Project Cavalier. 56k be warned.

[Omega]

hey everybody. i figured i should post up some pics of my rig, since, after all, this is a modding forum =D

and heeeere it is:
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1352/p10100358vz.th.jpg (http://img228.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p10100358vz.jpg)
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4070/p10100367bk.th.jpg (http://img228.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p10100367bk.jpg)
http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/6947/p10100178kk.th.jpg (http://img354.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p10100178kk.jpg)
http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/1677/p10100228yf.th.jpg (http://img487.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p10100228yf.jpg)

Since then, i have acquired a Dual cathode kit (and took out that single one that was in there), a Zalman Flower (copper/aluminium combo) 72mm CPU cooler, and a Plextor PX-716A.

the PX-716A is in the highest drive bays, with the OEM Cooler Master 120mm fan blowing air into the case (aimed at the CPU), the Antec 120mm rear fan is running at a high setting (for optimum cooling, but it sounds like a jet engine), and the X800's cooler has been upgraded with a ghetto-fabulous generic 80mm fan zip-tied onto it.

Specs:
DFI LanParty UT nF3 250gb (mobo, AGP Bus upped from 66 to 75)
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ (OC'd from 200 fsb and 2211 core to 209 fsb and 2299 core) Socket 754, Newcastle core
ATi Radeon X800 (OC'd from 425 core and 398 mem to 430 core and 400 mem)
Sound Blaster Audigy 2
Netgear WG311Tv2 wireless
Plextor PX-716a
Western Digital 80gb HDD - 7200RPM (E-IDE)
generic 60gb HDD - 7200RPM (E-IDE)
Antec TrueBlue 2.0 480w PSU

Visaul components:
Mad Dog Dual cathode kit (blue)
DFI UV-Reactive IDE cables (yellow)
Antec Tri-color 120mm rear fan
Cooler Master Cavalier case - Window and illuminated VU meter

Cooling:
Zalman Flower (Copper/aluminium combo) 72mm
Cooler Master OEM 120mm fan
Antec Tri-color 120mm fan
Ghetto 80mm fan zip-tied to the X800

Projected upgrades:
DFI RDX200 mobo
Athlon 64 4000+ S939
ATi Radeon X1600
Dual UV Cold cathodes
2 250gb SATA drives (RAID 0)



cheers,
-Omega

[public_eyesore]

did you really mod it or just put lights in? Either way you need major cable managment

[Omega]

did you really mod it or just put lights in? Either way you need major cable managment


first: this pc hasn't been ripped apart... yet. so far the only visaul mods are the cathodes, yes. i plan on changing that, after i do a practice project.

second: since those pictures have been taken, i've acquired more ghetto-fabulous cooling and better cable management.

[qoou]

did you really mod it or just put lights in? Either way you need major cable managment



To change in form or character; alter.


the case didnt come like that so i believe its a mod.

[Omega]

the case didnt come like that so i believe its a mod.


there is that.


i plan on painting the opposite side with the ATi and AMD logos, and getting a new (and completely clear) plexi window.

[DaveW]

IS that R2-DIY book for real? Where can i get a copy off it? :D

AMD and ATI logos would probably look ok, but wouldn't you have more fun personalising it instead of slapping corporate logos all over the place? If it floats yer boat, do it your way. Just a suggestion.

-Dave

[qoou]

corperate logos are usually popular these days.

[DaveW]

They're for some people. Not everyone. I don't think they say much about the person who uses them-too impersonal, if you like. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with them.

-Dave

[Omega]

IS that R2-DIY book for real? Where can i get a copy off it? :D

AMD and ATI logos would probably look ok, but wouldn't you have more fun personalising it instead of slapping corporate logos all over the place? If it floats yer boat, do it your way. Just a suggestion.

-Dave


actually, that's a smalltime magazine.


let me find it...


yeah. check out makezine.com, they might have subscription forms on thier site, and i know they have some projects there. =D

oh, about the logos, those are just the ones i am getting done in the near future. i am planning on a new plexi window and i might have the Omega Design Concepts logo etched into it (keep in mind, Omega Design Concepts is the name i use to mark all my art and crap.)

