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

[ShArKo]

OMFG so many changes in this worklog... Xion X2 you have done a impressive work here!!!! You take the Cosmos S to the next level and is great. How much time is going to take to finish this work? Congratulation dude......really nice work.

[Xion X2]

Hey, guys.

OMFG so many changes in this worklog... Xion X2 you have done a impressive work here!!!! You take the Cosmos S to the next level and is great. How much time is going to take to finish this work? Congratulation dude......really nice work.

Thanks, Sharko.

I don't think it'll be too much longer before everyone will start to see refleXion in its near-final form. The last stage of the project will take a while, but it has little to do with the overall shape of the build. I can't say much more than that for now, but in the end it'll all make sense.

[Wezly]

Wait, I know the secret; IT'S A TRANSFORMER.

Is that it? You're trying to find "the cube" from Cybertron so you can spark the computer and make it a transformer.... I know it.

Do you think it would be a Decepticon or an Autobot?

I think you need to start a poll on this matter....

[LeandroJVarini]

wow, beautiful design, congratulations, hardware top!

[Xion X2]

Wait, I know the secret; IT'S A TRANSFORMER.

Is that it? You're trying to find "the cube" from Cybertron so you can spark the computer and make it a transformer.... I know it.

Do you think it would be a Decepticon or an Autobot?

I think you need to start a poll on this matter....

No, that's not it, but you've sparked a cool idea for a build, Wezly.

A poll is an interesting idea. I think that I actually may start one in a few weeks to see if people can guess what the final touch will consist of.

wow, beautiful design, congratulations, hardware top!

Thanks, Leandro!

[Wezly]

I'd love to collaborate on a transformer build, if you're interested...

[Xion X2]

I'd love to collaborate on a transformer build, if you're interested...

We'll see.

I'm trying to keep future builds as far from my mind as I can at this point, because I know that I first need to focus on finishing refleXion. We're coming up on four months, and I don't want it to hit six.

But I must confess that I'm already lining up parts and ideas for my next build whenever my mind tends to wander. And the next project looks as if it's going to push the envelope of ambition even further.

[Wezly]

Submerged?

Oh damn, now I'm thinking about it....

[Xion X2]

Submerged?

Oh damn, now I'm thinking about it....

Yeah it sucks, huh?

*slaps himself* Back to work, Xion. Must.. finish.. refleXion first...

[Wezly]

Godspeed.

[ToMeGuN]

AWESOME MAN! Seriously, one of the best i have seen.

[Xion X2]

AWESOME MAN! Seriously, one of the best i have seen.

Thanks, ToMeGuN! Always nice to see a new face around these parts (meaning this project log.)

[Anemic]

Jebus this has become massive! Dual 5970? Ooooohyeaaa, thats nice. That what I like to call POWA!!

[ShArKo]

Yeah it sucks, huh?

*slaps himself* Back to work, Xion. Must.. finish.. refleXion first...

The next build it will be a sub :p a nuclear sub :p not a Transformer.

Godspeed.

Wezly you got a big imaginatin dude reaally of course that is not a Transformer........is a Eva 01 (Evangelion)

[Wezly]

Wezly you got a big imaginatin dude reaally of course that is not a Transformer........is a Eva 01 (Evangelion)

Makes sense...

[Xion X2]

Just a short update for tonight, guys.

I've began work on the motherboard. Just small aesthetic things for now, and then over the weekend I'll be installing all the components in the case for a brief period to have a better idea of how the wiring and tubing will look.

I've been hesitant to show any pictures of the motherboard, because the end product will look quite different than it does now. This is a fantastic motherboard. It's the Foxconn "Flaming Blade" X58. It's the most polished mainboard that I've ever owned which is why I'm keeping it for this build, even though there's a lot of red on it that I'll be changing to black to blend in better with my color scheme. I'll provide updates on how I'll be doing that later, but for now just know that all the different colors that you see on the board will be just one or two colors when everything is complete.

I began the aesthetic changes by polishing all aluminum brackets/boxes on the motherboard.



