Project: Black Water [Archive] - TBCS Community Forums

View Full Version : Project: Black Water

flare

08-09-2010, 08:59 AM

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/Carbon-Fibre-2copy.jpg

About a year ago I finished my first case mod called 'Project HourGlass' (link) (http://forums.ebuyer.com/showthread.php?t=30673) and ever since have been wanting to do another one…

This time around I am going to be modding a Thermaltake DH202 HTPC (http://www.thermaltake.com/product_info.aspx?PARENT_CID=C_00001364&id=C_00001367&name=DH202&ovid) case so it can house a triple radiator amongst other things ;)

The theme is black and white and I will be using black coolant hence the name

A massive thanks to my sponsors as they have been brilliant and I couldn’t do this project without them:

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/specialtech_logo.jpg

These guys have some of the best service I have ever come across and coupled with this the best range of watercooling parts in the UK!
Click here (http://specialtech.co.uk/) to go to their website
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll100/robinfro/Cruciallogo.png
Crucial, The Memory Experts
Click here (http://www.crucial.com/uk/) to go to their website

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/thermaltake_logo4.jpg

Thermaltake
Click here (http://uk.thermaltake.eu/) to go to their website!

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/images.jpg

Bitspower
Click here (http://www.bitspower.com/) to go to their website

On with the designs then :D :

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/frontside.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/Foradrian.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/backside.jpg

The case

A shiny looking parcel arrived from Thermaltake containing the awesome looking DH202. A big thank you has to go to Jerry over at Thermaltake for this!

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0401.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0403.jpg

The manual is HUGE!

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0405.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0424.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0407.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/DSC_0288.jpg

So many wires…

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0410.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0411.jpg

The bezel (though quite hard to take off) looks stunning in my opinion!

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/DSC_0281.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/DSC_0284.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/DSC_0282.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0426.jpg

Here comes the dismantling:

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0417.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/DSC_0289.jpg

I have to remove the hard drive bay and find another way of mounting it so I can fit a long graphics card in the case

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0433.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0434.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0436.jpg

It must have been my lucky day as my items from both Crucial AND Bitspower came today as well :D. Defiantly the best postage haul I’ve ever had :p

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/P6250001.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/P6250002.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/P6250003.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0228.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/DSCN0402.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/DSCN0403.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/P6250008.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/P6250014.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/P6250013.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/P6250020.jpg

Crucial kindly sent me 6 gig of Ballistix tracer ram 1600Mhz, thank you very much Joan!

My memory hawg was happy :)

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0221.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/DSCN0405.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/P6250027.jpg

Very soon I will get down to cutting, I am waiting on some needed tools (like dremel cutting discs!!) but thank you all for reading and I look forward to starting the mod.

billygoat333

08-09-2010, 09:17 PM

Thats a pretty sweet case to be starting with. :)

Luthien

08-10-2010, 01:16 AM

Very nice fittings

flare

08-10-2010, 11:12 AM

Thats a pretty sweet case to be starting with. :)

Cheers yer its really really nice, defiantly worth checking out if you're in the market for a HTPC case

Very nice fittings

Thanks mate, I really like them :)

x88x

08-10-2010, 12:52 PM

Looks sweet, congrats on all the great sponsors.

Jolly-Swagman

08-12-2010, 01:18 PM

Awesome hardware and sponsors, looking forward to seeing more on this project

flare

08-13-2010, 07:49 AM

Looks sweet, congrats on all the great sponsors.

Awesome hardware and sponsors, looking forward to seeing more on this project

Thanks a lot :)

flare

08-13-2010, 07:50 AM

A parts update time :D (all taken with my phone’s camera so please forgive quality!)

Two more shiny packages were dropped off today (in a rather sketchy looking van)

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0465-1.jpg

The smaller box contained a new copy of Windows 7:

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0467.jpg

And the larger box contained something a lot more exiting…

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0469.jpg

The new Asus Rampage Gene III (socket 1366 MATX) which if I’m correct isn’t yet on sale in the UK :D

The motherboard in my opinion is awesome not just because it performs just as well and if not better than most ATX motherboards but because it comes with all the added features as well eg USB 3 and SATA 6Gbps.

