HCP

Ran out of pipes, so i got stuck. Yesterday i got a message that the delivery will take alteast 10 more days... So, i did some testing... And, i´m just stuck again, i like the copper in some way, and the acrylic in another. Acrylic or copper ?

Something like this.... Time to hit the sander and prep the panels for paint, or wrap. Haven´t decided yet wich way to go. I dont like the waterblock for the 7950, but its the only i have that fits in this case, Pandora is only 16cm total width. I´ll have to look for a nice backplate, or make my own. More problems. Was planning on using the PrimoChill Ghost fitting, but that one on the GPU is too wide. The side panel is 100% tight against the GPU block, and that fitting is 2-3mm more. Ghost fitting that´s too big down right. The two top ones is what i have to choose from. Maybe incorporate a metallic red theme... hmm Or... use Ghost fittings all over, except for GPU where i use the black ones? (top left) Here´s how it stands out. This is how it looks trough the panel, pump got pretty nice positioned I tested the Ghost fitting with side panel on, it doesnt bulge, and its not visible that the fitting is head on with the side panel window. That would be the best solution, i like the Ghost fittings. Third day now, still stuck on how to route the acrylic tubing Any suggestions ? First routing idea. Pretty straight forward, one of the pipes has 5 bends in it. Not sure if i´ll pull that off This one is more complex, where the inlet for the CPU goes BEHIND the GPU. And the other one just trough the GPU and down. Its really tight pulling anything in front of the GPU due to case width (only 160mm) Bending testing goes well, the left one is done. Doing some testing with the right one, trying to run it paralell with the other. Quick notice... The black PSU/Floor shroud is NOT the final finish. Black paint is just a easy way to see scratches and other surface damages needed to be fixed

Test-fitting the floor to see where i need to mod it more to keep clearances for fans and case. Now starts the really fun work with cutting holes for all acrylic pipes for the pump and res

Three cuts and the panel is out. And make some bracing to hold the other hotswap bays and you´re golden!

Found a pic in a build log, not mine. -> http://cdn.overclock.net/b/b4/b42d7a93_33-CaseShowcaseC.jpeg I have mine in the closet somewhere, not used anymore, i can take more pics if you want.

You can, but its alot of cutting the case structure. You are better off buying another case. I solved my Core1000 NAS like this, 6 drives + ssd 3-bay hotswap in the top, 3bay internal bay from another case in the bottom with sticky tape - rock solid More pics -> http://www.howi.se/projects-mods/fractal-design-core-1000/

If you going to paint the handles, use a softer paint like vinyl paint, for painting softer materials. Dont know what its called over the pond, but in Sweden we have some spray paints made just for painting materials that flex and move without cracking the paint. I have painted alot of them, and also seen many other do it, with results both good and bad. Dont forget to seal it good with plastic primer or something, as the plastic "breath" and flake up the paint. Less problems with flex-paint.

I was stupid thinking i could be pleased with just one weekend of modding This has escalated to something more, as usual... I wanted to make some sort of floor to cover up the cables a bit, and somwhere to hide the pump and part of the reservoar. BUT, using the the cutout in the window to display the SSD, why not put the reservoar and pumpc-bombo there, so, i got to work I have a bunch of ITX motherboards, so i will go with that for this one. Maybe update later. Made some smooth backing to cover the holes and whatnot inside the case. Also has begun on the floor, due to width of the Pandora i had to cut out the PSU from the side. Some have asked why sinking the pump and res? - because the watercooled GPU will hit, or get a awkward position if i do not sink it into the floor, or put it horizontal and my DDC pump doesnt like that (the manual say). And already have alot of pump-res combos, not keen on ordering new stuff so i go with what i have Some pics... A overview The floor hiding everything below A quick rendering of the floor, just to get a feeling of what i´m aiming for. Pump/res is not designed accurate, just the measurements

There is a Core version also, without the display and just a logo

Painted the top now and when added the clear coat, it reacted with the color... bleh Time to sand it down again, re-paint and re-clear it Well, need to put time into the floor also anyways! More updates soon

In some pics, top left you can see a small table saw. Proxon KS230, nice little saw to hide away when not in use. http://www.proxxon.com/en/micromot/27006.php?list

Just took the insides of the top buttons and drilled holes in the back for them. No need for nice buttons back there, function only. pics comes on this later Yeah, the white is just primer for wet sanding Dont know if i want to keep the color yet, or paint it some other color.

