Project: Thrall (lian li armorsuite 80 mod)

[jimmaps]

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/1594/bannerthrallsmalcopyhz0.jpg
Hi guys


I started the design of my new PC. Theme Horde/Thrall (WOW)

this is the plan (rough)
red interior paint job
watercooling red or black
red casefans on frontpanal front
horde logo (modified :)) side panel

This is what i got so far

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/3209/090112sidearmorsuite80li9.gif
By jimmaps (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/jimmaps) at 2009-01-14

im trying to find a good way to get that cut out of the side panel without damaging the front (lian li anodized brushed aluminum)

im thinking
dremel
sanding
primer on cutting edge
spray painting cutting edge with black from backside

anyone ever done that or know a better way?

[Eclecticos]

You could cover the side panel with masking tape,
Sketch your design onto the tape, then cut it out with a Dremel.

[jimmaps]

yeah thats the plan. but i wonder if the paintjob of the edge will do? hate to see bare metal at the edge

[Luke122]

You could likely just run a sharpie over the edges of the cutout window, that should mask any bare metal quickly and easily.

[Jabyaeye]

I'm doing a very similar thing with my mod, Red Jester (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17317). I have already made my cuts in my case door and then re-touched it with black paint before finding some of the leftover burrs and then sanding the case door back down. I will have to paint and sand it one more time before i get it smooth enough to do anything with it. Of course mine is steel and not aluminum. The shot of black paint hid the corners with ease.

The only real problem I see so far is that unless you do something quick with adding the window to it, then the upright cutout in the middle of the logo will probably be flimsy and easy to bend on you. Mine is a steel door and I am already having problems with areas that aren't connected/supported being easy to bend. Just a head's up...

[jimmaps]

Thanks Jaby. Its my first mod so im a little bit scared of ruining my case :). Al help i can get is welcome. I think ill make a few bridges for the middle part then cut them out with the dremel after i did the rest of the dremel and sanding work. maybe putting the board upside down will also help preventing bend.

[Kumo]

Its my first mod so im a little bit scared of ruining my case :). Al help i can get is welcome.

Don't worry. As this is modding, any almost any disaster can be fixed :)

Measure twice, always...

[XcOM]

Thanks Jaby. Its my first mod so im a little bit scared of ruining my case :)

don't worry, we all feel that when starting a mod with a brand new case, everytime i do a mod for others i worry im going to break something or there not going to like it.

and as always, were all here to help and guide you through.

[jimmaps]

Update:

Working on the system setup (hardware and watercooling)

im thinking 1 loop pump-->NB (waterblock shipped with bloodrage MB)-->CPU-->GPU-->radiator--->reservoir-->pump

This is the hardware i wanna use

1 Motherboard foxconn bloodrage
1 CPU i7 processor 920
1 GPU 295 gtx
1 ram Corsair Triple3X Dominator 3GB DDR3-1866 CL9 triple kit
1 PSU Coolermaster Real Power 850Watt

WC
1 cpu Aqua-Computer Cuplex HD - Core i7 socket 1366
1 gpu Aqua-Computer gtx295 block
1 radiator HW Labs Black Ice GTX480 - Black
4 fans Scythe 120x25mm SlipStream SY1225SL12SH
4 shrouds TFC Xtender RED Universal 120MM Shroud
1 reservoir XSPC Black (Ball Front) 5.25" Dual Bay Reservoir
1 pump Swiftech MCP655-B 12v DC
15 tubing Tygon R3603 7/16in. ID 5/8in. /feet
3 90 fitting Bitspower Shining Silver Rotary 90 Fitting #BP-LRI - G 1/4 Threads
7 Straigh Bitspower G 1/4in. Silver Shining Stubby Fitting for 1/2in.
1 Q fitting Bitspower Shining Silver Rotary Q Fitting #BP-QR-C - G 1/4 Threads
1 valve Aqua Computer Ball valve internal thread G 1/4 without fittings
2 male/male Bitspower Shining Silver Male to Male G 1/4 Fitting
3 Cool liquid feser one red 1l
1 Cool liquid feser one black 1l
30 Hose clamps Herbie Clip Nylon Hose Clamp Size G - Black

does that sound solid?

also i want to post on the extremesystems forum but i don't get registered (mailed webmaster but no response) any suggestions on that one?

