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

[Xion X2]

very nice shots of the cooling blocks!! you use a very good lighting, and like this i really like the blocks!!

Ohh, so you like them now, huh?

Lamptron makes good blocks... Sounds good.

[Xion X2]

[W34513]

DROOLS!!! TWO 5970's..... as if one isn't enough... rofl! they dont call em Xtreme for nuthin!

[kgtiger]

WoW, tell me your going to hire this rig out to run those big a$$ screens at a U2 concert!
If 1x2 is good how does 2x4 stack up when playing games?

Looks good mate, now strip them down to there nickers and dress them up for the concert.

When do you expect to get the blocks nickel plated?

If you not sure about the look of grub screws, the only other idea I have would be some black vinyl film, might be too high gloss but, hay black insulation tape is a matt black, I am sure you will find something.
You may still need to fill the holes up with somthing still (eg grub screws, putty) to stop the film from showing up the holes underneath.
As it will/may look like the side of the SSDs has 2 small dents where the holes are underneath.

Keep up the good work mate.

[aka_GK]

daym... that must be powerfull

[Spazloy]

Anywhere in the uk that can nickle plate blocks?, hopefully near worcestershire. And how much does it cost, i need 3 things plating (2x gpu blocks and my mobo block)

halps plz

[Wezly]

zomg
(better english to follow after the shock subsides)

[shazza]

Looking great, Xion. Good idea on your update/summary post also - helps keep us on track. I do believe your vision will be reality in the not-so-distant future.

[Xion X2]

DROOLS!!! TWO 5970's..... as if one isn't enough... rofl! they dont call em Xtreme for nuthin!

A venture into the Xtreme...

WoW, tell me your going to hire this rig out to run those big a$$ screens at a U2 concert!
If 1x2 is good how does 2x4 stack up when playing games?

Looks good mate, now strip them down to there nickers and dress them up for the concert.

When do you expect to get the blocks nickel plated?

If you not sure about the look of grub screws, the only other idea I have would be some black vinyl film, might be too high gloss but, hay black insulation tape is a matt black, I am sure you will find something.
You may still need to fill the holes up with somthing still (eg grub screws, putty) to stop the film from showing up the holes underneath.
As it will/may look like the side of the SSDs has 2 small dents where the holes are underneath.

Keep up the good work mate.

Yeah, I'm still looking into the inserts. I picked up several little items today that I'll be experimenting with like set screws and rubber stoppers. Eventually, I'll find something.

I'm taking the waterblocks in Monday to have them nickel plated. Will show pics when they come back.

daym... that must be powerfull

Anywhere in the uk that can nickle plate blocks?, hopefully near worcestershire. And how much does it cost, i need 3 things plating (2x gpu blocks and my mobo block)

halps plz

Can't speak for the UK, but it's costing me 60$ to have these done. They'll be done in electroless nickel for a nice uniform finish.

the only word for thoose cards are OVERKILL! i love it man! keep up the good work!

Thanks, pope! Great job on getting your case design to match your renders, looks great!

zomg
(better english to follow after the shock subsides)

I'm waiting, Wezly.

Looking great, Xion. Good idea on your update/summary post also - helps keep us on track. I do believe your vision will be reality in the not-so-distant future.

Thanks, Shazza. We're getting there.

Just a short update for now.

I picked up some edge trim tonight at my local Auto Zone. This will help dress the rough edges on the perspex.

I wasted an hour at Lowe's Hardware store looking for some kind of edge trim or U-channel molding that would fit 1/8" perspex but, once again, the hardware stores in my area are a big...



... when it comes to anything but the most mainstream home improvement items.

So, I'm using automotive trim that I was able to find at a local Auto Zone near my house.



It's a nice, snug fit on the perspex, and it has a thin line of adhesive down the groove so that the edges will stick.



Beginning to dress the edges of the middle piece:



I'm leaving a little overhang so as to have a smooth join in the corners. After the corners are fitted, I'll cut the excess trim for a smooth join.

[Xyllian]

fap fap fap

[Moitrux]

Fantastic build Xion !

I love the side panel

Anywhere in the uk that can nickle plate blocks?, hopefully near worcestershire. And how much does it cost, i need 3 things plating (2x gpu blocks and my mobo block)

halps plz

If you live in UK, you can go to the moddig services by Chilled pc

[Xion X2]

Fantastic build Xion !

I love the side panel

Thanks, Moitrux!