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0470.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0474.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0475.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0482.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0483.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0485.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0487.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0488.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0489.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0490.jpg

These are all the stock wires that I need to work out how to hide even before you add the PSU wires to the mix :(

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0491.jpg

Thanks all

SXRguyinMA

08-13-2010, 10:13 AM

nice goodies :D

flare

09-03-2010, 05:59 AM

Sorry for the lack of update in a while, I have been stuck in Greece (literally!!)

We were meant to be flying back with ‘easy’jet and they had booked 200 seats on a plane with 200 seats (sounds logical but keep reading) but easy jet being easyjet, they decided to save money by sending over a smaller plane with 30 less seats on it… So I lost my seat on the flight EVEN though I had already checked in online and the best that easyjet could do was say ‘sorry, you’re going to have to find your own way back.’ It was either that or wait 6 days and be put on the next easyjet flight home (which they couldn’t guarantee wouldn’t be full .)

After much panic later I got back home after taking a nice detour to Billund, Denmark, which is such a nice airport btw :p.

Soo back on the modding side of things I had two parcels waiting for me when I finally returned home:

Dremel disks:

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/P8180011.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/P8180012.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0500.jpg

Oh if you spotted the memory hogs in the background, that’s how bacon is made ;)

And a Powercolor ATI 5850:

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0502.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0503.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0504.jpg

http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp109/robinfro1/IMAG0505.jpg

Thanks all

x88x

09-03-2010, 10:28 AM

Nice gear.

That stuff with EasyJet though..that's...absurd, to say the least. How does a service company that treats its paying customers with just ill regard stay in business?

flare

09-04-2010, 07:46 AM

It was ridiculous! You can't really believe it as well when someone comes up to you and says sorry you have no seat on this plane (not that I was late for check in or anything, there was still an hour to go..)

It's because they are cheap and people will always take that risk even if it means paying £10 less. I will never be flying with them again though :p!

SXRguyinMA

09-04-2010, 02:13 PM

damn at least the airlines in the US will give you a travel voucher or put you on the next earliest flight. most will even give you an option. That company just plain old sucks to say "sorry find another way to get there"

x88x

09-04-2010, 02:51 PM

Yeah, I mean, how long do you think a company would last if they were, say, a burger joint, and every 10th (or whatever) person who bought something, when they went to pick it up got told "Sorry, we don't have enough to fill your order, but there are other restaurants around..go find something else. Oh, we'll be keeping your money though."...

flare

09-06-2010, 06:58 PM

I had another package delivered today (the biggest yet :D ) from the awesome people over at Specialtech:

Les contents of les package:

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/IMAG0510.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/IMAG0511.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/IMAG0512.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/IMAG0513.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/IMAG0514.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/IMAG0517.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/IMAG0518.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/IMAG0526.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/IMAG0516.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/IMAG0520.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/IMAG0521.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/IMAG0522.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/IMAG0523.jpg

The reason why I have to mount the hard drive cage in a different place:

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060014.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060015.jpg

Where I am thinking of putting the cage and also the pump:

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060049.jpg

The total space I can use for the rad and fans (with help from Mr. Hawg)

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060016.jpg

Total space taken up by the rad and fans:

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060021.jpg

Just enough space! The only problem is that the feet on the radiator stand stick out too much and take up to much space.

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060017.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060025.jpg

I think it’s finally time to cut something :D

The Hawgs saying farewell to their much beloved friends: Mr and Mrs Feet:

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060029.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060032.jpg

Begging me not to be so cruel

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060031.jpg

The cut feet:

The total space between the mobo and the rad:

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060070.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060045.jpg

The next problem was the radiator stand was to tall to allow the case to close so yet more cutting had to be done to it:

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060056.jpg

The finished product:

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060061.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060072.jpg

The Hawgs getting used to their new home:

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060069-1.jpg

Space between the roof and the radiator:

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060066.jpg

Tiny Fractal Design fans:

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060050.jpg

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060051.jpg

So I have to big issues that I want to deal with tomorrow, the first being that if I have the rad grill exactly where the fan holes are, it will protrude over the top of the case but my thinking is that because the grill and the fans won’t be attached anyway I can just mount it like this:

http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy307/robinfro2/P9060075.jpg

