Project: Opposition

I have a small pyramid of boxes ready to unpack, expect a major update with a lot of pictures tonight.

Merry Christmas to me...

Unfortunately, it's not all good news. I ordered some parts from Xoxide as well as Newegg. Newegg delivered my packages to the Edward Jones Investment firm below my apartment, not that big a deal but a little annoying. Xoxide however used FedEx and came right to my door, unfortunately that was the good news with them. The bad news is that three items I ordered weren't in the box.

2 XSPC LCD Heat Sensors

And more importantly my Corsair H100 Water Cooler.

Oddly, somebody goofed and sent me 2 XSPC dual bay reservoir pumps.

A look at the invoice shows both the sensors listed but no H100 (doesn't list the reservoir pumps either). It does however include the H100 in the total cost on the invoice, so I'm a little bit bothered right now.

I have to take the dog to the vet this morning, then I'm going to assemble the PC. I'm not going to risk OCing with the stock cooler, but it should run at least until I get this mess straightened out.

Quick Update:
Just got off the phone with Xoxide, my sensors were just apparently not packed. And the Corsair is already on it's way, it was packed separately.

So, I'll have the machine running today but not absolutely finished until the weekend most likely.

Here's the assembled front bezel...

Wiring from the bezel and fans only...

I got cracking on the boxes today, since I've got the water cooler and sensors inbound, I'm going to hold off on firing it up till I get those in.

Meanwhile, I can mount the motherboard and other parts now and see about getting the side panels painted. Either way, it's looking like I'm going to be putting the beast through it's paces this weekend.

Mmm... new hardware. lol

Happy Accident time.

Good News:
I got the Corsair H100.
Bad news, it doesn't fit in my case.

More accurately, I can just BARELY squeeze it in. But then I don't have room for a second 6950. Even so, there's still questions about the wiring if I mount the H100.

The good news is, Xoxide goofed again...

This time they sent me both an H100 and an H60.

I mounted the H60 in my rear exhaust position and suddenly there's room again.

Anyhow, I got everything shoe horned in and things appear okay, though I do need to rewire the start button (I didn't account for the upside down motherboard, so my power button doesn't work). Luckilly, there's a start button on the motherboard itself and everything seems to be working.

So, it's just a question of tidying up the wiring, and fixing a few settings (the Lamptron needs to be set to red for instance).

Love this motherboard...

This video card comes with it's own zip code, putting two in is really going to be a tight fit.

Almost there!

Minor update today, everything went together well. Unfortunately when I turned the power on, nothing happened. Well, the fans came on, etc. But the monitor stayed black. So, of course I went through the tedium of checking each part individually (maybe it's a bad ram chip, etc?) nothing worked so I called ASUS and the second I mentioned that I was using a Zambezi processor with that motherboard I was asked to hold.

A few minutes later I find out that I need a BIOS update that is not currently available, they took my email and assured me I would receive instructions in a few days. So, it's waiting time again...

Meanwhile, the rain won't let up. Which is really putting a crimp into any painting work I want to do.

BAH HUMBUG!

Quick update, I received my new BIOS chip via American Express today. Unfortunately, this changed nothing. Screen is still blank, I did move my water cooler's power plug to the correct socket and noticed the video card fans were noticeably louder but the PC still doesn't work. I'm pissed beyond belief at this point.

I am glad your mod apart from the way a connection can not wait to see the final product.