Project : Primo Midas

[colinmcr]

I love everything but the grey vibration mounts in fans. Mind I don't think it ugly.. just not as nice as everything else.

Yeah I did think to change that, but I think black would be better than gold. Wish Corsair would supply those in different colours also.

I might try one gold just to see how they look tho

 

[colinmcr]

Doyll the grey rubber gromits are removable (hurrah).

@fantasticCG Arghhh why did you should me that...(drools) Very nice although its not really going to be seen in my optical bay, maybe I could spray the lock ring just for fun, we'd know it was there

I must be having it bad I was dreaming about working on my build last night, I'm seriously in a quandary about the sleeving colour.
Yellow I have might look to garish, talked with Davido and maybe Vanilla Sands would be better. However now I'm also thinking, black goes with anything right??? Damn I can't decide.

Any tips for cutting the tubing nice and straight? I saw these fancy looking hose cutters but can it be done nicely with a stanley blade?

 

[colinmcr]

Black sleeving does go with everything but I'd not have Just black, black and shade 19 if you want to keep it dark (shade 19 is like a really dark grey, almost black) but it will break up the black a little.

I will see if I can find a sample of the vanilla sands when I'm home next and Il pop it in the post to you. I should have one somewhere.

As for cutting the tubing, I use a really sharp pair of scissors.
It's kinda hard to explain, don't just cut it in 1 motion, cut it, but as you cut rotate the tubing, I always get a straight cut. Also, even if it isn't 100% perfect, as long as it's on the barb fine, and isn't slanted too much you shouldn't have any problems, and it won't be visible once the compression fitting has been put on.

Thanks Dave, I love that shade 19 just had a look over at mdpc-x. That would compliment the grey fan rubbers, which in fairness I actually like the look of. Also Dave, I forgot to mention my gpu power cable connectors are red, not black. Can't have that can we? Do you have black ones? I better get some stuff posted to you.

I'll try mocking some black and then yellow in a pic and see how it looks with the build as it is. If I find the time today I'll dry fit some tubing to get a rough idea how the colours are looking.

 

[colinmcr]

Ok I only did a couple of strands for a test.
I think the yellow is just too bright, now that I put white tape under the sleeve so I could understand how bright it would look if Davido did it with white cable. Its very much brighter than the motherboard particularly the last image. So its looking more like Vanilla or Black/Grey. I really need to try Vanilla in the flesh to see if it would work.

Spoiler

 

[colinmcr]

Things have been a bit slow sorry folks, real life and my gaming habit !

Fitted the first gpu waterblock, added some gold accents.

Here's some pics...

 

[colinmcr]

*UPDATE*
Ok I've finished the second 780 Ti waterblock. Now you'll get a good understanding how things are looking, as I've fitted the cards and mocked up the 45 rotaries. I quite like the look (the are mighty big though) but I think they are working well looks wise.
I've put in the bottom rad but its not fixed in situ yet. Hope you like how its going folks.

Forgot to say the gromit cable cover (vertical piece) doesn't fit with the second card installed, would need a slight mod or just leave it out so then we can see more of the lovely sleeving that will come eventually.

Also note some more accent work, EVGA Sli bridge (not happy with the finish on it though) and also the Optical bay quick releases have had the Phantek names changed from the shiny silver to lush gold

 

[colinmcr]

Absolutely spiffing job.
My only question mark is over the line that'll be going from bottom rad to res, but I'm sure you'll figure out a way to make it work well.

Almost always having to have a long run of tubing somewhere is the only thing I don't like about bay reservoirs.

Yes I've been worrying about that also, the issue is I can't just bore a hole through into the rear chamber as the power supply will be there. We'll just have to see what I come up with !

Thanks for all the other comments folks, I really enjoy the feedback. Slow going I know but I want to really make it as well as my skills allow.

So some things arrived in the post also yesterday, I know my delivery guy so well now I think he'll be coming round for Xmas dinner !

Anyway here are some pics, sorry about the poor lighting in my house can be difficult to get a good image. Plus outside its very grey and dull this winter !

So the case fans arrived


Something looking for the midas touch


SSD (not that I need to tell you guys)


Shiny contacts !


A special edition just for Project: Primo Midas (Thanks Bill)


Something else, off topic but you guys will love it !


Its gorgeous, although it needs a wee polish I think (Yes its etched "Merry Xmas")

 

[colinmcr]

So sick dude, did u use a gold pen ?

Yes I did

 

[colinmcr]

I forgot to include something that arrived in the post




I'm also looking at this to compliment it, but I will have to pester OcUK to get some.

 

[colinmcr]

@ Uncle Petey,

Been looking at the long run issue mate. At the far left hand edge of of the case (below the motherboard is a perfectly positioned cut-out, dunno if you can see it in previous pics. Well I can fit the hose through it and there is a handy cut-out in the back end of the optical bay. It would need a bit of jigging around at the back so that the side panel can fit back on ok, would just need to rearrange the cabling.
The end result will be a very short outlet from the rad disappearing into the back of the case. Looks like the best option tbh.

 

[colinmcr]

Sounds like a plan!

Btw, I'm seriously impressed by what you've achieved so far. It really does look amazing

Thanks, I'm trying to upload some new images to show you but imgur website wont load up from my iMac for some reason.

