Drizzt's next build

[drizzt5]

I plan to do a build in the next year and a half. I want it to be epic win in all categories. The components at this point are not important but I plan on a single gpu, a new mobo + cpu, and having the NB, cpu, and the gpu on a 120.3 rad.

For starters I was wondering what is a good quality, lots of space, and mod friendly case? I'm thinking something Lian li but it doesn't have to be. I would like it maybe not to be that much longer then a aurora 570 (but still pretty spacious, and long enough for a 120.3 on top). I am thinking about having a 120.3 rad on the top of the case.
I'm deciding on a color scheme... I kind of want to do blue and orange and get away from the all black color scheme I had before.
I saw snipe dog design his build before hand in a 3d model program or something, maybe I should do that?

I'm just going to start thinking of ideas... and since I probably will be painting it, I'm going to practice on shitty old cases I have first. Maybe build a mini rig for my family before as a kind of warm up :P

[Neuromancer]

CAD design is useful because you perform all the measurements before even ordering the parts.

If this is your first mod, I would not suggest going with a case as expensive as a LianLi, although you can grab "rebadges" pretty cheaply. (Rocketfish comes to mind, you can still find them in classifieds or eBay pretty cheap after they went on clearance at best buy for under $50)

Old tower server cases are GREAT for startign out with modding, as they offer plenty of room and are hardy enough that removing large pieces of the shell does little to compromise the stability of the unit.

Things to look out for on cases are:

bottom mounted PSUs. This is GREAT if you are running a reverse ATX format, in a standard ATX format you will have to get an extender unless you want the CPU power cord draped over your video card.

HDD cages inline with bottom of motherboard. Not a problem if they are mounted sideways, (get 90 degree sata cables then) but with standard mounting you could end up with fitting problems.

Distance between top of motherboard and top of case. Makes wire management and sometimes heat sink placement a real PITA when you have no room between the mobo and the top of the case.

Best bet is to look for cases that support EATX format motherboards, as these are quite spacious and will offer the most room for water cooling and wire management.

JM2C

[drizzt5]

CAD design is useful because you perform all the measurements before even ordering the parts.

If this is your first mod, I would not suggest going with a case as expensive as a LianLi, although you can grab "rebadges" pretty cheaply. (Rocketfish comes to mind, you can still find them in classifieds or eBay pretty cheap after they went on clearance at best buy for under $50)

Old tower server cases are GREAT for startign out with modding, as they offer plenty of room and are hardy enough that removing large pieces of the shell does little to compromise the stability of the unit.

Things to look out for on cases are:

bottom mounted PSUs. This is GREAT if you are running a reverse ATX format, in a standard ATX format you will have to get an extender unless you want the CPU power cord draped over your video card.

HDD cages inline with bottom of motherboard. Not a problem if they are mounted sideways, (get 90 degree sata cables then) but with standard mounting you could end up with fitting problems.

Distance between top of motherboard and top of case. Makes wire management and sometimes heat sink placement a real PITA when you have no room between the mobo and the top of the case.

Best bet is to look for cases that support EATX format motherboards, as these are quite spacious and will offer the most room for water cooling and wire management.

JM2C

Thx for the advice,

I was going to practice on a bunch of old cases first before possibly destroying an expensive case :)
The case I am currently drooling over is the Lian Li PC-A77.. It's around $250 though. Like I said... I won't even buy the thing, let alone start modding it, until I've practiced with older cases I have lying around. I want this build to go right. Which means LOTS of research and reading before hand :)

I still need to decide for certain what I want to do to it too. A few things I want to do to whatever case I get is install some handles on top and a 120.3 rad as well.

[LifeOnMars]

Drizzt, good luck with the build mate. I'll be keeping an eye on how it goes for you, still relatively new to all things PC I'm learning every day.

[DrNip]

Cooler Master HAF 932.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

I think if you want to run a case with just a single 120.3 rad then the TJ07 is your most friendly option, no mods required and a LOT of builds to reference and take cues from including the murdermod stuff.

