is best?

Reserved

Dark Cow, looking good, but there is a worklog section. I would PM a mod and ask them to move you over :up:

I am hoping you are watercooling everything (including chipset and mosfets), otherwise that motherboard compartment will trap a lot of heat.

You may also want to check the depth of your DVD drive with the SATA cable plugged in, because most of them will be longer than that front compartment can hold... unless you build the case so the 5-1/4" drives so they are a part of the motherboard "chamber."

Where will the hard drives be mounted ?

How will you hold the cards into the motherboard ?

Any plan to hide the cables ? Because right now there is nowhere to hide them.

Good points there... I would love to water cool the motherboard. Its just the expense for the blocks is ridiculous. I could buy a new x58 mobo for the price... I'm constantly looking at the classifieds and I'm hoping to pick up some old stuff.

I'm thinking a EK-780i cooler. Then air cooling the mosfets (Can't see myself watercooling those).

What do you recommend the South Bridge. Is it worth water cooling?

The hard-drives will be mounted in the bottom right corner of the motherboard compartment. I will probably build a false back with holes in it to hide cables. While I will probably sleeve other cables and "hide" them in plain sight. As for mounting everything, I usually make it up as I go along.


I'm going to the store either today or tomorrow and picking up some Spanish Cedar for the frame. Its a nice reddish color and it smells great. I love working with it. The benefit is that its light. For the siding I plan on using some white oak plywood then staining it.


If a mod wants to move this feel free.

you should go get google sketchup... it's a lot of fun... and easy to learn...

So you are finally at it again?

I also really recommend using Sketchup. For instance, I am wondering in a 7" wide case how you are going to fit your PSU and triple radiator next to each other. Even using a thin rad like an MCR, the rad and 25mm fans take up about 2 1/4".

On the current project I've been working on (and plan on resuming next week when I get back home), spending a lot of time in Sketchup to plan exactly how I want everything to go has saved me a tremendous amount of headache.

Sketchup does take some learning, but its nothing that is really too complicated.

you betcha. Here is a quick model. There is about 1" of space between the PSU and the Radiator

http://i41.tinypic.com/2s7w3np.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/n709ww.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/2jg3wqx.jpg

PS... There will be a peice of wood here. I just deleted it to show you the gap... Its pretty big and I don't think there will be a problem.

Any suggestions? I think I'm going to use a smaller reservoir and stick it on top of the HDD.

I don't see any cooling for your Motherboard or hard drives. No fans, not even any holes. I don't think you will like the result without some.

O lol. Forgot about that. This model does leave a lot to the imagination, its not very good. But its basic.

I had to increase the width of the case by .5" to fit the extra fan in there. Thank god you guys made me draw it up in sketch.

http://i44.tinypic.com/21bkh9f.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/254zfy1.jpg


And of course there's going to be a huge hole for the graphics cards etc... So there should be plenty of airflow.

I would've flipped the front rad 90 degrees vertically, that way you'll have a more compact build, and maybe some airflow left over for HDDs and motherboard.
As you wrote, put a res on the HDDs and the optical drive sticking out above.

That'll make it somewhat more compact.

Good luck!

Well, bought some wood but turns out 6 ft isn't enough lol.

Well, here's a few pics, Work will start tommorow building the bottom, back and the splitters.
http://i27.tinypic.com/fe46rm.jpg

Here's the joint, quite simple, and it will allow me to get that cool long sweeping Lian-Li curve.
http://i29.tinypic.com/34qs4ti.gif

and of course the work place... Its a dump I know.
http://i28.tinypic.com/e0o3si.jpg

Just to give you something to think about, fans don't have to be mounted on the rads.

You can mount the fans anywhere on a box as an exhaust and the air will come in through the rads (if they are the only opening) with no dead space from the fan motor.

It's easier to control the air flow that way.

That's an interesting idea... But I don't think I want to do that because I won't be able to fit all 6 fans on the other side, and I'm not sure how good of a seal I can get.

Just a quick update, cut out a few pieces today, but mostly just planned out the motherboard tray and mounting mechanisms

http://i31.tinypic.com/2metljq.jpg

wow interesting project log

thx guys.