[Wezly]

Delivering on my promise:

This is still, phenomenal. The detail, the pictures--that frosted beveled border on all the pictures even with the slight refraction--the documentation, the planning, the reinvention of renders, convincing people to take pictures of their mystical waterjet process, the parts, the sponsorship; very well done sir.

I cannot wait for the next work log.

[Xion X2]

Delivering on my promise:

This is still, phenomenal. The detail, the pictures--that frosted beveled border on all the pictures even with the slight refraction--the documentation, the planning, the reinvention of renders, convincing people to take pictures of their mystical waterjet process, the parts, the sponsorship; very well done sir.

I cannot wait for the next work log.

Oh man, you're really trying to send me into a spiral of worry now, aren't you? I have to finish this monster first.



Seriously though, I really appreciate your compliments, and I'm pleased to see that you're enjoying the project.

I'm all about the details--to the point of being really overkill sometimes, I'm sure. Can't help it. And sometimes I tend to ramble. I was paging through this log last night at stuff that was written a couple of months ago, and I began to blush. Like what the *#^& was I thinking at some points? I was all over the place. My head was so full of ideas, and my hands just didn't know how to bring them to life yet. I'm afraid a lot of that's because this is my first major project undertaking and so there's been a lot of redirection taken because things weren't planned out quite as well as they should have been, due in large to my fabrication inexperience.

I'm just glad that many of you have persevered through all that and are still on board with the project. The next time around (there will be a next time, but I'll be taking a nice break after r e f l e X i o n is complete) things should be more organized.

I've learned an incredible amount during this entire experience, and I've been fortunate enough to share it with many and to have benefited from business partnerships that, three months ago, I wouldn't have thought were possible at this stage. So I'm very happy about the way things have gone and just have to keep forging ahead to bring this to life.

[shazza]

Don't blush, Xion - this is a unique work log, and you're entitled to "ramble" on occasion if it helps get your thoughts organized and your creative juices flowing. I quite enjoy seeing what you've been though (more to come, I know). I will admit, when you showed your first renders, I wondered "Where in the Heck is he going with this," but you soon showed us you had the grit and determination to stick with it and you're giving us quite a nice show - Thanks!

[Xion X2]

Thanks, Shazza. I really appreciate you saying so.

This is a great community here.. always thought that. And yeah, I knew some of the early concepts were "far out there", but hey, what can I say.. I like that. Which is probably why I went with a space theme in the first place. ("far out there".. ba-da-bing)

[Wezly]

Yeah, the renders were mindbogglingly.... extensive haha.

But it was worth the wait, and the sub.

[Xion X2]

Yeah, the renders were mindbogglingly.... extensive haha.

But it was worth the wait, and the sub.

Thanks, Wezly.

there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with concept drawings that looks imposible to make

Well if that's what you're looking for, then I'm your guy.

[Vinas]

I'm looking forward to A) how will the zero grav chamber mount, B) performace on your quadfire setup (and I thought my dual 5870's was extreme), and C) how the lamptron controller will look once installed. Keep up the great work!

[Xion X2]

Thanks, Vinas.

A short update for tonight, guys. My blocks are back from nickel plating, and I'm happy to say that things went really well. I've spent tonight polishing them to get them in top shape so that I can take some photos tomorrow in my studio.

Here are a few preview shots of the copper now plated electroless nickel:



The matte finish on the front of the GPU blocks has a cool effect when plated. Has kind of a metallic silver look now. The back of the blocks are very shiny and smooth.




I'll have some better shots tomorrow of the blocks and some polishing action.

Thanks again to DangerDen not just for their partnership in r e f l e X i o n but for allowing me to tweak their product to fit the theme of this build a little better.

Thanks, everyone!

[Utnorris]

First, this looks awesome!! Second, I wish DD would offer nickel plated blocks, they look so sweet.

[Xion X2]

Thanks, UTNorris. Maybe they will consider it at some point in the future as I think these will impress.

I love the aggressive design of their blocks. And although the copper looks great, the nickel will fit my color scheme much better. Seems a lot of guys are going nickel these days.

[dingdong555]

Wow! They look amazing, I'm actually liking the matt look too! Pretty unique. More BLING please

[aka_GK]

very nice

[kgtiger]

Excellent work Xion, I am glad the whole plating process work out for you, I like the matt look.
I do agree with you about the aggressive design of their blocks, in particular the inside of the 5970s really look sweet the way they have been cut.

Come on mate, put some elbow grease into that wax-on, wax-off.
I'm really looking forward to some sweet photos real soon!
Even better would be some photos of all the cards and blocks all mounted on the mobo, hell yeah now were talk'n.