[drizzt5]

I think if you want to run a case with just a single 120.3 rad then the TJ07 is your most friendly option, no mods required and a LOT of builds to reference and take cues from including the murdermod stuff.

Oh yea, silverstone makes some pretty cases, and that one I've heard a lot about it (postive stuff).

BUT ITS SO EXPENSIVE :banghead: !
I saw some really good Lian Li's for like $100 less.


I'm just wondering, would a 120.4 rad fit on top of this case? Or even on the bottom.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

I'm just wondering, would a 120.4 rad fit on top of this case? Or even on the bottom.

which? the tjo7 or another?

[drizzt5]

which? the tjo7 or another?
Well, would it fit on the tj07 or a Lian li?

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

the TJ doesnt have room for rads up top, Lian-Li's almost all do and many have the panels you can buy from Lian-li for radiators.

[drizzt5]

the TJ doesnt have room for rads up top, Lian-Li's almost all do and many have the panels you can buy from Lian-li for radiators.

Then Lian Li sounds like a better choice.

P.S. I've been practicing painting my own cases... Gawd... They never turn out like they look in the tutorials :dunno:

[Neuromancer]

Then Lian Li sounds like a better choice.

P.S. I've been practicing painting my own cases... Gawd... They never turn out like they look in the tutorials :dunno:


If you are not spending more time prepping the case than painting you are wrong!!

Get automotive sand paper from pep boys. Start with 400 and work your way up to 1200

Prime and sand again (starting with 800 and going to 1500)

Base coat color. Start wit h1200 work up to 2000

2nd coat color 1500 and than 2000

clear coat (if you do 2 coats use a quick 2000 grit sanding in between coats) when you are done, polish with lint free cloth.

I personally never did clear coat. Next case I am also going to use appliance paint instead to get that baked on enamel finish :)

And I would not paint a Lian li case, really any case that had that nice black aluminum finish.

Only reason I painted my stacker was because it was silver :rocket:
Real good to tear it down completely too I left the drive cages in mine when i did it so they were not as nice looking as the exterior.

I MAY paint my rocketfish only because it has a couple of scratches on it.

I am sure snipe dog will give you some pointers on doing the mod work itself. (My Mods are more ghettotastic and concerned with function at the sake of form :) )

[drizzt5]

thx, I'm going to have to find an automotive store thats within a reasonable distance... Auto zones and pepboys are like non existent.

I've been prepping my cases too with sand paper, but I'll try following your instructions this time.

[Neuromancer]

thx, I'm going to have to find an automotive store thats within a reasonable distance... Auto zones and pepboys are like non existent.

I've been prepping my cases too with sand paper, but I'll try following your instructions this time.


Your in Mays Landing right?

Pep Boys right here in Northfield (EHT technically)

I am pretty sure that Wally World carries automotive finish paper too (there is one there across from the Hamilton Mall)

[drizzt5]

Thx, I'm going to wander around pep boys soon. Does Wally World have all the good stuff also? Cause it would be super close.
Home depot doesn't have shit -_-. Wallmart has a better selection/price for distilled water, sand paper, and spray paint!
And I've been reading tons of stuff on case painting and jesus... I might just want to find a friend who works on cars :) It's really harder then I expected to do a GREAT paint job. Here is a chapter out of a book that Bill Owen recommends
ftp://ftp.sybex.com/4360/4360ch08.pdf

Hey, It's probably been done 9000 times over, but I think I might use a rocketfish for my next build.
It's gigantic, It's on the cheaper side, and it's good quality. Plus there all over Ebay.

A 120.3 rad should fit easily on the top...
But could a 120.4 fit :dunno: the length of the rocket fish is...
24.2"
and the 120.4 is 21 inches long so... Idk if that leaves a hell of a lot of room.


edit:
Also, I think I've decided on what I want to do as far as color scheme and design.