More updates, the thickness planer didn't do me wonders, had to do some repairs
http://www.picstation.net/image-B6BE_4A635EF8.jpg

This router jig took forever to set up, had to really thin out the back for motherboard.
http://www.picstation.net/image-D776_4A635EF8.jpg

The joints coming together quite nicely... To be honest, masking tape is really underrated.
http://www.picstation.net/image-EDE8_4A635EF8.jpg

And of course uni-sleeving. First try
http://www.picstation.net/image-9185_4A635EF8.jpg

Wow! The best WCidea i have ever seen! Good luck! :up: Crazy man!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DarkCow

I had to increase the width of the case by .5" to fit the extra fan in there. Thank god you guys made me draw it up in sketch

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Now you know first hand why it is a good idea to work up the a model in Sketchup first. You end up with a much better end result this way with a lot less gotchas while building.

You could get rid of 2 fans cooling your HDDs and mobo by cutting a hole in the vertical wall dividing mobo compartment and front rad and redirecting airflow from this rad [or both if you want more flow]. The air from rads is cool enough and you'd get some serious positive case pressure [6 fans blowing air in, 8 if you keep the ones on HDD O.o]

Good idea, I think there is enough room to shove a 120mm in the splitter. There is going to be a serious amount of positive pressure. Everything that's not bolted to the ground is going to be sucked into it :rofl:

A good nights work... I'm sore, my back is killing me... But hey, the corners are actually at 90 degree angles whoo whoo! my last case was no where near square...

http://www.picstation.net/image-A896_4A63E6DC.jpg

http://www.picstation.net/image-2FC0_4A63E6DC.jpg

Gotta glue something to mont the side panels on... Nothing fancy, just flat face. over 20 strips in total...

http://www.picstation.net/image-2790_4A652D58.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DarkCow

A good nights work... I'm sore, my back is killing me... But hey, the corners are actually at 90 degree angles whoo whoo! my last case was no where near square...

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I too have had a few of those days working on the build I'm on. I know the feeling! And I too got my corners square to within less than 1/16" which is a first!

Keep it coming.

looking really good

just kinda funny you call this the "smaller" one

and i love the google sketchup, im gonna try it out tonight after i get off work and see if can put some of my old builds into it

lol, I know, its not much smaller at all, it just looks smaller. My last case looks cavernous, this case has all the space put to good use.

Now onto what in my opinion was the hardest job. The side panels, took all day cutting, sanding, plaining, cutting again, sanding again, repair jobs, plaining again, then sanding, then glueing back on corners etc... etc... etc... Why can't it just be easy?!

Me at work :cool:
http://www.picstation.net/image-F226_4A666630.jpg

One of 4 side panels, it looks like it may just fit.
http://www.picstation.net/image-5E38_4A666630.jpg

:mad::mad: So close, but yet so far!
http://www.picstation.net/image-936F_4A666630.jpg

With a little bit of patience, and a lot of elbow grease. the finished (well almost) result.
http://www.picstation.net/image-B973_4A666630.jpg

and of course the most fattening pizza I can buy :yepp:
http://www.picstation.net/image-84E2_4A666630.jpg

its ok, you look like your pretty skinny

Looks like its coming along really nicely! Can't wait to see it finished with gear in it!

Haha, skinny is an understatement... I'm like a twig, I designed my college schedule so I pretty much force myself to workout. thx for the compliments guys.


New weight saving technology!!! Cut giant holes in strategic areas!
http://www.picstation.net/image-A7B2_4A6928D0.jpg

I've been quite busy lately Lots of stuff to do for clases (got my schedual, calculus II - Accounting - General Chemistry - Engineering programming), Case is close to polyurethane phase, one big job though, the front of the case. Which design do you think looks best? Any opinions?

Again, I am going to be using marquetry and inlay a piece of wood to make the contrast of light to dark.

http://i30.tinypic.com/j9vz38.jpg

sorry, not a big fan of any symbols representing japan's imperialism era... all those atrocities they've committed in china, korea, heck, all over asia... still just turns my stomach.

that being said... one on right... maybe middle but that just lost me... perhaps find some b/w japanese sumi drawings?

