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Alienware Area 51 ALX restoration.

ALXAndy
By ALXAndy
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Do you have any plans on painting or adding red vinyl accents onto the exterior of the case? Or are you going to try to 'preserve' it's look?

 

No mate nothing. I want it totally stock on the outside :) There's a very high chance I will take the cut panel I have left over and put a full sized window in it with some etching but yeah, nothing else planned.

 

So yeah, expect a window mod (a good looking one that isn't just for cooling) and maybe some etching etc as I find that fun :D

Area 51 2014. Intel 5820k@ 4.4ghz. MSI X99.16gb Quad channel ram. AMD Fury X.Asus RAIDR.OCZ ARC 480gb SSD. Velociraptor 600gb. 2tb WD.

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So I decided I wanted to use some power tools today.. First up I took the bad panel (replacement is on the way as we speak) and masked it up.

 

DSC09769_zpsqji6fcsk.jpg

 

I killed a Black and Decker Firestorm rotary tool doing this. It took about three hours...

 

DSC09770_zps9b0snng5.jpg

 

And then..

 

DSC09771_zpsyq44awpw.jpg

 

Quick test.

 

DSC09773_zpsqsrkph0l.jpg

 

DSC09774_zpsc86lwei6.jpg

 

Now it just needs hours of filing, some 3mm smoked acrylic and some paint. I need to repaint it....

Area 51 2014. Intel 5820k@ 4.4ghz. MSI X99.16gb Quad channel ram. AMD Fury X.Asus RAIDR.OCZ ARC 480gb SSD. Velociraptor 600gb. 2tb WD.

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With a case and window that big that build is just asking for a hard pipe loop!

Desktop: ARX-Laevatein : soon to be ARX-8 http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/8RyhHx

Custom Aurora R4 ALX case + Caselabs Merlin Pedestal | i7- 4820k @ 4.8 Ghz | Asus Rampage IV Gene Mobo | 16gb Corsair Dominator Platinum | EVGA/Gigabyte 12GB Titan X SLI | 128GB Samsung 850 Pro + 1TB Samsung 850 Pro + 2x WD RED 3TB| EVGA 1200 P2 PSU | Win 10 | Razer Black Widow Chroma | Corsair M95 | Asus ROG Swift PG278Q | Sennheiser G4ME ZERO White

 

Laptop: M17x R4 Stealth Black :

 i7-3940xm | 32 Gb G.Skill Ripjaws | 8Gb GTX 880m | Killer Wireless N-1103 | 500Gb Samsung 840 EVO, 1TB WD 5400rpm + 32Gb Msata SSD Cache | 1920 x 1080 120Hz 3D screen | DVDRWBD | Sound Blaster recon 3Di | M18x 330w PSU | Win 7 Ultimate | Zalman ZM-NC11 Black | Corsair Vengeance K70 RGB | Razer Mamba 2012 | Sennheiser PC 363D 7.1 Headset

 

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With a case and window that big that build is just asking for a hard pipe loop!

 

I'd love to, but I can't get over my fear of water and electronics... Maybe one day I'll invite one of my friends over to do it for me :)

Area 51 2014. Intel 5820k@ 4.4ghz. MSI X99.16gb Quad channel ram. AMD Fury X.Asus RAIDR.OCZ ARC 480gb SSD. Velociraptor 600gb. 2tb WD.

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I'd love to, but I can't get over my fear of water and electronics... Maybe one day I'll invite one of my friends over to do it for me :)

 

Baby steps mate. If a noob like me has a watercooled pc as his first build what more for people like you? Its easy to have knowledge but hard to acquire experience. Sometimes you just have to do it. The fun in watercooling is in doing it yourself. Besides you could use stuff other than water.   

Desktop: ARX-Laevatein : soon to be ARX-8 http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/8RyhHx

Custom Aurora R4 ALX case + Caselabs Merlin Pedestal | i7- 4820k @ 4.8 Ghz | Asus Rampage IV Gene Mobo | 16gb Corsair Dominator Platinum | EVGA/Gigabyte 12GB Titan X SLI | 128GB Samsung 850 Pro + 1TB Samsung 850 Pro + 2x WD RED 3TB| EVGA 1200 P2 PSU | Win 10 | Razer Black Widow Chroma | Corsair M95 | Asus ROG Swift PG278Q | Sennheiser G4ME ZERO White

 

Laptop: M17x R4 Stealth Black :

 i7-3940xm | 32 Gb G.Skill Ripjaws | 8Gb GTX 880m | Killer Wireless N-1103 | 500Gb Samsung 840 EVO, 1TB WD 5400rpm + 32Gb Msata SSD Cache | 1920 x 1080 120Hz 3D screen | DVDRWBD | Sound Blaster recon 3Di | M18x 330w PSU | Win 7 Ultimate | Zalman ZM-NC11 Black | Corsair Vengeance K70 RGB | Razer Mamba 2012 | Sennheiser PC 363D 7.1 Headset

 

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Baby steps mate. If a noob like me has a watercooled pc as his first build what more for people like you? Its easy to have knowledge but hard to acquire experience. Sometimes you just have to do it. The fun in watercooling is in doing it yourself. Besides you could use stuff other than water.   

