[Build Log] The Phenom Project [Bitfenix giveaway via Lutro0-Customs]

[adi518]

A side project, from my main (near finished) Define project, is in hand!

I got this new case from a Lutro0-Customs & Bitfenix giveaway, which I will soon write my review on. I decided to work with the case and put in my temp mitx spec, until new parts arrive. In fact, I didn't think of making a project just soon, I wanted to throw in all my gear, but I love doing custom work nowadays, I dislike using the stock psu cables which never fit correctly into a case, in the Phenom it's made especially hard, if you use a modular psu like a Seasonic X.

So again, this is a side project. My Define project will soon be up with finished photos. I know some are 'disappointed' it wasn't done yet, before this one, but this was an opportunity that fell onto me and I decided to take it.


This project will be held in two main phases and perhaps a third one:

- Phase 1: temp spec in, no sleeving in most of the case
- Phase 2: temp spec out, all is sleeved/modded + additional new components to be added
- Phase 3 (not confirmed): water cooling the build !









First thing I like to do is, removing everything that won't be utilized in the build:

- 5.25" bay removed
- 2.5" HDD/SSD side panel mount removed
- Big HDD cage removed
- Lower hdd cage rail for top cage removed


Looks clean...



Improving... had to offset the psu back. Edit: I noticed that now Bitfenix has further opened the psu cage so cables can come out between the two pillars of the phase facing the psu sockets!





SATA crimp that went bad (one wing fell off because of dirt in my crimper). Soldered the one wing crimp and all is as well!



Can't go without removing those Seasonic stickers:



Since I'm using a temporary board, and in most enthusiast boards the 24-pin is located on another edge, I decided not to use my precious wire stock, but sacrifice a malfunctioning Chieftech I had laying around. Of course, I added some wires and crimps and it's all goood:



The dead Chieftech:



Ready:



Seems legit:





Starting to place everything in the case:



Rog scheme, custom cpu, hdd, ssd and sleeved SATA cables (the red one was actually sleeved using MDPC Color-X):



Close up:





Stock front panel looks like it needs that MDPC treatment:



Say bye bye to AC'97.. no idea why they keep supplying this one...



Front panel wiring reorganized and sleeved
(separated the led and button wires so they make 4 wires instead of 2):



Great thing about Lutro's Teleios sleeving is that you don't have to worry about stretching the sleeve for a non-see through look, great feature!





Part of the mess...



Hardcore USB 3 modding (TO BE COMPLETED):



PWM cable I sleeved:



Managing cables for the GPU:





Wrapping it up for now...



To be continued...

[megadarkwood]

Dem cables <3

[itslegendddd]

I want to see the final product so badddd!

[ross06187]

wow that's a  lot of cable work there. looks amazing.

 

hope you putting a windows on it or getting the windowed panel to show of the work.

[Karumu]

so sick

[adi518]

Yes, it will be windowed eventually. I'm adding some new pictures in the first post soon. I also plan on re-doing the gpu cable. In the meantime, I made and added the following:

Also obtained this highly necessary tool:

And also turns out I need the following crimper, which is a smaller crimper than the great ATX crimpers of MDPC and Lutro's, and the reason for that, is because it's a 2.0mm dupont crimper! it's for all of those tiny miny mo terminals for usb 3 / fan controller headers / gpu fan connectors etc'. Very handy stuff if you want to mod those wires, especially the big bulky USB 3!

The crimper:

What USB 3 will look like in the end:

Sorry for the bunch of crappy pictures. I'll upload high quality ones soon enough!