Dark Vengeance - First Personal Rig

[CoreVengeance]

Hello everyone, this is my first build log as well as my very first custom built PC. I decided to take on the challenge of making it a Batman themed build and I have to say that I had a blast working on it. 
 
I bought all the parts during Black Friday and Cyber Monday back in November 2013. I have been working on the rig since then and I finally managed to fully finish it.
 
So let's start with the the specs: 
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2ggKc

CPU: Intel Core i7 4770K

Cooler: Corsair H100i

Motherboard: ASRock Z87 Extreme 6

RAM: Kingston HyperX Black 2x8GB

GPU: EVGA GTX 770 ACX

SSD: Kingston HyperX 3K 120GB

HDD: Seagate 3TB

PSU: Corsair RM750 80+ Gold

Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/ window

 

Extras (For a temperature controlled RGB LED Strip):

Arduino Uno R3

5m RGB LED Strip (~4m used)

One Wire Digital Temperature Sensor - DS18B20

MOSFET Transistor N-Channel 60V/16A STP16NF06 DE3268

 

 

Received all the parts!!

 

 

Did a test build. At first, I pressed the power button and nothing happened - my heart sunk. Pressed it again and still nothing. Then I realized my noob mistake: I didn't plug in the 24-pin power connector. Plugged it in and phew...it turned on.

 

 

Motherboard and CPU are in.

 

 

 

All parts in and wired.

 

 

 

Now time for some cable management.

 

 

 

Wire management done. 

 

 

 

She's alive! Installing Windows 8.

 

 

 

Aluminium Batman Logo:

Now it's time to create an aluminium Batman logo! I made this sketch in SolidWorks using an image as a reference in the background.

 

 

 

I decided to get it cut with a CNC machine, which I have access to at my university. Someone helped me transfer the SolidWorks drawing to MasterCam, which calculates the path that the CNC takes to cut the metal.

 

 

 

For the Batman silhouette, I didn't use SolidWorks as it would have been really tedious trying to dimension it. I opted for creating a paper template and hand-cutting it with a dremel.

 

 

 

 

It was really hard to cut but I did it. Took me about an hour to cut and 4 hours to refine.

 

 

I refined both the Batman logo and the silhouette by filing and sanding.

 

 

 

Time for a brushed aluminium finish!

 

 

 

First pass on the silhouette

 

 

 

 

I think it turned out pretty nice.

 

 

 

To attach the logo and the silhouette, I used Uglu (amazing stuff). It holds them on the case very strongly and I don't think I ever have to worry about the aluminium falling off.

 

 

 

RGB LED Strip:

 

Then I moved on to creating the temperature controlled RGB LED strip. I cut the 5m LED strip to size and put it around the side perimeter of the case. For making the circuit, I followed this tutorial: http://www.jerome-bernard.com/blog/2013/01/12/rgb-led-strip-controlled-by-an-arduino/

 

To power the LED strip and the arduino, I used the 12V and 5V supply from the PSU molex connector. I haven't had any issues with the LED flickering or pulling too much current. And the arduino still works after about 3 months of use. Eventually, I would like to take the arduino out and just use the Atmega 328 chip to run the circuit. 

 

 

 

Testing the strip with the old PSU

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Without further ado, here's the final product:

 

 

 

 

Next steps:

 

I would like to some day finish the GPU backplate I started working on. I measured everything on the GTX 770 and even created the SolidWorks model for it but never really got around to finishing it. I'll be sure to post back if I ever finish it.

 

 

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this build log. I sure had a lot of fun building "Dark Vengeance" and I learned so much.  

[T.Vengeance]

HOLY CRAP, lucky bastard....I wish I had access to a CNC machine

 

Also just wow, nice build.

[SAV1OUR]

wow 

also looks like asrock is finally picking up their act and making good looking motherboards 

[Izaya Orihara]

Nice cabel mangament. 

[StrawBari]

that batman silhouette is really cool

[FireViper015]

Dat cable management

[mikeangeles 75]

Wish I had those equipment at my disposal.  

 

Nice clean, sleek build.

[AlwaysFSX]

That's just sweet. Can you show the LED strip in action?

[JAKEBAB]

my nipples just went hard

 

wow i would actually by that asrock board just because of the heatsinks wish they made a 2011 version.

[itslegendddd]

Very simplistic. I love it! 

[skullbringer]

That is some really awesome metal artwork. love it.

[Quantum]

Love your metal work !

[Haywalker]

simple yet very nice...

[ilikemacandpc]

just epic. esp. using dat cnc machine. 

[fuse]

After seeing this I looked up if there any workshops in my area with a CNC machine and there are. YAY. Gonna try and replace the plastic front door of my Define XL with a metal one that has some sort of design to it. 

[CoreVengeance]

Can you show the LED strip in action?

I can try to make a video of it. I'll post the link here when and if I do [:

 

Thanks everyone. I'm glad y'all like it. 

[Father Fuzzy]

looks fantastic

 

great job 

[Veltrix]

Hey CoreVengeance thanks for the idea with using the modular cover for the rear exhaust because I have the R4 also and thank you for giving me that idea =) and amazing build by the way! I'm really loving my R4 case  

[CoreVengeance]

thanks for the idea with using the modular cover for the rear exhaust

Aha np. Surprised you actually noticed that. It's one of those things that make the build look neater without actually being noticed. 

[Veltrix]

Aha np. Surprised you actually noticed that. It's one of those things that make the build look neater without actually being noticed. 

Hahaha well I have a downdraft cooler [Noctua NH-C12P-SE14] and so the cooler is placed in a way that the fins are vertical because that was one of the two recommended way to mount the cooler from Noctua. So the air is drafted upwards and down to the graphics card 50/50 and having that rear exhaust would be useless or less efficient. I saw what you did with the modular vent and so I did that and put the fans as one of the top exhaust. I have better temps now, thanks to you and my system is still silent [Double edge sword]. {side note: I should upload my R4 rig too, maybe when I get the time to do a photo shoot for my system haha}

[Paralectic]

Wow that's really cool! The only thing I don't like is your monitor setup.

[Hikaru12]

wow 

also looks like asrock is finally picking up their act and making good looking motherboards 

 

Be nice if they were reliable once and a while.

[CtW]

You did an amazing job with your build. I really envy that CNC machine.

[Paulandpedro]

That looks fantastic. Love the use of the LEDs.

[CoreVengeance]

The only thing I don't like is your monitor setup.

Yea I agree with ya. I don't like it too much either. The smaller monitor I just use for watching tutorials while working at the same time. I'm hoping to  replace both with a 4K display some day [:

 

 

Be nice if they were reliable once and a while.

 

I haven't had any issues with the board so far. Hopefully it stays that way.