Project: CES '09 LMM (Last Minute Mod)

[Petra]

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

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:



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.



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.

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

[NaeKuh]

BWAHAHAHA ALEX awesome idea for the rads!

Seriously!

[Utnorris]

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.

[Serpentarius]

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

[The[R]eaper]

Sweet a Petra build!!!!!!

Great idea on the rads

Sub'd

[Roch]

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.

[lyl]

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

[coolmiester]

Nice chassis mcoffey


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

[inCore]

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.

[lyl]

Any updates?

[atomic ferret]

Looks good. Good luck trying to prettify that 900.

[SGwillis]

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

[Petra]

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

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


Started by stripping the case (pulling all the cages, covers, and other crap out).


A little blue painter's tape on the PSU as not to scratch it up while test fitting stuff.


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


...and the carnage begins! 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).


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.


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...


Looking familiar?


I'm also using the opportunity to mark spots where mounting holes will be needed and figure out the SSD mount (not shown).


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

Which brings us to today...


Here the case has been disassembled again, each panel deburred, filed, wet sanded, thoroughly cleaned, and hung for priming.


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).


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).


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).


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!

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 ).
- 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....

[shoopdawoopa]

looks great!

[bianco]

nice project you have there!
rad positioning is brilliant!


sub'd

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

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.

[aspire.comptech]

I take partial credit for the radiator mounting idea

Also, I want to see the new pics!

[sniperbob]

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

[dualbrain]

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

[SGwillis]

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

[evil-98]

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

good luck!

[Zw_Roodbaard]

Great idea for mounting the rad's

[Petra]

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

[armeniandave]

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

Umm Sorry??

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

[NaeKuh]

Umm Sorry??

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

I agree dave your brackets are DAYAM strong.