The Chrome coated is mad over priced, actually I already have a quote to chrome a few meters of copper tube - you can also get black chrome and nickel/black nickel so possible - but you bend it then get it done when its already shaped. I'm gonna have a look around but ultimately i'm sending the case back Thursday probably so can't do anything... What i'll probably do is fit the PETG and then if I go copper just drain and replicate the bends like for like and re-fit. We shall see, a bunch of sleeving arrived today so i'll just no life fully braiding all my cables and learning to use sketchup for some custom stuff.
Project Smurf 3.0
- Thread starter Smffy
- Start date
The Chrome coated is mad over priced, actually I already have a quote to chrome a few meters of copper tube - you can also get black chrome and nickel/black nickel so possible - but you bend it then get it done when its already shaped. I'm gonna have a look around but ultimately i'm sending the case back Thursday probably so can't do anything... What i'll probably do is fit the PETG and then if I go copper just drain and replicate the bends like for like and re-fit. We shall see, a bunch of sleeving arrived today so i'll just no life fully braiding all my cables and learning to use sketchup for some custom stuff.
Redneck build update:
So the case is being collected today... I hope. Off it goes to be inspected/refunded/replaced/repaired (doubtful). In the mean time its been far to long since i've been able to use all my expensive kit so I've embarked on a bit of a work around....
Nightmare ready to leave my sight finally... Pretty sure they wont be able to open the box but you can't say its not packed well
Stripped down the former Smurf case, removed the rivet fixed panels because What i'm trying to squeeze in aint small... Removed the EK Slim 360mm (x2 top and front). Suddenly it looks a little bare
Decided front mounting the 480mm big rad externally was a silly idea (I might still do it
) so stuff in the 360mm, these rads have great cooling potential but man they would be easier if the styling was just squared not bulging out in round edges... The front fans are the stock (with case) NZXT 120mm's:
Now the thing that occurred to me was that my new dual pump setup was NEVER going to fit. Also occurred to me I really REALLY didn't want to take apart all that kit and reassemble the old EK pump. But then I clocked some spare MDF, problem solved... Introducing the new cutting edge Hex-Gear R80.2 with new cutting edge externally mounted res and pump:
Added some spare 140mm NZXT fans to the top/rear coz why not (why do I have so many fans??)
I plan on hardline plumbing in all this mash up of kit on Friday, it will do for now while I wait on things getting fixed/replaced/refunded/re-ordered. So its not quite the sleek build I was going for but hopefully it will work...
So the case is being collected today... I hope. Off it goes to be inspected/refunded/replaced/repaired (doubtful). In the mean time its been far to long since i've been able to use all my expensive kit so I've embarked on a bit of a work around....
Nightmare ready to leave my sight finally... Pretty sure they wont be able to open the box but you can't say its not packed well
Stripped down the former Smurf case, removed the rivet fixed panels because What i'm trying to squeeze in aint small... Removed the EK Slim 360mm (x2 top and front). Suddenly it looks a little bare
Decided front mounting the 480mm big rad externally was a silly idea (I might still do it
) so stuff in the 360mm, these rads have great cooling potential but man they would be easier if the styling was just squared not bulging out in round edges... The front fans are the stock (with case) NZXT 120mm's:
Now the thing that occurred to me was that my new dual pump setup was NEVER going to fit. Also occurred to me I really REALLY didn't want to take apart all that kit and reassemble the old EK pump. But then I clocked some spare MDF, problem solved... Introducing the new cutting edge Hex-Gear R80.2 with new cutting edge externally mounted res and pump:
Added some spare 140mm NZXT fans to the top/rear coz why not (why do I have so many fans??)
I plan on hardline plumbing in all this mash up of kit on Friday, it will do for now while I wait on things getting fixed/replaced/refunded/re-ordered. So its not quite the sleek build I was going for but hopefully it will work...
Yeah, depending on how the whole case saga goes I'm thinking of ordering a test bench for just that purpose - to be fair I had the old system all set together but the internals were coming out to go in the new one which is when all the problems came to light. Sold all my old stuff recently for about £900 so not a small amount of money and paid for a lot of this in effect... More to sell once this gets sorted.
I can't afford to keep newish hardware tbh. Well, I can but only like mine. Anything spare needs to be sold really before it ends up worthless. The hardware in Dianoga is pretty much worthless lol, so I won't be tempted into selling it
I did try a couple of months before I ended up modding it but no bites at all (every one wanted the CPU though but not the board or ram).
