**** PHINIX NANO TOWER **** Smallest and most powerful mITX rig !!!

[aka_GK]

Mike, sounds great!
your project is so ambitious that I still can't believe it's possible looking forward to your next update

[phinix_mike]

Mike, sounds great!
your project is so ambitious that I still can't believe it's possible looking forward to your next update

Thank you my friend! I will show ready pump stand shortly. It is already made, but need to re-attach rear alu strip cause I riveted it on wrong side

Now, I'm not an expert in Google Sketchup tube drawing, but I spent a bit of time on trying to visualise how the tubing will run in the Tower. Just two simple sketches to show how it will work...





Of course there will be two sets of quick-release fittings installed on top of that power chamber panel, but didn't have time to draw them.

[Amralx1]

i can t wait to see this finished... great job

[phinix_mike]

i can t wait to see this finished... great job

Cheers mate!

[phinix_mike]

Yes, finally I took all together to show new update. It was hard, cause I've been working on few elements for a last few weeks and to be honest I didn't know if there is a point of showing it.
You guys know how it is sometimes when there are dozens of small things that need to be done, but they are not quite visual to show them up as update.
I had to "trim" few elements, recreate one or two, measure up few things.. if I count them, maybe I did around 10 different small things, but overall there is like one or two that are worth to show, so here it is

SMALL UPDATE

I already showed sketches of pump stand, showed the main part of it done, but haven't showed the whole thing standing. I basically made exactly what I planned on sketches, added bottom plate which contains small piece that bolts the stand to the rear panel right under the radiator, long vertical piece to mount one piece of power chamber top panel to the stand.
Here's how it looks right now














"Head" of this thing goes right up to the surface of power chamber:




This is how it looks inside of the Tower:






To make it all right I had to trim that L shape alu profile on the right from the pump stand. I trimmed it on the whole length cause it didn't look "nice" when I only cut out small piece at the bottom, where the tubing will go from the top to the right radiator inlet.
Well, to make it short - it's like I wanted

Now, I decided to go with fluorescent yellow - Helios - color acrylic. It looks like that:






This piece goes under that smaller piece of power chamber top panel.






It will have that two pieces of aluminium on top, leaving small gap, where yellow acrylic will be light up with leds.
I showed it before on one of the sketches. I added one small detail - one more cut line in it to make it more interesting
I put it all together but mind that it is not mounted - no screws and rivets there. I just stack it up to show roughly how it will look like. Of course black powder coat will change the look entirely but still, a hint how it will look

This is how I planned it on sketches:




..and this is the execution



..here added that L shape profile that will cover "contacting edge". Left side cut out - this is where the reservoir will stick out alter on...




Here how it looks inside the Tower:








Second thing is fan controller - Scythe Kaze Q, which I wanted to use came out as too long, 1cm too long, so had to change it. Revoltec controller, same which I used in Cube was perfect for this job. Now, some of you will spot funny looking fan holes in that panel, don't worry about those 4 holes, I messed it up really nice:duh:Cannot forgive myself, but will have to live with it :wallbash: At the end however they will be covered with gromets so they won't be seen! I promise!:blush: Yes, this is my excuse! :blush: Common!!! Its only 4 holes!!!!:worried:



Tricky part was to squeeze it between right square rod and radiator fan that will come on left...
I measured it up 3 times.. and drilled the holes.. all came out PERFECT!




OK.. last thing... Bottom acrylic panel. 10mm thick hard-ass stuff!!! My dremmel sweat like a strongman cutting this thing. After 10 minutes operation PSU hole was finished...








Hmmm... yep.. that's it! I hope you will enjoy new photos. Soon will be new update..

Hahaha... I swear! Really soon!! I promise!!!!!

Mod on !!!:rock:

[aka_GK]

yummy yellow! comes out even better than I've expected!

wonder if I am the only one following this log, so much tiny and neat work here and nobody leaves a comment here

[callen_1]

yummy yellow! comes out even better than I've expected!

wonder if I am the only one following this log, so much tiny and neat work here and nobody leaves a comment here

Now you've made me feel guilty ! But your right, people should start commenting on this log (including myself) because it's incredibly detailed work.

The pump/acrylic stand looks brilliant, it's great seeing your renders come to life.

Keep up the great work, man .

