Project : XcOM

[XcOM]

Project: XcOM
Ranamed project: An Old Project
By XcOM

And i do mean old, I have ordered parts, should be here in a few days, all of this is with thanks to Crazy B, which without his generosity would not be possible. So a big thanks to you mate.

But onto my big plan, I have a laptop, which doesn't really lack in the CPU power of things, it runs everything I want it to, but the GPU on the other hand leaves somewhat to be desired! being an integrated it can't even play 'Need for Speed Underground' THAT'S THE FIRST ONE!

So I managed to score a CPU, PSU and memory from the local dump, I know its only an AMD K7 2600+ but it was free, Crazy kindly sent me a motherboard which he bought with his own money, the board is fine, the CPU is fine, but the cooling system can't cope, its a bit old and keeps giving up the ghost, the fan is making a funny noise and it keeps over heating,

My plan is to turn this into a gaming machine, nothing to compete with the likes of meny on here that can play crisis at 5000000000x3000000000 everything set to max and get 4000000FPS, but something that can play upto a few years old games,

Now onto the parts I have ordered:

I got one of these:
http://image.ebuyer.com/UK/R0164440-01.jpg

One of these:
http://image.ebuyer.com/UK/P0082253_C0000125_P0000000.jpg

One of these:
http://image.ebuyer.com/UK/P0139175_C0000225_P0000000.jpg

One of these:
http://image.ebuyer.com/UK/P0139174_C0000225_P0000000.jpg

Last but not least, one of these:
http://lab.melodolic.com/Articles/FumeExtractor/FanAdapter.jpg


Now, can you guess what I'm going to do, come on, it shouldn't be that hard! Crazy B you already know.

[SXRguyinMA]

I know exactly what you're going to do lol

[TheGreatSatan]

And I don't

[FuzzyPlushroom]

If it can compete with the 120mm 115v air-hockey-table fan I had hanging off a 70mm copper 'sink on my socket-A Sempron 2800+ a couple years ago, I'll be very, very pleased.

[Zephik]

Increase the airflow from your fan without buying a new fan?

[XcOM]

well i treated myself to one of these yesterday:

http://www.greenlyph.com/new/images/3650.jpg

An Ati Radeon 3650 AGP Pro, i know its agp, and its an ati-3650, but, it is the saffire pro varient, which means its an exact copy of the pci-e varient, so it runs at the same speeds, unlike other agp versions which are clocked slower due to rubbish about the agp bus not being able to handle the data.

I can say i can run bioshock, NFS carbon, Flat out 2 all flawlessly at 1280x1024 all set to medium or better!

More later

[Datech]

Still not sure what is happening here, but I like the ambition. BTW, I still owe you two sixers of lager, and considering it's kinda hard to deliver alcohol internationally you can gladly trade it in for any other part you may need. Send me a PM and I'll hook you up.

[Crazy Buddhist]

Yup .. I know what yr doing .... and the generosity (as you know) was in return for that of your own ... :)

+rep for where this thing is going now ;)

[XcOM]

well i have the machine running nice now, with a stripped down windows xp, with everything install, AV, steam, and firefox open, 22 processes using 153mb ram!

i do plan on uploading pics but haven't gotten round to plugging my phone in yet, but that aside i am really pleased with this machine, the fact it has hardware about 8 years old and its running recent games without a flaw.

I do have a plan, which crazy you know about, i have modified it slightly it incorperate your suggestions, Expect plans later tonight,

[XcOM]

ok, basic plan is as follows, i am wanting your comments and ideas to help me make this the best mod i have ever done.

ok, An Old Project is an idea that came to me through finding parts and others being generious and giving me parts, i also spent a little money on it buying some stuff (Namly the ati 3650Pro),

The idea is to show that old hardware can still be used in todays day and age, sofar i think it is working perfectly, i admit that a quad core super dooper machine with a gtx295 will kick this machines ass, but im not trying to take them on.