Yeah I know what you mean, in the end I just built most of it in to a new system and sold that as one with my GTX 970 in it took a bit of a hit on profit but ultimately the £500 was better than it gathering dust. Sold the 980Ti separately and finally the waterblock/plate for it. I'm already thinking i'll struggle to sell the old customised case even if I do so with two EK slim rads in it but we will see...
Dell S2716DG, its a 1440p 144hz G-Sync screen in 27" - buy one here
:https://www.overclockers.co.uk/dell...reen-led-monitor-midnight-grey-mo-084-de.html
FFS Smffy you're giving me ideas again now! Those pumps if they were mounted semi externally could easily be made to look like the carbs sticking out the bonnet on a modded car... Sense a future build could be stealing that redneck idea from you
That was sort of my plan for the mount in the new case, was planning to bore out two large holes up to the ridge on the mod kit so the plexi front and part of the pumps was showing... We will see if the case ends up the same or not.
Quite a while ago I did think of getting some perspex cut and replacing the side panel of the old case with a larger window, didn't do it but its funny how its ended up happening anyway haha!
Currently leak testing the most lazy hardline I've ever done, I'll tell you something two of those D5s in this link are immense... the fluid looks like pastel becuase of the whirlpool or flow coming out at full tilt. Visibly it's flowing like you wouldn't believe haha! Can't post pics as my laptops in the office sadly... Funny stuff though
With the matching GPU plates and new RAM the modified board looks tasty even if I do say so myself... Ignoring the temporary case of course
And as promised, redneck lazy plumbing which took me about 30 mins
Crazy power of these pumps running full was a sight to behold, the flow was incredible...
Now disconnected the top pump and just running the bottom for the time being as its not really necessary to have two in this setup.
By way of a heads up, if you're running hardline and using the Raystorm Pro be sure to use some extenders. The CPU block was leaking and when I took it apart to see why the 16mm OD EKHD fittings are pretty much too wide to fit the top of the block well enough. Using some extenders its fine, at a guess the same applies to other fittings but something to watch out for...
Amazingly the PC is still working, all components and the RAM still works so thats a good thing
. Now all I need is a proper case/refund to buy one.Props for going hardline on something you know will be pulled apart again when the case arrives, think I'd have bodged it with leftover soft tubing and random cheap fittings
Didn't have any soft tubing and to be honest i've never used it haha!
Its the Dual D5 Bitspower goodness, I actually thought it looks like some sort of car part part myself! That would be a cool build, cut an engine block in half and fashion it in
So i'm still without a case and as every day goes by I seem to think of more things I need... Ordered a load of new cabling stuff, some honest feedback the crimping tool/tools I got to do it were the cheaper ones. They sucked really, so I just ordered the right stuff and my god its easier. Been playing with some braids, getting steadily better/faster at doing it and actually now almost enjoying it! No feedback on my returned case, prob give it the weekend and then i'll just raise as a PayPal dispute its just too slow to even 'test' it.
MDPC-X tools and sleeving - I'll go on record to back up JR's comment the tool is brilliant, well worth sourcing it as its just bang on. Also replaced the molex removal kit from the Phobya with the MDPC tool having found the latter useless and broke it eventually in frustration... Also an obvious difference, honestly not just saying that.
Sleevin stuffffffff
Testing on the CPU cable planning the slightly darker palette having modded the motherboard, thoughts on the colours?
Edit: Also to add these are straight to the PSU cables... Didn't want the extensions really so stripping back the ample spares the Corsair unit comes with making the new from there.
MDPC-X tools and sleeving - I'll go on record to back up JR's comment the tool is brilliant, well worth sourcing it as its just bang on. Also replaced the molex removal kit from the Phobya with the MDPC tool having found the latter useless and broke it eventually in frustration... Also an obvious difference, honestly not just saying that.
Sleevin stuffffffff
Testing on the CPU cable planning the slightly darker palette having modded the motherboard, thoughts on the colours?
Edit: Also to add these are straight to the PSU cables... Didn't want the extensions really so stripping back the ample spares the Corsair unit comes with making the new from there.
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I think they're Shade, Titanium Grey and Something blue... forget! Riviera or something...
Well, got a response from the Hex guys on chasing them having sent the case back close to 2 weeks ago... Not exactly ideal so just raised the dispute myself in PayPal hopefully that speeds it up a bit.
Frustrating though that basically nothing has happened since returning it despite having a few months back and forth and according to them they have no problems other than mine. Perils of dealing with small organisations I guess.
