Elegance by MetallicAcid

[GeekySole9354]

I want so bad to do a build log, but I'd have no idea on how to go about getting sponsored. No way could I afford to do a build log on my own, so sponsors would be a must. Regardless, looks awesome so far! Do you plan on OCing the CPU any (sorry if this has been answered already, I didn't read every single post, just skimmed through the updates).

*facepalm* It's a watercooled G3528. What the hell do you think?

Nice graphics card btw, did you get it from a sponsor or did you buy it yourself?

[MblaZe7run]

*facepalm* It's a watercooled G3528. What the hell do you think?

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/322330-elegance-by-metallicacid/?p=4471097

 

This looks a lot like an air cooler to me. Haven't seen anything in regards to watercooling from @MetallicAcid on any of these pages. My reason for asking in because I saw an air cooler and a small case, and the overall build is going to be used for light gaming and home media. I personally wouldn't OC in this case, I was just wondering if OP would.

 

EDIT: Just used my good old friend Ctrl+F to find "water" on any of the pages. There's plenty, but in the original post, he says MAYBE. Doesn't mean it will be water cooled, it means it might. For now, it looks like it is being air cooled, so my question still stands. OP, do you plan on OCing at all? If so, what are you shooting for?

[d33g33]

Can you tell me, does that z97n-wifi have any voltage control over the CPU. I was just surprised as my z77n-wifi has no CPU voltage control at all which I thought was odd for a 'z' branded board.

[z3kron]

Can you tell me, does that z97n-wifi have any voltage control over the CPU. I was just surprised as my z77n-wifi has no CPU voltage control at all which I thought was odd for a 'z' branded board.

If im not mistaking with a familiar MSI board , it does

[MetallicAcid]

 

MetallicAcid's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to my sponsors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updates..

Parts and stuff!

 

 

Reserved for last parts update

 

 

[MetallicAcid]

 

MetallicAcid's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to my sponsors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update 3

PSU shroud fabrication

 

 

Hello and welcome my friends! This update is long overdue! I wish to have had all of the hardware photographed and posted in the build log before I got on with the real modding, but it seems that I might have a late sponsor wishing to provide some RAM to this glorious project! The communication is taking a while, so I thought that I would just reserve a post in the thread and edit that once I get the RAM in.

 

Well, this update is me fabricating a PSU shroud. This design process is just firing from the hip, and finding something that I am happy with on the spot as opposed to the meticulous planning and 3D rendering that I have been known to do. This is because the work computer is a piece of crap and unusable, and most of my free time I have to mod is actually when I am at work (ironically haha!).

 

I wish to talk you guys through the design process to near completion!

 

 

Version 1 of the shroud was with the PSU being at the bottom of the chassis, and the shroud being tall so that I could mount an SSD and do something cool with the sleeved cables. Although I liked this design, I thought that it would make the inside seem very cramped considering that it takes up a third of the inside space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Version 2 of the shroud was created with the thinking that the PSU would be attached to the front panel, lifted up from the floor of the chassis. This is so that full GPU would have been able to be used in this chassis. Then I created this version of the shroud which went all the way to the floor anyways which defeated the purpose of moving the PSU in the first place. 

 

It is really exciting to play around with placing the parts in different areas of the chassis, as one can open up so many new possibilities to improve on the original design or layout. At one point I was going to install dual 120mm fans in the bottom, just because I could.. I decided not to do so for the sake of clean design, and as this PC is such a power easy beast then I do not need the extreme cooling solution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Version 3 of the shroud is with the PSU back on the floor (indecisive much?) and a small shroud that covers just the unit itself. I had the PSU rotated so that the cables would come out of the side of the shroud and back up to the motherboard. I didn't like this version though as it was the version 2 shroud cut to size and bent to fit. It didn't really sit flush with the front panel, and the black mesh didn't work with the overall theme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Version 4 - The final version. This version is perfect Sits great, it is flush, cables show great, all brushed...  Mmmm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The big reveal coming soon

 

 

 

What do you guys think?