The general idea for this machine came about when i was thinking how can i replace all the drive bays with something, they are all missing barr one, the rest are filled with one black drive (Which works), one black drive which dosen't work, and an old white drive which dosen't work and dosen't have a front fasia, and it just came to me, why not fill the drive bays in with plexi, like you did datch? then i thought, what about the black drive, it would look odd, so STEALTH IT!

I am also thinking of heat, at the moment the temps are acceptable but i do want them just a little lower, the CPU is running at 51 under load (AMD Athlon XP 2800+) and the gpu is at about 44 under load.

Since i will have to add a blow hole this means relocating the power button to make space, thats no problem, i can use the old floppy bay thats not in use.

I'm not one for blow holes, in some ways they do work, there functional, but i've never been a big fan of them, then crazyB gave me an idea, stealth that also, his Deskpooter has a similar concept, except i will hide mine behind a piece of plexi, SiSkyline then said why not make it square to make the stealth look sleeker.

Onto the side panel:

I fancied cutting my name "XcOM" out of the side panel and then fitting a window, as for the letter "O" i will keep the cut out and file it down a but, add trim to everything and fit it back onto the plexi as to make the effect of the letter O rather than a big circle.

The entire case will be black, maybe matt, and the plextfront to be gloss opaque white and the side plexi clear, maybe even frosted with LED's, not decided yet.

Here is a quick pic i made in GIMP to show you what i mean:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/xcom_case.png

Any and all comments welcome, suggestions welcomed even more,
I know this is going to be a slow project but with my new job i don't get alot of time off, but this will be competed in a few months, i need to buy/borrow some tools to do this, and the help of you guys and your expertese will be the best tool i can use.

XcOM

[XcOM]

ok, i haven't forgotten about this project, just been awaiting funds to purchace parts, i've ordered some plexi panels and have had them cut to size, due to where they are going i wanted them to be perfectly square.

The supplier is called RED Ltd, look it up if your wanting plexi in the UK, they sell on ebay and it costs £1.50 for a a4 sheet and first 4 cuts are free.

I have uploaded my pics finally:

I do appologise for the quality of the pics, i haden't setup my camara phone yet, so it was just using standard settings.

All my parts arrived:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/04092009217.jpg

and i fitted the new HSF to check the system works:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/04092009219.jpg

not bad, dropped the idle temp from 60 to 32,

and now to add the new fan! this thing is mad, 120mm, 3 speed settings displacing a max of 79 CFM
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/04092009220.jpg

and how it stands now its in the case, my god how this looks bad:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/09092009226.jpg

i got my switch from maplins:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/16092009230.jpg

I think these looks really nice, and will suit the case when its finished, theres also 2 Super bright LED's there in a plastic bag.

Now most front fasias i have removed are normally just clipped on, this thing is screwed on, but it is removed:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/16092009232.jpg

Now when i did this i didn't have my plexi (Still don't getting delivered soon) so i am using the one remaining blanking plate i have:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/16092009233.jpg

I am using it as a test for drilling the hole out, the hole needs to be 19.2mm but i only have an 18mm bit, so i had to file out out a bit:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/16092009234.jpg

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/16092009235.jpg

And i attached the wires and tested it works:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/16092009237.jpg

And it works! success

Now then, all i need is my plexi, a dremel, some bondo, lots of sand paper and lots of paint. and were set!

I admit this isn't of as high callabir as the likes of most here, but i hope the end result will be of high quality.

[slaveofconvention]

Before you buy anything paint/paper/bondo related, give me a shout, even with postage on top I may be able to help you out and save you some cash. I can certainly get you pretty much every grit of paper between 40 and 2000 at cost, and Aerosols of Matt Black and Primer for about £2.50 for 400ml U-Pol Professional paint.

[DonT-FeaR]

has any1 every told u , u look like denzel washington :P

ahahaha :P


nice mate.

[XcOM]

Update:

YAY, i got me a dremel, a real one at that!

now on to playing with it,

My side panel as it is:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/25092009248.jpg

time to cover all those holes in bondo!