Thanks a lot :)

flare

09-10-2010, 05:15 AM

Just to say a massive thanks to EK waterblocks for sponsoring the project and offereing me a nice little discount on the needed blocks for the build.

http://www.tilatech.com/product_images/uploaded_images/EK_Water_Blocks.png

Another update will hopefully follow today as well :)

flare

09-14-2010, 03:42 PM

Sorry for the lack of update, I’ve just started a new job to try and fund my gap year so it’s a bit hectic at the moment (not that I’m different from anyone who has a 9-5 job, it just took me a little getting used to it ;) )

So it was about gorram time I started cutting into the beautiful case, though I did hesitate a little but not enough for me to start :dremel:

I made a mock up of the roof and sides to get an idea of what the rad grill would look like:

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=220

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=221

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=222

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=223

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=224

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=225

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=226

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=227

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=228

Happy with the results I started to mask up the case (with help from the Hawgs of course…)

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=229

I can’t take them anywhere…

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=243

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=244

Getting ready to cut:

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=245

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=246

Safety first applied to everyone in the workshop!

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=247

First cut:

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=248

What the first cut did to my dremel disk:

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=249

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=250

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=251

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=230

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=231

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=233

35 dremel disks later, here is the finished cut: Fits quite nicely :)

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=232

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=234

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=235

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=236

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=237

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=238

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=239

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=240

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=241

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=242

Thanks all for reading!

x88x

09-14-2010, 04:33 PM

Looks good, but yikes! 35 cutoff wheels?! I can't quite tell from the picture, are you using the 'heavy duty' (I think some sort of ceramic?) or fiberglass cutoff wheels? I used the 'heavy duty' ones for a long time, especially on thick steel, but they just burn out so much faster than the fiberglass ones. If you're using fiberglass wheels, it sounds like you're not running the dremel at a high enough speed. In my experience I have found that not only does it take longer to make cuts at lower speeds, but it also burns through cutoff wheels faster. Also, next time you run out, I would highly recommend getting a quick-swap cut-off wheel set; not only does it make your life a lot easier, it also gives you slightly more wheel (larger inner diameter, but also larger outer diameter), and you're less likely to snap a wheel since a) the force is spread out over a larger surface, and b) the wheel has a metal insert in the middle. As a result of this, they last longer and I have yet to break one since I switched (though that might just be because I'm getting better, idk :P ).

flare

09-14-2010, 05:50 PM

x88x

09-14-2010, 07:34 PM

As long as the mandrel is the right diameter (1/8" in this case), any rotary tool can use Dremel bits.

I don't remember exactly what I paid for my wheels and quick-change adapter, but according to Lowes, the adapter set (only way you can get it, but it comes with iirc 8 wheels as well) is $15USD and a 12-pack of discs for it is $21USD. So yes, way more expensive than yours, but they last way longer too. For example, the cut that you did above that took 35 cheapo wheels, assuming normal thickness for steel case panels in the last few years, would have taken no more than 2. If you started with a fresh wheel and ran it fast, I think you could probably do it with 1. Yeah, Dremel sometimes overcharges for stuff, but sometimes it's worth it.

flare

10-14-2010, 04:58 PM

Lo all, its been a while, sorry for the no updates (or forum activity) my net has been absolutely fail for the past few weeks!! Anyway it has not been fun and I have a small update to make up for it. There will be a larger one to follow as the case is off to get sprayed very, very soon!

A massive thanks to Bequiet! for sending me a gorgeous looking psu (the straight power 650w PSU.) Such good quality! < defiantly a good buy if you are looking for a new power supply:

http://www.pc-overware.be/narkotic24/logo_marque/be_quiet_logo_on_black_468.jpg

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=317

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=318

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=319

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=320

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=321

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=322

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=323

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=324

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=325

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=326

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=327

Also the rest of my watercooling gear has arrived:

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=329

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=330

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=332

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=331

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=333

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=335

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=336

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=337

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=338

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=339

http://forums.losias.net/gallery/image.php?album_id=33&image_id=334

Like I said it is a small update, but at least I can FINALLY post an update….

More to come I promise :p.

x88x

10-14-2010, 05:05 PM

Yay new parts! :D

Good to have you back.

flare

10-14-2010, 05:19 PM

Thanks a lot mate :)