Rather curious how close I was estimating your cooler clearance height now that you've got the thing
No board yet. I might just clearance it any way tbh.
Project Irony "Glutton For Punishment".
- Thread starter ALXAndy
- Start date
No board yet. I might just clearance it any way tbh.
OK so there may be a part two to today, we will see. First up I made sure the RGB things I bought would fit. They would not, then I peeled off the useless magnets. Then they fit.
Test on the case. I will glue them to the chassis.
OK so that is mostly done. I won't know if I need to diffuse them until I test them. So then it was onto the front.
I soldered in a power button cable (you will see it later) then took apart the IO part. I then carved down a socket to fit, and.
Another job done then.
I then put it all back together for now. Mostly as getting to the tron lights involves picks etc. It's not easy.
Lines up beautifully. I didn't even have to glue it into the box.
So here is the new power switch cable. I soldered it onto the switch itself. GOD it was fiddly and I could not see what I was doing but I got there eventually.
Test on the case. I will glue them to the chassis.
OK so that is mostly done. I won't know if I need to diffuse them until I test them. So then it was onto the front.
I soldered in a power button cable (you will see it later) then took apart the IO part. I then carved down a socket to fit, and.
Another job done then.
I then put it all back together for now. Mostly as getting to the tron lights involves picks etc. It's not easy.
Lines up beautifully. I didn't even have to glue it into the box.
So here is the new power switch cable. I soldered it onto the switch itself. GOD it was fiddly and I could not see what I was doing but I got there eventually.
Oh. Why did I not cut today?
Well, mum not feeling great so didn't get up til later. So I had to door watch (I would have done that part any way) but then she had a fall ffs. Thankfully she fell into the 2 seater sofa which caught her but yeah. Shook me up to the point I did not want to handle power tools today. That and the fact my mate in the USA is snowed in and gets off of WFH at 8:30 PM. With no 1.5hr journey home it means we can get in one last sesh before I pull the PC apart. Which leads me onto the next reason.. Basically the black sticker on the IO is not adding up with supposed IO shield dimensions. Meaning to be 100% sure before I start cutting I need a board with an IO on to get it in the right place as the black sticker could be a "too small red herring". So aye, still productive given the front panel is half way done.
I also found something earlier (details later) that basically makes the light boxes absolutely pointless. And it was free to boot
And you will get a good chuckle out of it too lmao. What would a mod be without some "junk modding"?
Well, mum not feeling great so didn't get up til later. So I had to door watch (I would have done that part any way) but then she had a fall ffs. Thankfully she fell into the 2 seater sofa which caught her but yeah. Shook me up to the point I did not want to handle power tools today. That and the fact my mate in the USA is snowed in and gets off of WFH at 8:30 PM. With no 1.5hr journey home it means we can get in one last sesh before I pull the PC apart. Which leads me onto the next reason.. Basically the black sticker on the IO is not adding up with supposed IO shield dimensions. Meaning to be 100% sure before I start cutting I need a board with an IO on to get it in the right place as the black sticker could be a "too small red herring". So aye, still productive given the front panel is half way done.
I also found something earlier (details later) that basically makes the light boxes absolutely pointless. And it was free to boot
And you will get a good chuckle out of it too lmao. What would a mod be without some "junk modding"? OK solder, bugger two up, do them again etc etc. One looks dim because Starry Night.
So what was this terribly clever idea I had? well, yesterday when I was making a coffee I noticed these things. Asked mum what they were and after showing her one she said "Stainless steel straws..... That I never used".
And what would you know, if you shove the LED in (nice push fit)
You get your joiner come light boxes free, with just some cutting.
So what was this terribly clever idea I had? well, yesterday when I was making a coffee I noticed these things. Asked mum what they were and after showing her one she said "Stainless steel straws..... That I never used".
And what would you know, if you shove the LED in (nice push fit)
You get your joiner come light boxes free, with just some cutting.
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OK, so there was a round three. I'm telling you, getting that middle piece out was among the most terrifying things I have ever done. It's glued in. The gap to get the pick in is tight AF and it makes snapping cracking sounds as you go. It's out though, thank god. The pipes are more like 3mm, so the straws are not needed. I will just use the shrink I bought with adhesive in. It is much stiffer than regular shrink.
I also made a discovery with the plate that goes in there. See, in all the pics you see this, right.
Note how there are two lots of light there. The thin area with the pipes in and the ones showing through some sort of honeycomb. Thing is, whenever I look at these PCs I all I seem to see is this.