[\/icious]

yummy yellow! comes out even better than I've expected!

wonder if I am the only one following this log, so much tiny and neat work here and nobody leaves a comment here

your definitely not the only one. Great work is being done here and with there being 21000+ views there probably is a large silent following. I just cant see great work being overlooked in this community.

[aka_GK]

I just wanted to cheer up the author

[phinix_mike]

HAHA Thanks guys

aka_GK - I know what mean See, I don't know why people don't comment my work, but it is funny here I guess its because this is Extreme forum, so most of the comments go to OC and water cooling logs. I don't worry about it, I don't do it for comments if you know what I mean, but certainly they help a lot It's always nice to see someone comments on your update saying he likes what you've done.

I check my logs daily after I add an update to see if someone's read it - I always compare my logs on every forum: here, bit-tech, HardForum, ChilledPC and Losias. Of course bit-tech is the biggest modding forum, that is why this project gathered almost 55.000 views in couple of months. Here is almost 22.000, HardForum has 31.000. ChilledPC for example is mostly watercooling forum, that is why project logs don't get a lot of views and comments. Losias in other hand is a new forum created by my modding friend Craigbru - however my log has the biggest number of views there. Comments? It is hard to explain, all members of those forums read all different threads, logs, they sometimes add a comment. For me I'm glad that people watch it, for example yesterday I was happy to see after 20 minutes when I added latest update, that around 400 people watched my input. That means people enjoy watching it. I remember my previous build - Phinix Cube - it gathered above 153.000 views on single forum. That was huge, at the beginning of this year it was still in first 10 top mods on bit-tech forum considering number of views, so that was huge. Right now it is on 8th place of all scratch builds. This build might be even bigger.. we'll see....
Great thing is that on each forum my log has always some loyal viewers who subscribe this thread and read it every time something is posted in it. In this forum aka_GK is the man!

So to sum up, I'm happy to see you guys like this mod, I hope you still going to like it when I finish it
Thank you all for kind words!

[Alexandr0s]

HAHA Thanks guys

aka_GK - I know what mean See, I don't know why people don't comment my work, but it is funny here I guess its because this is Extreme forum, so most of the comments go to OC and water cooling logs. I don't worry about it, I don't do it for comments if you know what I mean, but certainly they help a lot It's always nice to see someone comments on your update saying he likes what you've done.

I check my logs daily after I add an update to see if someone's read it - I always compare my logs on every forum: here, bit-tech, HardForum, ChilledPC and Losias. Of course bit-tech is the biggest modding forum, that is why this project gathered almost 55.000 views in couple of months. Here is almost 22.000, HardForum has 31.000. ChilledPC for example is mostly watercooling forum, that is why project logs don't get a lot of views and comments. Losias in other hand is a new forum created by my modding friend Craigbru - however my log has the biggest number of views there. Comments? It is hard to explain, all members of those forums read all different threads, logs, they sometimes add a comment. For me I'm glad that people watch it, for example yesterday I was happy to see after 20 minutes when I added latest update, that around 400 people watched my input. That means people enjoy watching it. I remember my previous build - Phinix Cube - it gathered above 153.000 views on single forum. That was huge, at the beginning of this year it was still in first 10 top mods on bit-tech forum considering number of views, so that was huge. Right now it is on 8th place of all scratch builds. This build might be even bigger.. we'll see....
Great thing is that on each forum my log has always some loyal viewers who subscribe this thread and read it every time something is posted in it. In this forum aka_GK is the man!

So to sum up, I'm happy to see you guys like this mod, I hope you still going to like it when I finish it
Thank you all for kind words!

We totally love your builds mike, don't be mad at us for not posting. Nine out of ten times we're just too lazy to post .

[phinix_mike]

No no! I'm not mad! Like I said, for me it's great that I see that so many people watch my log, that is already a great reward !

[gergregg]

Great project. Been watching from the start and enjoyed every bit of the craftsmanship you have put into it.

[kgtiger]

Hay Mike just swung by to to see what your up to mate.
I see your ali bracket making skills have had another work out, I like the way you have put it all together, it work well.
I wouldn't worry about the extra fan holes Mike, they add character to her.

Have you ever thought of adding a splash of electric blue perspex to your build somewhere?
I have a thing for bright yellow and electric blue, I feel they look good together.

Oh yhea, Proud supporter of this build since post #7.

You like revving people up, hay GK

Keep up the excellent work mate your doing well.

[phinix_mike]

Great project. Been watching from the start and enjoyed every bit of the craftsmanship you have put into it.

