Second Build - University

panyan · 16 Dec 2011 at 13:23

Hyburnate said:
Btw you haven't put a pump in the second idea

its badly drawn, meant to be one of these

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-105-EK&groupid=962&catid=2133&subcat=2136

KiiYzOo said:
don't worry, the coolant moves round because of gravity

haha - yeah

Anyway, ive just watched that TTL video, it is very impressive, but personally:

1) i think the red fittings look chinksy, i prefer some black nickel

2) i would feel very uncomfortable with the bottom rad so close to the PSU

(i would live in fear of the tubes springing a leak, shorting the psu which subsequently blows the rest of the components! )

3) i still prefer the external 480 rad because i like how you can see it, i dont like to have my computery stuff hidden away, thats why i always like windows on cases

Hyburnate · 16 Dec 2011 at 13:54

I prefer black blocks

panyan · 16 Dec 2011 at 16:43

yeah, i prefer the black blocks too - but it depends on the colour scheme really

EDIT: over 5,000 views on Overclockers alone!

panyan · 24 Dec 2011 at 00:26

just to keep you updated, the 5850's have been crossfired - that darn bridge finally arrived!

anyway, ill post some pics tomorrow, but here is the GPUZ log's made into pretty graphs to look over

thoughts/comments/suggestions are welcome

panyan · 1 Jan 2012 at 23:54

here is a pic off the crossfired cards:

since then i have added a second fan on the hdd cage, pushing air into the graphics cards to cool them

i have removed the perspex from the side panel, took off all that foamed double-sided tape and put carbon fibre around the panel (and crossfire bridge

)

here are a few photos of that process:

and the final finished panel

the way i did it was:

1) mark the panel on the vinyl and cut an inch round that

2) cut out the vinyl

3) put the vinyl on the panel with a squeegee to make sure their are no air bubbles or wrinkles

4) cut and flap over each edge piece and be careful not to cover the panel locking bits

5) use the paper from the back of the vinyl and cut out a window-shaped piece and put it on the back of the vinyl so that you can then draw your template on the paper

6) cut 1.5 inches within the window section so you can flap it around the edge

7) for the rounded corners cut it like segments of an orange and push up from below to fan it all out - then stretch it and stick it down for a nice smooth rounded edge

8) stick on the perspex with gaffa tape or something (make sure its clean before you do this

)

ill upload some pics of the carbon-fibred crossfire bridge and the overall nice pic

also, ive tried uploading the pics with flickr, but i cant see an easy way to make forum image code for the whole upload - its a PITA

KiiYzOo · 2 Jan 2012 at 00:06

Looks awesome

For pics from flickr, click share and use bb code (largest size)

panyan · 2 Jan 2012 at 13:58

KiiYzOo said:
Looks awesome

thanks very much - that means a lot

For pics from flickr, click share and use bb code (largest size)

ill try that next time - can you do it for the whole set or just individual pics?

KiiYzOo · 2 Jan 2012 at 15:13

It can only be individual pics

panyan · 3 Jan 2012 at 22:43

KiiYzOo said:
It can only be individual pics

shame...

on another note - i took some nice night time photos the other day - ill show you them in a bit after downscalling and uploading

panyan · 7 Jan 2012 at 01:04

this is where the project is at the moment

SouthEastBlue · 7 Jan 2012 at 10:41

Love the carbon fibre look on the side panel, do you have any pics in full light to see how it looks against the rest of the case?

Stinger53 · 7 Jan 2012 at 10:50

looks nice. like the look the the carbon fibre vinyl side pannel

panyan · 7 Jan 2012 at 11:14

SouthEastBlue said:
Love the carbon fibre look on the side panel,

Stinger53 said:
looks nice. like the look the the carbon fibre vinyl side pannel

Thanks very much

do you have any pics in full light to see how it looks against the rest of the case?

Ill try and get these done soon

EDIT: WAY!!!! we have just broken 6,000 views guys! I really appreciate all the support, comments, suggestions and ideas - keep them rolling in

panyan · 7 Jan 2012 at 11:48

These are the day shots, they are only taken from one angle as the reflections on the perspex looked horrible

SMed · 7 Jan 2012 at 12:23

Hmmm... the internal edges look... bad.

panyan · 7 Jan 2012 at 12:45

SMed said:
Hmmm... the internal edges look... bad.

yep, i keep pressing them down but i cant get them to stick properly

Wazz-1 · 11 Jan 2012 at 20:18

Used this suff many times, warm it up with a hairdryer it will stick!

Rainagul · 11 Jan 2012 at 23:38

Liking this project, inspiring me to maybe do some changes of my own. Should look good with some WC'ing

panyan · 15 Jan 2012 at 16:20

Rainagul said:
Liking this project, inspiring me to maybe do some changes of my own. Should look good with some WC'ing

thanks a lot, it is very encouraging that others like my work

im working on the watercooling

panyan · 24 Jan 2012 at 14:31

I will be putting these fans into my build over the next few weeks when my new case arrives, so i thought i;d post up my review here as well

I must first apologise that this review has taken so long; I was waiting for my Bitfenix Spectre Pro's to arrive as well so that i could compare all three 140mm fans. Anyway, seeing as they havent, and i dont want to keep you waiting any longer, i thought i'd just post up my initial thoughts. I will do a longer, more thorough review when i get the other fans.

Anyway, this is the packaging - i think it is rather smart

This is what is in the box - a very nice looking fan, and some fan screws

The fan is really nicely made, nice solidity to the plastic, no creaking when flexed

The front of the blades are smooth, but the backs are rough - i assume this is either to help airflow or for LED versions to shine more evenly (this is not an LED version, but i assume the same frame is used for LED versions)

The only spare 140mm fan i had to compare it to was this Coolermaster 140mm fan, the Phobya Fan is nicely smoked, with a smart black sleeving and is heatshrinked well at the ends - it is also a PWM version which reduces noise when idling

In contrast the Coolermaster fan is smooth black plastic, with no definition of the blades, no sleeving and a horrid looking connector - the Phobya outpaces it by a mile in terms of build quality and asthetics

Finally, i would like to talk about the structure of the fans. The corners have these V-shaped strengthening posts in them that really do give the plastic its rigidity. I also imagine this is where the LED's are put into the frame, but i cannot state this conclusively - it is just an observation.

Overall i am very impressed by these fans:
- fantastic build quality
- Braided cable with heatshrunk ends
- PWM functions
- Black connector

In terms of cost, these fans are £10.99 (here). If i were to compare these to another 140mm PWM fan, the popular Akasa Apache Black 140mm PWM fans (here) i would say they are better value for money.

I am yet to test performance, but at 2/3rds of the cost, i would recommend the Phobya fans over the Apache.