[jimmaps]

Update: Banner created :)

[jimmaps]

I want to rig the WC with compression fittings but the standard NB waterblock of the Foxconn bloodrage board has 1/2 barbs that only work with clamps and cant be replaced. Does anyone know a suitable NB replacement watercooling block for this board or another solution to watercool the chipset and mosfet?. Thanks

[XcOM]

nice banner dude,
and as for the compression fittings, i wouldn't recommend them on critical parts, they have a tendency to fail/leak, i have seen meny machine fall this this silent enemy.

compression is ok on things like rads and pumps or fo passing a loop to an external housing.

[jimmaps]

Ok thanks for the tip.

Im reading allot about 7/16 tygon over 1/2 barbs now. lots of pll say you dont need clamps then. Is that correct? if so i think ill go with that instead. safes me a new NB waterblock 2 :)

[DonT-FeaR]

nice window design man verry coool

[msmrx57]

Looks like good ideas to start from. Pretty solid hardware IMO. Haven't done any water cooling myself yet, so I'll be watching your progress with this.

[jimmaps]

Update:

did some more planning on the wc setup. Switched to asus rampage board because nb/sb and mosfet cooling solutions are already available for this board:

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/8905/090125thrallweb1jm0.gif
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2161/090125thrallweb2ap2.gif

I still want the compression fittings because i really like the looks of them. Will be extra careful when installing them :devious:

hardware
1 Motherboard asus rampage extreme
1 CPU i7 procesor
1 GPU 295 gtx
1 ram Corsair Triple3X Dominator 3GB DDR3-1866 CL9 triple kit
1 PSU Coolermaster Real Power 850Watt
4 radiator fan Scythe Slip Stream 120mm - 1900rpm

WC
1 pump Swiftech MCP655-B 12v DC
1 NB/SB block MIPS ASUS Rampage 2 Extreme Dual-Chip
1 NB/SB fitting Bitspower angled 45° adaptor revolvable G1/4
1 NB/SB fitting Bitspower angled 90° adaptor revolvable G1/4
2 NB/SB fitting Bitspower 19/13mm screw-on fitting straight G1/4" silver nickel plated
1 CPU block Aquacomputer cuplex hd Core i7 Sockel 1366
2 cpu fittngs Bitspower angled 45° adaptor revolvable G1/4
2 cpu fittngs Bitspower 19/13mm screw-on fitting straight G1/4" silver nickel plated
1 Mosfet blocks MIPS ASUS Rampage 2 Mosfet 1 POM
1 Mosfet blocks MIPS ASUS Rampage 2 Mosfet 2 POM
4 Mosfet fitting Bitspower angled 45° adaptor revolvable G1/4
4 Mosfet fitting Bitspower 19/13mm screw-on fitting straight G1/4" silver nickel plated
1 gpu block Aqua-Computer gtx295 block
3 gpu fittngs Bitspower angled 90° adaptor revolvable G1/4
3 gpu fittngs Bitspower 19/13mm screw-on fitting straight G1/4" silver nickel plated
1 radiator HW Labs Black Ice GTX480 - red
2 radiator fittings Bitspower 19/13mm screw-on fitting straight G1/4" silver nickel plated
2 radiator fittings 13mm (1/2") fitting G1/4 barb
1 radiator fittings Y-piece - G1/4 screw-in
1 radiator fittings Koolance QDC (High Flow) Shutoff Nozzle, Male Threaded G 1/4
1 radiator fittings Koolance 13MM (1/2) Schroeffitting - Koppeling
2 reservoir XSPC Black (Ball Front) 5.25" Dual Bay Reservoir
2 reservoir fitting 13mm (1/2") 90° angled fitting G1/4 rotatable
5 tubing Tygon R3603 1/2in. ID 3/4in. OD meters
1 Cool liquid kroonoil supercoolant 5l
1 cool liquid color water additive UV RED 50ml

