Pandoras Purple Box (ooh, er)

davido_labido · 20 Jan 2015 at 21:34

So, im back! Ive been far too busy to be around lately, but I have just started this little project, so thought id share it with you all!

First things first, I would like to thank

There may be more sponsors to come soon, but I will add them if/when they arrive.

The Idea

Well, me and a rep from BitFenix UK have been chatting about a few little builds and ideas when we decided it would be nice to see a Pandora get some loving. I didn't really know what I was going to do with it, but I liked the looks of the pictures id seen of them so I thought id give one a go.

Of course I then contacted my awesome HyperX guy to see if he wanted in, and well, put it this way, 5 days later, I have the case, RAM and SSDs ready for the build!

some product porn

So HyperX asked me what I wanted for this build, I wasn't entirely sure what I was going to do with this one, so I just opted for 2 small ssds (120gb each) 16gb of ram and some other bits that will be arriving soon from them!

Here is the first parcel I received from them:

I really am happy that HyperX are on-board again, thanks Krystian ... I have plans for these products, so keep an eye out!

Bitfenix also sent me some rather nice goodies,

From them, I have a case, PSU, Cables and LEDS... im still waiting on the LEDS but the rest arrived today!

a lovely looking case:

and the PSU

I will show you the cables a little later on, I again have a few things planned for them, as you know, I dont usually use aftermarket extensions, but I thought id make the exception this time!

So... On to the modding....

davido_labido · 21 Jan 2015 at 00:36

So, lets start on this BitFenix Pandora then shall we!?

I didnt have any real ideas for this until i got the case. I have noticed it really is going to be a tight squeeze getting all the cables i want it for the build, never mind the watercooling as well!

so, time to get to grips with it...

First things first, i started to strip the case to see what i could put where, radiators look like they are gonna be a tight fit....

then, took a little bit more off

until i was left with this....

Hmmmmm ok, thats all very well and good... but i wonder... that looks rather rectangular to me, maybe i could invert the case, have it so the GPUs are at the top!!?!

so, i got the drill out.... drilled out the rivets

then, i started to put it back together....

I knew i was going to have some problems as obviously each side of the case isnt the same but it did slot together quite well

a few minutes later, id re done the rivets

then i started to see what panels still fit.

the top is fine, the back is too high, the front doesnt fit at all and neither do the sides properly.

The sides are easily sorted (if i can get BitFenix to send me another one without a window (its the window that doesnt look correct)) then the other panels will mod i think. i cant see there being too much of a problem.

Its as much as i can get done for now, ive got a load of stuff to do with this build, so need to crack on!

GiraffePencils · 21 Jan 2015 at 09:34

Looking good.
Nice little project, I've yet to see what can be done with this case

Luggs · 21 Jan 2015 at 09:55

Haha, new project, new case, first thing to do? Rip the insides out and turn them upside down... lol going to be epic!!

davido_labido · 21 Jan 2015 at 12:19

GiraffePencils said:
Looking good.
Nice little project, I've yet to see what can be done with this case

Thats why i asked for it tbh, I wanted to do a build that was a little tricky, and i thought a w/c build into one of these might be just that!

Luggs said:
Haha, new project, new case, first thing to do? Rip the insides out and turn them upside down... lol going to be epic!!

haha, i sent a picture to the BitFenix rep when it arrived at 3 oclock... i then sent him a picture at 4.30 with all the parts ripped off, bits on the floor and a shiny new rivet gun ready to go

he seemed.... pleased

colinmcr · 21 Jan 2015 at 13:57

Subbed !

Enjoy the build mate I do like that case, even if your are rippin' it all up

davido_labido · 21 Jan 2015 at 14:58

Thanks Colin, I have a few things planned for this build that should be a little interesting. I have more little goodies on the way from HyperX all being well and also will be going to see a friend who has a rather large laser when I get chance!!!

MrAnthony · 21 Jan 2015 at 15:07

Not particularly a fan of this case looks wise, looks like a pain to build in, but it'll be interesting to see what you do with it. I look forward to the result!

davido_labido · 21 Jan 2015 at 15:53

So I'm working away for the next 9 days. So unfortunately I'm not going to be able to do much at all =( however I am sat on the train at the moment, and I have a bunch of bitfenix alchemy cables.

As a lot of you know, i usually wouldn't touch after market cables, but these fit the colour scheme I'm going for so well I thought it would be silly not to. Bitfenix supplied them for me and so far the seem to have a good weave on the sleeve and I like the white connectors.

I am however going to mod them somewhat... The lengths are standard 45cm or 30cm and there are no curvatures so that they fit a wider range of cases. I'm also going to add some stealth cable combs to help me route them as there is little space in the case for everything. I also want to change what order the colours are in...

So, here I am, on the train, modding cables lol.

Better pics will be up as soon as i can get on a computer!

Digital X · 22 Jan 2015 at 12:37

I love your work mate

How is that PSU?

davido_labido · 22 Jan 2015 at 16:46

digitalx said:
I love your work mate

How is that PSU?

thanks buddy, in all honesty, i have no idea yet! It feels and looks very good quality and the addition of the pre braided cables I'd a really nice touch! It certainly ticks all the boxes aesthetically. The OEM iirc is FSP, so a brand that should be reliable enough!

