Project: Instinct

Hello and welcome to my log for the new project: Instinct.

What is project instinct ?

Project Instinct was originally to be a silver/black black panther themed build, however once the build was nearly done, i tore it all apart as it just didn't stand out.
One night while tirelessly looking for a new theme, i went out the wife and kid and played a little pokemon go.
It hit me.. yellow.. Instinct... Zapdos.. YES!

With lightning bolts, tags and lots of yellow/black the theme fits well. OH!! did i mention this is an inverted build too ?

Sponsor
Huge thank you to be quiet! without whom Project: Instinct would not be viable for me.
Visit them here: http://www.bequiet.com/en/
Shop here: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/search?sSearch=be+quiet


Part list


Intel Core i7 6700k
Gigabyte GA-Z170X Gaming 7 Motherboard
Nvidia GTX 1070 Founders edition
16GB HyperX DDR4 RAM
Sandisk 256GB M.2 SSD
be quiet! PowerZone 850W PSU
be quiet! 3x Silent wings 2 120MM
be quiet! 1x Silent wings 2 140MM
be quiet! 3x Silent wings 3 140MM
EK-FB GA Z170X Monoblock
EK-FC1070 Waterblock
EK-FC1070 Backplate
EK-Coolstream SE 360 Radiator
EK-RES X3 250 Reservoir
EK-HDC fittings 16MM Black
EK-HD PETG 16MM Tubing

Wrapped up in the modular and super pretty be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900 case.

PICTURES!!
Everyone loves the pictures. So let's start with be quiet!

Power Zone 850W power supply






Full details here: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/be-q...nze-fully-modular-power-supply-ca-069-bq.html

Silent Wings fans




Full details here: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/be-quiet-silent-wings-2-fan-120mm-fg-023-bq.html

be quiet! Dark Base Pro 900







Full details here: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/be-q...0-full-tower-gaming-case-black-ca-11b-bq.html

gigabyte GA-Z170X gaming 7 Motherboard





Full details here: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/giga...cket-1151-ddr4-atx-motherboard-mb-526-gi.html

Intel Core i7 6700K


More info here:https://www.overclockers.co.uk/inte...ocket-lga1151-processor-retail-cp-581-in.html

Nvidia GTX 1070 Founders




More details here: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ocuk...ddr5-pci-express-graphics-card-gx-21a-ok.html

EK-FC1070 waterblock




More info here: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ek-water-blocks-ek-fc1070-gtx-nickel-plexi-wc-9ao-ek.html

EK-FC1070 Backplate



More info here: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ek-water-blocks-ek-fc1070-gtx-backplate-black-wc-9aq-ek.html

EK-FB GA Z170X monoblock



More info here: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ek-water-blocks-ek-fb-ga-z170x-monoblock-nickel-wc-936-ek.html

EK-Coolstream SE 360 Radiator



More info here: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ek-w...am-se-360-slim-triple-radiator-wc-877-ek.html

EK-RES X3 250 Reservoir



More info here: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ek-water-blocks-ek-res-x3-250-reservoir-wc-314-ek.html

Cables i'll be using are custom sleeved


Paint used will be ArtFX, tried halfords stuff and hated it.


Check back later for updates.
I have many to post, but don't want to put too much in the introduction.

Thanks for having a look through

Power Supply Cover

First of all i tried bending a shroud, and it really didn't fit well with the case's straight edges.
So i cut them and used brackets to keep them together.
I also cut the Design for the top, sprayed them yellow and tagged them with ''Instinct'' in black


I then begun wrapping the shroud in black vinyl. (Don't worry, all the air bubbles were flattened out)


i then went back to the lazer cutter, and cut the Team Instinct logo Zapdos for the front of the shroud.


And here's the finished

The logo and design hasn't been fully fitted yet, for now it's just double sided taped to the shroud. (Will be fitted properly in the coming days


Fans
I tried to paint a fan without spraying the back ''legs'' or whatever they are called, however you can't really see the blades as they spin so quickly, only the middle showed as yellow, so ii sprayed those legs too.


I repeated this step for all 7 fans

RAM
The RAM was white and black, changed the white to yellow to fit the build. Achieved with a sneaky permanent marker


next i sprayed the PCIE Covers from black to yellow.



Next step:
Painting the trim
So, for this i had to remove the silver trim from the case on both front and back. (Really easy to do with just clips) and remove the feet.




Then i painted them all yellow and had some fans to finish up too.