From them:
Frustrating though that basically nothing has happened since returning it despite having a few months back and forth and according to them they have no problems other than mine. Perils of dealing with small organisations I guess.
From them:
Pretty sure they will look like a nice fade between Black > Shade > Titanium - Shade is sort of charcoal grey, in low light it looks dark but I believe black is jet black so will look different. Subtle difference looks good in my opinion... Another snap in relatively low light:
See how the connector black looks much darker?
Defo go lighter then, the titanium is close to the shade in some lights. I don't think MDCP have much inbetween though so i'd say either go for that OCUK Labs Chrome or just go Shade / Shade / Titanium / White. Unless the 'Platinum Grey' looks much lighter, not seen it: Black > Shade > Platinum in that case.
Edit: Excuse the blur but tried to keep it low light, you can see how the Titanium is not really an 'accent' against Shade in this terrible close up in the dim ghetto case build:
To the eye here its a lot darker and I can just make out the lighter stripe.
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Time for a rethink and probably some more rads because this handsome chap just arrived... Cheers for the deal Gibbo!
I mean this handsome chap:
How to describe it, well its HUGE. First impressions are that it looks quality, whats actually made me think is compared to the Hex case the 'aluminium' is seriously light... Which made me think actually is the Hex even proper aluminium it weighs a hell of a lot more.
So given this is now no longer 'smurfy' should I create a new log or simply hotlink to here on post 1? Tomorrow i'm off work so planning on doing some planning, i'm going to go out on a limb and say what I probably will do is:
Any thoughts welcome, as I said thanks to various problems its a total rethink but hopefully i'll get some money out of Hex to pay for it soon. Hopefully.
I mean this handsome chap:
How to describe it, well its HUGE. First impressions are that it looks quality, whats actually made me think is compared to the Hex case the 'aluminium' is seriously light... Which made me think actually is the Hex even proper aluminium it weighs a hell of a lot more.
So given this is now no longer 'smurfy' should I create a new log or simply hotlink to here on post 1? Tomorrow i'm off work so planning on doing some planning, i'm going to go out on a limb and say what I probably will do is:
- Order more rads, either some different 360mm and sell the current (+480mm) or two more 360mm
- Significant space for more rads so new one is likely to have an additional 360mm in the top (x2), 480mm Front (x1) and potentially the 360mm base (x1) ignoring the space 360mm in the back and just fans in the rear 240mm space
- Probably cave and order the 16mm copper I found? Unsure on that bit as my accent is blue currently so a lot of wastage...
- More fans likely for the various spaces...
- No longer need to break up the Aquaero... Happy days
- Realised its got some epic built in connectors but i've got a 4 slot Icey Box 5.25" coming tomorrow as the new drive bay
- Dual/Bigger res?
Any thoughts welcome, as I said thanks to various problems its a total rethink but hopefully i'll get some money out of Hex to pay for it soon. Hopefully.
Thought about those before but didn't seem like that it delivered better cooling than the 60mm and I'd probably rather have push pull instead. Considering the 60s though!
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So after a bit of measuring and poking around I've concluded the radiator setup is going to be:
Sufficient cooling? Now i'm thinking about the res and how that can work - In my head I really want some custom res build in to the 2 x double 5.25" bays... Logistics of doing that??! Alternative could be EK bay res... Not the ones with pump integrated.
Other than that been looking at the fan setup, theres some nice fan guards which clip in the front but a little odd because a fan will basically fit in there:
Messing with 8packs design already... Sorry bud. Potentially i'm going to hide one layer of the fans in there and just get a big magnetic filter and place it on the back of the front panel, probably like a 560mm filter to give ample cover and room.
In terms of getting my build finally done, i've got the 480mm out and the two 240's so that should be good. All the fans are also sat waiting while my current messy build is using some pretty pants NZXT 140's. Its good to be cracking on again!
- 1 x 480mm Black Ice SR2 (Front, push pull) - already own...
- 1 x 360mm Black Ice SR2 (Top, push only as exhaust - already own)
- 1 x 240mm Black Ice SR2 (Top, push pull possible, push only likely - Ordered today)
- 1 x 240mm Black Ice SR2 (Bottom, push pull is possible but pull only likely - ordered today!)
Sufficient cooling? Now i'm thinking about the res and how that can work - In my head I really want some custom res build in to the 2 x double 5.25" bays... Logistics of doing that??! Alternative could be EK bay res... Not the ones with pump integrated.