Yea, I completely agree Kinghong. I didn't really like the 1st and the second needed more, sense I guess... I really was trying for tentacles just coming down as I love jelly fish. This is more of a really abstract symbol I once saw and completely forgot where... Heroes maybe? Lost? And also a sumi drawing which I think looks pretty cool

http://i32.tinypic.com/30kdmb8.gif

Well, here was the final design. Decided against an inlay purely because I lacked the correct tools. Instead I did a raised surface.

http://www.picstation.net/image-4E9E_4A7E4B7F.jpg

Sorry for the bad cell phone pic. Can't quite find the camera. The wood I used is some Cuban Mahoganoy... Its so rare that its practically illegal :up: The originally piece probably cost $200 and is 65 years old easy.
http://www.picstation.net/image-5499_4A7E4B7F.jpg

Awesome work!

It's one thing to buy a bunch of bolt together parts and call it custom, but it's a whole level above that to actually fabricate something from scratch like that.

Ever since seeing Voigts wooden build and now yours, I'd really like to get off my rear and build one of my own.

Kudos for the awesome craftsmanship and initiative to build something truely custom from scratch like that! That's awesome!!!

agreed... very nice...

Thx guys for the compliments... I have to find that damn camera the color really makes the piece pop.

I was never really satisfied with buying an expensive metal case and then cutting it up. I never liked working with metal, its difficult, slow, and I can never make it look how I want it to look. So with 40 bucks of wood I got myself a top notch case built exactly how I want it. Of course its taking me almost a 60 man hours to put the thing together :p:

Busy few days.

Mapping out the radiator mounting...
http://i27.tinypic.com/10fuxkp.jpg

Waxed paper for cooking is quite useful
http://i30.tinypic.com/14dmro7.jpg

Finished (well almost a few screw holes missed.)
http://i30.tinypic.com/1z17p8g.jpg


Best joint I've personally done... not a single gap :)
http://i31.tinypic.com/jrafxs.jpg

Love it so far.

thx I appreciate the comments guys. I'm trying to go for a little bit of a "wow" factor here. I want it to be elegant, modern, and "badass" for lack of a better term. The new up against the old. I think its a world of difference.
http://www.picstation.net/image-4358_4A88BC02.jpg

Close to finished :thumbsup:
http://www.picstation.net/image-BC40_4A88BC02.jpg



Tight bend? Put some nylon rope inside the tubing. Boil it, stick it in ice, repeat...

http://www.picstation.net/image-0ED6_4A88BC02.jpg

And it can be even tighter of a bend.
http://www.picstation.net/image-0D42_4A88BC02.jpg

Hey this is looking really nice. I like the contrasting color on the front accents. it looks stylish, and your joints look great. It is amazing just how hard it can be to get corners and joints just right when working with home duty power tools. I am going to have to break down one of these days and get a really nice cabinet type table saw. That little 64th of an inch off becomes very noticeable on corners and such.

please make sure you stealth your DVD drive somehow. black plastic would just ruin the look of the front.

that looks pimp...pizza looks delish too!

GREAT job ! keep posting !

Wow, I saw this thread a while ago, then lost track of it. It looks beautiful so far! Good work.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DarkCow

and of course the most fattening pizza I can buy :yepp:
http://www.picstation.net/image-84E2_4A666630.jpg

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:off::off::off:


& totally welcome! :D :D :D :slobber::slobber:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by voigts

please make sure you stealth your DVD drive somehow. black plastic would just ruin the look of the front.

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Yea, any sort of gap can be a real annoyance, I've tried to work within .5mm and its turning out very precise. And yea, I do love contrasting wood, I dunno why but I have a habit of doing it. Yep I thought about that, several options where on the table but I've decided to replace the cover with a bit of wood. Pics tomorrow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tiro_uspsss

:D :D :D :slobber::slobber:

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by grasskicker509

that looks pimp...pizza looks delish too!

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:rofl: If I would've taken pics of every pizza I've bought this past month it would easily fill up this page.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boulard83

GREAT job ! keep posting !

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thx, will do, almost done :up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DarkCow

:rofl: If I would've taken pics of every pizza I've bought this past month it would easily fill up this page.

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oh is that so? :D

visit here: ;)

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=177037

:up:

haha, great thread right there.

quick how to:

Tired of spending all your money on expensive rotaries?\


Step 1
http://www.picstation.net/image-3A5F_4A8B6678.jpg

Put a rope inside your tubing.

Step 2
http://www.picstation.net/image-ECD6_4A8B6678.jpg

Tape the bend, boil it.

