Project "CUBEIT"

[GeoffP]

Existing Equipment Analysis:
CM Stacker 830
ASUS Striker Extreme
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600
2x1GB Corsair C4Pro
XFX 8800GTS
Gainward 8800GTS
4 x Seagate 320GB HDD
1 x Maxtor 300GB HDD
Silverstone 850W Power Supply
Samsung SyncMaster 21" 215TW
Benq 17" FP791 with TV Tuner
Zalman 9700 CPU Air Cooler
Noctua 120mm Case Fans
Crossflow Fan
TrackIR4 Pro
Saitek X52 Pro HOTAS
Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals
Z-Board Fang
Logitech MX-1000 Mouse
Cherry Cymotion Master Wireless SolarPowered Keyboard

Observations:
Existing system is too noisy and the GPU's tend to get a bit hot.

Requirements of Project "CUBEIT":
Cooler running of CPU & GPU's.
Totally silent PC (or next to silent).
Install existing components into a case that will provide more than sufficient internal space.
New case to provide many years of use with support for expandability and equipment adjustments as technology advances.
Case can look real funky too.

Equipment to be replaced:
CM Stacker 830
Zalman 9700 CPU Air Cooler
Crossflow Fan

Equipment that may be replaced if it doesn't measure up:
Noctua 120mm Case Fans

New Equipment:
Mountain Mods U2-UFO Opti-1203 Black Powder Coated - Diamond Top

Tygon 3603 Tubing 1/2"ID 3/4"OD
1 x Thermochill PA120.3 Radiator
1 x Thermochill PS120.3 (Shroud)
1 x Thermochill NG120.3 (Neoprene Gasket)
1 x Swiftech MCP655 Pump
1 x Filling Syringe
1 x Hose Cutter - Metal
2 x Swiftech MCW60 Graphics Card Liquid Coolers - Black
2 x Retention Hardware MCW60 G80 adapter kits
Swiftech MC14 VGA Forged Copper BGA Ramsinks (8 per pack)
Swiftech MC21 Aluminum Mosfet Heatsinks for MCW60 Water Block (4 per pack)
1 x D-TEK FuZion CPU Block
1 x Thermalright LGA775 RM LGA775 Retention Bracket
1 x EK Multioption RES 250
1-1/4" Black-Oxide Steel Thermochill/BIP/BIX Fan Screws (Pack of 4)
Spare Black Fan Screws (Pack of 4)
ArctiClean Thermal Material & Surface Purifier - 60ml
Not using now Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
Using this instead Arctic Silver Ceramique
UV Reactive Pentosin G11 Coolant Additive (Blue) - 4oz.

Undecided Equipment:
Four Channel Sunbeam Rheobus, 5.25 Black OR
Zalman ZM-MFC1 6-Channel Fan Controller

Status:
All parts have been ordered except Fan Controller
now ordered ---> Zalman ZM-MFC1 6-Channel Fan Controller (using masaville's suggestion to remove the faceplate, mount it behind the slot cover and drill holes thru the slot cover)

Pictures:
Finally have some pictures - see below

[spider_d]

Just ordered these fan controllers from Performance PCS, it's the rheobus with a Lian Li aluminum bezel......perrty clean lookin'
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...oducts_id=3227

Can't wait to see the build!
Dan

[masaville]

Get the Sunbeam or the Lian Li Rheobus without the crappy logo. Alteratively, but the Zalman, rip off the faceplate and overlay it on one of your faceplates and drill out holes in it. Saw that on another site for a UFO mod and it looked great. I have both. Prefer the look of the Lian Li Rheobus over the Zalman.

[GeoffP]

The Lian Li Rheobus does looks extremely hot

Good idea masaville, if I removed the Zalman faceplate I could mount it behind one of the dark perspex cover plates and simply drill out the holes. That would give me 2 extra control switches.

Have to have a ponder today - even though I am already bending towards the Zalman, faceplate removal and some hole drilling. (I would also have the perfect template to use.)

[stormshadow]

dammit... i hate when "Project:xxxx" threads start w/ no pics...

[GeoffP]

dammit... i hate when "Project:xxxx" threads start w/ no pics...

I have to get my gear first

[GeoffP]

OK,
Done two things.
Binned the AS5 for the AS Ceramique.
Ordered the Zalman Fan Controller (really liked the option for two extra switches on the fan controller), but I will remove the faceplate and mount it behind one of the dark perspex bay covers (probably the one with the F15 Eagle laser etched into it ) Thanks for the suggestion Masaville

[sanhacker]

OK,
Done two things.
Binned the AS5 for the AS Ceramique.
Ordered the Zalman Fan Controller (really liked the option for two extra switches on the fan controller), but I will remove the faceplate and mount it behind one of the dark perspex bay covers (probably the one with the F15 Eagle laser etched into it ) Thanks for the suggestion Masaville

Had to go for the bling didn't you ?
I think you would have been happier with the Sunbeam Rheobus but it isn't a deal. Fan Controllers are cheap.

Can't wait to see the pictures. Best of luck with your build.

[benny08]

Looks like a good project! Can't wait to see some pics of the build. I'm just wondering, how much is the shipping on the UFO here to Aus? Might look at picking up one myself, but they already cost a few bucks more than I'd like to spend without a shipping cost added on...

[GeoffP]

Looks like a good project! Can't wait to see some pics of the build. I'm just wondering, how much is the shipping on the UFO here to Aus? Might look at picking up one myself, but they already cost a few bucks more than I'd like to spend without a shipping cost added on...

