Coming soon . . Project Resident Evil

[cfuk]

I'll start by saying hi to every body and thank you for taking the time to read my thread :). Now lets get down to business lol. I had my old PC for about a year or so and i thought it was time to move on and get something a little faster for the games of today. This is my first log really so if i go on sorry lol. The main aim of this project is to come out of it with a faster, cooler and better looking PC then my old one.

My first really task was to get all the hardware together. I wanted a A64 system and a new high end graphics card. I also want some better ram as i had Geil value ram and i want to push this system a bit. So here is the spec i have gone with:

Mobo: MSI K8N Neo Platinum nForce3 250
CPU: AMD 64 3200+ 1mb Cache
Memory: OCZ 1GB (2x512Mb PC4200 Dual Channel EL)
Graphics Card: PNY GeForce 6800GT
HDDs: 3x 120GB Maxtor SATAs, 160GB Maxtor and 40 Maxtor IDE
Drives: Sony CRX320E DVD-Rom/CDWR combo and Pioneer 108

The hdd's have come from my old PC and the 40GB hdd is used to save all my music on. The next step was to pick the case i wanted. My old case was a Thermaltake Xaser III w/ Window in blue, which did what i wanted but did get a little hot. To cut down on the noise and cool the system i have gone for water cooling, so now the case has to fit a full water setup into it. Now which case do i go for? i was looking around on a forum and i found the right case for me. It's a mountainmods UFO case, here is the spec:

Material Aluminum 5052
Thickness 1.65mm-3.25mm
Dimensions 18x18x18 inches
Finish Powder Coat
HD Bay Removable
Hard Drives Holds 9
5.25 Bay Removable
5.25 Devices Holds 5
MB Tray Removable
Form Factors mATX/ATX/EATX
Fan Mounts 5-120mm,4-80mm
Empty Weight 15 lbs

Here are two pictures of the case (sorry they are not very good)

http://img119.exs.cx/img119/908/DSCF98.th.jpg (http://img119.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img119&image=DSCF98.jpg)
http://img119.exs.cx/img119/9480/DSCF104.th.jpg (http://img119.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img119&image=DSCF104.jpg)

I also got the fans with the case, which are clear fans. I have x5 120mm and 4x 80mm. The fans are rated at 14 dbs, so not very loud :) which is my aim.

I now have the hardware and case, what's next? i hear you cry. Well it's the water cooling. Here is the spec of the parts i got my hands on :):

DD 12V-D4 Pump
DD 6800 Water Block (the one that covers the ram aswell)
DD RBX Block Athlon64
Black Ice II Xtreme Radiator (Dual 120mm)
Floppy Drive Bay Res

All the parts have 1/2 barbs and i've got some tubing. So what do you think? I don't know a lot about water cooling, but i think it's not a bad set up :). This all nexts putting together now and still need more things to be done. I'vr got these to add:

2x 45cm UV Red Rounded Cables
Akasa Day-Glo UV Red Rounded Floppy Disk cable
3x Day-Glo UV Green SATA Cables
12" