ABS/Tagan Black Pearl - evolution of a water-cooled rig

[shazza]

hehe ... glad I was able to provide some comic relief yesterday evening.

@Charles and boys - I believe I will just remain silent, as there's nothing I can say to dig myself out of this, but I'm glad you didn't ask what I used for lubricant


@ Ohms - Like mt says, I don't think putting the case back together will be too tough. Only concern I have is with the braces for the side panels as they have lots of small bits. Riveting was much easier than I thought (and it helps that the Rivet Gun only works in one direction).

@kgtiger - it was a good lesson, and one I learned a lot from. It's been a hundred years since I used a drill, besides drilling out rivets, so I can't feel too badly. Actually - it felt really good to figure it out and get it right. I appreciate it much more than if I'd done it right the first time! (kind of like how good it feels when you stop banging your head against the wall ). And yes, I always wear safety glasses.


On to some more drilling and cutting today. Do stand by for my experiences with the jigsaw, as there are bound to be a few laughs involved.

[millertime359]

Riveting was much easier than I thought (and it helps that the Rivet Gun only works in one direction).

Yes, its Shazza proof.

[dualbrain]

Lian-li's are constructed with completely with 5052 alloy aluminum - this alloy is softer than an alloy like 6061 or other aluminum variants and is used because the primary structural features are created using metal braking and stamping.

That is valuable info

Shazza: They should have given you a special drill-bit for reverse drilling. Not your fault!

[shazza]

Kind of you, Nils, but we shouldn't sugar coat the fact that I am not very good with Power Tools


OK - a question for you all: I am still debating between a triple or quad in the bottom. The quad has the coolness factor, I guess, but the triple will give me more space to work with. I would also like to go with a dual in the top. What I'm contemplating is having the fans pull "warm" air from within the motherboard area through the dual rad out the top. (I know it's better to bring fresh air across the rad, but I don't want the extra heat dump inside the computer).

All this on a single loop. I know a quad cools the CPU and GPU just fine (currently running @ 4GHz on the Torture Rack). So - if I go triple in the bottom and dual on top - even with the warm air going through the dual - I presume I will have cooling capacity equal or better than just a quad on the bottom, especially since the CPU and GPU will be water cooled. Is my logic right?

Thanks, and sorry for the long-winded question.

[Liderc]

Hah, glad you figured it out Shazza, didn't even occur to me that the drill may have been in reverse. Trust me, that's nothing compared to what I'm sure most of us have done.

As for cooling, if you don't plan on OC'ing your 920 much higher, I see no need to use the Quad. I would agree with your assumption of similar or better cooling with the triple+dual rad.

[shazza]

Thanks, Liderc.


Back at it today. First, drilled another hole in the Lian Li mid-plate -- much easier and much better than the first one. So, while the metal may be softer, I can't use that as my excuse:






Then it was time to bring out the Skilsaw







This didn't go too badly for my first solo run - drilled two holes, then connected them with the Skilsaw. I did this free hand to get an idea for how the saw handled. Cuts are actually a bit straighter than they look here, as the Sharpie marks cause a bit of distortion (using a thick Sharpie is obviously not a good idea for precise cutting!):





Back at it, with the aim to keep all fingers and toes intact

[dualbrain]

I just love how you experiment and I must say that it's the thing to do: I am going to get some metal sheets too now - just to let out my ag... ... eeeeh - I mean to practice

[CptDreadFlint]

Love it, Shaz! Metal playgrounds are fun when you've got cool toys, aye?

[Equinediver]

Been loving reading through all your trials and tribulations Shazza, I could just see me doing the exact same thing, then hubby coming over, laughing his head off and calling me a right dozey so and so

Keep it up, you are an inspiration for Girl Power

[kgtiger]

Shazza I am quite sure that if you use the unibit again (in a forward direction) it will clean up that hole quite nicely.
Just don't push to hard or you will go down to the next size, which from the original photo you might need to.

As to your question on the rads.
To this I can only guess.
However I would thing/guess that by using the 'triple in the bottom and dual on top", this would give you the best out come.

I am sure someone else here has tried this and would have real life knowledge.

[shazza]

Thanks, Nils and CptDF - still having fun experimenting

Been loving reading through all your trials and tribulations Shazza, I could just see me doing the exact same thing, then hubby coming over, laughing his head off and calling me a right dozey so and so

Keep it up, you are an inspiration for Girl Power

Thx - I'm not sure "inspiration" is the right word, but us Gals gotta stick together!

Shazza I am quite sure that if you use the unibit again (in a forward direction) it will clean up that hole quite nicely.
Just don't push to hard or you will go down to the next size, which from the original photo you might need to.

I'm sure that's right, but fortunately, that was just a practice hole (whew!)



An update that is no doubt as exciting as my paint-drying pics, but just to prove I did some more cutting, here ya go. Had to cut down a 12" x 24" piece to 8" x 20" - my new top-plate for my mid-plate




The 12" cut - my longest ever






Not too bad:






Now, for an even longer cut - all 20+ inches. I used the old mid-plate as my guide. My setup held firm, but was not ideal. Have to get some more lumber so I can set up on top of the table instead of the edge.