Other than that been looking at the fan setup, theres some nice fan guards which clip in the front but a little odd because a fan will basically fit in there:
Messing with 8packs design already... Sorry bud. Potentially i'm going to hide one layer of the fans in there and just get a big magnetic filter and place it on the back of the front panel, probably like a 560mm filter to give ample cover and room.
In terms of getting my build finally done, i've got the 480mm out and the two 240's so that should be good. All the fans are also sat waiting while my current messy build is using some pretty pants NZXT 140's. Its good to be cracking on again!
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More goodies arrived from the Black Friday gods... Was intending to get this to mount on the back plate of the other case but basically I just love the idea of having WAY less cables for my SSD collection. Cuts the requirement down to just 1 power and the usual SATA cables.
Obviously now i've got some more space and bays i'll just front mount it as its supposed to be (hotswappable etc). Nice little gadget really for £35!
Obviously now i've got some more space and bays i'll just front mount it as its supposed to be (hotswappable etc). Nice little gadget really for £35!
MOAR toys... Fingers crossed these don't take so much flushing as I really can't be bothered to go fetch more deionised water. Managed to pick these up for £60 each in the sales so a reasonably decent result for a chunky rad.
Need to get a few in the new case and then I can decide if I want to spray then dark (or even better white its not amazing)... Could spray them all to match the CPU block/mobo but maybe white is quite a nice accent. Pics later me thinks.
Need to get a few in the new case and then I can decide if I want to spray then dark (or even better white its not amazing)... Could spray them all to match the CPU block/mobo but maybe white is quite a nice accent. Pics later me thinks.
Ok, yet more stuff has arrived... Some progress looking at the new case and i've decided for now i'm going to keep the rads white. I figure it will look like a good contrast to the dark case and its going to look really nice with this special item I tracked down. I present to you the illusive 16mm OD Copper pipe:
100% the same size as the EK PETG. I'm hoping this is gonna look amazing polished up...
So the plan now is that I should be able to finish this pretty swiftly, copper bending tool arrives tomorrow and i'm away and I also have to replace the DSC unit in my beamer which will take some time but we are good to go! Cannot tell you how glad I am to have everything I want (almost, EK-BAY RES???) and get this build completed. New case, 8Pack Lian-Li, have to say its superb - the quality is amazing and love the little touches like the drive bay mounts even if i'm not using them.
Current plan is a Bay res here:
The Icy dock drive bay for my SSDs is at the bottom so all fits nicely, Aquearo below the res. White radiators inside, squeeze in a layer of my SP120s for push/pull on the front 480mm using these slim fan filters over the top to minimise dust:
Nice drive mounts removed, great idea though:
Final settup at this point I think I need some more ML120 RGBs for the additonal rads but i'll have:
480mm Front, 360 top (back compartment), 240 top front (to allow for monsterous 480 push/pull) and 240mm bottom.
Do you think I need a rear exhaust? Inclined to say not for now... Also the lower 3 x 120mm is marked black in the manual and does not say 'radiator compatible' like the rest, thinking its irrelevant with my dust filters but worth asking if anyone has concerns?
Its gonna be fun learning copper tube! :/
100% the same size as the EK PETG. I'm hoping this is gonna look amazing polished up...
So the plan now is that I should be able to finish this pretty swiftly, copper bending tool arrives tomorrow and i'm away and I also have to replace the DSC unit in my beamer which will take some time but we are good to go! Cannot tell you how glad I am to have everything I want (almost, EK-BAY RES???) and get this build completed. New case, 8Pack Lian-Li, have to say its superb - the quality is amazing and love the little touches like the drive bay mounts even if i'm not using them.
Current plan is a Bay res here:
The Icy dock drive bay for my SSDs is at the bottom so all fits nicely, Aquearo below the res. White radiators inside, squeeze in a layer of my SP120s for push/pull on the front 480mm using these slim fan filters over the top to minimise dust:
Nice drive mounts removed, great idea though:
Final settup at this point I think I need some more ML120 RGBs for the additonal rads but i'll have:
480mm Front, 360 top (back compartment), 240 top front (to allow for monsterous 480 push/pull) and 240mm bottom.
Do you think I need a rear exhaust? Inclined to say not for now... Also the lower 3 x 120mm is marked black in the manual and does not say 'radiator compatible' like the rest, thinking its irrelevant with my dust filters but worth asking if anyone has concerns?
Its gonna be fun learning copper tube! :/