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

[Xion X2]

Some teasers for the next update as I know it's taking a while.

The art of polishing Lexan to transparency. No ugly saw marks or scratches. This was accomplished without a torch. Hand-sanded. (Please ignore the masking tape as it's there to protect the facing until it's installed in the case.)



And the first glimpse into how the Zero-G Chamber will fit behind the side panel. The mirror backing was removed for this shot as I was going over the galaxy cut with a fine grit to smoothen it some and round some corners that looked a little "flat" to me.



The floating drives will be in view through the galaxy image as the mirror becomes transparent when lit from behind.

Next update should be on Saturday / Sunday and will involve *crossing fingers* a finished Zero-G Chamber that's ready for paint. If all goes well, I presume this will be the last and final revision to it.

I am, however, waiting on a certain part to come in that is needed, so if it doesn't get here tomorrow (I expect that it will) then it may be early next week before it's finished.

[Linuxfan]

Amazing!

[Wezly]

mmmmmmmmmm that looks purty....

[aka_GK]

[nigelke]

sweet ^^

[NoGuru]

Lookin great!

[kuti]

Just finished read 42 pages of your topic. Really awesome building, man. I love it,

[Red-5]

Looking forward to seeing the finished Zero-G chamber.
Thats a great finish you got on the Lexan. It actually looks like an empty rectangle of masking paper and nothing inside.
Great stuff.

[ScottALot]

It happens in different ways, Scott. Sometimes you go to them, and sometimes they come to you. In the end, it can benefit both parties if handled professionally and responsibly. The company you are working with gets notoriety through your build, and they help supply you with the equipment that you need to get your build finished. It works in much the same way as a formula 1 driver who has a few company names painted on his car. Those companies pay the driver for representation.

Sponsorship has gotten a bad rap by many, but one of my goals is to help bring some positivity and some honesty to it. I will not work with companies whom I know do business in an unethical fashion, nor will I speak well of them simply because they provide me with parts. But if I have a positive relationship and experience with them, then I will speak well of them as that is the foundation for customer experience and service.

I understand why some are critical of sponsorship, but I ask that those folk try to see the silver lining and understand that in some cases it can be a positive thing. I'm not of the mindset that if a builder is talented enough to gain sponsorship that he should reject it if the company who proposes it is ethical in their practices, along with the modder.

Sorry.. didn't mean to ramble on that point so much, but it has come up in some discussions that I've had lately with people, and I guess I felt the need to get that off my chest.

I'm fine with the ramble, it introduces me to sponsorship in computer building. So, really, sponsorships only come to builders making real custom amazing work?

[Xion X2]

Amazing!

Thanks, Linuxfan. Just want until it's in the case and that ugly tape is off.

mmmmmmmmmm that looks purty....

Thanks, Paul.

Thanks, Kirill.

sweet ^^

Thanks, nigelke.

Lookin great!

Thanks, NoGuru.

Just finished read 42 pages of your topic. Really awesome building, man. I love it,

Wow, kuti.. I'm always amazed and flattered when someone says they've read through so many pages. I'm glad that I've been able to hold your interest for that long. Thank you for posting.

Looking forward to seeing the finished Zero-G chamber.
Thats a great finish you got on the Lexan. It actually looks like an empty rectangle of masking paper and nothing inside.
Great stuff.

Thank you, Red. If that's the effect that you got from it, then it's just what I'm after.

I'm fine with the ramble, it introduces me to sponsorship in computer building. So, really, sponsorships only come to builders making real custom amazing work?

Hey, Scott. It always helps if you have a project that stands out, because it means more name recognition for the companies that you work with.


Heading over to my shop again today after a short bike ride this morning. I'll try to post an update later if I have something substantial to show. If not, it could be tomorrow. Thanks!

[ohms]

We DEMAND more pictures!!!

The last picture you posted up, is that pretty much the completed case?

[vistageek92]

Looking amazing man. I can really start seeing it blossoming now!

I am really eager to see that sleeving job of yours!

Get as much as you can with the bike ride, this is the time of year for it! I should go today to....

[vistageek92]

Its been silent on the battlefront.....its the deep breath before the storm.


What pump(s) are you planning on using Michael? I don't think I have ever found that out.

[Xion X2]

We DEMAND more pictures!!!

The last picture you posted up, is that pretty much the completed case?

It's pretty much the completed frame, yes. There will be additional mods to the outside shell/covering which haven't been shown yet.

I am really eager to see that sleeving job of yours!

What pump(s) are you planning on using Michael? I don't think I have ever found that out.