Can´t call this weekend modding any more Next step was to remove the top buttons, i dont like them, too big for something i hardly will use. I moved the power/reset to the back of the case with small push-buttons. Made the top panel into a smooth panel instead, added a picture of the original panel also for comparison Aaaand, what i wanted. Except for color...

Nice one, loving it!

When i was cutting and looking at this, it probably will be more than a weekend mod Starting off with some templates to see how it may look. And short after, the acrylic floor. Time to think about holes and exits i need for cables, reservoar and front facing radiator. Im not really pleased with the sharp edge on the floor, probably add some rounded edge to match the rounded front panel.

Well, someone got to do it with the Pandora, so why not me ? First part of this mod is a weekend mod, i need to free up my current workstation case for a project, so im putting it into the Pandora. But, is it possible to just use a case without some modding? nooo Later on, a part 2 of this project will be made with some more crazy stuff. But, here we go for part 1 The Pandora on the table, its the Black version with window. After a couple of minutes, its naked! Time for the work to begin Radiator in the picture is only used for mockup, not used in a loop

Cray case has been sitting in my closet unfinished for a while, but im actually working on the Cray when the glue dries on the WOPR

Last weekend i decided to make big changes. When i first started the case project i used a noname Sketchup model that i refined to what i was thinking looked good. I have cut the case on the width, and the length and got changes going for the "tower" atleast 5 times. Now, i found that some proportions, angles were off from the real model. So, last weekend, i decided to... Start over... Well, not really, i keeped the lower part and just remaking the top part, in acrylic instead of styrene plastic. Better strenght and also better base to put paint on later. All electronics and LED-panels will still be used. After two weekend of working, this is where i am at now. Rocks on pretty sweet, i have done this one time before and knows what troubles i had last time. So putting all together goes really quick. Cutting all pieces took most of the time. Right now its just a matter of putting all pieces together, and plan for the insides. (Sorry for the mess, i cant clean the desk just for some pics ) The WOPR 2.0 I started off with a frame and some quarter pieces of wood. Frame and side pieces holding the LED-panels are done. The current status. Held together with some tape.

Been leaktesting it over the night. All works good. I have a idea of making the short pipe in a 90 degree bend instead of this curve, well, thats the 2.0 version i beleive. Time to put all parts back on the case, add color to the water and fire it up Final pics later!

Well, time to put this puppy together

Current look of the hard lines. Changing fittings to Primochill Ghost, easier to fit the piping when i have so difficult bends around the reservoar. Have made a new floor to cover up the holes, but at the same time im thinking if it can be used for passive cooling, and i just add some mesh to it below. Finalizing it this weekend i hope!

Lower line almost there, have some tweaking to do before its perfect. (this is only a template, will use it to make the real one later) Almost time to paint the insides and start putting everything together Intel motherboard in now also, im getting closer and closer! Here you can see the reason for the strange lower line, its the out-port from the pump. And it will probably look cool filled with fluid

Tested to paint the EK block i had laying around, planning to hook up two white LED´s to it. Maybe remove paint from the rings to get more effect. Also made some bracings for the radiator, the middle one need some shaping to not interfere with the air so much i think. And some more loving in the holes, going to make them like 2 holes high to make space for adjustments.

Mockup of the parts and trying to find a route for the hard lines. Doing the mockup with the AMD board, just to not damage the Intel board that goes into it later. I think this is the final position of the PSU. Motherboard and radiator cant be moved around so much so they are in their position. Reservoar-pump-combo, not sure yet. I would love to have one more 120mm fan behind it in the picture. Now its work on the lifted side/floor behind the motherboard on the bench. More updates later Let me know if you have any ideas about routing the acrylic tubing, or placement of the res.

Oops, forgot that one. Motherboard is a Asrock FM2A85-ITX with 2x8gb Geil modules (using mockup modules now). AMD 6800k APU, and a Samsung EVO 840 SSD, (maybe a Intel 520, 120gb, dont know yet wich one i will use, have both.). Going with hardline watercooling, Laing DDC pump and EK 240mm radiator. Fans will probably use Corsair SP-fans i already use in another rig that this one will replace. I have added space below the motherboard to add a GPU later, if i need it. And internals are layed out so i can change to a ATX Psu without anything interfering. Using a Be Quiet 450w SFX powersupply right now. But i have some changes to do, will change the PSU to horizontal above the motherboard, so i can hide the cables behind the motherboard plate, and better space for pump and reservoar. Not all details planned yet, i see new stuff to make all the time I was only supposed to paint the gray base...