MegaMini v2 - LAN PC build

[WangChung]

Revision coming soon!!!!

[WangChung]

Reserved 2

[killerxp100]

I'm attempting an matx build myself with similar parts. Best of luck to yours.

[grasskicker509]

thats a whole lot of hardware in a little case...i like it!

[Lu(ky]

yeah hardware looks great.... I hope the 6950 cards is not to long for your case, I think I tried that case a while back. Subscribed

[WangChung]

First test fitments:

RAM installed and looking good.


Installed the processor and fitted the heatsink on top. But...


Going to need to modify the RAM sink in order to fit, under the HSF. Just the end two "teeth" on either end of the RAM stick up higher, so I've already got permission from a G.SKILL rep on the forum to change/modify the ramsink as necessary.

Problems so far:
*RAMsink interference
*CPU cooler issue - when I put v1 of this build together, I used an 1156 (Asus Maximus III Gene) motherboard, and subsequently bought a bracket to fit said socket. I bought another bracket in preparation for my own build, but I then moved to a Asus Rampage III Gene. This being a 1366... well it doesn't fit! (too small) Zalman doesn't make a 1366 bracket for this cooler, so I'm trying a mount for a Sunbeam Core I spotted on Newegg:

It's the same kind of middle-peg mount so I should be able to modify it how I need. If not... well, I'll deal with that.

Oh, I ordered my Blu-Ray combo drive (LG CT21N), and I found my old USB card reader so I'm good to go on that too!

[WangChung]

Sexy case:


Sissy stock 500w PSU vs. the new hotness. Some fitment issues were to be expected and the case will be modded:



Stock case exhaust fan vs. Scythe. With the case layout, the power of the Vantec, and airflow considerations, this may actually turn into the "intake" and I'll create a duct for the PSU to vent off to the side.


More to come, I gotta get off to work!

[DexNfX]

All those Ripjaws all together look really nice.

[WangChung]

Here is the v1 MegaMini "build thread." This is the one I built for my friend.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=251399

[DexNfX]

Wow, is that 2 GPUs in the small case?

[WangChung]

Wow, is that 2 GPUs in the small case?

Sho nuff! Check the link if you haven't.

[WangChung]

Update -

So, back at the table working on things. Decided to mount the HDDs in their brackets, and I also got my DVD drive in so thought I'd start on that too:


Here's the bracket for the slimdrive and the 3.5" external bay. It's pretty cool, but a bit more than I was looking to spend. It's good solid 1.0mm steel construction, and come to find out it also included this adapter. A nice surprise, but just doesn't work with my drive:


Optical drive - LG CT21N. A nice Blu-Ray combo drive, SATA connection. $119 shipped but it's what I wanted:


Even this tiny adapter was more than expected, but again, gotta pay to play:


The only problem I ran into is the optical drive didn't come with mounting screws. I had to dig through the ol' bin and find ones that fit. They are tiny, quite tiny. That's a T6 Torx for comparison:


Finally got everything mounted after the Great Screw Hunt:


Started on the HDDs next. The brackets are simple yet effective, and will also act as a heatsink:


Maximus powah!!! Mounted in the caddy, I also used neoprene washers to help with vibration. The sound of crazy air pressure moving through the case I can handle, vibration is another story!!


The lone C300, maybe someday I'll stick another in there or put in some other random drive. I do have a 160GB laying around here somewhere...


Front shot, I reused the vent face from the slimdrive adapter. Some minor modification and a wire attached to the case ground:


Rear shot of the fitment:


I still have to modify the case for the PSU and some other items, so this was just a dry fitment. Hope to do that this weekend, maybe tomorrow morning before work. Trying to work on the CPU heatsink tonight. The fan just sticks up too darn high. I think I might be able to fix it... I'll find out i guess!

[WangChung]

Bracket for the CPU cooler came in, and my friend's computer (MegaMini v1) is now up to 8GB RAM The Sunbeam bracket fits the retainer for the Zalman just fine, so it's a step in the right direction! I have to still mod the fan to drop the height down and I need some micro sized screws that I should be able to pick up from a RC shop. I'm flying to Dallas for a few days so I won't be able to do any work until Wednesday evening. Updates to come after that!

[CoSm0s]

now thats what i call a megamini!!! would love to see the clock and some scores on that mini. overall case and hardware is awesome choices. the motherboard my favorite!! keep up great work Wang. keep them pictures rolling.

[WangChung]

Thank you for the comment! Before I took off from D.C. I picked up an order I put in through MicroCenter (really wish they had one in VA Beach) for some fan filters and other cables, the 120mm in back is definitely going to be an intake. When I cracked open my friend's computer to install the new RAM, it was dusty as all hell and is going to take some significant cleaning. After I do that (after mine is built that is!) then I'll run some benches on both computers.