HEAPS

All in US dollars:

Products
1 x U2-UFO Opti-1203 Black Powder Coat - Diamond Top $379.99
1 x Mountain Mods black Acrylic 5-1/4 bay cover - Etching: Custom Etching $10.99
1 x Molex Pin Remover $4.99
1 x Mountain Mods black Acrylic Triple 5-1/4 bay cover - Etching: Custom Etching $13.99
1 x Mountain Mods black Acrylic Dual 5-1/4 bay cover - Etching: Custom Etching $12.59
3 x 120MM Chrome Grill $2.97
4 x 80MM Black Aluminum Fan Filter $11.96
3 x Mountain Mods 120MM Fan Grill (VERSION 2) - Color: Mirrored $13.47
4 x 80MM Chrome Grill $3.56
10 x Tygon 3603 Tubing 1/2" ID 3/4" OD $28.90
4 x 120MM Black Aluminum Fan Filter $15.96

Sub-Total: $499.37
United States Postal Service (Global Express Mail (EMS) (3 - 5 Days)):$204.10
Total: $703.47

But there's more - got this email

Dear Geoff,
Sorry to inform you but we can not ship U2-UFO cases through the postal service to Australia.
The maximum Girth + Height of a box can not exceed 79 inches – see here:
http://pe.usps.gov/text/Imm/immicl/immiclab_012.html
The U2-UFO ships in a 20 inch cubed box for 100 inches in girth + height.
We do have pretty good Fedex international rates now, but it is $100 more.
At least with Fedex it is guaranteed to arrive 3-5 business days.
If you’d like to proceed with the Fedex international economy shipping on your order please PayPal the $100 to our account –mountainmods@mountainmods.com

So, in the end the total postage cost was US$304.10

[Ambro]

HEAPS

So, in the end the total postage cost was US$304.10

I feel your pain; although your setup will be one of a few quality wc rigs in this country -

[dinos22]

wow man nice

[GeoffP]

Had to go for the bling didn't you ?
I think you would have been happier with the Sunbeam Rheobus but it isn't a deal. Fan Controllers are cheap.

Whats to bling Sunbeam & Lian Li Rheobus's were really, really good. What got the Zalman controller over the line was that is has the 4 dial controls & 2 5V/OFF/12V switches. I can use these to turn on/off CCR's, etc.

I know the Sunbeam handles 20W per channel and the Zalman only handles a maximum of 7W, but that won't cause me any concern based on how the fans will be controlled.

Can't wait to see the pictures. Best of luck with your build.

Thanks.

[GeoffP]

dammit... i hate when "Project:xxxx" threads start w/ no pics...

Here you go.

Piccies of my old pc which will be binned (apart from the guts):
Photos on the work bench and in its kennel:
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o..._bucket/1n.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o..._bucket/2n.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o..._bucket/3n.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o..._bucket/4n.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o..._bucket/5n.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o..._bucket/6n.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o..._bucket/7n.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...ew%20Rig/9.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...w%20Rig/17.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...w%20Rig/18.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...w%20Rig/19.jpg

Have to admit the Stacker 830 is a damn fine looking case.

[Kurz]

It seems that that Noctuca fan is backwards unless you are trying to push air from the back into the case.

[GeoffP]

It seems that that Noctuca fan is backwards unless you are trying to push air from the back into the case.

The side fans are pushing air into the case. Which image are you referring to?

[Kurz]

Ah excuse me...
Your fan setup is right.

[GeoffP]

Update:
Parts have started coming in.
Petra's gear has been delivered.
Other miscellaneous gear has been delivered.
My U2-UFO 1203 will be delivered today. (According to the Fedex web site) - I keep on looking out the front window of our offices for the Fedex van -
Danger Den gear is in route.
Performance PC's gear is in route.
It's finally starting to happen

Case was delivered. Fantastic. Ripped open packaging, checked all components, bugger , 3 x Mountain Mods 120MM Fan Grill (VERSION 2) were missing.

Already sent an email and had a reply from Mountain Mods. They will send out the missing pieces asap

Now I can do some face plate work this weekend, oh, and polish the case . A bit of Zymol polish will bring the paint work up a treat as well as add a hard protective layer.

[Kurz]

Cant wait for the spread of pictures you will be taking!
I must have something to ogle at on those lonely Friday nights, besides Jessica Alba...

[GeoffP]

photos, oh yeh, photooosss.

will be plenty

[GeoffP]

OK.

Have laid out everything I have so far.

Before anyone says anything, I have already noted that the drive bay trays at the front of the trays are badly scratched. I will sending these photos back to mountain Mods asking for replacement bays are they are bloody awful.

That aside, here are some photos (click on image for bigger shot):-




While I'm waiting for other stock to arrive I will look at drilling out one of the bay covers and mounting the fan controller behind it. Should look sweet

[Solarfall]

it's a monster

[IanY]

Optimax 1203 with Diamond Top. Its not a U2-UFO, its better, but I'm sure you know that. What's with the bay covers?

[Fossil]

Nice case.

My utterly useless Tt Tai-Chi ended up costing my nearly A$700. I wish I had bought a MM.

I should have bought 2x PA120.3 instead of 120.2 as well.

What bugs me is not the price of the bits, but the postage.

I hope MM don't expect you to send the scratched bits back at your expense.

[ANP !!!]

Looking nice till now ..