Project/Build/Worklog Thingy. Fractal D Arc Midi.

Abz Hussain · 1 Mar 2012 at 13:39

So here we go with my project or build or whatever you want to call it.
But first the customary intro.

I last built a PC back in the days of the AMD Athlon XP CPU's. When i built it was a power house: AMD Athlon XP 1700+ CPU, Nvidia Geforce4 440MX graphics card i think it was, 7200 rpm Deskstar hard drive with a bells and whistles soundcard from Creative labs, all powered by an Enermax 450w PSU. Luverly

Having got a good few years use out of it, about six i think, i then bought my first laptop, a Hi-Grade brand (anyone remember them or own one?) Once that had served its purpose i moved on to an IBM Thinkpad T40, still going strong today as the wifes laptop, its got the 'Y' key missing lol but not a problem

. Once i was done with the IBM, 2008, i moved on to what is my current PC, Apple Macbook Pro 17 inch. Its the 'older' one, non unibody with the silver keyboard.
The MBP has served me well, but i need to use Windows software now for a business I have been wanting to start. OSX just does not cater for this kind of specialised software very well at all. I have tried using WIN 7 via virtual machine but the Core 2 duo and the 4GB of ram struggles tbh.
I will also be running OSX on this new build, im not allowed to use the 'H' word on here but im sure the majority of you know what im on about

So, onto the projecty build log work thing....

Abz Hussain · 1 Mar 2012 at 13:49

The components for this build:
CASE: Fractal Design Arc Midi
MOBO: Gigabyte Z68XP-UD4
CPU: When i get it, will be i7 2700k
MEM: Kingston HyperX Genesis 8GB 1600
GPU: PNY GTX 580 1.5GB
SSD: Crucial RealSSD 256 GB
PSU: Seasonic 1000w Platinum
OS: WIN7 & OSX Lion
Apple Magic Mouse + wired keyboard.

This build will also be watercooled:
XSPC RX 360 Rad
XSPC RX 240 Rad
Laing DDC 10w
Alphacool Pump top.
Phobya Balancer Silver 150
I have yet to decide on my fittings, liquid & tubing size but they can wait for now.

This will be my first water cooling attempt as well as my first go at modding a case.

edit: FANS: Scythe Gentle Typhoons 1850 x 7

Abz Hussain · 1 Mar 2012 at 14:16

So here is the Fractal Arc Midi, not in all its glory as you can see. I have already started to break it down.
The case needs to be modded to fit a 360 rad up top and a 240 rad - somewhere, where i dont quite know yet but i will work it out. Probably the front but i will need a 140mm to 120mm adaptor.

Abz Hussain · 1 Mar 2012 at 14:18

Dremel standing by to do its thing. Picked this up for £20, cant go wrong at that price.

Abz Hussain · 1 Mar 2012 at 14:26

The Arc Midi with the optical drive bays and both HDD bays removed.
I wont be using any optical drives in this build as i have an external one. As for HDD, i will be using SSD's and they are small enough to be hidden at the back of the case.
With all this case real estate there should be plenty room to mount the 240 rad along with the pump and res.

Abz Hussain · 1 Mar 2012 at 14:51

The arc midi allows you to fit a 240 or a 280 rad up top and comes with holes for both setups pre drilled. Fitting a 360 rad up there is a mod job. You will lose your optical drives and you will also have to drill out some vent holes as the case will be blocking some of airflow out of the case.
Below are a few holes i just drilled out, nothing too fancy here as it be will covered so it doesn't have to look the bees nees.
Mounting holes for the 360 rad didn't turn out to be so bad. The holes for the 240 were already there and all that had to be done was drill out a couple of holes for the remaining 120 part of the rad.

Once those holes were drilled, quick once over with the big D to go over any burred bits of steel.

Abz Hussain · 1 Mar 2012 at 15:04

So if you ever thought to yourself 'Can I fit a 360 rad in the top of a Fractal Design Arc Midi? the answer is yes, with some modding

Here it is with just the one fan mounted for now, purely for testing. The gap between the mobo tray and the edge of the rad is 70mm ish.
I really thought i would have to do a lot of modding for the 360 rad but turns out its just a matter of removing the optical drive bays, drill a few vent holes and thats really about it.

And even better there is still room for the original 140mm FD case fans to be fitted.

Abz Hussain · 1 Mar 2012 at 15:05

Thats it for now, have other things to do. Also need to get some bits in for the build. Stay tuned, will be updated as when.

Abz Hussain · 2 Mar 2012 at 22:45

Not much progress today, been busy with stuff, back to work on Sunday too.
I still have to mount the 240 rad in the case, ordered a 140 to 120mm adaptor, that should do the trick.
Masked up the side panel today and marked out for window cuts. Decided to go with three windows, bit different from the norm. I will have the larger of the cuts a clear window and the small two cuts maybe a tinted black window. Thats the plan anyway.

Abz Hussain · 2 Mar 2012 at 22:47

This also turned up today. Cant wait to get it installed.

Abz Hussain · 3 Mar 2012 at 00:01

Raventu said:
Looks good mate! Subbed out of sheer interest to see how cleanly the build comes out .

