Project: Gardens of Versailles

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Datech

If you mean the CPU cooler, feel free to suggest another one. This is the first time I've done anything that wasn't an Intel 775 chip. I just found the first decent rated cooler for my chip on Newegg and went with it.

---

Yeah, that's what I meant, sorry I wasn't a bit more clear. I'm sure that one's just fine, and it seems to be a good value - it just strikes me as silly to use smaller, less-efficient fans instead of one larger one. I don't have any specific recommendation to make, since I went from a repurposed Volcano 11 to a GeminII on the only dual-core chip (which is an AM2) in the house. (The GeminII is a fine cooler, but it's a pain, and I wouldn't recommend it unless you had the fans around.)

In short: not a specific recommendation, just a generalization of the performance of 60mm fans. The Brisbanes run fairly cool (mine's a 4400+) so you'd be fine in that regard, but if noise is a concern, I'd look elsewhere.

For the sides, why not an ornamental box as would be found in the Palace of Louis - make it almost as though the top is a scale model used by the architect or his daughter...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by madd0ct0r

For the sides, why not an ornamental box as would be found in the Palace of Louis

---

Well I would think that the entire thing is an ornamental box in the first place, lol. I get what your saying I think, but could you link me to a few examples of what you are thinking?

I'm still wide open for suggestions for the sides, so throw them out there.

I got the camera yesterday, but with a Physics test tomorrow and a new Need A Techie job I won't have any pics up until Wednesday or Thursday. One I get some face pictures of the front and side I'll do a little photoshop overlay to give a better idea as to what the front will look like. The sides too once I decide.

i've been to Versailles about 6 times now, i will try to drag out the old photos for you if you like, if i can find them, to give to you to use a refrence

So between my website and starting to get jobs for my Need A Techie service I finally got a chance to do an update here.

First off, I'm beginning to get quotes back from cutters. So far all of them are waterjet cutters, but it has been suggested that I seek plasma cutters and other machinists. The quotes so far range from $110-$155, so we'll see where the final one lands.

Second: Pictures!!! Ok, they aren't really that exciting. It's just the case I'll be modding and the gear I have so far. If you are reading this and not just looking at the pics, please respond to the questions I have for each pic.

The case:

The back and side where the window will be:

Front. The arch on the side is where I plan to model an Arc de Triumph. Now that you see the front, feel free to throw other ideas out for it. What should I do with the drive bays? Maybe the ornamental Gates of Versailles?:

Arc Close Up:

This is the bottom of the case as a tower. Since I'm doing a desktop, this is going to have to be painted and prettied up. What do you think I should do with it?:

The back of the front bezel. :

Apparently this little crystal lights up as it has molex connectors. I would assume a blue LED, but I haven't plugged it up yet. This could be beneficial for the arc and power button:

Again:

Graphics card:

Mobo:

CPU:

PSU:

RAM:

That's it for now. I'll hopefully do the photoshop concepts tomorrow night. I'm liking the idea of the arc on the left with the power button and the golden gates overlaying the drive bays. Let me know what you think.

Not actually what i meant, but it's the boxes they have the trees in:
http://www.crocus.co.uk/images/produ...06260_card.jpg


Rococo box:
http://www.apkelson.com/images/China...wh-pc-8IT4.jpg

but, thinking it over, you probably don't want to distract from the garden on top.
perhaps a photo montage of paris? Possibly in black and white?



as to the arc de triumph. nice.

Long awaited update! For those of you that know me a bit more personally you know I've been trying to tie up a lot of loose ends lately. However, I finally have time to mod again, and I will be working on this case non stop til Wednesday. Also, for the pics this time I resized em so you won't have to worry about 1.6MB photos. Without further ado, here's what I've got so far:

Got some new toys and materials. I bought a mini vice and a nice little Xacto kit for half price at hobby lobby. I also got some florist foam and some other, denser foam for help with the arc:

Teehee florist foam:

Turns out this vice is almost useless because of the size of the arc:

Lovely little triple tool, 10 attachment Xacto set:

The dense foam and a miniature Arc I got in France when I was in 8th grade:

Had to use two pieces of foam to make the base of the arc:

Went and got some more toys today. Borrowed the future father-in-laws super Dremel set, picked up some Great Stuff, Bondo, nice LED flashlights, bigger vicegrips, and a decorative candle holder (upside down)!

So what am I going to do with decorative candle holders? Mod it of course!

What I did was cut the legs off the candle holder and split it into four separate feet. Since there were anomalies in the original mold there were bubbles and air pockets when I cut the thing open, so I used my newly found Bondo and Dremel skills to round those out:

I will use the decorative feet on the corner of the case for a nice stand off:

I'm also going to use the part that actually holds the candle to support the center of the case:

Here is my workshop, on my small balcony at my new apartment:

One step of the bondo job on the Arc:

I've pretty much finished the bondo on the arc now, but I'm going to give the inside one more coat and sand it a bit more before another pic. Instead of telling you what I'm going to do next, I'm just going to promise you that I'm going to keep working tomorrow and post more pics tomorrow night.

Teaser: I decided what I'm going to do with the sides, and it should be awesome!

If you used some textured acrylic like this:

http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=454&

and then lit the inside of the cased with blue, it would probably do the water look quite well :)

Plus you would still be able to sort of see the components inside.

I think its an amazing idea, can't wait to see it all finished up. My computer is being slow today but when I saw the candle holder, before the other pic could load i was definitely thinking case feet.

As far as hardware goes....We used to use the ECS black mobo for new builds at our shop, twas a pretty decent board.

I also agree with FuzzyPlushroom, if you're worried about noise I would look into a different cooler, those tiny fans can get loud as hell.

great work so far mate!