[WangChung]

Cutting of the case has commenced, but the project has slowed a bit. Massive life issues, which has me traveling on the weekend right now. This week though I cut out the back 120mm area (still need to clean it up though), and I picked up some screws from a local R.C. hobby shop to fix the Zalman fan issue. I'll update with new pics as soon as I can.

[pet168]

very very nice setup! keep it up!

[WangChung]

Thank you Finished the case cutting today, also drilled the hole so I can attach the rheobus. Was a little late to work because of it, but once you start w/ the Dremel it's hard to put down! I'll take pics tonight of the carnage (not really that bad, pretty damn clean really). Now that the case modding is done and I have my fan filters and whatnot, I can start the full test fit of everything. I still am probably going to need some C-strip to protect a few edges, also some more SATA cables (don't think I have enough of the right kind).

Oh, and there's a second 6950 on the way...

[WangChung]

Finally some pics!

Surgery on the CPU fan again, got the bracket exactly how I need but one of the wires for the power fatigue failed at the control board so I had to fish out my soldering iron. I'll be tackling that next week after mid terms. Here you can see the very tiny C-clip in the center of the bracket. This is the only thing that holds the 80,000HP fan in place on the spindle. I had to use the needles like forceps to get it out of the bottom of the spindle. The xacto knife was for taking care of the little bit of super glue I had put in the corners adjacent to the screw holes.


Hack job on the case complete. Here you can see the 120mm rear grille removed and the hole drilled for the fan controller (by my thumb):


Front 80mm slot cut out as well, just in case I want to reverse the case flow later on:


Cutouts to fit the power supply and GPU connectors. I had started very slow, concise, and controlled while I was doing the 120mm cutout, but then I realized every cut I made was going to end up completely hidden. Either a fan is going to be covering or C-channel is going to be covering, so I just knocked it all out as quickly as I could. Still not TOO bad...:

Another angle:


Apologies for the bathroom pics, this is right before I washed the case in the tub. :P

[WangChung]

Update:
Two new (refurbished) Linksys WRT610Ns to compliment the new computer and the rest of the house. Flashed them with DD-WRT right out of the box


I'll be setting up a wireless bridge on 5GHz for my PS2, PS3, and movie server in the living room to the modem in my bro's room. Verizon hooked things up weird, so I can't just use ethernet straight out of the ONT. I'm going to turn off the DHCP, WiFi, and routing on the Actiontec and the 610n will take over.

[fatherTime27]

looks good so far

[WangChung]

Bwahahahaha!!

[WangChung]

Moar!

Semi-Final test fitting begins:


Sunbeam bracket attached to board, still need to assemble the 8700 though (got everything soldered last week!). Heatsink slides in under the back case opening as it sits:


Memory heatsink modified and reattached, perfect fit!


Plenty of room to spare for cable routing


Mmmm.... tasty:


I finally found the cable sleeving kit that I had boxed up from when I made my laptop coolers (if you're curious, LAPTOP COOLER), saved myself another $20. I think I have all the SATA cables I need, 2nd phase of test fitting tonight. Other than that, I still need to get the neoprene edge trim for the semi-sharp edges. There's a Grainger store about 6 miles away from me, but I don't know if they'll sell me only 10ft of what I need. Thanks for stopping in!

[Thanh55]

wow, what a build, so small for those performance, can't wait to see the finish. Just a little wonder, the heat could be build up in that scram case.

[WangChung]

Woo! CPU cooler mods complete! What I ended up having to do is cut the center bracket that supports the fan in the middle and sliding the supporting spindle into the middle of it. Here's the initial test to make sure it doesn't burst into flames after having to re-solder everything:


I used a neoprene washer to protect the electrical components, and a piece of corrugated plastic from a bandit sign (graciously donated from a local telephone pole by an anonymous visual real estate spammer ) to fill up the rest of the gap.


Two #2 machine screws, washers and nuts from a local hobby shop and it's as secure as if it was supposed to come like that.


It fits!! I would say about 3/8" of space but that's plenty. There's virtually no shaft play and I'm not going to be moving it around while it's on anyway:


And all fan modifications aside, I can now say unequivocally: **IF YOU WANT TO USE A ZALMAN CNPS8700 WITH SOCKET LGA1366/CORE i7 IT WILL FIT. IN ORDER TO WORK YOU MUST USE SUNBEAM PART #CR-LGA1366 - LGA 1366 Core I7 Socket Retention Bracket Set** Unless Zalman starts making a bracket that fits, then go with theirs.