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Fractal Design Define S ASUS Maximus VII Watercooled PC

Mnpctech
By Mnpctech
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This is the case mod I did for Fractal Design's event in Computex this week. The Define S chassis allows you to mount three 120mm or two 140mm cooling fans directly behind the bezel. This feature allows more interior space for larger radiators or push-pull fan configurations. The bezel's ventilated sides provide sufficient airflow for the factory default fan locations configurations. Opening the front of the bezel will improve airflow even more.

 

Supplies & Tools Needed for this Case Mod:

 

1. 3M Scotch 233+ Green Professional Masking Tape,

 

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2. 12" Measuring Square and Pen or Pencil

 

3. Dremel or Rotary Tool with Reinforced Cutting Wheels, 

 

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4. Jigsaw with 18 TPI or higher Bi-Metal cutting blade

 

5. Hand File

 

6. Medium Grit Sandpaper or 3M Red Scotchbrite pads, 

 

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7. 24" x 12" Round Modder's Mesh Sheet,

 

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8. 3M ScotchWeld DP-190 Two Part Epoxy with Applicator Tip

 

9. Wire Clip or Tin Snip (Optional)

 


10. PETG Tube for PC Liquid Cooling. $.99 per 12" long tube, 1/2" OD x 3/8" ID PETG clear tube for Custom PC liquid cooling loops offers the same clear quality as standard Acrylic with an excellent impact strength and easy bend-ability.

 

PETG Clear Tube works with these 1/2" hard line compression fittings that include,

Alphacool HT 13mm OD hard tube

Monsoon Free Center Hardline Fitting - 3/8" ID x 1/2" OD

Monsoon Chain Gun Hardline Fitting - 3/8" ID x 1/2" OD

Primochill Ghost Hardline Fitting - 3/8" ID x 1/2" OD

Primochill Revolver Hardline Fitting - 3/8" ID x 1/2" OD

 

petg_tube_tubing_hardline_pc_bend_waterc

 


 

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The Define S bezel is factory molded from ABS plastic, which is very durable and resilient to cracking. Removing a majority of the face plate didn't effect overall rigidity.

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The backside of the bezel shows it's simplicity in design.

 

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The first step is to cover the bezel with 3M Scotch 233+ Masking tape. This allows you to write measurements onto the bezel and protects it from being scratched by the Jigsaw.

 

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Measure and mark off the portion of material you wish to remove. This cut-out will have 1" bordered frame of material remaining. Put on your Safety Glasses and use Rotary Tool with cutting wheel to make incision cuts in each corner. This will allow you to use a Jigsaw to make the long straight cuts efficiently.

 

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Use Jigsaw with 18 TPI or higher Bi-Metal cutting blade to make the long cuts as straight as possible.

 

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After finishing all of the cuts with the jigsaw, use a hand file and medium grit sand paper to clean and fix all of the edges.

 

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Inspecting progress before moving onto the next stage.

 

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These are two of the multiple mounting pegs on the backside of the bezel. We've chosen to remove the inner facing base support of each peg with a Wire cutter, so the mesh can be cut as rectangular piece. This step isn't required if you cut the Modder's Mesh sheet to fit around each mounting peg.

 

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Use medium sand paper to smooth over the surface after cutting the one side of each peg base.

 

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This material is 22 gauge perforated plain steel. 5/32" holes 3/16" staggered centers. 33 holes per square inch.

 

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It's great for creating custom fan guards, grills, and cooling vents like this. It does need to be painted or clear coated otherwise it is a bare steel and will oxidize over time.

 

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The mesh grill will be attached with 3M Scotch Weld DP-190 two part epoxy with mixture applicator attachment.

 

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Place bezel on it's face. Apply the epoxy with it's applicator over the mesh overlapping the back of the bezel. It will ooze and sink into the individual holes of the mesh.

 

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Use c-clamps or spring loaded clamps to hold the mesh in position as it cures for 24 hours.

 

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Place some heavy objects on the mesh. This will prevent the mesh from bowing or warping as the DP-190 epoxy during it's 24 hour cure time.

 

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The bezel will be ready to handle 24 hours after the epoxied mesh has cured.

17 years of helping you void your warranty

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Nice mod, I have this case and what I might do is Dremel off the pegs on the side so allow for slightly more airflow, but right now it suffices. Are you going to be spray painting that mesh black?

Intel Core i7-5820K (4.4 GHz) | Gigabyte GTX 970 G1 Gaming | Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB  | 2x 360mm Custom Loop (Noctua iPPC) | ASRock X99 Extreme6 | Samsung 840 EVO 250GB | Fractal Design Define S | Corsair HX750 | Windows 10 | Corsair M65 RGB PRO | Corsair K70 RGB LUX (CherryMX Brown) | Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro & Creative Sound Blaster Z | Nexus 6P (32GB Aluminium) | Check out my setup: Project Kalte Here!

