ThePylon 5.5 - Supporting the Future

[TheProfosist]

Well its that time again, time for a new build log that is! This time we are looking at my HTPC/Server ThePylon. It has gone through many changes over the years and at one point was even two computers. This time however it made it over 3 years with out any significant changes, as its name suggests. Things were actually starting to go and be unstable. The 2TB Hitachi drives were still from shortly after the flooding in Thailand that screwed up the HDD market up until the recent year or so. All but one had failed and already been RMA'd once. The build in general needed an update.

ThePylon has always been the name of my server since its inception in an ancient all steel beige super tower (let me know if you get the reference ). The 5.25in bays were compartmentalized from the motherboard and it actually had a tray for the mother board as well as a PSU compartment. It is the backbone of all of my data, essentially a huge file share. Back then I also had a separate PC acting as a HTPC for anime, movie, and music playback as well as recording TV and gaming. Both of these systems were on all the time so I felt the most efficient thing would be to combine them.

This is the first build log that I have done where the system is completed before starting the log. This should give me a bit more control of when and how frequently stuff goes up once I get all the pic's together


If there is anything you want to know about the build in addition to what I have already posted please let me know. I will all the questions as best I can, your replies are appreciated!

 

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Parts List

Logs:
00 - Starting from the end.



Special thanks to @Charger for making the banners for this build log.

[TheProfosist]

CPU: Intel Core i7-3820 - Newegg
Motherboard: ASUS Sabertooth X79 - Newegg
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3 1600mhz 1.35v (CMZ16GX3M4X1600C9G) - Newegg
GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 SSC ACX 2.0+ 4GB (04G-P4-3975-KR) - EVGA | Newegg
Expansion Cards:

• LSI MegaRAID SATA/SAS 9260-4i SATA III PCI-E 2.0 RAID Controller - Newegg
• Ceton Corp Ceton InfiniTV 6 PCI-E Six-Tuner CableCard Tuner (5205-DCT06IN-PCIE) - Newegg

SSD: Intel 730 480GB (SSDSC2BP480G4R5) - Newegg
HDD:

• Seagate SV35.6 2TB 7200rpm 64mb (ST2000VX000) [1TB per platter] - Newegg - For recoding TV
• 4x Seagate Archive 8TB 5900rpm 128mb (ST8000AS0002) [SMR based] - ServerSupply | Newegg

PSU: SeaSonic Platinum-520w Fanless (SS-520FL) - Newegg - Dead silent because #NoFan
UPS: CyberPower PFC Sinewave 1000 VA 600 W (CP1000PFCLCD) - Newegg - Best value Pure Sine Wave available
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 Titanium (R5 FD-CA-DEF-R5-TI) - Newegg
Case Accessories:

• Scythe Easy Mobile Rack (SCEMR-1000) - Performance PCs - Best hotswap even with it's sub-par build
• EVGA 4-Port USB 2.0 Header (W000-00-000085) - EVGA

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U14S - Newegg - Fits X79 even with dual fans
Fans:

• 2x Noctua NF-P14r redux-1500 PWM - Performance PCs | Newegg
• 6x Noctua NF-P14s redux-1500 PWM - Performance PCs | Newegg
• Noctua NF-R8 PWM - Newegg

Fan Accessories:

• Nexus WaveAir 80mm PCI Slot Cooler - Amazon | Newegg
• Swiftech 8-way PWM Fan Hub - Performance PCs
• 2x 60cm MaxFinder Tripple Braided PWM Fan Extension - Newegg

Cables:

• 2x Silverstone CP06-E4 4-Port Capacitated SATA Power - Newegg - Get the E4, is the "Super Flexible Edition"
• 0.5m Mini SAS to 4x SATA Breakout Cable - Monoprice
• 3x 18in Black SATA III Cable with Locking Latch - Monoprice
• MaxFinder Tripple Braided 24-pin Motherboard Extension - Performance PCs
• MaxFinder Tripple Braided 8-pin EPS Extension - Performance PCs
• MaxFinder Tripple Braided 8-pin PCI-E Extension - Performace PCs

Peripherals:

• ASUS USB-BT400 Bluetooth 4.0 USB Adapter - Newegg
• StarTech Rugged Industrial 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub - Newegg - Beefcake!, that is all
• OKGEAR 12V/5V Molex AC Adapter (PA-AD-UL) - Newegg - Powers the beef, see above
• Rosewill WMC Infrared Remote for Windows Vista/7/8 - Newegg - Best layout for no look operation
• Lenovo ThinkPad Compact Bluetooth Keyboard with TrackPoint - Lenovo | Amazon - TrackPoint's for Life!
• Logitech Wireless Trackball M570 - Newegg - For serious PC couch action
• Razer Sabertooth Wired Xbox 360 Controller - Newegg - Best X360 controller available!
• Razer Onza Tournament Edition Wired Xbox 360 Controller - Newegg - Dont buy this... its the reason they made the Sabertooth
• Power A FUS1ON Wired Xbox 360 Controller - Amazon - She's got some fat sticks!

[TheProfosist]

Log 00 - Starting from the end. | 2015.08.24

Since this build is already complete I though I would give everyone a treat and make the first log the completed project. I know it takes some of the mystery out of the build but you will know where this is headed in the end and can keep that in mind as I push the other updates out.

I did notice something right away when I was taking pics. I really should have painted the cart I made for it. It was really never supposed to be in any picture and just be a utilitarian piece to move the computer around on. But the added height actually helped greatly for taking picture due to the slight additional height and easy mobility for different angles.

Click on image for full size view, or middle click to view in new tab.

Additional Angles:

Side Panel:

Front Access:

Modded Moduvents:

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[CatCloud]

Nice, but that wooden pallet sticks out, Paint it!

