--- r e f l e X i o n ---

[Xion X2]

Blue Moon...good choice. Tried Shocktop? I prefer New Belgium brand beers (especially Mothership Wit) and Boluevard Wheat, but Blue Moon is definately in the top 10!

Haven't tried Shocktop yet.. may have to give it a go.

I've taken some more measurements of the case before disassembly. I'm looking at two things in particular here: 1) the support rods on the front and back of the case which, as it stands, will get in the way of the custom bay cover I've designed, and 2) finding an alternate mount for the PSU to make room for the bottom RX240.

This first picture will probably look familiar. Never mind the blue clips as they've already been taken out as shown in the last build update. I'm just showing this to point out the support rod that stretches from the drive cage all the way to the back of the case.



Not too visually appealing, is it? Not at all, but it suits its purpose well which is supporting the overall case structure while providing an easy way to unlatch the side panel.

There are four latches on the support rods that correspond to grooves inside the side panel. I'm resting my finger next to one of the latches here:



The latches are controlled by a release lever that is located on the back side panel under the outer shell:



By pushing on that lever, all latches release to the left and the panel simply releases from the top down.

Here's another shot. You can see that it's screw-mounted to the drive cage with standoffs.



The mounting won't be a problem since the bay cover will fit snugly against the drive cage. I can simply use shorter standoffs or file these down and then screw them into the bay cover. But the same can't be said about the ridge along the edge of the drive cage.



That ridged edge that pushes up against the support bar would need to be cut off to make room for the bay cover to slide on and over the drive cage.

So this support bar is an ugly yet important piece. It's not something I could just do away with without possibly compromising the case structure and ease of use. So if I can't get rid of it, well, maybe I could possibly move it.



Looks like I have about 1 3/8" there between the bar and the top groove to work with. I figure the closer I can get it to that top groove the better as it should blend in better with the case frame. I'll just need to ensure that whatever distance I move it up that I also match the distance on the panel so that the latches still line up with the grooves.

In looking at the back of the case I notice a connecting panel that looks to solidify the motherboard panel while providing a way to hide some wires. I can see that it's secured in place with rivets.



That piece will have to go to make room on that left side for the bay cover to slide on. I'll just have to find another way to support the back panel if it needs it.

In a rather ambitious and likely unpopular venture, I'm looking at mounting the PSU in an alternate location. Recognize this from before?



Where the fark is the PSU, they're asking. Good question.

The idea I have is to install it in the bottom of the bay up towards the front of the case to make room for the RX240 on the bottom. I have two concerns with that. 1) Heat exhaust. Obviously, I don't want the PSU heating up my case since it won't be able to exhaust out the back, and 2) it doesn't fit into the drive cage!

#2 can be easily remedied. I'll be taking the entire frame apart to powdercoat, anyway, and can just cut a custom drive cage wide enough that will fit the PSU and just ditch the stock one (I won't be using the drive cage for optical drives, anyway.. it'll be filled with pumps, res' and SSDs.. pfft we're at Xtreme Systems, remember?)

#1 still has me questioning my sanity.

In the name of aesthetics only am I considering doing this, because it won't be easy. Obviously you want all your hot components exhausting out of the case if at all possible, so I will have to figure out some way to vent the PSU from the front, be it venting holes drilled in the bottom of the front panel or whatever it may be. There are no intake fans that would interfere with pushing hot air out the front since the build will be watercooled. Air will intake straight up from the bottom and down from the top through the radiators, but not from the front.

For aesthetics.. I just have to keep chanting that to myself. I'm loving the symmetry of the design thus far and must have that 240 in the bottom where the PSU normally sits.

One good thing would be that, since the PSU would be mounted on the bottom (and would anyway with the Cosmos design,) a vent can be cut for it to intake cool air through (the HX1000 has a 120mm fan on its bottom.) This would allow it to operate at cooler temperatures and significantly reduce the heat dump into the case.

Of course, even with this if I don't vent the bay cover/PSU somehow then it's possible (probable?) it could turn itself into a steambox with a hot PSU sitting underneath two water-filled pumps and res tops. Wouldn't that be a treat. I could just sit it in a sauna and everyone would be giddy. Free steam baths all around, courtesy of refleXion.

So there are some of my crazy thoughts for the night. If you made it through all that, well, then I look forward to seeing you at my next update.