 

I have made sooo much more progress already to show, like a new power button, custom cables, new case feet and much more, and will get some more updates out for your reading pleasure as soon as I have the time! Stick around

 

Kind regards,

Justin "MetallicAcid" Ohlsen

 

[Bsmith]

dude waht ya doing?

trying to redefine the word "tight" or "tight spot"?! damn this has to be maddening to do, unbelieveable, that's it, no more words form me.

 

(today, on this forum )

[brownninja97]

That is some beautiful everything you have there.

[Blackie Sheen]

This is amazing stuff. You know how to make everything look nice. I have one question: Is it hard to use a dremel? Because when I look at how precise your aluminium cut is I am just damned amazed. That would be results I would expect from a laser cutter or a cnc

[MetallicAcid]

dude waht ya doing?

trying to redefine the word "tight" or "tight spot"?! damn this has to be maddening to do, unbelieveable, that's it, no more words form me.

 

(today, on this forum )

Redefining is what I do mate! Even my last project was named Redefine as I intend to redefine what modding actually is.

 

That is some beautiful everything you have there.

Thank you kind sir. Lots of love is going into the project! It feels nice getting back into using only hand tools, and some light machinery to help with the bigger cuts

 

those are some nice psu shroud designs

Cheers Burner. It is a shame that I went through 4-5 variations before deciding on the ultimate one I liked. I always think of ways of improving the design, and sometimes it just takes alot of time to complete. A masterpiece is never complete I once heard

 

This is amazing stuff. You know how to make everything look nice. I have one question: Is it hard to use a dremel? Because when I look at how precise your aluminium cut is I am just damned amazed. That would be results I would expect from a laser cutter or a cnc

Thank you sheen! I work hard on getting everything perfect, and it can take several tries and lots of cuts/filing/sanding to get it just right. Using the Dremel is a bitch IMHO, and I always cut 1-2mm from the intended edge. Then I file the rest, and finish by sanding with a long piece of wood to ensure a straight edge. Very time consuming!! If I had a CNC of my own or one close by that was free to use then I would use it, but I have just alot of free time (ironically at my place of employment) to think of a design, cut a prototype and file tweak it to what you see in this project build log.

 

Perhaps I can make a video of it one day  

 

More updates coming up this week guys, stick around!

 

/J

[Nup]

That brushed metal look stunning, really mixes well with the psu too! 

[MetallicAcid]

 

MetallicAcid's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to my sponsors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update 4

Lots of modding!

 

 

Hey guys and girls!

 

I have a nice sized update with lots of different modding Here you will see the installation of a new power button, new custom cables for the PSU, new case feet and cutting a larger hole into the motherboard tray for the CPU cooler bracket!

 

 

So, lets start with the new case feet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up we have the motherboard tray cut out, which allows for the bracket of the CPU cooler to sit without pressing against, and flexing the PCB

 

 

 

 

 

Here I bore out the hole to a larger diameter, then install a 16mm vandal switch

 

 

 

 

 

 

And last up I create some custom length cables. Fine tuning will come in a later update, as well as some gorgeous cables sleeve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More updates coming up real soon guys, so stick around

 

Kind regards,

Justin "MetallicAcid" Ohlsen

[BeyondRico]

Looks very nice

 

[d33g33]

Wicked work MA as always.so much dremel goodness. That Bosch pedestool looks interesting as well. I wonder what extra functionality it has over a standard drill press. I might have to look into it...

[willemdoom1]

I actually like the unsleeved wires because they just feel smaller and that goes well with the case.

[nchilds98]

This is so cool. I love SFF builds and it's really inspiring. Those cables are going to look sweet with sleeve on them!

[Beastmodetech]

Bonering intensifies 

[spwath]

Looks nice.

 

Im glad to see more case manufacturers going into the aluminum case market, it might drive the p;rices down

[The-youri]

are you going to mount another fan on that cpu cooler i also own a cryrig cooler and they are simply amazing ! 

[MetallicAcid]

 

MetallicAcid's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to my sponsors:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update 4

Too many mods to specify a title too!!!

 

Hello and welcome!