I used my dremel and polishing wheels again to do this as it makes such an easy job of polishing anything. Why do this? Because I've seen how nice metal can look when polished vs. unpolished, and because I want there to be no compromises with this build. I'm a believer in fine-tuning every last detail because I believe it puts a nice signature on an item. So while I don't plan to spend the next year or two eyeballing every little thing through an electron microscope, you will see me be very meticulous about cosmetics and taking my time when you probably want to slap me and just wish I would skip on ahead to the next stage.

Here you can visually see the difference between a polished bracket/box and an unpolished bracket/box:



The capacitors will either be painted or sanded down (perhaps both) so there's no red showing. They'll either be silver or black. The stock red northbridge/mosfet cooler will be coming off in the next day or two and be replaced with waterblocks/heatsinks that fit the color scheme of the build better.

Now for something that will probably be a little more interesting.

Here are a few nice shots of the beautiful rad grills that I received from MNPCTech. I'll be building two custom radboxes for the two Swiftech 240s that are going into refleXion, and these grills will be bolted on top of the fans and the radbox.









I've thanked Bill about 10 times for these already, but I'll thank him again. MNPCTech was the first to show faith and support in this build while a few other companies I've done business with for years wouldn't even dignify me with a response (even a "no, sorry" would've been fine.) So thanks again to MNPCTech for their faithful support.

In other news, if anyone is a regular at TheBestCaseScenario, then be sure to stop by the Weekly Spotlight as refleXion was recognized for February.

Thanks, guys!

[Lu(ky]

Looking good there Xion X2... Nice touch on the mobo polishing.. And I myself just bought the 280 rad grill from MCPCTech they are made solid..

[CptDreadFlint]

Very awesome grills, Xion X2! And yes, Bill is a pleasure to do business with! Great job and keep it up

[aka_GK]

wow, I wanna see how it will look finally
good job!

[Vinas]

These kinds of projects do take forever... Meanwhile, I'm getting ready for another build already. Gulftown, new video cards, and the new SSD's are right around the corner.

Keep up the good work on this build, even if it lasts until 2011. Once complete then you can upgrade

PS: Painting the caps is a better idea than grinding IMHO. Those caps are metal, but more delicate in a way that I'd want to mess with.

[Xion X2]

Looking good there Xion X2... Nice touch on the mobo polishing.. And I myself just bought the 280 rad grill from MCPCTech they are made solid..

Thanks, Lu(ky! MNPCTech makes awesome grills.

Very awesome grills, Xion X2! And yes, Bill is a pleasure to do business with! Great job and keep it up

Thanks, Flint! Still enjoying your monstah project.

wow, I wanna see how it will look finally
good job!

Thanks, GK!

These kinds of projects do take forever... Meanwhile, I'm getting ready for another build already. Gulftown, new video cards, and the new SSD's are right around the corner.

Keep up the good work on this build, even if it lasts until 2011. Once complete then you can upgrade

PS: Painting the caps is a better idea than grinding IMHO. Those caps are metal, but more delicate in a way that I'd want to mess with.

Thanks, Vinas! I've decided to first try using some sort of paint remover on the tops of the caps before sanding them. Anyone have any suggestions for a good paint remover that'd be safe to use on caps?


And now I'd like to announce another big sponsor who's come on board to partner with me on refleXion.



PPCs will be sponsoring me with three of their nickel-plated RAM waterblocks, the RAM-33:





The staggered inlet/outlet design of these allow you to stack as many of them together as you like:



Each one has a carved path for the coolant to travel so that it comes in contact with every memory chip.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=25760


Given the mirror-like finish of these, they should go great in refleXion and help keep my three DDR-3 sticks nice and cool. Aside from that, they just look great and fit the theme well.

Thanks to Performance-PCs for their support in helping mold refleXion into its final form!

[Wezly]

oooooooh new ram blocks.....
tempting...

[nigelke]

i love it

Pure art in the making ^^
And the more i look at it the more i want one

[taters mcgee]

love the 5970's/blocks, if fermi/blocks don't really trip my trigger, i have the feeling a pair may be in my future

[dingdong555]

Awesome man, interesting RAM blocks :-)