 

Also the 2 bottom banners feels out of place! at lest make the black parts on both sides like on the first/main banner, and center "The pylon" text on the last one. 

@Charger 

 

 

as for the build itself, nice and simple, braided cables could make it cleaner but not a big deal IMO.

[TheProfosist]

Nice, but that wooden pallet sticks out, Paint it!

 

Also the 2 bottom banners feels out of place! at lest make the black parts on both sides like on the first/main banner, and center "The pylon" text on the last one. 

@Charger 

 

 

as for the build itself, nice and simple, braided cables could make it cleaner but not a big deal IMO.

That cart is going to be the death of this build! I guess ill just have to say I left it that way so that people actually had somekthing to complain about Yeah, right after finishing taking pics I decided it needed a lick of black paint. Would you go glossy or matt?

Well umm @Charger said that he may make improvements...

Do you mean sewn? Because those are already sleeved extensions, some of the best too.

[TheProfosist]

All of the final pics are up for the log, the parts list is coming next!

[Charger]

Nice, but that wooden pallet sticks out, Paint it!

Also the 2 bottom banners feels out of place! at lest make the black parts on both sides like on the first/main banner, and center "The pylon" text on the last one.

@Charger

as for the build itself, nice and simple, braided cables could make it cleaner but not a big deal IMO.

ya I just quickly made them trying to copy his last build logs style.

[TheProfosist]

ya I just quickly made them trying to copy his last build logs style.

I think the style fits...

[TheProfosist]

Let me know what you guy think of the spoilers in Log #00.

[Charger]

Also the 2 bottom banners feels out of place! at lest make the black parts on both sides like on the first/main banner, and center "The pylon" text on the last one. 

@Charger

 

Well umm @Charger said that he may make improvements...

Not sure sure if these are any better or not

[CatCloud]

 

Not sure sure if these are any better or not

id say its better, but why is the smaller banner ...smaller?

@Charger at lest make the black ...things bigger, the text is fine.

[TheProfosist]

id say its better, but why is the smaller banner ...smaller?

hmmm idk, should probably be bigger.

[Charger]

id say its better, but why is the smaller banner ...smaller?

dont ask me I just copied his sizes from the anthrax thread lol

[TheProfosist]

dont ask me I just copied his sizes from the anthrax thread lol

Those were kinda thrown together...

[TheProfosist]

A mostly complete but semi ghetto parts list has been added. To be updated more in the future (probably tomorrow).

[TheProfosist]

Sorry guys, didn't have time to update the parts list as I got called in to work.

[TheProfosist]

Sadly I wasn't able to get it on Pimp My PC and it didn't happen. I thought with enough traction it still might but nope. Well when Kyle does it again ill be counting you all! (Thanks BTW)

Ill get the parts list done today and all prettied up for you guys after that ive got other things I need to work on sadly.

Anyone else have feedback on this build? I'm actually kinda surprised there isn't at all or are you guys waiting on more of the "building" part?

[Atomicnerd64]

Sadly I wasn't able to get it on Pimp My PC and it didn't happen. I thought with enough traction it still might but nope. Well when Kyle does it again ill be counting you all! (Thanks BTW)

Ill get the parts list done today and all prettied up for you guys after that ive got other things I need to work on sadly.

Anyone else have feedback on this build? I'm actually kinda surprised there isn't at all or are you guys waiting on more of the "building" part?

pics are exciting but get to the spicy part, man!!

[Norman_the_Owl]

What happened to the old case? You make it sound awesome

[wolfgang]

What is the little fan hanging off the back of the case? This is kinda making me want to make a small backup server for work.

[TheProfosist]

pics are exciting but get to the spicy part, man!!

lol usually that not what people are interested in at least for the other build logs. But ill get there and itll go through a couple revisions before it gets to where it is now. Im finally happy with it though, meets all my needs.

What happened to the old case? You make it sound awesome

Oh the really old one, well it was a pain and I might have modded it one too many times. Also the top and sides were all one piece with nine screws so opening it up was a real pain. Ill see if I have any pictures of it anywhere but I have a feeling its gone as in 2011 my server at the time took a dump and took everything with it. I can only imagine that pics of it were on there.

The pic below is close though no top 3.5 bay. I think youll understand the idea though.

[TheProfosist]

What is the little fan hanging off the back of the case? This is kinda making me want to make a small backup server for work.

That is an additional intake to cool the RAID card. There is a 80mm PWM Noctua inside which is vastly better than anything your supposed to mount on the card to cool it in both noise and cooling power. The fan is controlled by the on board control and im pulling from temp sensors in the PCI-E slots near there. Ill have it in the parts list of you interested. To my knowledge they are the only ones to make something like that.

[TheProfosist]

so i know I promised a finished parts list yesterday well that's goona have to happen today instead.

[TheProfosist]

cute cable extensions

It would be cable extension-less if I hadn't already had then from building my desktop (Anthrax 7.0) before I went to a fully sleeved PSU. I tried to sell them but no one wanted them so I put them to some use. I think they match the build quite nicely. They are MaxFinder which is one of the nicest brands for extensions in my opinion. I must say the Korean's know how to make some nice things besides Glasslock and Custom Keyboards.

[TheProfosist]

whats up with the fan shroud hangin off the back ?

I love how all these questions are in this thread not the build thread.

Thats is an additional intake. The LSI RAID card gets very hot and instead of mounting some tiny little fan on it that makes a ton of noise I mounted a 80mm PWM Noctua Fan to the PCI slot right below it. It will be better at cooling it and quieter while doing it. its a pretty unique bracket which ill have the link up soon for.