 

The biggest issue is the rig isn't mine. It belongs to my lady, and now it's built it really shouldn't be coming apart. 

 

Once the side panel is done I really shouldn't mess with it.

Area 51 2014. Intel 5820k@ 4.4ghz. MSI X99.16gb Quad channel ram. AMD Fury X.Asus RAIDR.OCZ ARC 480gb SSD. Velociraptor 600gb. 2tb WD.

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Oh dang xD!?!. Welp........errr ask her if she wants baller status? Sorry mate thats the best I got. :P

Desktop: ARX-Laevatein : soon to be ARX-8 http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/8RyhHx

Custom Aurora R4 ALX case + Caselabs Merlin Pedestal | i7- 4820k @ 4.8 Ghz | Asus Rampage IV Gene Mobo | 16gb Corsair Dominator Platinum | EVGA/Gigabyte 12GB Titan X SLI | 128GB Samsung 850 Pro + 1TB Samsung 850 Pro + 2x WD RED 3TB| EVGA 1200 P2 PSU | Win 10 | Razer Black Widow Chroma | Corsair M95 | Asus ROG Swift PG278Q | Sennheiser G4ME ZERO White

 

Laptop: M17x R4 Stealth Black :

 i7-3940xm | 32 Gb G.Skill Ripjaws | 8Gb GTX 880m | Killer Wireless N-1103 | 500Gb Samsung 840 EVO, 1TB WD 5400rpm + 32Gb Msata SSD Cache | 1920 x 1080 120Hz 3D screen | DVDRWBD | Sound Blaster recon 3Di | M18x 330w PSU | Win 7 Ultimate | Zalman ZM-NC11 Black | Corsair Vengeance K70 RGB | Razer Mamba 2012 | Sennheiser PC 363D 7.1 Headset

 

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Update. The panel is now clean, sanded, filed and prepared for paint. I needed some parts so I got these earlier.

 

hole%20things_zpsx6ydocn8.jpg

 

paint_zps2buqrodn.jpg

 

tape_zpsvcmzzziw.jpg

Area 51 2014. Intel 5820k@ 4.4ghz. MSI X99.16gb Quad channel ram. AMD Fury X.Asus RAIDR.OCZ ARC 480gb SSD. Velociraptor 600gb. 2tb WD.

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Mrs ALX was so pleased.. Look what she bought Mr ALX

 

alienware-area-51-3-54c90ab5d3cc4_zpspkz

 

order2_zps91nxjkqb.jpg

 

We are now an all Alienware household.

Area 51 2014. Intel 5820k@ 4.4ghz. MSI X99.16gb Quad channel ram. AMD Fury X.Asus RAIDR.OCZ ARC 480gb SSD. Velociraptor 600gb. 2tb WD.

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i want to mod that case so badly.

NEW BUILD LOG!!!: Project Comilinx http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/313532-in-progress-project-comilinx-side-panel-modpainting-update-1932015/

Other build: Project Impracticality http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/131898-wip-project-impracticality-new-name-partsdesign-update/

Wallpaper dump: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/227721-cool-backgrounds-i-found-on-imgur-now-with-phone-backgrounds/

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i want to mod that case so badly.

 

I've been sitting on Fleabay waiting for one for months. Sadly it's just not happening. The CPU and ram (and X99 etc) are a very nice upgrade for me though. I was going to buy GPUs, then I thought better of it. I want to get another year at least out of my TBs.

Area 51 2014. Intel 5820k@ 4.4ghz. MSI X99.16gb Quad channel ram. AMD Fury X.Asus RAIDR.OCZ ARC 480gb SSD. Velociraptor 600gb. 2tb WD.

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OK so as I mentioned I had something lined up for the old panel that was cut. Something very different...

 

You'll remember I basically cut up and took apart an old Bitfenix Colossus panel. Well, that's what I'm using. Check out the glass. It has tiny white dots all over it. The only bummer was there were three holes on show, so as you can see I bought hole plugs.

 

DSC09785_zpsrpwdk6od.jpg

 

And a rough mock up.

 

DSC09787_zpssa43f0wc.jpg

 

And yeah, I think it will look pretty decent once the panel is repainted :)

Area 51 2014. Intel 5820k@ 4.4ghz. MSI X99.16gb Quad channel ram. AMD Fury X.Asus RAIDR.OCZ ARC 480gb SSD. Velociraptor 600gb. 2tb WD.

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Awesome project, dig the Mnpctech fan grill on front, too!

 

Thanks. I must admit I've got a bit of a soft spot for them now. Great price, great designs and very clean :)

Area 51 2014. Intel 5820k@ 4.4ghz. MSI X99.16gb Quad channel ram. AMD Fury X.Asus RAIDR.OCZ ARC 480gb SSD. Velociraptor 600gb. 2tb WD.

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Panel on the way !