Hey, Paul. I had to replace my PSU which has held up the sleeving. As it turns out, when fitting the 1000w Corsair into the bottom of the ZGC, that little on/off switch on the back sticks out just a little too far. It was very cramped in there to begin with, and I didn't accommodate for that little, unexpected piece.

I've ordered a 1000w Silverstone Strider as a replacement as it's a lot shorter (150mm vs 200mm) than the Corsair and will give me a lot more room to not only mount it properly but to hide unneeded wires so that they're out of view.

For the pumps, I'm using the Swiftech MCP350s which are the equivalent to the DDC-3's, I believe. These will be paired with the XSPC res tops. At the time I bought these ~8 months ago, it was the best performer in Martin's tests, so I'm expecting good things out of them.

Been very busy of late not just with work but with life and some personal concerns. I expect to work more on the build over the weekend and so hope to have an update soon.

[Vinas]

The weekend is here :-)

What computer are you using in the mean time??? I would be dying to have this rig running by now. But perfection takes time, so I understand.

[Xion X2]

I'm on my renderbox at the moment. Q9400 @ 3.7GHz, SSD Raid 0. But yeah, I'm really anxious to get refleXion up and running to play with the hardware that's in it.

[NoGuru]

Keep up the great work, the end is near!

[eponymous]

Wow, lot's of detail here. Very nice project man - I'm looking forward to seeing it completed

[Armitage]

You're killing us here Xion.

Screw life, we need updates!

[Xion X2]

Thanks for the continued interest, guys.

I had to replace my PSU and am going to test it tonight before I begin sleeving. That's held things up a bit. The next update will consist of sleeving cables and some more modifications made to the Zero-G Chamber before everything goes off to paint in a few weeks. Still hoping to have everything finished by end of May.

[Wezly]

Thanks for the continued interest, guys.

I had to replace my PSU and am going to test it tonight before I begin sleeving. That's held things up a bit. The next update will consist of sleeving cables and some more modifications made to the Zero-G Chamber before everything goes off to paint in a few weeks. Still hoping to have everything finished by end of May.

I have faith. You'll be fine.

[NoGuru]

Thanks for the continued interest, guys.

I had to replace my PSU and am going to test it tonight before I begin sleeving. That's held things up a bit. The next update will consist of sleeving cables and some more modifications made to the Zero-G Chamber before everything goes off to paint in a few weeks. Still hoping to have everything finished by end of May.

Bummer about the PSU, I know you put a lot of work into it already.

[blazarcher]

Simply amazing. Just gone through all 43 pages! Just one question... Why not go for the Silverstone ST1500W PSU?

It is 100% modular so you won't have the ends of the cable (coming into the PSU) unsleeved. Not to mention, it has a "nice depth" to it. It would stick out just enough as to drag attention but not too much as to be obtrusive. Also heard that sleeving on Silverstone PSU's are much easier to do compared to Corsair PSU's. And since it's ALL modular, sleeving the massive motherboard cable will be MUCH easier.

Sure you'll be paying a "little" more but seeing as you put so much effort into this project, it would be wrong to "skimp" on the PSU.

[Xion X2]

I have faith. You'll be fine.

Bummer about the PSU, I know you put a lot of work into it already.

Well, this is probably the one time that laziness ever paid off for me. I put off sleeving and put off sleeving because of how stubborn the PCI-e pins were being and had planned to just recrimp them. In the process of waiting for the new pins/crimping tool to come in, I found out that the space in the bottom of the chamber was just too tight for the way that I wanted the PSU to mount. So I decided to take care of both problems at once and just get a smaller PSU that's easier to sleeve.

Simply amazing. Just gone through all 43 pages! Just one question... Why not go for the Silverstone ST1500W PSU?

It is 100% modular so you won't have the ends of the cable (coming into the PSU) unsleeved. Not to mention, it has a "nice depth" to it. It would stick out just enough as to drag attention but not too much as to be obtrusive. Also heard that sleeving on Silverstone PSU's are much easier to do compared to Corsair PSU's. And since it's ALL modular, sleeving the massive motherboard cable will be MUCH easier.

Thanks, blazarcher!

As I was telling NoGuru, I recently replaced the Corsair with a Silverstone ST1000w. It's smaller and will fit into the bottom of the ZGC better and will also be easier to sleeve, like you said.

[vistageek92]

Even though it really stinks. I think you are better off with that silverstone PSU, Michael. Much easier to sleeve then the darn 1000hx and fully modular, AND you don't have to deal with the corsairs weird plastic wires.

Keep your life together man. Don't let a computer get in the way of things figure out the important things first, and then work on the build... Even though it stinks for us..

BTW; Love the new project sig.