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/25092009249.jpg

What a pain that was, going through the holes, had to fill from back then smooth over on front, but i fear i now have a slight problem, how am i to mount the plexi with such a huge gap between the panel and the plexi? i suppose i could sand it and hope the bondo stays in place, i only have to be close enough to not be a huge gap, i was even thinking of laying the plexi ontop of the panel and using heat to make it bubble through the side? what you guys think, could it be done?

now comes the hard work, sanding the bondo back :(

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/25092009250.jpg

now i did mask off the entire panel,
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/25092009251.jpg

and i printed my logo in reverse, as i saw somewhere that wth a toner printer you can iron your image onto the masking tape, but alais it didn't work, so i had to resort to drawing over the logo to leave an impression in the masking tape and then drawing on the masking tape, not a bad job if i do say so myself :)

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/25092009252.jpg

X

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/25092009253.jpg

and its cut out

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/25092009256.jpg

Now i have kept the middle of the letter O as i intend to put it back for the middle of the letter O.

What i forgot to take pictures of is i've put about an hours worth of elbow grease into making the lines straight and smooth, and the round ones round.

To say the least i am very impressed since it is my first attept with a dremel.

Thoughts/Comments?

[Crazy Buddhist]

Nice work mate. Going to look sweet.

:) And thats the mobo I got you yeah? I feel like a grandfather :P

Matthew

[SXRguyinMA]

lookin good :up:

[chaksq]

Nice dude, the fan upgrade on the cooler is a great idea. What are you doing with the original fan from the cooler? If you would be willing to part with it I might be interested in it for an upcoming project.

[XcOM]

Sure mate,

Glad to see ppl are liking my project, im still trying to work out how to make the plexi bubble, i was thinking of getting some MDF and cutting a recess to match the window, then cut a positive and heat the plexi and squash it between the MDF to shape it,

Or lay it over the window and heat it up hoping it will start seeping through.


@ Chaksq:
PM me your address and i will ship, not too expencive last time i sent something.

[XcOM]

YAY,

My plexi arrived toay whilst i was sleeping! it looks soooo sexy, and is cut so nicely (I paid a company to cut it for me as i wanted the corners to be 100% rite.

Oh well, all im waiting for now is bondo and paint, then i can make a start on the front fascia.

[The boy 4rm oz]

Hmm, I haven't been keeping up to date with the forums as I should. A very nice project mate, I have a really old (and by old I mean an original P4 and a GeForce 4 lol) that I had similar ideas for, just to make it useful again lol.

[Waynio]

Hmm, I haven't been keeping up to date with the forums as I should. A very nice project mate, I have a really old (and by old I mean an original P4 and a GeForce 4 lol) that I had similar ideas for, just to make it useful again lol.

:D Go for it mate.
I have some old parts I might be able to put to good use again and a bit of spair sheet alu and quite a few old cases that are doing nothing, so I'm gonna check out what can be used to see if I can do a nice and cheap mod.

subscribed, good start XcOM :up::).

[slaveofconvention]

I'm gonna check out what can be used to see if I can do a nice and cheap mod.

subscribed, good start XcOM :up::).

Heh - good luck with that one - Lobo started off as a nice n cheap mod and I figure I have at least £150 in it to date with probably a little more to come :P

[Crazy Buddhist]

Heh - good luck with that one - Lobo started off as a nice n cheap mod and I figure I have at least £150 in it to date with probably a little more to come :P

The Smoked glass top for deskpooter cost £42 all on it's own. Still got to fork out another £40 or so for the hinges :(

[XcOM]

This was intended to be a cheap mod, but with the results of something much more expencive, Just awaiting for supplies thanks to SlaveOfConvention for that as i got a really good deal, did forget to order White Gloss paint though so i will pick that up from halfords on friday when i get my bondo.

Also @ Boy 4rm oz:
If you use Nlite like i did, really strip out windows, you can get it down to about 50mb memory, 130MB installed and 13 processes after install, hence why i can play up to date games as the CPU has less to do for windows leaving more headroom for the games.

[Luke122]

I'm a sucker for old hardware, and I approve of this project. :D

+rep to all involved.

*Edit*

This is far more inspirational than I originally realized. Hmm..

