**** PHINIX NANO TOWER **** Smallest and most powerful mITX rig !!!

[aka_GK]

Mike, I'm pretty sure Tom knows his job and probably will ask powdercoater to apply thinner layer (I think they could) becuse there is no need for excessive durability in this application. I missed this moment when did coating so the case is glazed with very thick layer, I even have to peel paint in some place so that the panels and parts fit.

[Pupo]

perfectly, so much attention to details

[lzxhenry]

Awesome job... Looking forward to the final product...

[phinix_mike]

Mike, I'm pretty sure Tom knows his job and probably will ask powdercoater to apply thinner layer (I think they could) becuse there is no need for excessive durability in this application. I missed this moment when did coating so the case is glazed with very thick layer, I even have to peel paint in some place so that the panels and parts fit.

Oh, I didn't know that you may get thicker layers. I hope it will be all ok when I get it back. Cheers mate!

perfectly, so much attention to details

Thank you!

Awesome job... Looking forward to the final product...

Thanks!

[phinix_mike]

OK, so we have a new year - 2011! Nice... that means we all got older! :p

Because of bad weather conditions I haven't received my powder coated Nano Tower pieces.
However I have few photos to share with, showing last moments of previous, 2010, year
I found few minutes today to prepare them and added them to my server, so here they are...

Here's how I was preparing front panel for drilling holes for leds. First I had to place hex shapes in a pattern I designed it in the past.






Those aluminium hex shapes need to be painted first, then glued to acrylic ones, then to front panel...





Here's front panel cover - beautiful..








..again, two shots of acrylic combs on front panel....






First comes main front panel, then acrylic piece...




I made dots in places of acrylic hex shapes to drill holes for leds...








Then I drew lines in holes in top cover to see where I need to drill holes for leds again...






..and aligned led strips to make marks for holes...








..and here how it's going to look like under the panel As you can see, led strips will be under the main panel cover so you won't see leds it selves, they will light up the panel right next to every edge. I think it will add a nice touch to the front panel.




... holes drilled.. like a Swiss cheese




Those 72 holes for leds that come under the combs was the hardest part...




Cage had to be modded for this part in left bottom corner comb...






Last photo - Mobo's I/O panel - middle one in the Tower - also had to be finished before I sent it to powder coat. I cut out those big holes for mobo and graphics card. Also added long thin hole for graphics card back frame - it will have a small L shape profile bit to secure heavy card with water block... will show that soon.

[aka_GK]

I was hoping to see LEDs in action in this update looking forward to the next one

[cityofglass88]

Subscribed. I am loving all the acrylic work.

[phinix_mike]

I was hoping to see LEDs in action in this update looking forward to the next one

Uuuuu.. not yet LEDs are about to be prepared for soldering

Subscribed. I am loving all the acrylic work.

Thanks!

[phinix_mike]

Well, I did receive a package today... It is sooo good to see Mafia II in full details and high PhysX

OK! I promised you photos, here they are! As I said, these were taken at night time, using just few lamps that is why I couldn't show exactly the difference between those two colors - some photos show this dark graphite too bright, some too dark... But those lit up front panel photos are the best I love them... In real it looks even better!
I will comment them later, too tired after playing some nice games on my brand new GTX580

Anyway... here they are.. first batch of 79 photos of powder coated Nano Tower pieces:

[Alexandr0s]

Ow wow, amazing quality on the coating ! Looks great

[matt220]

It looks more amazing then I could have ever imagined! I love the plexi lighting

[Church]

Natural case :banana::banana::banana::banana:

[Smileypuppy]

more pics pls ty

it's just so awesome, i need my fix man, c'mon!

[aka_GK]

gray black yellow combination look subtle yet gorgeous!

[Lagaaja]

It has MDPC written all over it

[phinix_mike]

Thanks guys!

Small update tonight

Just a few photos from last weekend.

Here is a acrylic bit under power chamber top cover.






I have this 3 LED strip as a tester, wires pushed in PSU power cable




This is how it glows.. I don't know.. I just can't show you guys how nicely it looks, I tried many settings but this is the closest to real look of this light. It is very hard to make a photo of light and show its real color :wallbash:






Here is power chamber partially built, top cover fits perfectly.
I put a table lamp under this cover to show how it glows but it was to powerful and it looks white in that photo below






This here is a part I mentioned before - it is a acrylic part of cover that goes on one of the sides of power chamber and covers GPU power cable hole.






Now, this aluminium part on top is the one I painted with matte black spray paint - I say it looks good!:blush: Three layers, it took me like an hour or sth...:eyebrow:
Look how perfectly it matches powder coated piece under it! Fantastic, I love how everything I paint turns out - it takes time for all those layers but its worth it.








Last two photos, first one is one side of power chamber, just to show how it aligns nicely with L shape support, both powder coated




..and Tower itself... well.. frame and few pieces of power chamber. That is ALL I'm going to show for now. Don't want to spoil final photos I'll try to work on painting this week and show next update in coming weekend.
STAY TUNED!!!:rock:

[UrbanSmooth]

A work of art truly is unfolding here.

[Johnny87au]

A work of art truly is unfolding here.

+1, Any idea when this build is gonna be complete? Really coming together now just cant wait to see the final outcome!

[phinix_mike]

+1, Any idea when this build is gonna be complete? Really coming together now just cant wait to see the final outcome!

Thanks man! It will be finished in about a month. It may be delayed a bit - Dead Space 2 is coming out next week

[phinix_mike]

Well, as I said at the beginning of the project - I wanted this build a smallest and baddest powerful machine ever built, so wanted a latest graphic card in it. I had GTX295 for a bit of a time and that was the latest and most powerful from nvidia garage. I wanted Fermi, before it came out. When it came out, GTX480 was not a perfect one, we all know it... Now when we have GTX580 I decided to go for it, NanoTower deserves it! So, I got it. I bought Gigabyte GTX580. After this I had to speak with Vincent from Bitspower about changing plans... few MSN conversations later - Vincent let me know that Bitspower HQ is sending me a beautiful latest GTX580 water block I've been tracking this package for few days now and I can say it's here, just waiting for delivery guy Yep, my GTX580 will be watercooled with this sweet block!
For now, just a product photo. This weekend - new update and new photos of this fantastic block

[Church]

phinix_mike: hmm, can you exchange leds to some yellow or orange color on that full cover block?

[phinix_mike]

phinix_mike: hmm, can you exchange leds to some yellow or orange color on that full cover block?

Of course! You can use whatever color you like
I'm going to use yellow

[Lu(ky]

You can also take off that top black plate with BITSPOWER logo on it and make your own to put back on it as well. Looking good..

[h20xide]

Disgustingly beautiful/amazing.

Loving it

[theseeker]

Outstanding job all around!