The update has landed
in this single post I will attempt to show the entire 'build' from start to finish. As you know every piece has already been designed, modded, test fitted and adjusted to fit precisely in position however this is the first time everything can come together.
Normally one might expect to start with an assembled case, or even with a Parvum build at least put it together at the start. Chocolate Box however is a little different. The case, components, loop and cables must all come together simultaneously.
These are all of the parts which go into making the case, quite a lot for how big it is.
As with most Parvums I started with the floor, securing all six cubes and the pair of HyperX's
Next in was the motherboard tray, a custom part which I designed around all of the components.
Although I knew the front, like the floor, would have to come off again I installed it to support the motherboard tray while fitting the motherboard and graphics card.
The motherboard, CPU and RAM were left together just because it's the safest way to store them. Also the IO plate which I earlier modded by removing the bottom end to clear GPU backplates is now permanently glued in place. That made fitting the motherboard just a little less fiddly.
Assembling the back end of the case is done alongside the graphics card installation, this is the same for all X1.0's. The inner part of the back holds the card vertically while the outer keeps it securely in the PCI slot. By temporarily securing the inner part the GPU can be installed easily with one pair of hands.
With little else in the way this was also a great time to install the fittings used to pass through the motherboard tray.
Next up the card itself and the IO plate, which I forgot derp.
Above you can see the card in place being supported by the inner part of back panel. The single screw at the top is removed carefully, the outer panel put in position and then all of the screws tightened up. That's all which is involved in installing the graphics card. If you started with the case full assembled you simply remove the outer panel, position the card and put it back together.
Front half of the loop complete
Remember me saying the floor would have to come off? well this is why. Rather humorously the case has to be un-inverted to fit all of the cables along the bottom. SATA's, 8-pin and LED's must be plugged in before fitting the heatsink.
Once's everythings plugged in the floor can be replaced.
With the case back on it's feet a little cable management is in order.
Next another part which i've probably made unnecessarily complicated, the radiator and pump must be installed simultaneously to ensure the fitting that links them is tight. Also because there isn't enough room to tighten the fan screws when it's inside the case that goes in at this stage too.
And the only way to get all that lot inside is to pull the front off.
Then the pump could be easily bolted down and the front of the case re-assembled. Everything aligned nicely.
Leaving just one piece to complete the loop.
One big component left to go, the rather small PSU! and of course all of the cables.
A little cable management later...
All that was left to do was fit the sides and roof.
Leak testing is now in progress and the DDC is purring away, everything looks good so far. Fingers crossed for the first ever boot.
JR
, I must say their format really makes sense for SFF builds, being able to remove any panel and assemble it in any random order is invaluable when things are so tight. Really really nice to mod too not that i've done a lot to it. I must admit they would be much nicer in a make belief world with no dust.