So I had come to the conclusion that it was a render, and fake. IE those lights did not exist. Well oddly they do. There is a sort of baffle there with the honeycomb pattern on and there were lights in it. Obs I have removed them all now but yeah. So, I have redesigned it so I can use my neons.
I also made a discovery with the plate that goes in there. See, in all the pics you see this, right.
Note how there are two lots of light there. The thin area with the pipes in and the ones showing through some sort of honeycomb. Thing is, whenever I look at these PCs I all I seem to see is this.
So I had come to the conclusion that it was a render, and fake. IE those lights did not exist. Well oddly they do. There is a sort of baffle there with the honeycomb pattern on and there were lights in it. Obs I have removed them all now but yeah. So, I have redesigned it so I can use my neons.
OK so for today's "Round One" I began sorting the front in a final form. First up was fitting the neon holders and neons.
And then the modded honeycomb panel.
It's a 92mm fan. Not quite enough room in there for a 120. I also realised I have no chance of getting the PLED wired. It is micro tiny like 2mm. So I bought some wired ones. White, as I wanted.
And then the modded honeycomb panel.
It's a 92mm fan. Not quite enough room in there for a 120. I also realised I have no chance of getting the PLED wired. It is micro tiny like 2mm. So I bought some wired ones. White, as I wanted.
...but clearly room for two more 92's
It's not like you might need the space for an overly-long GPU 
Now come on, you just need the steady hands and sharper eyes that you had 30 years ago* I tried to grow a younger set...but he can't be bothered with anything currently (peak Kevin at the moment) so I'm hoping it's one of those delayed-return investments!
*Damnit if I didn't have to keep increasing that number....it's disturbing I tell you! Happy birthday for the other day BTW
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I don't even think I could solder a 2mm LED when my eyes were good. I needed glasses at 18, due to my obsession with video games lol. OK so more work done. First a last solid colour test on the LEDs before they are permanent.
Reet, in you go.
I then tested the neons.
Before finally....
Stoked. Whilst it has been a real pee-er that is deffo rewarding. No one has gotten those working with after market hardware before.
BTW. There doesn't need to be any more fans in there. That is only due to how tight the GPU fit is. The top fan will be a full size 120, and goes inside the case
Reet, in you go.
I then tested the neons.
Before finally....
Stoked. Whilst it has been a real pee-er that is deffo rewarding. No one has gotten those working with after market hardware before.
BTW. There doesn't need to be any more fans in there. That is only due to how tight the GPU fit is. The top fan will be a full size 120, and goes inside the case
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OK so as much as I was not going to do anything today I didn't really have a choice. Getting the IO hole in the correct position meant about 2 hours of piddling around, as it is far harder than I thought it would be. So it meant taking the donor rig apart and stripping it out so I could compare some things. Like how much metal lives between the PCI sockets and the IO and etc. Obs the standoffs were not the same either so that took more piddling. I am at the point now where I can cut out a template on the plotter. Otherwise before I could even climb into the loft tomorrow I would have had to do this all then.
I did realise one of the USB3 front panel headers will not reach though. It was specifically why this board was perfect, as it has two. The solution was pretty simple.
And a cooler for the second NVME drive. It is a WD blue, so honking.
I did realise one of the USB3 front panel headers will not reach though. It was specifically why this board was perfect, as it has two. The solution was pretty simple.
And a cooler for the second NVME drive. It is a WD blue, so honking.
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Well the main case is now cut, filed, cleaned and primed. I thought it wasn't going to happen because the day was starting off to be a ball ache. I got my NUC out (lol) last night and of course it had not been powered on since September. So it crippled itself downloading tons of updates I didn't want.
Then today I realised I did not have Photoshop on it, or my plotter software, or anything else. Which resulted in two hours of messing around.
The good part is the Milwaukee rotary tool. It cuts about ten times faster than any I have had and if it jams the disc it cuts off. Which is nice, as it saves that terrifying bit of trying to wrestle it free whilst it wants to do the waltz.
Final metalwork on Sunday and final primer. I reckon by Weds if all goes well it will be time for assembly !
Then today I realised I did not have Photoshop on it, or my plotter software, or anything else. Which resulted in two hours of messing around.
The good part is the Milwaukee rotary tool. It cuts about ten times faster than any I have had and if it jams the disc it cuts off. Which is nice, as it saves that terrifying bit of trying to wrestle it free whilst it wants to do the waltz.
