Project: Waterfish

[zoob]

Goal is to do something like this:


The first of many mods. It's late so I'll get into detail later:







Still need to drill out the remaining mounting holes. Didn't fit as well as I anticipated, even after measuring everything three times.

[ben333]

Nice I moved my PSU into the 5.25 bays and then I cut off the face plate and ran the AC cable to the 5.25 bays.

[zoob]

Yeah I saw your post and considered it but don't want the PSU dumping heat into the case along with the PA120.3

This case is slightly "off" in pretty much every way that I need it...

PA160 won't fit in the bottom front without modding
PSU doesn't fit at the top without modding
Almost no space behind the mobo tray for wires
"Front panel" connectors on the top
Wire fan grilles on the inside of the fan, stamped metal grill for the outside
Huge open grilles stamped into the case (for front fan), restrictive intake holes next to PCI slots and on front bezel

Eventual plan is to:
Wind tunnel PA120.3 in the bottom (we'll see how feasible this is)
Soft mount HDD in 5.25" bays
Find some nice feet
Try to cram a PA160 in there too

[zoob]

Back to the traditional PSU at the top!




Borrowing someone else's mod, I also took out my drill to bore the holes larger.

[Lurid]

Why did you drill the holes larger?

[ben333]

Why did you drill the holes larger?

Those are the holes for the side fan, he is trying to increase airflow.

[Lurid]

Oh nvm. I dunno what I was thinking, I thought you meant the 120mm fan holes.

If you don't mind me asking, how much space is behind the motherboard tray and is there enough room to modify the rear for a 140mm fan instead of a 120mm?

[Polizei]

No chance for a 140mm.

[Asgard_thor]

No chance for a 140mm.

I agree

the 120mm looks like it barely fits, looks like its border line right next to the I/o panel

[MINIz guy]

There is pretty much no room behind the motherboard tray. At most, there's 3/8" of space there.

[zoob]

Finally some more time to work on this case:

Drilled holes to flip the 3.5" drive cage:


Cut the fan holes for the PA120.3 rad with a jigsaw:


It was hard to drill the mounting holes due to the existing vent holes in the bottom of the case It's OK though. I still need to drill them larger and cut more of the holes for when I end up getting the stupid fan grille. I can't find one for a 120.3.


Also some other small things:
- Drilled out the last screw mount for the PSU

- Began cutting out the stock PSU hole to fit a 120mm fan. It came out rather horrible so I need to touch it up with some filing and drill out the holes to mount the fan.

[NaeKuh]

LOL @ waterfish.

Thats like saying a Land Elephant.

Anyhow nice project keep the pictures coming!

[zoob]

:P

Reusing part of the case on itself:

[Friedchicken]

Can I ask why you didn't keep the PSU in the bottom and the rad up top exhausting hot air upwards? Fitment issues?

[heydo6]

Can I ask why you didn't keep the PSU in the bottom and the rad up top exhausting hot air upwards? Fitment issues?

downside to that is all the hott air from the rest of your hardware goes into your rad .

nice work there on your waterfish ... i was wondering what kinda plan do you have with that video card fan behind your psu ?

[zoob]

[Junimrox]

Whys is that radiator that thick?

I really liked the black fluid and the ways hoses are connected.
A also think you should put that T in other way, so that the flow goes straight to the cpu block instead of going straight to the unconnected hose

nice project man!

[Drunner611]

Whys is that radiator that thick?

Look's like a heat shroud if I'm not mistake (I probably am )
Makes it more efficient air travel. Think wind tunnel.

[zoob]

Crappiest thing just happened. I hook up the PSU and it won't frigging turn on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Argh

[zoob]

OK there goes that. I toss in a different CPU and I see a little whiff of smoke come out from the top MOSFET area. The setup worked fine when it was sitting on my desk!

I'm pissed! 5 hours of work gone down the drain!!

[Lu523]

Ouch! I feel your pain.

[Yeknom]

That sucks.

[Swatrecon_]

Dang man. All that work. Think it's just a matter of Mobo? or are you thinking PSU, Mobo, and CPU?

[zoob]

I'm hoping ASUS RMA is fast.

In the mean time, I've done this:



Parts:
Asus P5E-VM HDMI w/EK NB Block (from my dead Maxmius)
X3350 w/FuZion+Quad nozzle
8800GTX w/EK FC block
PA120.3+Shroud+SFlexF@5V
DDC3.2 w/Petra Top@7V

Needed to run my pump at full speed to get this sucker to bleed due to the changed loop layout -- the NB is closer to the GPU on this board

Did the pencil vdroop mod so now I get 1.344V load at 1.3875V BIOS set rather than 1.3360V load at 1.5250V BIOS set.

Just need to toss my X-Fi in there and I'm almost done...

Remaining on my priority/to do list:
- Find some case feet! I'm propping it up on two 120mm fans right now
- Fan controller
- Dampen case with vinyl + foam
- Dampen HDD noise -- going to try modding my Scythe Quiet Drives
- Possibly swap back to my Enermax Modu82+ for higher efficiency -- 8800GTX sucks up a lot
- Tidy wires up -- zip ties, cable runners, whatever I can find.
- Possibly trade my 8800GTX for 8800GTS512MB + FC.. I have the card, just trying to convince myself to buy another FC block.
- Paint the interior black?
- Change out to DTEK DB-1 pump

[[XC] NetburstXE]

Sorry dude, that really sucks. The M-ATX board looks hilarious in there.