[DaveW]

NOOO!!! I can't find it :'(

Me and my friend would have loved to read that...

I guess i'll just have to be satisfied with CrazyBillyBob's R2 computer...sob...

-Dave

[OvRiDe]

That is Volume 2 of Make: .. There are links to purchase it here

http://www.makezine.com/volumes/

There is a link to Barnes and Nobles.com and Amazon looks like it runs about 15 bucks.. enjoy..

[Omega]

pic from yesterday of ye olde cavalier.

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/1084/p10100394xy.th.jpg (http://img106.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p10100394xy.jpg)


Mad Dog dual cathode in the case, and one cathode on the back (the cathode that is in the first pictures i posted is the one on the back =D)

[OvRiDe]

Wow.. you could rename that to SuperNova or AfterBurner!! heh .. Looking good

[DaveW]

Thanks! I've ordered in my own copy, it's going to take 9-36 days to arrive, but i'm a big enough geek for it to be worth it :D

-Dave

[Omega]

i need to re-adhere the rear cathode, the duct tape has come off from the heat of my PSU =[

[Hasbios]

AH 56K
Quick tip:put 2 in and program one for uplodas and one for downloads that way ur running at 112 kbps its a cheap way to beat the cable companies. oh and make sure ur with a good isp

[Omega]

Supernova², yo.

Got UV cathodes/ NASA Meatball sticker/ NASA Alliance Robotics sticker/ Boost-World Vinyl/ UV Blue sleeving/ Logisys Fan Speed Controller/ Ghetto High-Lighter modded 120mm fan.

most recent pictures (running UV cathodes only, no blue cathodes):
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/3459/p10700451wh.th.jpg (http://img68.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p10700451wh.jpg)
Boost-World.com Vinyl on teh front (Boost world is a locally owned car webforum)

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/3892/p10700434fw.th.jpg (http://img133.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p10700434fw.jpg)
That's how bitchin' the cabling is.

Since those pictures i have added some high lighter to my HSF and read 120, plus the edge of my GPU.

[Tech-Daddy]

1st... you need a tripod for those night shots. You are moving in that pic, and clarity is lost. Tripods are cheap, get one.

2nd... You have *got* to wrangle those cables. NASA certainly would not leave a mess like that!

You have the chance to inexpensively make this case a looker by making the cabling inside it look appealing. Get on it bro! Focus on cable routing and liberal use of zip ties.

:)

Keep at it bud!

[Rankenphile]

Thumbs up for your copy of MAKE. :D

That is one bright looking mod. You could practically get a tan from that thing.

[Omega]

i have a tripod, but those pics were just to get a general idea of how it looks.

aside from the unsleeved wires; i actually think it looks kind of good (even with the random wires everywhere).

or rather, better than unsleeved.

[Omega]

Update:
It now also proudly wears an "Army of one" sticker and a "US Air Force" sticker.


i am thinking of making a plexi or lexan cover for the drive cages, then frosting it and putting 4in cathodes behind them. the cover would have to be removeable though, because i have a strange mounting mechanism (screwless, instead it uses slider things.)

I also want to make a few frosted fan ducts for the rig so that the airflow is more controlled, and also illuminate those (probably with LED's or more 4in cathodes)

-
Omega

[Omega]

also i am considering getting some one-way mirrored plexi to mod my window, and if i do that, then either get the black CM Cavalier or just repaint it (and if i repaint, i will pain the inside too).

-Omega

[guitar.child]

i like the blue.

[Omega]

Update:
Stealthed my PX-716a and took out the other generic DVD Drive (For my linux machine).

Now there's an open drive cover and it is loud.

I'm probably going to take some metal i have that already has spaced holes and find another front bezel, then cut out the bezel and put some of the mesh behind it, and make it all look pretty with some Cooler master silver paint.

/o/

[Ohtarnehtar]

check out what this guy did to that case......
http://inventgeek.com/Projects/Minifridge/Overview.aspx
at least it looks the same

[Ohtarnehtar]

nvm, dbl checked and its got a little different, did u mod it?

[Omega]

hahaha, that's not even a CM case, that's a Thermaltake i think.

Edit: Correction, that is a Tt case. Tsunami Dream.

Anywho, i'll get some pictures up in a few.