Step 3
http://www.picstation.net/image-3B61_4A8B6678.jpg

put it in really cold water, then boil - freeze - boil - freeze a few times...

Step 4

http://www.picstation.net/image-A88D_4A8B6678.jpg

waa hooo! very bent, non kinking tubing.

http://www.picstation.net/image-AF39_4A8B6835.jpg

Leonard :p:

http://www.picstation.net/image-1813_4A8B6835.jpg

As close as I can get to the true color of the case.


http://www.picstation.net/image-D30A_4A8B6835.jpg

Look at that bend beneath the vid. card, thats 180 bend followed by 90 degrees followed by another 90 below... and thats all front boiling and bending tubing. :up:

That looks really nice. Are you going to add some kind of side window to it to close it off?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Baulten

That looks really nice. Are you going to add some kind of side window to it to close it off?

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thx and you betcha. I have one made, just gotta glue it up, and screw it on. As of right now here is my to do list.

Wednesday: Side Panels (No time to route out air hole opposite radiators, going to be a big hole for now :down: ) Power Button

Thursday: CD-Drive Cover (If time, route out air hole opposite radiators). Pack for college

Friday: Clean Clean Clean (garage, front room, dining room, bedroom everywhere is covered in tools/cables/barbs/screws you name it :rofl:)

Saturday: Leave for college. :up:

Your setup is looking mighty sweet. I'm glad you shared the rope/boiling water/freezing water bend trick. I had never thought of that and its a great idea. I might have to give that a try.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DarkCow

haha, great thread right there.

quick how to:

Tired of spending all your money on expensive rotaries?\


Step 1
http://www.picstation.net/image-3A5F_4A8B6678.jpg

Put a rope inside your tubing.

Step 2
http://www.picstation.net/image-ECD6_4A8B6678.jpg

Tape the bend, boil it.

Step 3
http://www.picstation.net/image-3B61_4A8B6678.jpg

put it in really cold water, then boil - freeze - boil - freeze a few times...

Step 4

http://www.picstation.net/image-A88D_4A8B6678.jpg

waa hooo! very bent, non kinking tubing.

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I've bent a few Nylon tubes with boiling water and springs before, but I think I like your method a little bit better. :up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Waterlogged

I've bent a few Nylon tubes with boiling water and springs before, but I think I like your method a little bit better. :up:

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:cool: Yea, I looked around for a spring to begin with, but found this piece of rope left over from my sail boat :up: Worked great, One problem is it left a little scuff mark :down:


Next time I'll be sure to use high quality rope or white.

Single Radiator vs Dual Radiator. This new case kicks some serious ass.

EVGA 780i - P08
Q6600 G0 L747A [ 400x9:3.60Ghz @ 1.45v ]
xFx GTX260 216 Black Edition [ GPU:740Mhz Shader:1515 Ram:1215Mhz ]
6 GB OCZ Reaper DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 [ 990Mhz ]
750watt Silverstone Modular Strider
2x HDD [ 1 TB ]

http://i30.tinypic.com/2z7e4g8.gif

Single MCR-320 Loop.

T-Line > D5-Vario > MCR-320 > Apogee GT > MCW-60r2 > T-Line

IDLE
http://i28.tinypic.com/1zmjec2.jpg

LOAD
http://i26.tinypic.com/mrwe2x.jpg

Dual MCR-320 Loop.

EK-150 > Pump > MCR-320 #1 > MCR-320 #2 > MCR-60r2 > EK-780i NB > Apogee GT > EK-150


IDLE
http://www.picstation.net/image-A3F6_4A8CBC2B.jpg

LOAD
http://www.picstation.net/image-1649_4A8CBC2B.jpg


Testing method: absolutely none... I just happened to have a few "before" screen shots... and a few "after" screen shots. I am however using the same thermal paste, same speed fans, same size tubing. I did however add a reservoir and add a North bridge block.

I was surfing around XS and showed my wife your project log. She said to post that she likes the wood design and contrast of the front pieces.

this OfT - I was thinking about making my own canoe the other day...

thx for the compliment =D

Go for it, a canoe will be a fun build. I've build a wooden sailboat. It takes some time and effort though.


Currently the case is in my dorm room, not 100% done yet, need some more cable sleeving and some faster fans. These Yates aren't moving enough air.