Project XOSKEL [D-Frame Mini Build]

rickyjb said:
I really like the colour scheme, should look beautiful once the loop is filled .

Any ideas / sketches for the tubing routes ? Anything crazy planned ?
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Thanks rickyjb, yeah hoping I can get the mix between the pastel blue and green dye looking good!

As for the tubing routes, here's what I'm currently thinking. This diagram's for the cleanest route that would be most achievable:

Tubing.jpg


Once I've started to get an idea on how easy it is to work with the tubing, how close to an end I can bend it etc. I'll have more of an idea if I can push this further. If I think it's doable, I'd like to keep the tubing all sitting on the X/Y/Z axis (i.e. no 'angled' tubes), but that's going to be tricky with a confined space so we'll have to see! That would look a little more like this:

Tubing2.jpg
 
i like the first one more . Also it would be cool if you could match the angles of the case frame , instead of any 90 degree angles you would have 2 45s
dont know if this would work but some thing like this

WOHXmEJh.jpg
 
rickyjb said:
i like the first one more . Also it would be cool if you could match the angles of the case frame , instead of any 90 degree angles you would have 2 45s
dont know if this would work but some thing like this
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That's really cool! Love the way the angles mimic the case frame! The biggest challenge with that is getting the correct angle from the tool kit, as there's only 45, 90, 180, and 360 bends. Will require some tool-modifications I think! Will also be challenged with the distinct lack of space in the case, and getting so many bends into such a short length of tube.

But now I've seen that picture I'm going to have to try and make it happen!
 
I must say, I'm very impressed with the design / layout. Its a very good one. But most of all your tips about painting the mobo, putting the masking tape inside the slots. That is a valuable technique.

Just to confirm: you used a brush for that? I mean painting the pci-e and dimm slots black.
 
Great build.

I have that motherboard, it's really good - I've recently upgraded to its bigger brother (Extreme 11)

I couldn't see it mentioned above, but will dust be an issue with that case?
 
dreamcat4 said:
I must say, I'm very impressed with the design / layout. Its a very good one. But most of all your tips about painting the mobo, putting the masking tape inside the slots. That is a valuable technique.

Just to confirm: you used a brush for that? I mean painting the pci-e and dimm slots black.
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Thanks, much appreciated! Nope, spray can job. With everything masked up wasn't a problem, and guarantees a consistent finish. Did have to use a paintbrush to get to a couple of bits that the spray can couldn't get to though.

OracIe said:
Great build.

I have that motherboard, it's really good - I've recently upgraded to its bigger brother (Extreme 11)

I couldn't see it mentioned above, but will dust be an issue with that case?
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Thanks :)

Yeah I'm looking forward to start overclocking with it! As for the dust, yes. A serious issue in which I've lost many hours sleep over. Due to the orientation it doesn't seem like there's many obvious places for the dust to settle, I'm just hoping the radiator doesn't 'dust up' quickly. At least the side glass is really easy to remove if it needs a quick clean!
 
A quick update for tonight, had a couple of deliveries today!

Finally got around to ordering a sound card, the Asus Essence STX II.

IMG_9093.jpg


And then a couple of backplates from ColdZero. Been really excited for these to arrive, custom laser printed backplates for the sound card and M.2. Kept both of them pretty clean, just adding the XOSKEL logo. Really impressed with the quality of these, can see myself ordering from ColdZero again!

IMG_9095.jpg


So here's the soundcard and its backplate in place:

IMG_9104.jpg


And the M.2:

IMG_9103.jpg


I've now also finished the cable work on the build, including stealth front panel connectors (stealth = black), and a few final bits of braiding. All that's left to do is the tubing! Friday's job is this, project XOSKEL will be finished by the end of the weekend! Will be sure to post a few updates over the next few days.
 
The penultimate update! So over the weekend I finished off the tubing and got leak testing underway...

Mixed reactions to the Monsoon kit here. The tube bending was OK once I'd worked out the optimum time to heat the tube for (5 seconds too much you got bubbles, 5 seconds too little it would kink).

IMG_9126.jpg


The real challenge came with gluing the hard-lock caps on. The requirement is to get all the air bubbles out, which I found to be near on impossible! I think ideally the caps needed to be slightly smaller, I found that when you pushed in on one side, there was enough movement to cause the other side to come away resulting in air bubbles. I resulted in caking the tube with glue in best efforts, I guess we'll see in a few weeks how well this worked.

IMG_9128.jpg


Here's how the setup looked:

IMG_9137.jpg


However, started filling up and there was an instant leak. The tube between the Res and CPU wasn't quite flush with the fitting, not sure if this was a result with the hard-lock collar or wonky tube cutting / bending.

IMG_9130.jpg


So I've now re-bent this tube, and simplified it by using a right angled fitting on the res.

