Quote Originally Posted by virtualrain View Post
It turns out I didn't get time to post some more pics tonight but should have time tomorrow.

Some additional comments...

In regards to attention to detail, thanks... this is my main hobby these days and so it's as much about the journey as the destination. The consequence of this is that by taking several months my electronics were nearly obsolete by the time I was finished. The good thing is that this case and the core cooling setup should last for several future PC builds.

In terms of money, it is excessive by some standards, but perhaps more practical than you might think. What annoys me the most about this hobby is that you have to buy most parts sight unseen over the internet based on a picture or two and when you are doing a seriously custom job with a lot of planning you end up making assumptions about parts size, fitment, and compatibility that simply don't pan out. I don't know how much money I wasted on brackets, fans, shrouds, modding parts, etc that I ultimately couldn't use or didn't want to use once I had the parts in hand. With shipping costs what they are, it's not always practical to return stuff you don't want/need either. Sadly, I could probably build another entire rig with spare parts I have lying around from this one. That's where most of the money is wasted in my opinion.

This case is expensive as everyone knows, and the accessories are steeply priced as well, but things like nickel plating, powder coating, sleeving for cables, and modders mesh to hide unwanted things, are really insignificant and well worth it.

One last thought on the the cost... perhaps the most expensive part of custom computer building is the investment in tools. I have a very modest tool set compared to some folks around here (i.e. I don't have a machine shop!) but the right tools can make a project like this so much simpler... but those tools can add up quicker than a pair of SLI graphics cards.

By my calculations, without the cost of tools factored in or my time... just the parts, materials, and outsourced plating/coating, I spent about $5K which is not much more than a high-end Vodoo or Alienware rig would cost and it's a lot more satisfying (albeit frustrating at times) than ordering a rig from a catalog.

l]
I totally agree with you in so many ways. The journey to the end result is just as important as getting there, and sometimes the cost of getting there can be an expensive one.

When you become obsessed with every detail of the build, you will go to any lengths to achieve it. I only got into liquidcooling 10 months ago and my first build totalled £3,200 = $6273. I kept every receipt for all the little things like nuts, bolts, screws, brackets, the cost for those alone came to £220 = $433.

I had lists a mile long every time I went to a DIY store, if I needed some screws or bolts I would buy a verity of different sizes just to make sure I had the right gear for the job. I would travel 25 miles just to checkout companies when I needed more specialized parts.

I was terrible for placing orders online for parts then a couple of days latter I’d remember something else needed, so I paid double postage loads of times. I had parts shipped for the USA and Europe. I’ve got boxes full of spare gear that’s left over from that build. Thank God I’ve got an understanding wife. lol

I think building liquidcooled PCs is like climbing mountains. You have to plan, plan and plan again. And once you’ve workout a route sometime you need to deviate from that route to get you to the top. But when you’ve cracked that mountain you start to look for a new challenge.

I’m already thinking about my next venture in to liquidcooling, and just like climbing mountains the next one has to be more of a challenge than the one before. I think ultimately the route I need to go down is building my own custom case, because that way you can have total control of the build instead of being constrained by the limitation of manufactured cases.

Look at the cost of a top quality case like the TJ07 or your 343B, what’s the first thing we need to do with it, strip it down and start hacking bits off that give us problems. Are we mad or what lol. If I’m honest I thinks I get more enjoyment out of building PCs than using them.

Just like to say once again that you are doing a fantastic build. You are setting new boundaries when it comes to the dedication and commitment needed to produce work like yours.