Welcome along

A clean build is one of the goals for this project. Hopefully it will work out well.

Abz Hussain · 3 Mar 2012 at 13:35

colinmcr said:
Following your build with interest (subbed also)

Looking forward to your window mod, will be interesting to see how it looks if you are defo going along with one clear and two darkened.
Good luck

Yeh im kinda having second thoughts about the tinted bit but we will see. Acrylic dont cost that much so if i dont like it i can always change it.
with this build im not trying to make anything better, just trying to be different, if you know what i mean.

Abz Hussain · 3 Mar 2012 at 13:52

Saturday Morning Progress, very sloooooow

Ok so not much happening today at all on the build. Waiting to get these fan adaptors in so i can mount the 240 rad. Once thats done, i will know where the res and pump can be best placed.
What have i done today then?
Well as you can see i have removed the mesh and filter from the front plastic cover and dremeled away the front plastic grill slots i suppose is the best wording for them i can think of. Just needed to have them clear of the diameter of the fans.

Abz Hussain · 3 Mar 2012 at 14:01

Next, heres a template i made out of some card. Im going to use either a cork sheet or acrylic and make a, i dunno, 'plate' i suppose you can call it, as you see here. Cut out two holes and then stick the whole thing down with glue or some of that 3M 4010 i think it is.
It gives the look of the fans being encased and look really nice. Whatever i use, be it cork or acrylic it will be wrapped in vinyl before being stuck down.

Note: As im typing this up my tinternet is playing games with me so im not even sure if these pics are uploading. Will sort it out as and when i can.

Abz Hussain · 3 Mar 2012 at 14:59

King Damager said:
Will you be sticking some kind of dustfilter over the holes?

kd

Im not planning on it as i intend to clean this rig regularly. However intentions dont always follow through and im pondering using the supplied filter on the back side of the fans. What do you reckon?

Abz Hussain · 3 Mar 2012 at 15:26

MOOGLEYS said:
I used these for my fans in the Arc. They work really well and are slim and easy to fit and can be fitted either side of the fan. You can get 120mm as well.

Fan filter

They look like they would fit just fine, cheers for that mate.

Abz Hussain · 4 Mar 2012 at 05:32

colinmcr said:
Do you have any "meat" behind the template to drill and tap some holes? Looks like you have. I wonder if you might be affected by some vibration noise once you fit the finished "plate", although if you use cork then I guess that wouldn't transmit any vibration

There is some meat there but not enough for my liking. Its in the corners.
I think the stick on version will be better, once its on there i dont plan on removing it for anything, there will be no need to. I dont see vibration being a problem at all tbh.
Im still debating wether to, once this plate is done, install some standoffs in the corners and add another plate which will stick out beyond the front panel, give it a 'floating' look. I was thinking about mounting the front usb, power and reset buttons there. This is extra work though and im already behind with this build.

Wont be much progress over the next four days as twelve hour shifts do not lend well to being productive at home. Bear with me all.

Abz Hussain · 9 Mar 2012 at 23:29

Just an update, I have been a bit too busy with work this week so not much progress at all.
The 240 rad has been mounted with a bit of jiggery pokery. All i have to do now is remove both rads and flush them. Once thats done i can get on with the rest of the build.
On the case window side of things, still have to cut it but i have decided to go with an all clear perspex rather than my original idea of of large clear and two small tinted.
Pics to follow.

Abz Hussain · 10 Mar 2012 at 16:53

240 rad installed.

Ok so heres the XSPC 240 rad installed. Had to use radiator stands to mounts this up to the front fans.
Will use the front case fans to suck air onto the rad from the outside and put a couple of gentle typhoons on the rad to pull the air from the rad and out to exhaust.

The Rad stands actually are designed for mounting a rad horizontally. I had to do some bodging to the stand to get it to mount vertically. It all done now though, solid, no movement at all.

Abz Hussain · 10 Mar 2012 at 17:16

Front Panel

Remember my front panel plate template I did in post 17. Well I know i said i was going to go with cork or acrylic - well, i went with neither. Cork was way too flimsy and really didn't bode well.
Whilst buying a few bits and bobs in B&Q i came across some ally sheets, 'that will do' was the thought in my head. So i used my template to draw out the shape on the ally sheet, cut the outer shape with a pair of scissors and used my dremel to cut out the inner holes.
Below is the result - about 98% completed. Just need to put some egde channel around the holes and once thats done it will be double sided taped down and some filters will be put in. I wont be screwing it in as there is not enough 'meat' left behind the plate.
I hooked up my psu, connected both fans and it runs perfick

no vibration and pretty silent fans for 12v.

My bad photography dont do it justice IMO, it does look pretty good. Once again its something different rather than better which is what I am trying to achieve.

Im going to do the same for the top panel too. Three holes and they will be off centre as the arc midi as the mounting spaces towards the top left of the case if you look at it from the top.

Thats it for now, slow progress but progress nevertheless. Those 12 hour shifts - urgh.

Oh, managed to flush both rads too so they are good for installation once I have sorted out the top.
Stay Tuned.