Once the paint was dry, i fitted them back to the case



Fitted all the fans + PCIE Slots + Cables + trims and even put a zapdos on the front door.



Check back later for updates.

Thanks for having a look through

I'm liking this build so far, keep up the good work!!

Looking good!

Minibiker said:

I'm liking this build so far, keep up the good work!!

Click to expand...

Ringiho said:

Looking good!

Click to expand...

Thanks guys!

Changed the white/red shroud on the motherboard to the same yellow as everything else.. Every time i snap a pic, it makes it the same color as sour milk :/


Where the HDD cages used to be, i had fitted a sheet of acrylic with ''Instinct tags'' on it. I've flipped that to the shiny side and currently testing new designs on the other side to be sprayed later.



Currently awaiting the final tools i need to begin bending and my new pump.
ordered the pump on Tuesday, was only marked as sent today. Not impressed lol.

Check back later for updates.

Thanks for having a look through

Final tools arrived.

Normally people use a little hacksaw to cut PETG tubing, but i've noticed it flares the edges and even using a file causes it to further flare.
So i bought this, and works perfect. Nice clean solid straight cuts.


Now keep in mind this is my first time EVER using rigid tubing.
Here's the other tools i use for the job


I think i've nailed this, very first 2 bends and completely perfect, no bubbles, no flat edges or twists.
using heat gun at low, slowing going back and forth while turning the tubing.

Here's my first EVER bends


Check back later for updates.

Thanks for having a look through

Short video, Doing the bend from Rad to GPU.

Yesterday and day have been such a rush to get finished in time for insomnia.
10pm last night i started work on the watercooling.


12pm (midnight) i got to work on the Holes for the tubing to go through in the shroud.
God that was epicly time consuming. With soft tubing it was easy, Rigid meant it had to be perfect.
Once that was done, i set it up for the leak test, overnight run and no leaks at all.


While i've been rushed, i missed a few bits that i will clean up tonight.
1. The holes need a little filed.
2. The lightning needs affixed appropriately.
3. Tighten the screws holding down the Yellow design on the Shroud.

Here's the pictures i took this afternoon.











Will get those fixed tonight, and have a final few photo's tomorrow.

Check back later for updates.

Thanks for having a look through

I had put the build as finished because i was expecting a slot at an i58 booth. But they were full.
SO!! It's back to work

Here's what is going to change over the coming weeks.
1. LCD panel that runs animations and such on the PSU Shroud.
2. Front Yellow bird design to be cut out and replaced with a transparent yellow bird to back light.
3. A second GPU to run in SLI (fills it up a bit)
4. A change of coolant to sunset yellow (little darker)
5. Different RAM that's more flashy.
6 Finally some custom Realistic lightning strikes going on in the back and on the shroud.

At the moment, i'm working on the new lightning strike effect.. With a little elbow grease i think i've got a really nice effect

Working on the new designs for the back to be backlit in yellow.


If it looks the part, i'll do the same on the PSU shroud.

Very nice, I love the colour scheme

Here's what it looks like.. Not got yellow lights as of yet, but gold/orange still looks nice for now.

After the backing, i liked it.. really brings life into the build, so i done the same idea on the front of the shroud.

Will move the LCD screen to the front fan door.

Here's snaps using be quiet!'s built in RGB Lights.






Is it just me or does the green look really nice with yellow

Green looks great or the top one, the others a bit too dark I think

sgavan said:

Green looks great or the top one, the others a bit too dark I think

Click to expand...

Will try get a photo tonight, the window light it hitting the front, so it all looks dark

EDIT:
Here's the green, with some of the white LEDs removed.

While this little update may not seem on topic.. It has everything to do with this project.
I'll keep quiet and let you guys use your imagination.




Check back later for more updates

And here's the reason for the previous reply.
Modular themes for a modular case.
With magnetic attachments.



More to come, check back later.

Looks good

Nice work, looking pretty tidy - If I was being picky for the sake of it i'd say it would look better with a second GPU filling more space. Its not a criticism just a pretty big space I always think looks a little empty with one... Come on sponsors, you know you wanna

Nice work there, love the lightning bolts. I'd say though I'm not keen on the motherboard shroud painted in yellow. It sticks out to me and looks like a 3D printed prototype that hasn't been finished and a bit scruffy. Since you have a good chunk of yellow in that area now, I'd personally be inclined to strip it down and go black instead.