Armor.exe

[anubis_is_evil]

2 x Swiftech MCR320 Radiators
2 x MCP655 DDC3.2 pumps
1 x XSPC DDC reservoir top
1 x XSPC DDC top

a bit confused in the first time...but turn out to be DDC3.2 that you will be using...nice ...

keep it coming .exe...nice paint combination in the case thought ..

[exe163]

Haha, sorry about the type, now fixed. I had my eyes on the D5 for a long time but ultimately settled on the smaller DDC.

The build will be on hold for a bit since I am on vacation and waiting for the bloodrage board. Also I might replace the 4870 if GTX295 and GTX285 live up to the hype.

[Adamantine]

If you're having trouble drilling out the rivets, you might not have the right drill bit. You need one designed to cut metal, which for the most part, has to do with how the tip is shaped.

[PsYcHoNo0b727]

Good work so far man. I saw that pic of the ram and i kinda cringed lol. As far as I know, you need to replace the ram... you can try and RMA but idk if that will fly since you removed the stock heatsink

[exe163]

They said removing the heatsink void the warranty (DOH!). I might as well buy a new set (poor wallet...) since the price dropped quite a bit.

As for the rivets, I used a power drill first to leave a mark on the rivet, then I use a screw driver and hammer and start hammering it. Lastly I switch back to the drill, with a little bit of pressure the rivet pops right out. I don't know if this is the best way to do this, but it got the job done. I am sure this is not the fastest way though.

Thanks for the feedbacks!

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

usually just drill the rivet through with a bit about 2/3 to 3/4 the size of the rivet head. once you get through if the rivet hasn't fallen apart yet just wiggle the drill around until you sever the head from the expanded column.

[SGwillis]

red and black is always a good colour scheme imo, looking good overall thou

[moiraesfate]

Question... why red?

[exe163]

usually just drill the rivet through with a bit about 2/3 to 3/4 the size of the rivet head. once you get through if the rivet hasn't fallen apart yet just wiggle the drill around until you sever the head from the expanded column.

Thanks for the info, I will keep that in mind the next time I deal with those suckers.

red and black is always a good colour scheme imo, looking good overall thou

Indeed.

Question... why red?

I was planning to go all black, but thinking adding some red would be more fun. And the end product does look more fun that plain black which is very unforgiving to mistakes.

[cheesemonkey]

I admire your work man. Im planning to do almost the same thing as you!

I have a few parts for my new build but am waiting on the bloodrage and from what ive read, i wont get till january which is why my build hasnt started yet!

I originally thought, CoolerMaster HAF 932 will be great, looks great imo red/black and i would of painted the interior black to go with the whole bloodrage black/red theme. But on second thoughts.... its massive im going to get another TT armor jr and paint the interior black and try and do something like you have about cable management but from your pics etc it looks like a pain in the ASS and i have no dremel Sooo i dont know what im going to do there but here is my specs if your interested;

Its funny the parts that perform well and are good actually fit the colour scheme im going for. (seeeeXY!)

CPU: Intel core i7 920
CPU Cooler: Coolermaster V8 (Red/Black hmmmmm) (got it today actually, MASSIVE!, compared it to width of my current armor jr and its close, covers the back 120mm almost!)
RAM: Corsair 3x1gb 1600mhz DDR3 CAL8 (black)
MOBO: Foxconn Bloodrage (you knooow it :P)
PSU: Corsair HX620w (Black/Red hmmmmm)
GFX: Current 8800gts (buuut ive just seen the new EVGA GTX260 55nm and its red/black )
Xtra: Fan controller of somesort (zalman) to turn fans down for quietness!
Red Front and Back 120mm fans
Paint interior Black
Do something about cable management
Cover/Destroy blue led next to power button (away with the BLUE!)

Question: Im guessing theres space to fit wires between the side panel and the case frame for your cable management?

But yeah, just thought id share the similar build im going for and yours has made me wanna do it even more! cant wait to see more pics of it all. Keep it up!

[WhiteFireDragon]

exe163, you still gonna RMA your asus x58 like you mentioned? bloodrage was released yesterday on newegg, and but it was out of stock a few hours later. as for the memory, there's no way that could be RMA'ed. you took off the heatsink AND one of the chips! that definitely voids it.

[tcorbyn]

Dude stick the cooler back on and RMA the ram.... did I say too much?

[exe163]

I will try to sell my P6T and find a way to get another stick.