[Crazy Buddhist]

It's also been quite a collaborative effort. Thanks for the rep :)

[The boy 4rm oz]

Thanks for the info mate :D.

[slaveofconvention]

This was intended to be a cheap mod, but with the results of something much more expencive, Just awaiting for supplies thanks to SlaveOfConvention for that as i got a really good deal

I picked up your stuff today but plonker that I am, I left the house without your address and totally forgot I had your number till you sent me that text. Will get it in the post tomorrow.

[XcOM]

Hello and welcome, now is the time for an update (30/Sept/09)

First off i got supplies for tonight (Since im not really doing any modding tonight)
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/30092009266.jpg
First off i decided to have a looksie if the plexi fits, and how it looks, I think it looks really nice, suites it fine, the cuts are nice, clean, straight, The company even cleaned the edges for me.

The only minor problem is that the CD-ROM Drive bay covers are about 1mm too small, but that can be fixed by building up a thin layer of bondo on the edges.
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/30092009267.jpg
And i must say its very shiny, and very nice!

I can see myself polishing this quite alot!
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/30092009268.jpg

Oh, and thanks for the rep billy!

[msmrx57]

Looking good. Nice choice of supplies for the evening.

[XcOM]

Hi all, a dissapointing update now :(
I lined up the front audio and usb with a marker:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/01102009270.jpg

I was drilling my plexi for the USB/Audio front, and to stop the drill from skipping, i used a screw and tapped it to make an indent, the first one was fine, the second one wasn't so lucky, I kind of snapped the plexi into 3, no thats not a typo, into 3!

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/01102009273.jpg

but fear not i shall reorder this plexi, and this time I don't think i will tap the plexi to stop the drill from skipping, just be really careful and use both hands to not let it skip.

But alas i decided to finish the part, this way i can use it as practice, I don't think it turned out too bad :

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/01102009274.jpg

[slaveofconvention]

Your gear is in the post my man. You owe me £1.06 lol - don't leave the country (and no, I don't actually want it heh - consider it a minor contribution to the cause!)

Postage was a little higher (like double) what I guessed - those 5 aerosols were heavier than I thought they'd be...

[XcOM]

Cheers man, i owe you a pint anyway.

Now since i can't do much atm, i decided to get creative, i have mesures, mesured again, and then mesured again just to be sure, and this is what i've come up with:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/floppy%20panel_Cutout.png

i have contacted the supplier that i got my plexi from, and im awaiting a quote back from themseves as i am asking for the plexi to be engraved (I have a brain wave), and again this is what ive come up with, Bear in mind colours don't matter, its the shading and shape that does:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/floppy%20panel_Engravings.png

[slaveofconvention]

I got a quote, in the end, of £30 to laser-engrave my moon for lobo, so I can't see there being a problem with what you're asking for :D

[DonT-FeaR]

as for tapping.. heat up an old centre punch or dart.. like alot. :P put it in the middle of where u want the hole to be .. then push and it should dent it a little..

then get like a 1mm drill bit, then a 2mm then so on..
and build up to desired size.. i learnt that when using plexi alot :)

[The boy 4rm oz]

You don't need to heat it up, just hit it gently with a hammer a little so it makes a dent, then just drill the pilot hole.

[Trace]

Or use a drill press

[Crazy Buddhist]

X

did you do the worrk on that surface? drilling plexi will work better on a bench or piece of scrap wood.

M

ps looking good :)

[XcOM]

i was working on the side, with a piece of cardboard underneath to protect it from scratches.

I got my paint and paper today from salveofconvention, Love the address mate with the martien fighting machine.

I am at work tomorrow but have monday off, might start on the front panel tomorrow, bondo the seams up, was thinking of sanding it all and trying to get it perfectly flat and square, rather than the bezel it is now, not 100% sure, either way the bottom has to be flat to accomodate the new fan guard.

[slaveofconvention]

You're more than welcome - my wife tells me you sent me a text but I left my phone at home today - I'm not ignoring you lol - I just don't have the phone at work today!