Edit:
Pics:

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/thumbs/7342P1280001.JPG (http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/7342P1280001.JPG)
Basic shot. Here you can see the army, USAF and Boost World stickers. The door is closed.

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/thumbs/3645P1280002.JPG (http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/3645P1280002.JPG)
Door's open, showing my stealthed drive and both NASA stickers (there's a third on the other side of the computer =/)

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/thumbs/7954P1280006.JPG (http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/7954P1280006.JPG)
Stealthed drive in action.

That's just about it right now =/

[The Modfather]

Nice job on the drive stealthing.

[guitar.child]

nice i like it. i think im going to try the same thing on my case

[Omega]

Thanks, to both of you.

Yeah, believe it or not, stealthing is supposedly one of the easiest mods.



but not if you have a cooler master case.



You have to dremel off quite a few things, and once the drive is set back like that, good luck getting it back into it's original position.


Luckily, the duct tape on the bezel is holding and it aligns damn near perfect.

[The Modfather]

Yeah, I did a drive stealthing mod on my Titan rig, lemmy see if I can find a pic to show ya.

http://www.infinity-customs.com/titan/front.jpg

It's a clear case, the stealthing is done with the blank bezels and brass retainers mounted directly to the optical drive doors. Basically it amounts to a creative use of Liquid Nails, rubber gaskets and Duplicolor Mirage color shifting paint applied in reverse to the back side of the acrylic. You can't see from the pic but they shift from green to purple.

[Omega]

I should be getting a military style switch tomorrow, 12v. I will post pics after it's installed and working.

After i get that, all i need is some AWG18.....

(eyeballs old PSU)

[Omega]

Cavalier suffered a horrible hard drive failure problem on the IBM Deskstar 60GB IDE drive last weekend (Saturday, at 3:07AM).

Today, I acquired the replacement drive, a 160GB SATA WD Caviar SE 7200RPM with a 300MB/s read speed and a SATA Connectright cable. All i have to say is i can't wait to get it installed tomorrow (why tomorrow? because it will be my boot drive and it's 9pm already, i don't want to be up all night configuring my PC =p)

[Omega]

Cav also just acquired a sony 2.1 system that is working with my Creative 2.1 system, to make ghetto-fabulous 4.2 audio, and it's awesome.

No, it's beyond awesome.

[CanaBalistic]

Ghetto Fablous, The Only Way To Be Fabulous *

[Omega]

Ghetto Fablous, The Only Way To Be Fabulous *

* be ghetto-fabulous at your own risk

[Rankenphile]

* Ghetto-Fabulous is not directly related to Gangsta-Lean Industries or Bizzle-For-Shizzle Inc. All views expressed by Ghetto-Fabulous are the sole proprietary opinions of Ghetto-Fabulous.

[Omega]

* Ghetto-Fabulous is not directly related to Gangsta-Lean Industries or Bizzle-For-Shizzle Inc. All views expressed by Ghetto-Fabulous are the sole proprietary opinions of Ghetto-Fabulous.

* Ghetto-Fabulous assumes no responsibility over personal injury or loss of posessions.

[Omega]

ALRIGHT

NEW PICS

ALTHOUGH NOTHING HAS CHANGED REALLY

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/thumbs/4402P3250004.JPG (http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/4402P3250004.JPG)
http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/thumbs/2097P3250005.JPG (http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/2097P3250005.JPG)

Night shot isn't really for detail, but rather to show the light.

Tomorrow i'll get pics of the wire-re-organization I did today (It's so much neater in there)

[Omega]

Fourty-Five minutes.

That's how long it took me to do some wire management.

You know how it looked befroe, here's how it looks during and after

(Note: the during picture is actually the cleanest part of the whole thing, the rest of the time there were wires everywhere)

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/thumbs/4541P3260001.JPG (http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/4541P3260001.JPG)
During...

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/thumbs/507P3260002.JPG (http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/507P3260002.JPG)
After, side off

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/thumbs/3339P3260003.JPG (http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/3339P3260003.JPG)
After, side on. (Yes, i support every branch of the military, not just the USAF.)

[CanaBalistic]

Looks good with that DFI mobo. I wish they'd make more boards for intel.