Final metalwork on Sunday and final primer. I reckon by Weds if all goes well it will be time for assembly !
Ooo result. So obviously I can't use my Frozen Warframe cooler as it's 240mm. The screen though is USBC. So I plugged it in and installed the software, and...
I am going to customise it using their software.
Then desk mount it.
Edit in. I also found the 100mm carbide hole cutter. So I am going to clearance the PSU bracket, whether it needs it or not.
I am going to customise it using their software.
Then desk mount it.
Edit in. I also found the 100mm carbide hole cutter. So I am going to clearance the PSU bracket, whether it needs it or not.
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It also significantly reduces the number of times you have to dodge flying shards of cutting disc when they jam and explode....which is definitely a good thing!
Yeah. I had an accident in my kitchen at the flat and it caused permanent damage to my floor and cupboard. The bit bent and I could not hold onto the tool. It then scratched the floor before jamming on the cupboard ffs.
I will admit that was the biggest challenge. Not because I am bad at it.. I used to work for Rogers who made the speakers for the BBC and I was that good at soldering I made the crossovers for their all made in England models like the LS3 5A. The problem now is my eyesight. It's shocking lol.
I've brought the large swingout PSU bracket up now. Will mark it out in a bit. Tomorrow I will get back on the tools and get everything in primer. It was my turn to cook today so I did a tomato soup based stew. Again took me ages due to all of the peeling and chopping (because my eyesight is crap lol).
Oh yeah. Figured I would post this for @Cenedd . Cut my head open yesterday lmfao. I was sat on the floor in the loft searching for the 100mm carbide tooth hole cutter. All of a sudden I clocked it lying in the insulation on the part that has no floor. "Ooo ! there it is !" and enthusiastically lunged forward. Right into the corner of a 4x2 which holds up the water tank. Not smashed my head like that in many years... Now I have a lovely cut and a big old bump ffs.
I did find the hole cutter though lmao.
I've brought the large swingout PSU bracket up now. Will mark it out in a bit. Tomorrow I will get back on the tools and get everything in primer. It was my turn to cook today so I did a tomato soup based stew. Again took me ages due to all of the peeling and chopping (because my eyesight is crap lol).
Oh yeah. Figured I would post this for @Cenedd . Cut my head open yesterday lmfao. I was sat on the floor in the loft searching for the 100mm carbide tooth hole cutter. All of a sudden I clocked it lying in the insulation on the part that has no floor. "Ooo ! there it is !" and enthusiastically lunged forward. Right into the corner of a 4x2 which holds up the water tank. Not smashed my head like that in many years... Now I have a lovely cut and a big old bump ffs.
I did find the hole cutter though lmao.
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Meh, decided to treat myself. 'Cause I'm worth it
So what's so special about that? well, the white parts are metal. Still nothing too good...But, they are 30mm and won and award. Mostly because they come with reverse blades. So you can configure them yourself. And, at £7.99 a pop on clearance on here I thought it was a no brainer.
www.apnx.com
So what's so special about that? well, the white parts are metal. Still nothing too good...But, they are 30mm and won and award. Mostly because they come with reverse blades. So you can configure them yourself. And, at £7.99 a pop on clearance on here I thought it was a no brainer.
FP2 - APNX | Build Your Story
FP2 is a 30mm performance fan suitable for both radiators and cases.The fan is encased in a premium steel plate frame and includes a reverse flow blade to let you customize your airflow direction.
www.apnx.com
Nice. Decent performance figures as well as looking good. Oh and for the record, the only comfort I take in you smacking your head is that it's not just me doing lamentable things!
Yeah have had my eye on them for ages. But not at £30 or even £20 a pop. Apparently they are like, sensational, but were not handed out to reviewers so they flopped. Oh well.
Right, so here was where I left off.
So for today (marked this out last night)
Meet Barry. I call him that because this thing is barbaric. Barry The Barbarian. It does not cut its way through metal, it smashes its way through.
Done, clean off the markings as it will bleed into the primer.
Mask.
Yeah, I did mask off the black "padding" stuff. The paint would never have dried on it, or would have cracked up and slowly fallen off. I did not want paint anywhere there are moving parts, hence all the masking.
I am going to put down the satin black 2k tomorrow. Obs i can't activate it and paint the main chassis 'cause it will be useless by tomorrow as it will turn to rock.
Last night I fitted the AIO cooler bracket to the mobo and today the NVME cooler came. So I can pop that on later.