YAMM - Yet Another Mountain Mod Project

[Rinzwind]

First off, I have to thank a couple of members for getting me back "in the game" by posting superb worklogs, namely Shazza, xaxis, Kibbler, virtualrain, and Olly_K. Also I would like to thank all Xtreme Systems members for insightful, informative and enjoyable posts.

This worklog is my way of giving something back to the community. So please enjoy

[Shlomo]

First off, I have to thank a couple of members for getting me back "in the game" by posting superb worklogs, namely Shazza, xaxis, Kibbler, virtualrain, and Olly_K. Also I would like to thank all Xtreme Systems members for insightful, informative and enjoyable posts.

This worklog is my way of giving something back to the community. So please enjoy

So....

Care to elaborate on the actual project?

[Wookie Man]

Yeah not a whole lot info, but Mountain Mod Projects always look awesome.

[Rinzwind]

I'm still waiting for my MM case to arrive. So I though I humor everybody with some early mod pics (2001) in the meantime.


2001: My first ever mod. Old Antec case (front 120mm, top 80mm, side 92mm and 80mm)


cut out front 120mm, and cpu area


some "Night Action"

32MB AGP Creative Labs 3D Blaster Annihilator Pro Geforce, 256Bit 350MHz 32MB DDR 4x AGP CT6970

Front, modded GPU cooler and ram sinks.


Back: modded ram sinks

[omaryunus]

how about some info on whats going in there main components like mobo cpu etc if not that how about cooling air or water and if so which air cooler or which rad etc etc... its always nice to see another MM build but you are giving no info at all :p except for thanking some MAJOR awesome modders

[Rinzwind]

MM U2-UFO CYO

Horizontal MB brace
Front: Duality
Back: Triple Standard
Top: Original Panel
Sides: Solid ALUPanel
3 HDD racks (brackets) - 2 HDD's per 120mm fan = 6 HDD

Finish: Black Stardust

Hardware

MB: Lanparty LT x48

CPU: Intel Core2 Duo, E6750

MEM: OCZ Flex XLC 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 1150 (PC2 9200)

GPU: Sapphire 4850 Toxic

RAID: 3ware® 9650SE in Raid6 with 5 HITACHI Deskstar T7K500 HDT725032VLA360 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s (894.04 GB)

BOOT DRIVE: WDC WD1500HLFS

PSU: Seasonic M12 500 80Plus

OS: good old XP Pro

FANS:
6x Noise Blocker M12-S3HS
3x Enermax Magma
3x Noctua NF-S12-800

FAN FILTERS: 6x FilterRight

FAN GRILLS:
3x Black Round
2x Black Hex Modders Mesh

CARD READER: Mediapc ZE-C128 (black aluminum face plate)

NOISE DAMPENING: Sonex Mini 1" thick

KEYBOARD: Logitech diNova

MOUSE: Roccat Kone

DVD-ROM: Toshiba SD-M1612 w/ region free firmware

DVD-RW: Toshiba SH-S223Q


Some parts and pieces

[Rinzwind]

This will be an air cooled system for now but hopefully it will morph into a WC system over time. Flexibility was one of the main reasons for picking the MM over the Lian Li PC-B70 (my other final candidate). Its really hard to find a good case that can support 6+ internal HDD and has a good cooling setup.

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U12P
FAN CONTROLLER: mCubed T-Balancer Classic http://www.t-balancer.com/english/Modelle.htm

[Kibbler]

Hey man thanks for the shout-out, though there many others here that have done much more inspiring things. I appreciate it and look forward to seeing what you're gonna do. Good luck!

[kinghong1970]

thanks... now i want some yams...

[Wookie Man]

Oooh some nice Noctua's, are you going to mod them?

[twwen2]

Nice project name --> http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...ighlight=YAMMS

Good luck with the project.

[Rinzwind]

Guys, thanks for the encouragement

I finally got my case. Here are some pictures of the amazing black startdust powder coat finish.


Nice brownish/red to black color change.


And another one


Motherboard tray back panel half sun, half shade

Assembling pictures coming up, stay tuned ...

[Rinzwind]

Oooh some nice Noctua's, are you going to mod them?

If you mean painting them a useful color. maybe

No seriously, what could be modded on those?

[Rinzwind]

Nice project name --> http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...ighlight=YAMMS

Good luck with the project.

"Note to self: Next time check for used project names before choosing one!"

[shazza]

Rinzwind - loving the Black Stardust. Now, you know you just can't keep that cube on air for long - but you'll have a big head start since you'll get it all set up before on air. (And thanks for the shout out - these cases are a lot of fun to work with).

[Rinzwind]

Rinzwind - loving the Black Stardust. Now, you know you just can't keep that cube on air for long - but you'll have a big head start since you'll get it all set up before on air. (And thanks for the shout out - these cases are a lot of fun to work with).

shazza - you are quite right. Unfortunately the budget only allows for air cooling at the moment.

Talking about the budget, I believe I spent already half of the MM case again on accessories (fans, better casters, noise insulation, fan screws & accessories ...) So keep additional spending in mind if you consider a MM case

[Rinzwind]

Because I work from home it is very important for me that my machine is as quite as possible. So I decided to add some Sonic Mini Noise Canceling Insulation to the case.

Solid side panels are the easiest.


The brown color of the Noctua rubber mounts is really annoying.


The noise canceling insulation is marked with a measuring tap and a soft tipped marker.


This is how it looks cut and mounted to the panel (using spray-able contact glue).


And the final picture with insert. By slightly angling the cut outwards when cutting out the window panel, it is now possible to insert it back for more quietness or remove it for looks


Here are the back panel


and motherboard tray.

[Rinzwind]

Here are some pictures of taken during assembly of the cube frame.


Front panel attached to base panel.


Front and back panel attached


connected with support bars




Motherboard tray horizontal mount bar with sound insulation inserts


Front panel sound insulation


Couldn't cut and mount the sound insulation onto the back panel when assembled. So I had to take the case apart again.


I assembled the case again and added sound insulation to the motherboard support bar as well.

[XKaan]

Interesting paint. Curious to see where this build ends up.

[Demthios]

I really like the idea of the sound insulation! Looks good!!

[Rinzwind]

HDD mounted using MM fan brackets


Using light fixture thumb screws to hold fan brackets.


Motherboard mounted onto the motherboard tray.


Unfortunately the 5 1/4 bay didn't fit into the front opening
I had to cut 2mm out of the side wall in order to get the drive bay in.


I'm not done yet but here is the first complete case picture.

[shazza]

Nice progress! I really do like that paint job. Finding decent looking fan grills/filters is so difficult for these cases - you've done a nice job. I've been running "Grill-free" for the last 4+ months. It looks good but not the most practical wrt dust, that's for sure.

[Spawn-Inc]

Excellent paint job, well done.

[Kibbler]

Unfortunately the 5 1/4 bay didn't fit into the front opening
I had to cut 2mm out of the side wall in order to get the drive bay in.

It fits, you just have to install the drive bay into the case first before actually installing any drives.

Good job all around.