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Looks awesome

 

inb4 Define S Air Flow Edition :P

CPU: Xeon 1230v3 - GPU: GTX 770  - SSD: 120GB 840 Evo - HDD: WD Blue 1TB - RAM: Ballistix 8GB - Case: CM N400 - PSU: CX 600M - Cooling: Cooler Master 212 Evo

Update Plans: Mini ITX this bitch

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Very Nice BILL please post more here please 

IntelCorei54670k,Maximus VI Formula,Swift tech H220, 16gigs Corsair Dominator platinums, Asus DCUII GTX 780,1x256 840 evo, 1x 2TB Segate barracuda, Corsair AX 860, 

3 X Noctua NF-F12, 2x Noctua NF A-14, Ducky Shine 3 Blue Leds Blue switches, Razer Death Adder 2012, Corsair vengence 1400  

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Interesting to see what you do with this, Bill. Subbed. :)

 c u r r e n t  /  ROG MAXIMUS Z690 FORMULA  /  I7-12700K  /  2080TI  /  32GB DDR5  /  LIAN LI PC-O11 DYNAMIC

 Z170 STINGER  /  6700K  /  TITAN X  /  32GB DDR4  /  NZXT MANTA  /  j u i c e b o x  build log

nohasslemods› 

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Nice to see you posting your builds over here, can't wait to see what else you've got coming.

N64 HTPC: [Completed]

 

Main PC: i7 4770k @ 4.2 Ghz | Be Quiet! Dark Rock TF | Asus Z87 Maximus VI Formula | G Skill Ripjaws X 16GB | Zotac GTX 1070 | Samsung 850 EVO 500GB | Seagate 1TB Hybrid | Samsung 840 EVO 128GB | Corsair 1200i | Thermaltake Core P5

 

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Talk about modifications! I'm looking forward to see what the final build is going to look like. 

Steven Johnson

Project Red Arctic (Build Log): http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/336079-project-red-arctic-x99-define-r5-custom-loop/||   Project Black Pilot (Build Log): http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/338798-project-black-pilot-300-budget-build-amd/

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NIce! hyped :) 4 whatever reason maybe because im suprised how well it turned out:D

The Y.E.T.I. is in progress?Whaaat? (modding aproach&build log)->http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/355618-project-yeti-first-build/

[READ THE COC BEFORE POSTING][Check twice cut once][NZXT rules:D][Dremel is Love Dremel is Life][COOKIES ARE GREAT][LOGIC]

 

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Thank you for the kind words and welcome guys! the front intake grill will be clear coated, I like the Silver look. Next stage modifying the right side panel with window for the SSDs, cnc machined SSD covers


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17 years of helping you void your warranty

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Thank you for your kind words and support!

 

So, we've gotta see the billet SSD covers, right?

 

 

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fractal_design_define_s_case_mod_mesh_be

17 years of helping you void your warranty

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this mod is fun, but Jurassic World or Fury Road theme would be even more FUN (hint, hint)... The chassis and exterior was painted House of Kolor Kandy Blue with Matte Clear finish, so it looks anodized. The paint and side panel design was inspired by the Swedish Supercar, Koenigsegg Agera R 

 

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SSD with LEDS

 

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17 years of helping you void your warranty

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Those mods are incredibly well excecuted, but I'm not sure about the red on that motherboard with that truly beautiful blue paint job. Are you going to be painting the red accents on the board as well or do any other kind of mod to it?

phanteks enthoo pro | intel i5 4690k | noctua nh-d14 | msi z97 gaming 5 | 16gb crucial ballistix tactical | msi gtx970 4G OC  | adata sp900

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Those mods are incredibly well excecuted, but I'm not sure about the red on that motherboard with that truly beautiful blue paint job. Are you going to be painting the red accents on the board as well or do any other kind of mod to it?

Same, are you going to do something like what linus did where he painted a motherboard?

Subbed btw, build is amazing! :D

Check out my YouTube channel here and don't forget to subscribe :D

Current build: Project Athena

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would be nice, but Asus asked in return for the sponsership of their hardware the MB was left identifiable as stock... ,but the red sinks will be mostly covered from view

17 years of helping you void your warranty

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what sizes are the 2 rads ?

Main Rig: CPU: 3570k Mobo: ga-z77x-ud5h-wb :RAM: 8gb kingson ddr3 1600 :gpu crossfire amd 290's Case: zalman z9 plus Cooler: h80i p/p SSD: nutron 120gb HDD: 2tb wd green 4tb seagate desktop                                              

Girlfirends: CPU: 8350 Mobo 990fxa-ud3 Ram 8gb kingson ddr3 1600 gpu: his 7850 case: inwin dragon rider SSD: nutron 120gb HDD: 2tb seagate                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

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would be nice, but Asus asked in return for the sponsership of their hardware the MB was left identifiable as stock... ,but the red sinks will be mostly covered from view

That's a shame man. It's a beautiful piece of hardware. Darn Red and Blue theme being too over bearing!!!!

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what sizes are the 2 rads ?

 

Two Hardware Labs 360 GTS radiators, top one is Cross-Flo version...  

17 years of helping you void your warranty

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I want to add that I was really impressed with these new high static pressure fans from Fractal Design. The HP-120s are Quiet with Fluid Dynamic Bearings, rubber mounts to reduce vibration.  31.7 dBA @ 61.4 CFM with long sleeved PWM connectors

 

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17 years of helping you void your warranty

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