 

I have been very busy with the Elegance project, trying to wrap things up and get it completed. There are a couple of things left on my list to do, but nothing too major. I am slowly getting around to posting the images up on the net for you guys to see, so bare with me during this process! 

 

There are a few things that I have been working on that I would like to show with this update, so in normal fashion I shall name what it is that I have done with a brief description, then reveal the photos of that work. Please enjoy!! 

 

Front button modding, making some custom cables which were perfect in length. These have been sleeved, but that is for another update!

 

 

 

 

 

Next up, I sacrificed an unused GTX780 reference cooler, and reused the aluminium circle from the fan on my Cryorig QF120 CPU tower fan. Stylish

 

 

 

 

 

I noticed that the inside of the Metis chassis was unbrushed, so I took out the front panel, gave it a brush and clear-coat and reinstalled it. Looks sweet!

 

 

 

 

 

As much I love the OCZ SSD for it's  documented reliability, I love it's aluminium shell even more. So I removed the sticker and gave that a hit with 80grit sandpaper and clear-coat as well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last but defnitely not least is the massive window modding that I have completed for this project! These two windows give a fantastic view of all of the parts and custom sleeving, and look great to boot! I am really happy to have had you - the community help me with the decision of which design would be the most original and best looking. You guys really know something nice when you see it!! Final reveal of the window mod will be revealed with the final images when the project is completed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next update will be presented within a week or so, and will feature a new sponsor and some sleeving goodness! Let me know what you think of the project so far, and what I can do to make it even better

 

Thanks for reading,

Justin "MetallicAcid" Ohlsen

 

[Bsmith]

awww damn mate, just damn...

 

1 thing though, you should try, at the very least TRY to make a bent window for that large hole, that would look really sick, 1 piece of acrylic window, with a 90 degree bent.

if possible of course, should be, that's the only thing i can think of making this more awesome, with the smaller one on the top it might be overkill though, but with the right colours(leaving that to you) it should be possible to make it even more incredible.

(runs short on words in english todescribe the idea) i hope you get what i mean =S

[MetallicAcid]

 

Looks very nice

 

 

Thanks!

 

Wicked work MA as always.so much dremel goodness. That Bosch pedestool looks interesting as well. I wonder what extra functionality it has over a standard drill press. I might have to look into it...

Cheers d33g33 The pedestal is solid, and has a LED light and laser guide. You can also set the depth in case if you do not want to drill all the way through your material.

 

I actually like the unsleeved wires because they just feel smaller and that goes well with the case.

I am very fond of the unsleeved wires as well, and have had them before in my Monolith FT03 project. These have already been sleeved though with some amazing sleeving and bold colour, which I am sure will win you, and most everyone else, over

 

This is so cool. I love SFF builds and it's really inspiring. Those cables are going to look sweet with sleeve on them!

Thank you nchilds, I really hope that you create your own SFF project if you have not already done so!

 

Bonering intensifies 

Tent pitching huh?

 

Looks nice.

 

Im glad to see more case manufacturers going into the aluminum case market, it might drive the p;rices down

This chassis is all class, with a couple of tiny flaws which do not take away from the overall goodness

 

are you going to mount another fan on that cpu cooler i also own a cryrig cooler and they are simply amazing ! 

I might, it depends on the RAM that I use. If Kingston decide to sponsor than I will use just one fan. 

 

Thanks for reading guys!

/J

[MetallicAcid]

awww damn mate, just damn...

 

1 thing though, you should try, at the very least TRY to make a bent window for that large hole, that would look really sick, 1 piece of acrylic window, with a 90 degree bent.

if possible of course, should be, that's the only thing i can think of making this more awesome, with the smaller one on the top it might be overkill though, but with the right colours(leaving that to you) it should be possible to make it even more incredible.

(runs short on words in english todescribe the idea) i hope you get what i mean =S

Thank you!!

 

I have made a bent window though for the largest opening. you can see it resting on the chassis at the top of the image column for the window update

 

/J

[spwath]

Looks amazing

[d33g33]

so funky! I love hand cut and filed stuff!