CURV3D by C4B12

[C4B12]

Hello!

This build started as a side project when I was building my other scratch build, Cold Winter. But somewhere on the way I stopped, but now Im going to finish it.

This is a HTPC/NAS build. The specs of the hardware is:
Asus AT3IonT-I Deluxe
Intel X-25-V G2 40gb
4gb Corsair DDR3
Western Digital Green 2TB & 3TB

Sponsors:





I got the idea for this build when I was looking at some of the acrylic I had left from Cold Winter. Saw some nice shape coming. So I started cutting, and got these two acrylic pieces:









The next thing I did was to put some feet on it, havent decided yet if I should get some smaller ones. Then I put the two pieces together with two small hinges.





Glued the motherboard stand off screws into the acrylic.



And sleeve the power cables for the drives.



Some overview pictures.





Next up is the front and backplate:



Should I go for a powerswitch on the frontplate or hide it in the back? The cross is where Im thinking of putting it.





Put some paint on those! (Sorry for Instagram picture)





So this is how far Ive come. Dont have that much left to do.

• Install some small fans for the HDD's
• Sleeve everything possible to sleeve
• Drill holes and install a power and reset switch
• Grind down all the edges so everything fits
• Clean everything up and polish the acrylic
  

With kind regards
Johan Nyman
Minimalistic PC

[C4B12]

Hello!

What Ive done today is to change the feets to some smaller ones, installed the LCD, power/reset switches, some small fans for the harddrives and sleeved everything. Ive cleaned everything and put it all together.

So Ill start with some pictures then. This is how the new feet looks like. Looks a little bit cleaner than the other big ones.





I also got a nice powerswitch with a white LED ring.



So I installed the LCD and the powerswitch on the frontpanel and soldered the cables and sleeved everything white.





So this is how the front and backpanel looks like.







Here is some pictures of how I managed all the cables.









I took some small Fractal Design fans and soldered together and put on the side of the harddrives to cool them down a little.



Thats about it. After this I cleaned everything and took some final pictures of the build. Im soon gonna buy a better camera so I can take some better pictures and I will post them here later. But here is the final pictures Ive got right now.















So thats about it. I know many might wonder why I dont have any intake for air. But Ive tried the computer for a while like this and the temps doesnt get to high, they are higher than an normal computer but not to far. Its a HTPC and doesnt get that much stressed anyways. And air always get in there in some kind of way.

[C4B12]

I sanded down the edges and polished it. Looks a little bit better. Also made a 100mm hole under the motherboard, will put a slim 100mm fan there on low rpm too. With a little dustfilter.

The edges







100mm hole





I also did a little "mediabenchtest". Put on 10x 1080p movies in a playlist and the CPU and GPU never got over 65c. So Im satisfied. Now with a intake it will get even better.

I got the 100mm fan today. A slim version from Scythe. I wasnt going to make an air intake even though everyone wanted me too, I just want to clarify, I didnt really needed it and I had no idea how to install a fan without hiding it. But then I found this fan, its 12mm thick, and the acrylic is 8mm thick, so I made a 100mm hole and installed the fan with help of some glue. So it extends 4mm over the acrylic. Just waiting for a dustfilter to go over the fan.

The only thing Ive got left now is to take the whole system apart, clean everything and fix some edges on the white plates, then put everything together again.





/Johan Nyman

[Norwegiantweaker]

That actually doesnt look so bad !

[C4B12]

Hello!

Its been a while now, had some problems with another project and so on. However, I bought a Canon 400D from a friend a couple of weeks ago so now I got some better pictures, the final pictures. The last thing I did was to install a fan filter over the 100mm fan under the motherboard.

I have been using this build as my main computer for a while because Im working on another project. The temps are pretty good, uses it for movies, music and internet. No problemo!

Enought with that, here are the final pictures. Hope you enjoy them!

Left side





Right side





Backpanel



Frontpanel







Thank you and Ill see you soon again!

[C4B12]

Hi again!

I can never really finish a build, like many others I think. Anyway, I sold the harddrives I was using in this build, got a 1TB 2.5" instead and a Corsair Force SSD. Also a Asus E45M1-I Deluxe is coming. So some hardware upgrades is going on here.

When changing to only 2.5" disks I wanted to make a harddrive bay. Here it is!



I drew up some different designs but I went with this one, measured out and cut with a jigsaw. What about some white paint on these?





And this is how it looks in the case:



What do you think?

Johan Nyman

[C4B12]

Hmm what could this be???



HCP here on the forum thought I should make a harddrive bay in the same design as the case. So heres the result.



Which one of the harddrive bays do you like? I cant decide really.



Made new cutouts of the second design, this time for three harddrives. Sanded down the edges and ofcourse painted it white. I think Ill go with this design actually, I asked around what people thinks and its 50/50. But when the case has this round, smooth design it feels better with a similar harddrive bay instead of something with raw edges.