Thats it for the update. Going to dinner with friends in the city now (Utrecht, NL)

cya

[DonT-FeaR]

wow lots of stuff lol.... good luck

[jimmaps]

Yet another update. I'm a perfectionist so probably not the last design update. But he thats why they call it a work log right. :)

I decided to get rid of the harddisk rack in the front of the cage (hope that doesn't destabilize the case. Don't have it yet..)
This makes room for
1X HW Labs Black Ice GTX420 with 140 mm fans and the pump in the bottom of the case.
it also creates room for
3 X XSPC 250mm Passive Aluminum black
The harddisk and optical disk have plenty of room in the upper compartment of the case.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/7830/090125thrallweb3ka4.gif

then i want to hide the radiator and fans and the top compartment with alu coverage. Like this.

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/1051/090125thrallweb1mu8.gif

Then with the side pannel in it would look like this (increased logo size a bit)

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/9357/090125thrallweb2bb0.gif

Ok thats it. Hope my case comes soon so i can get a better look at it. :)

cya

[DonT-FeaR]

cool looking good hope it all works out for ya man....

[The boy 4rm oz]

Im reading allot about 7/16 tygon over 1/2 barbs now. lots of pll say you dont need clamps then. Is that correct? if so i think ill go with that instead. safes me a new NB waterblock 2 :)

Yeah 7/16" Tygon can be used on a 1/2" barb without clamps. You have to heat the tube in hot water to soften it before sliding it over the barbs. When the tubing cools down it molds to the barb and makes a very tight fit, here is an example:
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/5033/lianlia01067130062gx0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Just to back up what I am saying here is a statement released by Tygon on the topic:
Note that the 7/16" and 5/16" alternatives to the standard 1/2" and 3/8" ID matches the ID of most 1/2" and 3/8" hose barbs giving a smoother flow path as it's slightly smaller than the standards, simply heat up the tubing in warm water before pushing over barbs. Once it's shrunk down, it provides a snug tight seal generally abolishing the need for hose clamps. It has a very nice bend radius for tight bends without kinking. Although it's OD difference to 3/8" and 1/2" Tygon etc is minimal, it is sufficient to make for a cleaner looking, less cluttered system.

Now back to the mod.

I really like your designs and the effort you are putting in to get the SketchUps right. The only problem I have is the radiator you are using. You would get far better temps from a Thermochill 120.3 radiator. I am pretty sure that the Thermos can take 140mm fans also with a simple adaption if you are dead set on the 140mms, IMO 120mm Scythe fans are more than enough. I can't wait to see you start cutting up that case :D ;).

[jimmaps]

Yeah 7/16" Tygon can be used on a 1/2" barb without clamps.

I wanna use black tygon. 7/16 oly comes with 9/16 OD. would that hold without clamps? If so i guess you guys convinced me :)

About the radiator.: this is not the stealth gt but the big 420 rad. wouldnt that be better than the thermochil 120.3? at medium fan speeds the 360 extreme was already close with temp Delta. And realy like the 140 size. otherwise i could just leave the harddisck rack in place :)

[The boy 4rm oz]

Yeah I think a 9/16 OD would still hold on a 1/2" barb, send Tygon an email if your not sure, I'm not really sure lol.

As for the radiator.
Even as a GTX model a Thermochill rad is still 3.3cm thicker. Thermochill is the king of radiator and even compared to a 120mm fanned GTX it kicks its arse. Personally I would go for the Thermochill but if you wanna keep it streamlined and take advantage of pre existing holes go for the GTX.