 

trackinginfonew_zpskvgljvsc.jpg

Area 51 2014. Intel 5820k@ 4.4ghz. MSI X99.16gb Quad channel ram. AMD Fury X.Asus RAIDR.OCZ ARC 480gb SSD. Velociraptor 600gb. 2tb WD.

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OK so the panel was in Chicago yesterday. I would imagine that this week it will make its way to the UK, then I will be able to track it here. It always goes quiet for a couple of days.

 

Today I masked up my kitchen and laid some paint on the panel. It looks OK atm but still very wet, so will try and get some pics today or tomorrow when it's touch dry :)

Area 51 2014. Intel 5820k@ 4.4ghz. MSI X99.16gb Quad channel ram. AMD Fury X.Asus RAIDR.OCZ ARC 480gb SSD. Velociraptor 600gb. 2tb WD.

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OK so the panel was in Chicago yesterday. I would imagine that this week it will make its way to the UK, then I will be able to track it here. It always goes quiet for a couple of days.

 

Today I masked up my kitchen and laid some paint on the panel. It looks OK atm but still very wet, so will try and get some pics today or tomorrow when it's touch dry :)

Why didn't you go paint out in a garage? :P

 

Spoiler

Senor Shiny: Main- CPU Intel i7 6700k 4.7GHz @1.42v | RAM G.Skill TridentZ CL16 3200 | GPU Asus Strix GTX 1070 (2100/2152) | Motherboard ASRock Z170 OC Formula | HDD Seagate 1TB x2 | SSD 850 EVO 120GB | CASE NZXT S340 (Black) | PSU Supernova G2 750W  | Cooling NZXT Kraken X62 w/Vardars
Secondary (Plex): CPU Intel Xeon E3-1230 v3 @1.099v | RAM Samsun Wonder 16GB CL9 1600 (sadly no oc) | GPU Asus GTX 680 4GB DCII | Motherboard ASRock H97M-Pro4 | HDDs Seagate 1TB, WD Blue 1TB, WD Blue 3TB | Case Corsair Air 240 (Black) | PSU EVGA 600B | Cooling GeminII S524

Spoiler

(Deceased) DangerousNotDell- CPU AMD AMD FX 8120 @4.8GHz 1.42v | GPU Asus GTX 680 4GB DCII | RAM Samsung Wonder 8GB (CL9 2133MHz 1.6v) | Motherboard Asus Crosshair V Formula-Z | Cooling EVO 212 | Case Rosewill Redbone | PSU EVGA 600B | HDD Seagate 1TB

DangerousNotDell New Parts For Main Rig Build Log, Señor Shiny  I am a beautiful person. The comments for your help. I have to be a good book. I have to be a good book. I have to be a good book.

 

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Why didn't you go paint out in a garage? :P

 

I live in a seaside flat mate. No garden, no shed, no garage, no outside area and no designated parking. It's a bit of a pig, and I am always moaning and saying I want to move but then the sun comes out and well, I have a beach as my garden. The sunsets are also mind blowing here.

 

It seems to have gone pretty well. I have put it out on the downstair flat's extension roof to air (cause it foogin STINKS !) but the finish looks pretty good to me :)

 

I've used Montana paint. Not for the amateur 'cause it comes out fast and wet but you can achieve compressor finishes with it if you know what you're doing.

 

It's all a bit in vain but nothing is ever good enough for my lady and she can then choose what she wants on there :)

Area 51 2014. Intel 5820k@ 4.4ghz. MSI X99.16gb Quad channel ram. AMD Fury X.Asus RAIDR.OCZ ARC 480gb SSD. Velociraptor 600gb. 2tb WD.

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It's not often I surprise myself any more. I mean, I wouldn't, I'm 42 years old. But today I surprised myself.

 

Usually when doing mods I buy in all of the stuff I need to do the mod with. This time I just went through a big pile of old crap ready for the landfill. That's not usual for me, usually I want things to be the best they can be but this time I was only doing this panel for something to do and to get the thing covered up to keep the dust out until the new one came.

 

So yeah, painted the panel.

 

DSC09797_zpsdifnqynw.jpg

 

Montana black FTW.

 

Flipped it over and put on the double sided foam tape.

 

DSC09798_zpsrd6pl1e4.jpg

 

Peel, fit glass.

 

DSC09799_zpsfdw1p4te.jpg

 

And I gotta admit I was stunned. I only spent £8 on a can of paint and about £3 on a roll of tape. Everything else I Wombled from rubbish.

 

Some glamour pics. Window fitted.

 

DSC09803_zps7fxmm3j5.jpg

 

DSC09806_zpsroeu1fas.jpg

 

DSC09807_zpstkeg4lfa.jpg

 

DSC09808_zpszhj9n5qb.jpg

 

I tell you what it's actually going to be hard to remove that panel to put a plain one on instead....

Area 51 2014. Intel 5820k@ 4.4ghz. MSI X99.16gb Quad channel ram. AMD Fury X.Asus RAIDR.OCZ ARC 480gb SSD. Velociraptor 600gb. 2tb WD.

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