I guess time will tell!

LePhuronn · 23 Jan 2015 at 00:42

You read my mind or something dude? I've been looking at the Pandora for a crazy WC build (not that I have the time or the money to do it mind you

) and one of the things I thought about was how viable it would be to go inverted ATX - gives you a bit more room at the top for a set of fans underneath a slim roof rad that way.

Love to see what you'll come up with, and if it's anything like the images in my head I shall be very happy and very jealous!

Mynight · 23 Jan 2015 at 08:30

You have my attention! If it's anything like the previous build with the purdy SSDs it will be a winner

.

colinmcr · 23 Jan 2015 at 22:47

On a side note Dave, I'm jealous of you doing a Purple build always wanted to use it as a colour in a build.

skaif · 24 Jan 2015 at 09:18

Can't wait to see this one! Subbed!

davido_labido · 24 Jan 2015 at 17:34

Cheers guys!!!! I actually have an envelope with your name on somewhere Colin with some purple samples lol.

Ssds will be getting some love next time I'm home =D

davido_labido · 30 Jan 2015 at 03:40

So, a little bit of an update now, and let you know whats happening then a bigger one should be coming later tonight if i can get a few hours off from working!...

So last week whilst on the train i had these in my bag:

as you all are probably aware, i actually sleeve a lot of cables... seriously, loads and nothing compares to a custom made set, however, wit BitFenix as a sponsor, i thought i would save some time and effort and try out their "Alchemy" range.

The crimps on these cables have been done well, I like how they are not just one set colour and the lengths are plenty for the majority of the builds, im also really liking the white connectors, however they are just not 100% right for me .. The colours are not in the order i want, the lengths are a little too long and i want to put a nice curve in them to make sure that they look as pretty as possible! so i pulled out all of the wires...

I did get some strange looks whilst on the train, but then again i had made a little bit of a mess and i was taking up a whole table (dont worry, the train wasnt too busy)...

A short while later i ended up with this :

Now, im going to have to see what hardware is going into this build before I do too much more with them as i am going to cut the cables down a little and re crimp them, but what do you guys think about these 2 coloured sets?. Im actually really impressed with them, it saves a lot of hassle and look pretty too!

When I got home from my days away from work, i had a box... now, I wasnt going to even bother posting this until later either, but I really am impressed. These are great, and although usually I wouldnt really bother with a product until im ready to mod it, im already using these!!!

The inner box is rather nice...

Hmmmm, these are a little bit too black for this build... I guess im going to have to just keep them as my main headset.... or mod them

And last but not least... I didnt believe the hype(rX? no... just me? fine...) surrounding these headsets tbh and im no audiophile, but i really am loving these. Thanks HyperX!!!!

So, I realise this update is more showing what i have rather than anything actually happening, but i wanted to share this with you also....

I HAVE A NEW SPONSOR (well, maybe 2)!!!!!!

Im not going to say who yet... but lets just say... Pandora's box will be getting wet soon. (steady on!) and the 2 sponsors compliment each other perfectly.

Can ya guess who they might be?

Mads1 · 30 Jan 2015 at 17:19

i forgot how much fun it is doing cables,

colinmcr · 2 Feb 2015 at 07:16

Mayhem's Rads is my guess

davido_labido · 6 Feb 2015 at 00:47

Hi guys, a little bit of news and another small update!

So, a massive thanks to BitFenixUK again, I asked if I could get a couple of spare panels to play with so that i didnt have to start cutting up the originals to get them to fit, and they sent me another Pandora!!! so now all bar 1 panel fits perfectly!

What else have I been doing? Well, im currently waiting on finding out if a sponsor is willing to help me with a GPU/mobo... if so then this build will soon be speeding up, if not then it will have to slow down a little whilst I sneak the money out of the joint savings account! SHHHH!

so... SSDs.

First of all, I again, broke these silly little warranty stickers that they keep putting on the SSDs that HyperX so kindly send me. They know they wont last long!

hmmmm, internals.

pulled off the "x" and made sure there was no glue left on the back of it.

put them in my state of the art sprayng booth... its definitly not a box! honest guv

Gave them a good couple of coats of primer

a coat of purple...

and thats as far as i can go with it for now as its still drying! I want to give them at least 24hrs before i start putting them back togther, probably more like 48. And also need to grab some more white paint next time im in town to finish off the cases. This gives you a little insight into what they will look like though!

at the same time I also did the top mesh for the BitFenix Pandora.

Again, whipped it all apart, the middle bit is a dust filter, i wont be using that.

Primer

PURPLE!!! (to the untrained eye, I can understand that you might thing that is a dominos pizza box im using to spray on... i assure you, it might not be.)

hmmmm, nice coating.

Thanks for looking guys, apologies that these pictures werent great either, I was doing all of this whilst trying to work and couldnt spend the time i wanted on taking the pictures. I will however do some nice ones later when I put the SSDs back together and spray the other top bit of the Pandora.