Love that duct tape sheathing on your PSU.

[Omega]

Looks good with that DFI mobo. I wish they'd make more boards for intel.

Love that duct tape sheathing on your PSU.


the duct tape is holding my UV cathode up, yo.


I just made and added in a fat ass 120mm fan duct made of CARDBOARD and it lowered my temps by 4c. woo!

now i idle at 51...

[Omega]

Moved my slot cooler and added a ghetto-ducted 80mm fan, I will see how good this cools it down now.

[Omega]

Aaaand the new plamement of cooling devices is working like a charm. 6c lower on CPU (from a hot 55 to an acceptable 49), BIG drop on the GPU (50c to 32c), big drop on the IDE drive (45 to 33), and a moderate drop on the SATA drive (53 to 49).

:cool:

[Razors Edge]

Did you put that window in or is that standard with the case.

Also, I recomend the radeon x1800. Runs Elder Scrolls 4 oblivion flawlessly on highest settings.

[Omega]

Did you put that window in or is that standard with the case.

Also, I recomend the radeon x1800. Runs Elder Scrolls 4 oblivion flawlessly on highest settings.


Standard with the case, and also, I don't play the ES series, I play WoW, and my X800SE does the job quite well.


Just swapped my True-Power 480w for a SmartPower 500w Modular! I really need to cut a blowhole in the top of my case, though, it's literally hot to the touch up there

I should find my thermometer D=

[Omega]

I'm bored. And I just put my old set of blue CCFL's back in the case. With the 120mm and 80mm LED Fans, dual UV ccfls, and dual Blue ccfls, plus the Lazer LED (all of which are temporary), it's bright as ****. It's illuminating my room dimly, under my desk brightly. Pretty nifty.


But I figure I'll go ahead and do some lighting and cable management work, maybe even etch the plexi or cut the metal.

Pictures later, of course. Good thing it's getting late -- perfect time for my night shots <3

-Omega

[Omega]

So, it's 11:28 PM and I still haven't sorted out all the problems that arose from such a single thing -- but here's a recap

I dismanteled my PC, Antistatic bags and all. Re-did the THC on my CPU.
I cut the hole.
I cleaned the case.
I went to dinner.
I got back from dinner.
I cleaned the case better.
I re-assembled the system
I finished re-assembly.
One of my CCFL Inverters was shorting, causing my PSU to automatically shut the whole rig down.
I figured that out.
I took out all my CCFL's.
Computer boots up and plays nice, now.
SATA Hard drive fails to respond -- I'll fix that later -- It's probably just something stupid like I didn't plug it into the right port =/

[simon275]

Good to see you got the mod back on track. I need to get back to mine as well

[Omega]

Good to see you got the mod back on track. I need to get back to mine as well

Well, this computer never really has been a "true" mod. It's just been some stuff that I've tried (mainly Drive stealthing and the blowhole on top now) and figure I'd post.

The computer is now CCFL-less. It's only lit by two LED fans (rear 120mm & top 80mm) and a Jumbo Lazer LED thingy, which for 3$ (8$ after shipping) lights my case really well. Because the IDE Cables are yellow, they react to blue and UV lights, so the IDE cables and all the UV Yellow stuff on the mobo are actually illuminated. It looks cool.

And the wire management is better, huzzah!

[Omega]

Haha. I found the problem with my SATA Drive... It didn't have power. I'll elaborate:

I have these two molex splitters that came with two of my ATi Cards (My current one, the ATi Radeon X800SE, and my dad's, the ATi Radeon X800XL). I usually use one for the HD's, another for the Videocard and Lighting. This time, I split the power differently, I made it one for Videocard and one HD, the other for Lighting and one HD. As you all read, I took out most of the lighting and re-did the power scheme. I noticed that there were two unconnected molexes, so I connected them (one was male, the other female). So when I pulled out the power from the SATA drive, I had a molex splitter with a loop and another molex connecter. D'oh.

Update on the cathodes: The UV cathode inverter was fine! I figured since one tube wasn't working and the other was brighter than usual it'd be ****ed up, but I unplugged the bad one and the remaining one lit up all the way. Then I plugged in a working blue cathode to illuminate the side of my drive bays. The UV cathode is next to my motherboard behind all the cables so they're UV Backlit and alot of the ports on the right side of my mobo are quite prominent. It's lit well and well lit. I also added a switch to the Lazer LED's, to turn them on or off for effect.