Second design rev 2:





In the case





It kinda looks like a smaller version of the case. Ill go with this one!

Tomorrow Ill start with the cables for this so everything is ready when the motherboard gets here.

Hope you like it!
Johan Nyman

[C4B12]

Hiya there!

My new motherboard is here! Finally, without the i/o shield though so I had to get a new one from ebay. However, I installed the new mobo and this time I need to use a picopsu so some sleeving was done. Now you can see my harddrivebay in action!

Whats in here???





Open it up and tada!



Goodlooking cooler!



Im pretty satisfied with this harddrivebay.



I cant decide if Im going to go like this, with sleeved cables, or hide them all under the harddrivebay and motherboard so only the sata cables is showing. What do you think?

Cheers!
Johan Nyman

[C4B12]

Hello!

Its time for a update, probably one of the last. This all started out as a sideproject but turned out to be my priority. So I have been putting time into every small detail and now its 100% finished. Last thing to do is to take some time to get some really nice final pictures (again).

Anyway, I read on another forum that a fabric called "Sarita" from Ikea works perfect as dustfilter. So I bought 1sqm = 5$. I havent found any fanfilter for 100mm fans so had to make my own. Made a frame in acrylic, painted it white and glued the fabric on it. The installed it over the fan under the case.







Another little detail I wanted to do was a little shroud for the back of the LCD. Just made it simple with acrylic again.









Took out everything, cleaned everything and assembled everything again. I think Ill go with the sleeved look. Gives it a little extra.










So thats it. Been a fun project and Ive got really good feedback on it. If I have time tomorrow Ill get the final pictures up. Going out in the sun/snow to take some pictures tomorrow.

Thanks
Johan Nyman

[C4B12]

Here you have the final pictures. Hope you liked this log as much as I did. Dont have so much to say. Now I can go on with my other build Cold Winter and finish that.

Thanks to LCDModkit and Aquatuning for helping me with some parts.













Comparison with a Coke



On top of my receiver, hifi-style



Thank you for all the nice comments and feedback. Ill be back with another project for sure!

With kind regards
Johan Nyman
Minimalistic PC

[Mcdoorknob]

This is awesome, I bet It is a lot of fun to do these custom cases. I might have to try it some day. What are some good materials?

[C4B12]

That actually doesnt look so bad !

 

Thank you!

 

This is awesome, I bet It is a lot of fun to do these custom cases. I might have to try it some day. What are some good materials?

 

Thank you. I love to make my own cases. You should go for it!

 

Plexiglass/acrylic is good, you could bend it in the shape you want. Aluminum is always nice to work with too.

[NohbdyKnows]

Holy posts Batman!!!

[C4B12]

Holy posts Batman!!!

 

Im done now!

[Kilerbomb]

AMAZING! Seriously, this is awesome! Great job, man! 

[techswede]

I was under the impression that posting pornographic content was against the code of conduct. Because that is what this is

Awesome build man. really Clean and stylish

[C4B12]

AMAZING! Seriously, this is awesome! Great job, man! 

 

Thank you!

 

I was under the impression that posting pornographic content was against the code of conduct. Because that is what this is

Awesome build man. really Clean and stylish

 

Ops sorry then, fellow Swede!

 

[Thunderjolt]

That is so snazzy. I'd love to make my own case.

[Blackterror25]

Looks sick!

what temps are you getting? Seeing that there's no exhaust.

[Zhat]

I see what you mean with epic build now... Its... So... Amazzzzzzzzziiiinnnngggg!!!!!!

[C4B12]

That is so snazzy. I'd love to make my own case.

 

Thank you, do it!

 

Looks sick!

what temps are you getting? Seeing that there's no exhaust.

 

"I also did a little "mediabenchtest". Put on 10x 1080p movies in a playlist and the CPU and GPU never got over 65c."

 

That was even before I made the intake fan under the motherboard. Its not a gaming rig as you probably understand, movies, music and webstuff is the only thing I use it for. So temps is not really a problem.

 

I see what you mean with epic build now... Its... So... Amazzzzzzzzziiiinnnngggg!!!!!!

 

Haha thanks.

 

[Farncir]

How did you bend the acrylic pieces? did you need a special tool? to get it nice and even so that it fits into each other is amazing

Looks awesome though, the minimalistic feel to it tickles my fancy

Great job man! 

[techswede]

Ops sorry then, fellow Swede!

 

Hehe. I was kinda suspecting you'd be Swedish because of the aquatuning logo

Quick question on the side though. Where can i get fairly good quality acryllic in sweden? preferably shipped to my nearest postal services. (and not too expensive)

(I'll need a fairly thick slab for a desk build im working on)

[hiyayhi]

Dude, this is insane!

Absolutely astonishing.

[stevv]

Really nice and elegant.