[XcOM]

I assumed as much, i was going to go into the corner and sulk, but maybe not now.

Time to go and find an old copy of super ted for nan (Honestly)

[Bopher]

Time to go and find an old copy of super ted for nan (Honestly)

HA! Super Ted, I remember watching that when we were stationed overseas.

[XcOM]

OZg74STOfig

[Bopher]

Nice, and at the end of that there was Bananaman and Danger Mouse. Those feel like forever since I've seen them all.

[XcOM]

Update time,

and this time much better than the last one, First off the case front with the fan grill marked:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/05102009276.jpg

Now you see it, now you don't:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/05102009277.jpg

Boy is this going to take some time :(

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/05102009278.jpg

But it was worth it:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/05102009279.jpg

Now comes the fun part, I bondo'd the sides and top, then bondo'd the groved to hide them as they no longer serve a purpose and would look out of place:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/05102009280.jpg

and i have a few pockets to clean up and redo:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/05102009281.jpg

While I was at it why not add the bit of space i need for the cd cover:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/05102009282.jpg

I know, its a bit messy.

and there was a nasty crack throu and through here on the corner that was quite a depth, and the case was splitting, so i added bondo at the back to hold it still (Supurisingly hard to apply with your finger whilst wearing rubber gloves) then bondo the front, sand back to conseal the crack:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/05102009284.jpg

I thought it was going to well:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/05102009285.jpg

The hole is too damm big, oh well, time to add some bondo the build it up a bit, But i have built it up left and right, now i just need to add a little at the top, fix the patches of bondo:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/05102009286.jpg

that are air pockets, add a little to the edges and sand nice and flat/straight.

Thats all for now as its too dark to do anymore, and im working for next too days, then i get paid, then i got to take nan back home, then i can finally do something!

Thoughts/Comments?

[chaksq]

Coming along nicely, I like how this is going.

[slaveofconvention]

Sand sand sand - isn't bondo fun? LOL

[DonT-FeaR]

hahah.. /\ no!

looking good mate!

[XcOM]

well im not happy about the fan guard, so im going to build the edges up, make the surface nice and smooth, remark the fan guard and sand back again,

I was thinking this a nice hole, until i put the guard in and noticed it was too big, and its not square atm, so im a bit annoyed at it.

[Luke122]

I was thinking this a nice hole, until i put the guard in and noticed it was too big, and its not square atm, so im a bit annoyed at it.

Oh the possibilities with a statement like that.. ;)

Keep at it! The challenges we face are what makes us better modders. :D

[billygoat333]

lotsa bondo work! coming along nicely sir.

[XcOM]

Update time again,

Boy this is moving fast this mod!

Anyway, the helpers were around:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/08102009288.jpg

i made a slight modification to my work bench to make it alittle more stable:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/08102009291.jpg

and i made a little mess with the bondo, this is after the first two layers!

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/08102009290.jpg

and the result:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/08102009292.jpg

Now i am happy with this hole.

strung it up (I am evil)

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/08102009293.jpg

and its primed:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/08102009295.jpg

I need to do a few touch ups for low spots in a few locations, barr that a very good end result, too dark to do anymore now.

[slaveofconvention]

hmmm that shade of grey primer looks awful familiar to me :P

[XcOM]

i cant think why? Notice the box?

[slaveofconvention]

LOL, no I didn't but looking back - that's awful familiar too :P

I bet you're glad I didn't let you buy your original list of sandpaper tho :D

[XcOM]

Hell yes,

Im surrurised how good that stuff is, near perfectly smooth with the 120grit,

[slaveofconvention]

You might want to go over it briefly with 400 before using the black but that's up to you - anything finer and the next coats of paint may not have enough key to grip onto

[XcOM]

yea, i used 400 anyway before primer,

But cant work on it for week or so, just packed up desk as having house carpeted!