[Neuromancer]

120.4 will fit, but will not leave room for handles or the USB Audio panel that is located in the top of the Rocket Fish. There is a decent amount of free space in the top of the case as well, so fitting the barbs inside would not be too much trouble either.

[drizzt5]

120.4 will fit, but will not leave room for handles or the USB Audio panel that is located in the top of the Rocket Fish. There is a decent amount of free space in the top of the case as well, so fitting the barbs inside would not be too much trouble either.

I was thinking about it... and since I kind of want to do single gpu, single cpu I might as well go for 120.3 so I can still do the handles and usb audio panel thang. :)

[Neuromancer]

Sweet. Well update us with posts and pics :)

Also if you do decide to "prebuild" the rig virtually, keep me posted on what software you decide to use. I have been considering doing this for some other projects as well. Both architectural as well as some furniture mods :)

[drizzt5]

Sweet. Well update us with posts and pics :)

Also if you do decide to "prebuild" the rig virtually, keep me posted on what software you decide to use. I have been considering doing this for some other projects as well. Both architectural as well as some furniture mods :)
I am looking for a good program to do a prebuild atm. I'll let you know which one I choose.

And I just thought about it and if I used a 120.3 rad
(16.1417323 inches)
+ the two handles I was looking at
(4.2 inches)
....
Won't fit... So I guess I'll be using smaller different handles.

[Neuromancer]

I am looking for a good program to do a prebuild atm. I'll let you know which one I choose.

And I just thought about it and if I used a 120.3 rad
(16.1417323 inches)
+ the two handles I was looking at
(4.2 inches)
....
Won't fit... So I guess I'll be using smaller different handles.



Go to home depot... the have an aisle full of cabinet hardware. I chose the simple nickel pulls. And painted them for my stacker. Need to cut down the mounting bolt to something short and slap some washers on there, but it turns out real nice looking.


http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u153/cyber42punk/OCF/100_1058.jpg
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u153/cyber42punk/OCF/100_1041.jpg
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u153/cyber42punk/OCF/100_1055.jpg

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

Well for the average user Google sketchup is the only program to prebuild with, there are lots of cases pre made and if you do end up designing your own case (or making a model of the one you are going to buy) there are tons of models of pumps, rads, fans, motherboards video cards and power supplies out there in the sketchup databases (search google ;))

[drizzt5]

Thank you, both sniipe dogg and Neuromancer.

I'm going to check out some of those handles, But the one that you picked... do you think it is secure? When you pick up your case by the handles it doesn't feel like its going to snap off or something right?

I'm going to check out sketchup to.

[Neuromancer]

Thank you, both sniipe dogg and Neuromancer.

I'm going to check out some of those handles, But the one that you picked... do you think it is secure? When you pick up your case by the handles it doesn't feel like its going to snap off or something right?

I'm going to check out sketchup to.


No it is reinforced with washers on the bottom side ;)

The stacker is also a steel case, so I suppose that makes a differnce.

Gotta say it feels a lot more secure than how I usually picked it up...

One hand holding onto the gap around the IO shield the other hand fingertips under the CMSTACKER logo on the front of the case (maybe 1/2" of grip)

Still never dropped it ;)

And if you put wheels on it, then you really are not putting a whole lot of stress on the handles either..lateral pressure would be reduced, which would be the only real problem...

I suppose with the rocketfish, being an Al top, a crossbrace couldnt hurt (under neath the top inside the case so it is hidden.

Another consideration would be instead of 2 handles... just put a front grip on it (for pulling it out of wherever) those cup type of handles... dunno what they are called.

I think a cross brace mounted to the frame would be the best bet though (real cheap and simple to do once you remove the top. :))

[drizzt5]

Do you think I could vertically mount a 120.3 radiator with an integrated res in the rocketfish? I just bought one for my current setup.

If not, what case would you recommend? I'm still thinking about this next build and unless a beast case comes out I can probably decide on at least that for now.