The systems been leak testing for over 48 hours now without issue. I've now got some Mayhems White Pastel Pre-Mix which I'll add to the Blue Pre-Mix and Green Dye to (hopefully) achieve the right shade of turquoise! Will try and get a pic of that later!
 
Is it just camera lens distortion or is your GPU > Rad tube about 5mm tool long at the GPU end? Looks like the tube isn't parallel with the rad surface. Or is that a trick of perspective given the tube is coming out the rad at a slight angle?

With a build this stunning I can only comment on the tiny little things lol :p

Ace work.
 
LePhuronn said:
Is it just camera lens distortion or is your GPU > Rad tube about 5mm tool long at the GPU end? Looks like the tube isn't parallel with the rad surface. Or is that a trick of perspective given the tube is coming out the rad at a slight angle?

With a build this stunning I can only comment on the tiny little things lol :p

Ace work.
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LePhuronn said:
Also, I'm not a fan of those Chaingun fittings, but they fit this build very nicely - I guess it's about application more than stand-alone looks.
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Hey LePhuronn, thanks for the comments ;)

The tube is parallel to the radiator, but it's at an angle on the Z-axis (if looking side on) due to the GPU and Rad not being quite in-line. It's prob the angle it's taken at making it look like it's not parallel in the X-axis!

As for the Chaingun fittings, I defiantly agree to an extent. I wasn't a big fan of them at first (I'd prefer something cleaner like the traditional bitspower fittings), but once you've picked a hardline 'technology' (in this case I felt the hardlock fittings would be best) you're not left with much of a choice! If I have issues with the hardlock in the next few weeks I'll be looking towards EK for an alternative using compression.
 
Lovely looking build so far. Really like these "cases" a lot. Have been sorely tempted to do a build in one for a while but having only just started to see the finishing line of my current build I don't think it'll be for a while.

Alec** said:
If I have issues with the hardlock in the next few weeks I'll be looking towards EK for an alternative using compression.
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I don't know what diameter tubing you've got, but I can't recommend the Primochill Revolver fittings enough. I've used them on my last two hardline builds and they've been absolutely brilliant. Really quick and easy to use, you can change tubes around no hassle at all and never had one leak.
 
Looking again I can see the slight Z axis shift, so it is just a trick of perspective.

I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the EK fittings as I'm planning on using them myself on a project. Given this will be my first proper case mod, custom loop AND hardline (I'm insane and jumping in the deep end first time!) I'd like to get as much info from others before I drop a load of cash I don't have and ruin everything!
 
Lovely looking build and so good to see a different accent colour in use. There is a Mayhems post in wc forum where, time permitting, they can sometimes help you to match up the right coolant colour... just a thought.

Cant wait to see her filled up and finished ;)
 
faheemrazzaq said:
that's one very dashing build. excellent work mate.
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grim. said:
Lovely looking build so far. Really like these "cases" a lot. Have been sorely tempted to do a build in one for a while but having only just started to see the finishing line of my current build I don't think it'll be for a while.

I don't know what diameter tubing you've got, but I can't recommend the Primochill Revolver fittings enough. I've used them on my last two hardline builds and they've been absolutely brilliant. Really quick and easy to use, you can change tubes around no hassle at all and never had one leak.
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Thanks! Yeah the D-Frame Mini has defiantly been a fun 'case' to work with, not sure I'll want to go back to a conventional case for a while lol.

As for the tubing, I'm currently using the 16mm (where as the Primochill is smaller), but I'm really glad to hear some positive thoughts on the compression fittings in general! Naturally I was a little skeptical of compression on hardline, but I think as with all this kind of technology the engineering will improve dramatically over the next year or two as will the range of fittings on the market.

LePhuronn said:
Looking again I can see the slight Z axis shift, so it is just a trick of perspective.

I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the EK fittings as I'm planning on using them myself on a project. Given this will be my first proper case mod, custom loop AND hardline (I'm insane and jumping in the deep end first time!) I'd like to get as much info from others before I drop a load of cash I don't have and ruin everything!
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That sounds like a big project, deep end much! Be prepared to dedicate a few weekends to it, the mistake I made with this build is trying to do it in evenings and it's taken all of 12 weeks! Will keep an eye out for the project log :)

Trunkey said:
Rig envy!
That is sweet.
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Hehee thanks Trunkey!

Luggs said:
Lovely looking build and so good to see a different accent colour in use. There is a Mayhems post in wc forum where, time permitting, they can sometimes help you to match up the right coolant colour... just a thought.

Cant wait to see her filled up and finished ;)
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That's pretty awesome thanks! Think I was able to get a pretty solid match on colour using Blue & White Pastel Pre-Mix with some added green dye.


Was able to take a set of final shots last night, will hopefully get them developed over the weekend and uploaded. Got a busy day today but will try and post a little something later!
 
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