[XcOM]

well this project is being renamed to:

Project: XcOM

as i have decided to buy a new computer to go inside it,

1 X Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 LGA775 'Yorkfield' 2.66GHz
1 X Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3LR Intel P45 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
1 X Kingston HyperX 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 8500C5 1066MHz Dual Channel
1 X Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Coole
1 X Gigabyte GeForce GTX 260 Super Overclock 896MB (Core 680, Mem 2500)
2 X Samsung SpinPoint F1 320GB

Not a bad setup i don't think, and for the price very good, buying it all next week, Hence the project name change.

Now comes the fun bit, i need to have atleast the top of the case painted by next week, and with very little time on my hands thats going to be a real challange, Also i need to cut an hole in the HDD rack for the graphics card to fit, put my bro's GTX 295 in and the HDD cage is about 1/2 inch too big!!!


What you guys think of the spec?

[slaveofconvention]

OOoh new toys - pretty close to my main PC actually - I have the Q6700 which is also 2.66Ghz with 8GB ram and a 4870 which I think is a touch slower than the 260 - should run pretty sweet

[XcOM]

yea, and the gfx is SUPER OVERCLOCKED, and i looked it up, which is why i chose that card, it offers the peformance of the Nvidia 285 for the price of a modest 260, and beats every other 260 and 275 on the market,

Also the Q8400 is supposed to be a beast of an overclocker, so i am getting the freezer 7 pro so i can overclock it a bit, i plan on trying to get 3GHz atleast, maybe 3.2 if i can, Was looking at the Core i5/7's but the 7 series is miles out of my budget and the 5's have an overclock limiter on them, and also there a bit more expencive,

[x88x]

Looks good. That's actually about my main systems specs too :P Only main difference is I have a Q9450 instead (Penryn instead of Yorkfield, two more cores, and I think twice the cache). IDK how well Yorkfields handle overclocking, but I've seen people online who have gotten the 9450 up to 4.0 stable...on air.

[The boy 4rm oz]

Nice new toys mate, very nice. Personally I would invest in a slightly better CPU cooler though.

[XcOM]

.... two more cores, and I think twice the cache). IDK how well Yorkfields handle overclocking, but I've seen people online who have gotten the 9450 up to 4.0 stable...on air.
Didnt think anyone has released a 6 core CPU yet? and that was my plan, they OC very well.

Nice new toys mate, very nice. Personally I would invest in a slightly better CPU cooler though.
I was going to invest in a better one at a later date, the cooler was on offer if i buy the CPU, can get it for £5

[The boy 4rm oz]

Ah ok.

And no, the 6 core CPUs will be the core i9 early next year.

[x88x]

Whoops, sorry, I misread that; thought I saw E8400.

There are a few 6-core CPUs out though; and actually been out for a while. Only thing is that they're server chips:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010340727+1652944902&QksAutoSuggestion=&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&Configurator=&Subcategory=727&description=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

There's the Opteron Istanbul core, and I swear there's a 6-core Xeon that come out about a year ago, but it's apparently not for sale on NewEgg anymore (probably nobody bought it..iirc it was ~$1500).

[The boy 4rm oz]

Yeah I should have said "commercial" 6 cores lol. The i9 will hardly be cheap though, hardly makes it commercial haha, will easily be more expensive then the i7 on release.

[x88x]

I think you mean consumer; commercial just means it's possible to buy them (granted they're ungodly expensive, but still, it's possible). :P

[The boy 4rm oz]

Yeah that's what I meant, not my day for words today, so god damn tired lol.

[XcOM]

UPDATE:

Yay, been a while, very slow considering how fast this thing started off,

Time to rip the guts out, the patient is on the operating table:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/23102009328.jpg

Removed the guts:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/23102009329.jpg

Nice new fan hole:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/23102009330.jpg

Now this case can't quite fit a GTX260 as its slightly too long, but with a slight modification it can now fit a GTX295 (Used brothers for measuring)

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/23102009331.jpg

Not bad primer:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/23102009332.jpg

And i found an old PCI extractor fan so that has to be painted to match, stripped, painted and reassembled:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/23102009333.jpg

Now its the turn of the USB hub

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/23102009334.jpg

Painted the back of the case, hasn't turned out too bad:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/23102009335.jpg


And im really pleased with the top of the case, came out better than expected:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/23102009336.jpg
^see it in real life, it looks like a pro's done it!