Thank you for kind words mate!

Hay Mike just swung by to to see what your up to mate.
I see your ali bracket making skills have had another work out, I like the way you have put it all together, it work well.
I wouldn't worry about the extra fan holes Mike, they add character to her.

Have you ever thought of adding a splash of electric blue perspex to your build somewhere?
I have a thing for bright yellow and electric blue, I feel they look good together.

Oh yhea, Proud supporter of this build since post #7.

You like revving people up, hay GK

Keep up the excellent work mate your doing well.

Hey Tiger! How are you my man?

Thanks man! You are my supporter, no doubt!
I think you're right, without even a one small mistake it wouldn't be a really cool creation - it always needs something - those holes are exactly what and where they should be

See! Now you pushing me to do something I was thinking about for a very long time - blue acrylic...

This yellow acrylic... hmm... is my pain in the b** actually. It looks nice in some light, which is shown on those photos. BUT it doesn't look that nice at most of the time. I need to choose how I'm agoing to light it up.

Ben from Phenoptix was very kind and sent me lots of different leds to play with: yellow 3,5,10mm, same UV, even small SMD leds in strips. Now, I tried few of them and I got funny results.
Cause this is fluorescent acrylic, it supposed to react on UV light and give full color. Things is when I used UV light on it it does light up like crazy showing evry single even mm size scratch and lightup edges like there is no tomorrow. There is only one thing.. color.... it is not yellowish yellow, it is kinda greenish yellow. When I used yellow leds on the other hand, it does light up in deep yellow.. but only opposite edge I used small square sample and when put led to one edge, plastic was a bit brighter but only front edge was lighting yellow.
Then I tried to use two leds: yellow and UV Result was.. well, it wasn't good
So now I don't know what to do. I may go with yellow leds in some places and UV in other.
Or should I just go with blue acrylic?

What do you guys think?

[phinix_mike]

Hello there
Quick update, cause I'm running out of time here - still need to reinstall my OS on new SSD.

On Saturday morning small package arrived from ChilledPC - Tom cut lots of small acrylic pieces for me - most of them will go on outside of the case. I laso ordered some Tensol 12 glue for acrylic - but I will tell about it later...






I decided to use two switches for internal lights and front panel. I'm using white led switches.
Here's small pic of work done today Measuring, sketching, drilling and a looooooot of filing
They will be attached on right side of the case, bottom part of the rear panel.








What I also did this weekend (not much I guess, but wanted to show it) is I cut to size round mesh for cover that I'm going to paint and install on rear radiator. Basically I've "stolen" the idea from one fo the fantastic mod cases of Bill from MNPCTECH It was easy cause I got this mesh from Bill, so I hope you don't mind taking your idea, Bill! :blush:

Here's the radiator that I will be using - EK triple XT:




...and here is the mesh cut to size and on the radiator...





I don't have any idea yet how I'm going to paint this mesh, but I think it will be some kind of hex shape pattern.

That is it for now, I will add rest of the photos soon. I've been really busy lately, couldn't find a spare time for my little Tower I hope I will get some work on it in next couple fo days.
Plan of finishing this case till end of August is fading away I guess

[miahallen]

Very cool Thanks for the update

[OC Maximus]

Basically I've "stolen" the idea from one fo the fantastic mod cases of Bill from MNPCTECH

Do you have a link to that build?

[aka_GK]

[Johnny87au]

awesome mate!

[the finisher]

Very nice work, I'm liking your style.
It's great that there is good itx mobos available now.

Mod on

[phinix_mike]

Very cool Thanks for the update

Do you have a link to that build?

awesome mate!

Very nice work, I'm liking your style.
It's great that there is good itx mobos available now.

Mod on

Thank you all for kind words guys!
That was a small update, but I'm waiting for some things to show up, some plexi, acrylic glue, quick connectors. When i get them I will be able to continue work on it and show more news. I will add sketchups explaining how I'm going to use those acrylic pieces before next update, so please stay tuned!

[phinix_mike]

Here it is.
This is the top comb, it will be mounted on long thin piece of acrylic on the rear edge of 10mm top acrylic panel.



This is the rear view on all combs..



..and here is side view, two combs on top and bottom, same other side.

[alpha0ne]

Thanks for the updates/pics, gotta love sexy m-itx builds

[Alexandr0s]

That looks very awesome Mike, can't wait to see actual pictures of it .