With trepidation, I sliced into the metal, and this is what happened




I got a nice long cut, and a new piece of Al that was just what I was looking for. Whew, is it too early for a drink??? I can't take much more of this.

[Liderc]

How's that back feeling right now? Heh, I know when I'm cutting a lot and I go to stand up or move and it starts achin'.

[Chicken Patty]

Hey Shaz, haven't followed the log much lately, but whatever you are doing is coming out really good Keep up the great work

[dualbrain]

Best of the best in Entertainment Industry

[shazza]

How's that back feeling right now? Heh, I know when I'm cutting a lot and I go to stand up or move and it starts achin'.

Funny you say that - I finished up, came in and laid on the couch and said "My back hurts." Took a long time to prep for the cuts, and then I'm sure it didn't help that my muscles were very tense as I was trying not to cut my fingers off.

Hey Shaz, haven't followed the log much lately, but whatever you are doing is coming out really good Keep up the great work

Thanks, CP - you musta missed the last couple of pages, because it hasn't all been a bowl of cherries

Best of the best in Entertainment Industry

Hey - it may not be beautiful, but at least I can say I'm doing it with my own two (grubby) hands. Actually having some fun with it, which is my goal.

[Chicken Patty]

Funny you say that - I finished up, came in and laid on the couch and said "My back hurts." Took a long time to prep for the cuts, and then I'm sure it didn't help that my muscles were very tense as I was trying not to cut my fingers off.


Thanks, CP - you musta missed the last couple of pages, because it hasn't all been a bowl of cherries


Hey - it may not be beautiful, but at least I can say I'm doing it with my own two (grubby) hands. Actually having some fun with it, which is my goal.

I saw a few pics where the drilling didn't come out as you wanted, but thanks to the help of some of the finest around here, you got it all sorted out

[kgtiger]

Well done Shazza, looking good, looking good, nice and straight.

Does your ali not have a protecting film of plastic on one side?

Is that what you use your mounting tape for?

Just one more nosey question, as I just need to know now!

Is that piece of ali to cover the large holes in the mid plate?

By the way Liderc you may find that your work bench is just too low for you.
Try raising the hight of the piece you are working on a tad, should help to keep your back straighter.

[charles_h]

That's some impressive power tool work - nice job Sharon!

I was going to make a joke about how the Jigsaw was perfect for you since it only goes in one direction but decided that would be overdoing it...

We're all about moving forward now and not going back or spinning ourselves in the wrong direction...

oops.

Ok, now I'm done.

[Liderc]

Back Ache: The universal problem no modder can avoid.

[shazza]

I saw a few pics where the drilling didn't come out as you wanted, but thanks to the help of some of the finest around here, you got it all sorted out

OK - as long as you didn't miss the screw ups.

Well done Shazza, looking good, looking good, nice and straight.

Does your ali not have a protecting film of plastic on one side?

Is that what you use your mounting tape for?

Just one more nosey question, as I just need to know now!

Is that piece of ali to cover the large holes in the mid plate?

By the way Liderc you may find that your work bench is just too low for you.
Try raising the hight of the piece you are working on a tad, should help to keep your back straighter.

Yep it had plastic, but I put the tape on for additional protection (Safe Cutting, you know )

The new piece will essentially be the new mid-plate. I'll use part of the old one as a base - still working out exactly how to do that. I was just not up for doing brackets, etc. for the new mid-plate. I think I can blend it in seamlessly, but not sure yet.

And, as for table height - I have a taller one - but it was built for my husband. Since he's 6'5" tall, I'd have a worse problem using that.

That's some impressive power tool work - nice job Sharon!

I was going to make a joke about how the Jigsaw was perfect for you since it only goes in one direction but decided that would be overdoing it...

We're all about moving forward now and not going back or spinning ourselves in the wrong direction...

oops.

Ok, now I'm done.

hehe ... you're killin' me. I'm sure if there is a way to screw up a jigsaw cut, I can find it. I'm getting more comfortable with it, but I can not emphasize how scary this stuff is for me. Just wait til I try a hole saw for the fan cutouts ... OMG, I'll probably have a nervous breakdown.

A final thought - I hope it is clear to everyone that I am not trying to build the end-all-be-all of computers here. Just trying to do as good a job as I can, and learn some new techniques

[Xion X2]

Just wait til I try a hole saw for the fan cutouts ... OMG, I'll probably have a nervous breakdown.

Hehe. I remember my first venture with 12cm hole saw blades. And it was with plexi, on a wobbly set of sawhorses. All of my neighbors screamed and ran for cover.

[anubis_is_evil]

nice update shazza..

doing the same thing about putting a cover on top my V2000 midplate, only different that i'm using plexi glass, guess its because much easier to cut..

how thick that alu shazza ?

keep it coming

[shazza]

The Al is .08" thick, anubis.


Been suffering from some analysis paralyis here - measuring and re-measuring a squillion times. Finally said "get it done," and finished the cuts in the new mid-plate. Also put the main case back together, and put some of the bits and pieces back. So far, looks like everything is fitting together again



A quick pic of the cuts in the new mid-plate - the dramatic lighting was just an accident, not me trying to be artistic . Still some filing to do:

[aka_GK]

looks nice and even, more like factory cuts, good job Sharon!

[Chicken Patty]

Looks good Sharon