As for Cheesemonkey, if you do not plan to use a dremel, I advice you not to pick the armor as you case of choice because no matter how hard I try there's no good way to hide the cables and make it look good.

[exe163]

Another question pops up in my mind.

Is there any right side panel on sale? I find the right side panel (flat on window side) much easier to work with than the right side, and the two are exchangeable.

Also, does this fit the MCR220?

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/arast2xalbla.html

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

Also, does this fit the MCR220?

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/arast2xalbla.html

yes it fits OK, sometimes it can be a tad off but a small enlargement of the holes with a drill fixes the problem easily.

[shoehorned]

What size rivets can be used to put everything back together? Can screws be used instead to make future modding more easy?

[exe163]

What size rivets can be used to put everything back together? Can screws be used instead to make future modding more easy?

This is the same problem I have and what prevented from disassembling my case, disassembling the case makes painting a hell not easier.

While waiting the bloodrage, I finally got my case up. I haven't got time to shop for L brackets but I will be putting a 3x120 on the side, and another on the back with both fans wired to a fan controller (Yate lows are still too loud for my virgin ears).

Here's a small up date on the case without the front panel on.

[RCG_Bex]

Oooooooooo coming along nicely

~Bex

[ShArKo]

Nice armor mod......... I had a TT Armor to......well, you see my mod allready dont you?

[Oli4v]

looking nice, especially the 2colored paint job

and your current HD4870 will fit the color sheme of your case very well, wouldn't upgrade yet to that nvidia sh*t, ATi all teh waaaay ^^

[exe163]

looking nice, especially the 2colored paint job

and your current HD4870 will fit the color sheme of your case very well, wouldn't upgrade yet to that nvidia sh*t, ATi all teh waaaay ^^

I am actually thinking about switching to the green team...

Sorry for the late update, didn't have enough goods to update the thread. Due to school and Bloodrage's unavailability, the project was delayed until now.

I changed the a most of my "toys". 4870x2 is no more (RMAed it). P6T was sold. MCR320s replaced by PA 120.3 and XSPC RX240.

Here's what I got today


Return of OCZ GOLD 1600! Thanks to OCZ's great RMA system:



Naughty Naughty



New year, new cloths:



Here's a setup I will no longer use:



What I got from petra's today Thanks Alex!



Hotcakes:



Sold my old OJ yates, replaced with these:



The following is pretty self explanatory:









Yup, it fits:


Bloodrage should be here in a day or two, video card still deciding. HDD will be 640 black.

I need help on picking video card. My monitor only supports 1920x1200. I want a card that will last me at least until the end of the year at max res and maybe some AA (I can't tell difference pass 4x anyways). Here are the nominees:

4870x2 ~$375 - cheapest of the bunch, also due to I already have the waterblock already.

GTX 260 SLI ~$650 - Slightly faster than 4870x2, but require 2 waterblocks for minor performance increase over Ati counterpart.

GTX 280 SLI~ ~$750 - Great card but overkill?

I will most likely upgrade with release of Windows 7 and 40nm DX11 supported family. Of course wants to spend as little as possible. ATi offer is good but it's driver pretty much ruins the party. Since all the cards above can max just about every game over 60fps with crysis as only exception, which Nv cards scales a lot better due to the very nature of game partnership.

Also there is a voltage unlocker coming very soon by evga, 1 up for Nvidia.

Help me pick the right card for me .

[Pedalmonkey]

why not dual 4870x2's?? specialy if u already have the block for 1.

[exe163]

why not dual 4870x2's?? specialy if u already have the block for 1.

Yikes, I am not rich by any mean (look at my case and everything ><), and I don't have a monitor big enough to utilize all the power.

Also I figure the most affordable upgrade path is to sell everything before they are outdated to make sure the full size block can find a new home. I expect we will have something so powerful that makes 4870x2 CF looks like child play by the end of the year .

[R0bert]

You should've stick with the 4870X2 and wait for next gen cards, as you said, the 4870X2 is still very powerfull, well maybe except the 295 and SLI'd 280/285 and 260's. IMO ofc If you'd have had card like 6600GT or smth like that, we could speak about changing card, but right now IMO it'll be senseless.

[HuffPCair]

I would stick with the ATI for now like R0bert said wait till next gen. Plus it will go with your build with the red and black I think. Though a 295 wouldn't look bad in there either lol