Usb hub in its current state (Thats wet paint by the way)

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/23102009337.jpg

I haven't finished yet, need to sand and give a good cover to get rid of the old lables.

And on a side note, while i was out i saw the mystery machine complete with scooby in the window!

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/23102009338.jpg

[The boy 4rm oz]

Paint is looking great mate :D.

[slaveofconvention]

That black is looking sweet - got me considering getting a can or two now to re-do the interior on lobo - as it's already gloss black, I wouldnt need much more than a dustcoat to matt it out ....

[XcOM]

UPDATE:

With my items ordered for delivery in two days, thought it wise to get the case painted atleast,

Now it was going oh so well, but i have managed to scratch the side panel whilst bringing it inside, but without further ado:

I tape the center of the letter O on the back, and hand the pieces out after sanding them:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/24102009339.jpg

And then start by priming them (Forgot to take pic, sorry) and then a dust coat of matt black:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/24102009340.jpg

This is the left side panel painted:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/24102009341.jpg

the front (Sorry about bad pic)
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/24102009342.jpg

The right:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/24102009343.jpg

And it put together, you can notice the scratches on the side here, you can also notice my collection of screws on the floor,

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/24102009344.jpg

Not bad front:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/24102009346.jpg

Still need to sort the plexi out,

Even did the back:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/24102009347.jpg

Thoughts / comments?

[The boy 4rm oz]

Paint turned out very well, very nice job.

[XcOM]

well the system is built, and running very nice, and stable with an overclock from 2.66 to 3.2GHz:

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/5362/overclockedy.png

I've got an artic Freezer Pro7 Rev2 on the CPU, gonna leave the system a few weeks to settle in, once thats cool, i will use Hyper Pi to hammer the system and check the temps, and see if its safe to go any higher,

Anyone know what the max temps for a Q8400 is? its running at about 50 max under full load atm,

http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=808806

EDIT:

Found out its 75, plan to pusyh no further

[x88x]

Looking good. According to this thread (http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/t296065.html), the max temp is at least 74C, so..yeah, you've got nothing to worry about.

[XcOM]

Q8400 details (http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Core_2/Intel-Core%202%20Quad%20Q8400%20AT80580PJ0674ML%20%28BX8 0580Q8400%20-%20BXC80580Q8400%29.html)

The above sitre is excelent, it gives you all the info that intel and amd don't want to give you, very useful,

the site says my stepping will cope with upto:
71.4°C

so 60°C is a safe max if i want to use the chip for any length of time, when i can afford it i may upgrade to a thermalrite Ultra 120 Extreme (Providing the case can take such a mammoth CPU cooler)

[XcOM]

sorry about the lack of updates guys, but due to lack of funds i put a hold on Project:XcOM

The good news:
But now things are better things are progressing,

The Bad News
During the time Project:XcOM was put on hold the panels were put down the side of my desk for safe keeping, BUT something went wrong and the left hand side panel got damaged, so it needs to be rethinked, more on that later.

I want to clean up the internals of the case, its a bit messy, so i've started with:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/16022010530.jpg

Can you guess whats going to happen yet?

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/16022010531.jpg
(Don't worry, the white connector on the end isn't going to stay there for long.

I decided i wasn't happy with the XcOM window so im going for a new angle:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/16022010532.jpg
Window marked

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/16022010533.jpg
And Masked (Well sort of, wasn't worried about damaging paint

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/16022010534.jpg
Getting the edges roughly straight, they don't need to be perfect as im going to be using edging

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/16022010535.jpg
Not bad if i do say so myself

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/16022010536.jpg
Few layers of primer, leaving it overnight to cure before i do anything else on it.


But i want your thoughts guys please,

as you know (Well i hope you know) my theme was matt black with gloss white covers, i have the floppy drive cover which im going to be placing the Power button:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/images/full/mg75s.jpg
it needs a 19mm hole to fit

And i was thinking of adding this to the panel to:

http://www.chilledpc.co.uk/shop/images/large/guage.jpg
it measures 47 x 28mm

the floppy cover is 100x50mm, by my mesurements the switch and temp probe should both fit one above the other, but with only 5mm to spare, and theres plenty of space to put the alongside eath other.