I have an issue though, a drain connection ! There is next to no room in the bottom rad at the front end to get a fitting in. Not sure how to go about it. Seeing as its my first WC build I kinda forgot to allow for that. A 360 rad would have been fine as it would have left plenty space.

Any advice lads?

 

[colinmcr]

Can I ask when pen you used ? Did it come out well on the sli bridge?
and do they do it in white?

I used "Uni Coloured Paint Marker Oil Based Opaque Pen" size fine (PX-21) and medium (PX-20). You can get in many colours including white. There is a super fine size (PX-203) which might have been handy for some of the intricate areas.
Still having trouble with imgur, the site just refuses to load for me can't understand it

The Sli bridge hasn't come out well tbh, if I could upload one of my close up pics you can see ridges in the paint, it dries quite quickly and if you go over it like a second time it leaves a very uneven finish. I've found that you need to move it one continuous movement as when you lift the pen off the surface it leaves a blob, unless you lift off at the very edge of the item you are covering. I need to give it a wet/dry rub down again and try again

 

[colinmcr]

Finally got to upload some pics of where the hose passes into back of the case.






With the hose and some close-ups of the cards which had some more gold added. Last img shows the cut out I did to make the cable cover fit with the two cards.

 

[colinmcr]

I was thinking how the hell is it looking so neat then forgot there isn't any psu in there yet haha! still them colours you've chosen look VERY nice indeed!

Haha yeah that's when the fun will start, but I'm going back to work abroad soon so its not gonna get much further on for until end of Jan.

 

[colinmcr]

Colin on that sli bridge do you know if the front comes off?
As mines arrived and I want to paint it.
Look forward to seeing your finished build

I attempted to remove it initially to spray paint it, however it was very difficult as I believe its glued on. Thinking about it now, if you gently heated it with a heat gun the glue might offer less resistance, but I can't say 100% that would work having not tried it myself.
I maybe lifted off 20% of one side before it became very resistant to remove, I slightly bent it doing so and it doesn't quite have the same tight fit at the edge that it had originally. Having cost 30 quid I was kinda loathe to force it off and then have to buy another one!

Anyway lads I'm back at work now, and won't be home again till the 24th Jan. I'll have to pull my finger out and get it done then.
Things to do will be to fit a drain, get the sleeving done (sorry Dave its still sitting in a box at home, run up to xmas was hectic). Connecting all the fans is gonna be interesting, will try using the Phantek supplied control. But I'll defo need to have the fan cables extended.
There are some more cosmetic changes I'd like to make particularly the front fan housing cover and I need to replace the blue led strips, might have to just go white as yellow is proving difficult to find, so thin.

Merry Xmas

 

[colinmcr]

I've just realised this build will take 2 years to complete !

Happy New Year from India folks...

Just letting you also know some sleeving is being done while I'm away and look forward to letting you see it in the new year. Some different combinations are being created to see what will go best. Many thanks to Davido, I can only hope one day I might have that level of talent.
Also Doyll thanks for your messages of help and ideas that aren't always seen here on the forum, respect to you sir.

 

[colinmcr]

Just a thought, I love this greek lettering of my project name. Might try and incorporate it somehow.

 

[colinmcr]

Been doing some thinking with regards to the drain connection. I'm thinking the best/easy solution is to attach a "T" on the rear outlet of the bottom rad and then have it go through the mesh at the rear. Maybe put on a quick connector.
Just worried about spoiling the look. I haven't seen a monsoon "T" but I do have some XSPC ones.

 

[colinmcr]

Thanks for the kind words bud, and I hope you enjoyed new year away! Even if it was due to work!

I'm thinking about doing the same with mine regarding a couple of qdc's!

If I can get my self sorted out, I'm hoping to do a nice build soon =D

Oh if you are doing another build I seriously look forward to that

Would the Monsoon Rotary 90 Degree or Rotary 45 Degree work? Found this "Monsoon has also seen fit to bore a twin G1/4in thread on the other side of its 90 degree rotary fittings" so am guessing with plug removed it could function as a T fitting?

I dunno Doyll, I'll have to check be great if that's the case. Anyone else here can confirm? Otherwise I'll have to "Midas" my xspc "T"

Looking good so i had to give the sig a brush up

Thanks so much for the sig, admire your work sir. Lovin it

 

[colinmcr]

Wee update, I'll be back home very soon and have a number of irons in the fire to help get the build finished.
Firstly Davido has came up with some various designs for the sleeving, the two below I liked the best but they were all great to be fair, thanks so much Dave. Which to chose??? Will see how they look soon in the flesh.

Secondly, doyll has been assisting me also and has very kindly agreed to sort me out with a castor base to give me some more air flow at the bottom of the case, so big thanks there also.

Thirdly I am in the process of arranging 4mm wide LED strips to replace the blue ones, and they'll be coming from Iceland ! Many thanks to Mundi Valur.

I also have an idea about the front case fan cover, but I can't decide whether to have lettering place on or cut out. I like the idea of cut out and back lit to provide an interesting look and little more air flow in. I could Midas the mesh behind also to give it that touch !

Also for all the followers here, check out http://liquidcoolant.com/bb/index.php