Pictures later. I think this is the best Cavalier has looked.

[armadilloben]

So, it's 11:28 PM and I still haven't sorted out all the problems that arose from such a single thing -- but here's a recap

I dismanteled my PC, Antistatic bags and all. Re-did the THC on my CPU.
I cut the hole.
I cleaned the case.
I went to dinner.
I got back from dinner.
I cleaned the case better.
I re-assembled the system
I finished re-assembly.
One of my CCFL Inverters was shorting, causing my PSU to automatically shut the whole rig down.
I figured that out.
I took out all my CCFL's.
Computer boots up and plays nice, now.
SATA Hard drive fails to respond -- I'll fix that later -- It's probably just something stupid like I didn't plug it into the right port =/

belive you me i love taking apart/rebuilding/changing around stuff in my pc but every time i do it something doesnt work a couple of tips as to stuff i found give me problems if they are messed w/:
1. like u said those frickin ccfl inverters i jus lost 3 bubls in an attempt to sleeve them

2. another/molex splitters (my dad has so much parts and he had givin me 2 hughmongus full 5-1/4 inch 1.8 gig scsi drives they had there own external enclouse (also weigh about 8 pounds each) and to me they were relics. you may think why the heck would i want 2 1.8 gig scsi drives, well i didnt want the drives i wanted the psus from them bc they had molex connecter and it basicly could make a dual dvd drive enclouser via ide to usb adapters or i could use it as raid 0 instead i used them as external psus for testing stuff that i made for my pc (lil led circuts running off 12v etc.) meanwhile one my small one there was one molex i then split it with two splitters and like you did looped it and fryed my small enclouser. i still have the big one but always check your work went it comes to psu
3. hdds and magnets on onboard speakers dont play nice!
this one is pretty self explanitory, if u want ill elaborate
4.never work when tired
i fried my old socket A mobo by putting it in w/o the lil gold posts man was i being dumb

well thanks for listiening to me
ben

[Omega]

Thanks for the advice, But hell, I don't know how many computers I've dis-assembeled and re-assembeled and fixed hardware problems and so forth. I'm much more of a hardware geek than I am a software one, and it pleases me greatly to tinker around in my case. I'm also usually pretty careful when working with sensitive components, like even if I know I don't have to worry I will, just how I am.

My computer isn't always picky, though. It's just that if I mess up the configuration of IDE channels or PCI cards or something else minuscule like that, I get BSOD's for a week before I can figure out what the **** to do, then after I switch it back the day after I start getting BSOD's, it bitches at me more. Luckily, this time, I didn't have to go through that because SATA is hot-swappable and I only have one PCI card that I put in the right slot agian (not like it's hard, bottom PCI slot).

EDIT:

Rofl, good job on frying that Socket A. I work when I'm tired all the time, though. Yesterday, what was supposed to be up to three hours of disassembly, metal work, then reassembly, turned out to be 7 hours (4PM to 11PM), with the reassembly and troubleshooting at the end. I actually thought that my system crashes were my videocard's fault (until I removed my CCFL inverter, then it worked, but before I got a long-short-short beep code which is no video).

But, Lo and behold, it works.


I need a new rear 120mm fan, the LED's in this one are dying D=

[intergalacticman]

there is that.


i plan on painting the opposite side with the ATi and AMD logos, and getting a new (and completely clear) plexi window.

WTF?? its all about Intel and Nvidia!

nice case though it looks nice and smooth

[Omega]

UPDATE MOFOS!

Just installed my MSI Neo5, Intel C2D E4500 Allendale, eVGA 7800GT, 2GB of PNY DDR2 RAM and other stuff (old hd's, psu, etc)

Installing windows right now, I'll post from the machine once it's up and get pics once I find my camera.

[Omega]

Posting from the new pooter

it's nice

very nice


also quite loud (that's the 7800, sounds like a leafblower)

[Omega]

Bump and lock, this computer's no more. It's sitting in my closet, iirc.