Which do you think would be the better option? (Bearing in mind i've to fit two LED's too

[x88x]

Hmm, well, if it were me, I would get two of the temp monitors, and have them all side-by-side, with the power switch in the middle and a monitor on either side. Then I would put the LEDs, one above the power switch and one below. Maybe have the second temp sensor monitor a different cooling zone, or the CPU or GPU temp instead of the system temp. I like the monitor though; where did you get it?

[XcOM]

http://www.chilledpc.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?cPath=123&products_id=648

they ship worldwide, and good shipping rates too, for us i think its about $8

i like your idea, but there isnt enough space,
100-47-47-19= -13

this is what i was thinking of for side by side:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/temp_probe.png

[x88x]

Crap, you're right...hmm. In that case, I guess I would do that side-by-side that you have.

[XcOM]

Update!

I ordered some parts, now most have them have arrived, so time to do what i can till the rest get here.

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/17022010538.jpg
Took the GTX260 out and unplugged everything barr the raid array, leaving that till last to make sure i don't mess up the drive configs

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/17022010539.jpg
My custom made SATA power leads

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/17022010540.jpg
Nice and tidy

I think its comming along nicely, must clean and tidyer now, still some to do but waiting on some goodies before i finish the wiring off.

Thoughts/comments?

[Loki]

Good mod mate!! I've missed this log XD
Cheers on the window design, I like it, simple and tidy.
My vote for the temp sensor is side by side too, and let me add that your cooler is great for plotting something into ir, a friend did ti in his:
http://thumbnails11.imagebam.com/4277/ddaf3742763276.gif (http://www.imagebam.com/image/ddaf3742763276)
http://thumbnails19.imagebam.com/4277/9cda1442763266.gif (http://www.imagebam.com/image/9cda1442763266)

Keep the good work going!!

[XcOM]

hay guys, im going to get the side panel engraved, and maybe the front too, which do you think looks better? i like them both, bear in mind the bottom of the case is going to have a LED strip:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/logos/XcOM_logo_v1.png
Version 1

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/logos/XcOM_logo_v2.png
Version 2

[Loki]

I think Version 1 will make the case shine!!

[msmrx57]

Version 1. It just has more 'pop'.

[raistnox]

why not combine them?

[XcOM]

why not combine them?


I've spoken to the engravers and they have recommended not to combine them, and to go for number 1 as it will engrave better than number 2

But:

UPDATE (ish)

I got my package today i've been waiting for:
http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/25022010545.jpg
Boy oh boy is that bright, i think ordering 4 was going a bit OTT, wasn't expecting them to be that bright. Oh well

[msmrx57]

Boy oh boy is that bright, i think ordering 4 was going a bit OTT, wasn't expecting them to be that bright.

What? You say that like bright is a bad thing. :D 8)

[XcOM]

yea, but one of these strips will reach from front to back in my case, i might put two in and power them up and see how bright it is before i decide on how meny i put in total,

either way im going to have to put a switch in

[msmrx57]

Maybe a dimmer as well.

[Loki]

Those strips are SO cool!!! Trust me, and trust msmrx57, dimmerize them!!!

[XcOM]

Those strips are SO cool!!! Trust me, and trust msmrx57, dimmerize them!!!

already on it

[The boy 4rm oz]

Looking good XcOM, keep it up.

[XcOM]

sorry guys, but with being layed off, getting new job, being layed off again,

finally get a semi decent job working as tech support, i haven't had time,

But i finally got round to doing some work on my project, the engravers were all crap for what i wanted, so with every cloud theres a silvery mettalic lining, i decided this would look even better:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/02072010178.jpg

Close up:

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/TBCS_Group/xcom/worklogs/an_old_Project/02072010179.jpg

Thoughts?

[msmrx57]

Looks nice.

[The boy 4rm oz]

Very nice work on the engraving, very precise.