Trapped by the Machine

Finally! An update.
As always, thanks for the positive comments. They are a real encouragement.

It's been a long time since my last update. Alot has been going on and I haven't had a lot of time to dedicate to my project, but I have been using my time wisely--I have been buying stuff.

First of all let me say that my trip to the Tiger Direct store was less than exciting. They had a bunch of stuff, just not the stuff I was looking for.

I went back to the tried and true method of the internet, and here is my latest collection of stuff:

Here's a list of what I have to date:
Enermax Galaxy DXX EGX1000EWL PSU
Stealth GTS 360 Black Ice Radiator
X-Flow Stealth GTS 120 Black Ice Radiator
4 Yate Loon Medium Speed Fans
Danger Den DDC-12v 18 Watt Water Pump
Lian Li Radiator Mounts
Lian Li Hard Drive enclosure
Lian Li 120mm Fan Enclosure
Tygon Tubing
DD-Delrin 90 Degree fittings

I have finally started my mock up process by installing a few components. The PSU was first--

I don't like the Logo upside down so I will have to fix that and, as you can see wire managment is going to be a bear with this PSU (but oh, so worth the hassle!)

This is going to be a two radiator system with one radiator dedicated to the CPU and the other larger radiator handling the other components. Both will be fed by their own pumps, but the fluid will come from a common resevoir.
I did a mock-up of the small radiator and fan and attached some tubing to test for clearance.

I think the clearance will be alright once I cut the side panels and install the plexi. The plexi will be a molded face that is pushing out of the side, so I hope it leaves me enough clearance. If not, I will cheat the resevoir over and get creative.

Well, that's it for now. I'm finally cutting side panels this weekend provided the weather stays cooled off and I can work in my garage/shop.

I still have to buy MB, CPU, Memory, Water Blocks, Graphics cards, etc, etc, etc...as well as the cutting, sanding, painting, powder coating, more sanding, more painting...the list goes on and on.

Again, thanks for all the positive comments,
Still Trapped,
Byendor

Update

Slow going on this one.

The weather has cooled down some and my garage is bearable again. I finally had a chance to do some work this weekend.

I assembled my fans and radiators and built shrouds for them.

I needed some sheet rubber, but coudln't find any at the local auto parts stores or home improvement stores. I searched around and found this--

It is made from rubber and designed to go on the top of a stair to prevent slipping. Best of all was that it ounly cost about a buck and a half.

I started on the small radiator first. I used the rubber sheet to cut gaskets so that the fan wouldn't be attached directly to the radiator. I know you can find the commercial nylon gaskets out there but I wanted to try and use something a bit more custom.

Raising the fan up off the gaskets like that formed small gaps between the fan body and the side of the radiator which would allow for airleaks and reduce the radiator's effeciency. I used the same gasket material to custom cut a small gasket which wraps around the fan body and seals the air leaks. It also gives the fan a cleaner appearance in the case.

The large radiator was a bit more difficult. I cut a gasket from the rubber material like I did for the small radiator and attached the fans.

I made the shroud for this one from plexi. I did a mock up in Cardboard first then cut the pieces from thin plexi.

I had to clean up the fan wire mess, so I spliced them all together and hot glued them down to clean it all up.

Finally I set it in place inside the case for a test fit.

When I do the final install, I will clean up the edges with some black car-door trim I picked up from the auto parts store. It will give the cut edges of the plexi a more finished look.

The weather is cooler now, so I am hoping I can pick up the pace on this project.

byendor...

If you ever need gasketing material or various other odds and ends I would recommend checking McMaster-Carr. They carry a load of items from tools, to fastners to tubing. I personally love the place.

www.mcmaster.com

Great work mate, I like where this is going and I LOVE that case lol.

Where did you get you water cooling system? And what brand is it?

no fair!!!!!! mine is a 850 galaxy DxX but it doesn't have the DxX on the psu :( if you flip your psu around so the fan is up then the label will be too i think. when i got mine i thought it was going to be upside down but it wasn't once i installed it, picture.

OMW! indescribable jealousy!

Roughhouse - Thanks for the link. It looks like that company sells everything...I will definitly check them out in the future.

Spawn-Inc - Thanks for the suggestion. believe me, I have tried every configuration under the sun to get that logo turned in the right direction and still get it to vent properly to no avail. I think what it comes down to is the psu is designed for a standard configuration where the case opens on the left hand side as you are looking at it from the front. In this case the psu is mounted on the floor of the case on the right hand side. Not to worry though, I will come up with some method of either flipping it over, or just replacing it with something else. (I love the blacklight logo in the picture--It really pops out at you)

Fuganater - I have bought most of my parts for the water cooling system from Danger Den with the exception of the resevoir obviously which is my own creation. I pretty much find one company that is reliable and stick with them. I don't know much about water cooling, but DD seems to be a pretty good place for information and parts. (O.K. ad over now) I am waiting on two DD12V D5 pumps from there now. I originally bought a smaller pump, but it comes with 3/8 fittings and the D5 has the 1/2 inch fittings I am looking for. This water cooling system is really a trial by fire. I haven't ever built one before, so I am doing a lot of reading and buying parts in stages.

Well I'll deff keep watching because I want to do water cooling but have no idea. Spawn-Inc has been helping with it too. Keep going :D

I am in awe of your talent! Truely a fantastic project