Project: Grotesk

[faster3200]

Welcome to Project: Grotesk.
"Faster, why did you name it Grotesk when everything you do is so amazing?" I hear you ask.
Well, if I was a kind person I might respond "If you were a typographer you would understand", but I am not a kind person so I will not dignify that question with a response.

If you do understand the name, you will realize why the build logo (actually a signature, but let's not go into that) is ironic.
"What logo?" I hear you cry out.

BAM!



On the left hand side you will notice a little water droplet/bubble guy. First person to name him gets a free copy of TF2 providing you are willing to login to a new steam account (not joking).

Here is a short vid of my unfinished comp as of PAX09. Notice the funnel at the top of the comp. Video courtesy Darth Beavis.
Bonus points for watching the guy behind my case.

Oh, and here are some pics of somethings:

24-pin connector. I have some improvements planned for this.


MOVE IN!


Parts to paint and drying. Don't worry there is much more.




Here is the front of top panel of my case sans handles which are... hey, what are they doing up there?


My poor beat up case wheels. These got destroyed thanks to PAX. I might replace these or try and fix them. There is also one of my rads in there.


Sample of the bottom divider. It is hard to tell with my crappy camera exactly what it looks like. I will try to get better pics of this.




UPDATE

Specs and plans:
Case: Rocketfish black outside, glossy white on the inside.
The goal for the inside is to let the white reflect the lights. I will also be building top, bottom and front dividers so as to separate the different compartments for a clean look.
Mobo: DFI t3eh6
Good color scheme that matches my build.
CPU: Core i7 920 D0, cooled by GTZ
GPU: 4870X2 cooled by EK block
Mem: 6gb OCZ Platinum

There is the basics.

I plan on having two loops. Here are the tentative plans.
CPU:
DDC 3.2 w/XSPC top
BIX240 (might swap for MCR220) fans will depend on my budget.
MCR320 w/ UK 2000RPM
GTZ
2x Koolance VL3N (maybe)
fillport/t-line

GPU/NB:
DD CPX1 (maybe)
2x Koolance VL3N
MCR220 w/ Delta 3000RPM (might swap for BIX)
MCRes V1
EK 4870X2 GPU block
Custom made NB

Both of these loops are going to be super short compared to my previous setup. Probably slightly less than 3ft of tubing/loop with 1ft visible on the GPU loop and maybe 6in visible on the CPU loop.

I planing on doing something cool to make it easier to understand everything. Hopefully I will get that done. Unfortunately I started Dragon Age during this build and it seems to want my soul.
-mmp

[millertime359]

looking forward to is faster.

[faster3200]

Today I spent all day doing my least favorite thing... sanding.

Here is the case:


I got it painted by a body shop a while back. It only cost me $40 to have the entire frame done, but the paint chipped and peeled with rough use .
I am hoping to get it done tonight, but since I am doing this by hand it takes a long time and will most likely roll over to tomorrow, where I will be lucky to get it done since I have plans.

Here is the top rad cover:




This was also painted so I had to sand it. It now has 4 coats of primer on it.

Full plans will be divulged some day this week when I don't have an update. That probably means Thursday since I get to visit Valve
-mmp

[shoopdawoopa]

This is looking like a pretty sick project. Subbed

[faster3200]

Ok, small update. I have done lots of work and planning but I don't have pictures for my ideas, just yet.
Most of the work I have done would be rather boring to see, so I didn't bother taking pics.
I do have a plan to better display my work though, hopefully I can get that up in the next few days. I feel like describing everything I plan on doing won't really do it justice and just posting mock-ups might get confusing, so hopefully this will sort it out.

Here is some of the more interesting stuff:



I'm not quite done with the GTZ, there are a few details I need to fix.




This is my current setup with all the hardware I plan to use. Original post updated with specs.


I'm testing parallel flow with NB and GPU. The results are very promising.


As I mentioned, I got to visit Valve. Supposedly I will be getting an email of the group picture we took, but it will take a week :/.
In absences of that here is what I got in my goodie bag.

A L4D t-shirt, Soldier keychain, HL2 Sticker, and super high quality photos of the L4D2 campaign posters.


Plus, a jumbo sized L4D mouse pad.




The Valve trip was insane, I really don't think I could have learned more or been more impressed with the people who work there. Honestly, these are the smartest guys in the biz. The trip has me supe psyched for L4D2. I could probably rave about the trip all day, so I will stop here.

-mmp

[faster3200]

Some new friends arrived thanks to Lu(ky.



Getting a new coat.

[shazza]

Looking good, faster. (maybe I should say, looking "creepy" )

[millertime359]

Looking good there faster. Looking forward to more updates.

[faster3200]

This is looking like a pretty sick project. Subbed

Thanks

Looking good there faster. Looking forward to more updates.

They should be coming. I am finally starting to get into some of the more interesting stuff to look at. Hopefully I can get a better camera to take some pics. My Casio QV-R62 doesn't quite cut it. Apparently $200 cameras from 2005 don't quite compare to nice DSLRs .

Looking good, faster. (maybe I should say, looking "creepy" )

This isn't supposed to be an intentionally creepy build, but I know what you are getting at so thank you.

The name "Grotesk" is in reference to Sans-serif Grotesk (commonly spelled Grotesque), which is a kind of typeface. E.g. Akzidenz Grotesk, Helvetica (Neue Hass Grotesk), and Arial (poor man's Helvetica). I named it this since when I thought of my loop setup I wanted them to be simple and clean, just like Grotesks.

One day I was staring at an "a" and an "i" in Helvetica. I became elated upon viewing this typographic art. The movement and relationship of it really inspired me and hopefully some of those ideas will be expressed in this build. Let's just say the still unnamed bubble dude is not a bubble by accident

Anyway, how do you like my work bench?

[millertime359]

LOL, working with about the same quality of camera I was.

Man, that case has seen some better days.

[faster3200]

LOL, working with about the same quality of camera I was.

Man, that case has seen some better days.

Wow, your pics look much better than mine do!

One thing I noticed is that this camera can't do anything except extremely well lit shots.

Here are my soldiers (mages maybe) going off to battle:


The return, victorious!


One even leveled up!


If you are wondering why I am painting first, it is because these things take so long to dry and I have a bunch of little bits to paint.
-mmp

[Wezly]

I love that rad cover.

And those BP fittings look amazing painted!

Good luck!

[Lu(ky]

Some new friends arrived thanks to Lu(ky.



Getting a new coat.

WOW those fitting got to you fast, looking good.. Subscribed

[DarthBeavis]

sweet!!! i hope the paint does not fubar the threading on the fittings

[millertime359]

Mine is about the same as far as lighting. If its not a bright, sunny day, the photos seem to suck.

Those BPs look freaking awesome painted. I can't wait to see them on the tube. Nice job.

[faster3200]

I love that rad cover.

And those BP fittings look amazing painted!

Good luck!

The rad cover I discovered while wondering around a Home Depot one day.
It is actually a "floor register" or air vent cover. I lucked out in being able to find one exactly the size of my MCR320. After some cutting I had a $10 rad grill .

WOW those fitting got to you fast, looking good.. Subscribed

Yes they did. Just barely made it to me before the weekend so I didn't have to wait.
It certainly helped that you got them shipped crazy fast.

sweet!!! i hope the paint does not fubar the threading on the fittings

I already checked one and it still threads fine. This is just the primer though. In another 72 hours I will find out how well it works with paint.

I might have stolen some of Boddaker's ideas after seeing Trident at PAX. Hopefully he won't mind.

Mine is about the same as far as lighting. If its not a bright, sunny day, the photos seem to suck.

Those BPs look freaking awesome painted. I can't wait to see them on the tube. Nice job.

Yep, low ISO ftl.

If I am lucky I should have the bottom panel done by Tuesday (sans painted frame anyway). I am working on the frame for it right now. Lots of filing ahead of me . I also plan to have a gallery up somewhat soon. It should be different from most galleries and should be good jQuery practice for me.

The only thing standing between me and finishing this mod is time, Dragon Age, and soon L4D2, which is awesome btw.
-mmc

[millertime359]

The rad cover I discovered while wondering around a Home Depot one day.
It is actually a "floor register" or air vent cover. I lucked out in being able to find one exactly the size of my MCR320. After some cutting I had a $10 rad grill .

The only thing standing between me and finishing this mod is time, Dragon Age, and soon L4D2, which is awesome btw.

I thought that looked familiar. I couldn't quite put my finger on it though. That is an awesome idea for a rad grille.

Yea, IW net on MW2 has been a bit annoying. I think I will be getting L4D2 here soon and missing around with that. I hope IW gets our dedicated servers here soon. IW net is really holding an awesome game back.

Looking forward to the gallery too.

[Armitage]

Looking great so far. Love the fittings

[CptDreadFlint]

Really liking where you're going with that bottom divider with the ccfls shining through.
I'm attempting something similar on a smaller scale. Would love to see more pics of it if DA and L4D2 allows you such a time slot.

Looking forward to more of your progress, faster!

[aka_GK]

nice fittings! even only primed they look amazing
keep it up

[faster3200]

Looking great so far. Love the fittings

nice fittings! even only primed they look amazing
keep it up

Thanks, they will be painted black and white. I think if I went just white I might have too much of it.

Really liking where you're going with that bottom divider with the ccfls shining through.
I'm attempting something similar on a smaller scale. Would love to see more pics of it if DA and L4D2 allows you such a time slot.

Looking forward to more of your progress, faster!

Glad you could get something from those pics. I have put in word to hopefully get a better photographer and camera to take pics of the bottom divider, the comps, and the top of the case.

I thought that looked familiar. I couldn't quite put my finger on it though. That is an awesome idea for a rad grille.

Yea, IW net on MW2 has been a bit annoying. I think I will be getting L4D2 here soon and missing around with that. I hope IW gets our dedicated servers here soon. IW net is really holding an awesome game back.

Looking forward to the gallery too.

IW net was the main reason I didn't buy that game .

As far as the gallery goes... uhh, I may have spoken too soon. We will see what comes of it. Unfortunately in my desire to make the best gallery possible I have made something rather complicate and time consuming , but that is how it normally goes for me.

Progress has been rather slow for me since the weather has not been kind .

Hopefully it will let up for a moment and I can finish my cutting and drilling and get the bottom section done.

[kgtiger]

Excellent work so far Faster.
Also like your rad grill, it's one of a kind.

[Detale]

Looking good man. I was going downstairs just now to paint My apogee white!! Are you spying on me?

[faster3200]

Excellent work so far Faster.
Also like your rad grill, it's one of a kind.

Thanks, I'm a big fan of cheap and original. Hopefully I can satisfy that.

Slight update:

PAINTED COMPS!

Top is white, bottom is black.


White, black, white


Originally I had it black, white, black, but when I mocked it up in PS it looked like an Oreo .

Weather is still keeping me down . Today was the first day since my last post we had a few moments of sun. I got the metal cutting done and the frame is nearly done with the exception of some drilling and maybe some filing. Hopefully I can get the frame done tomorrow.

[millertime359]

Those comps are pretty cool.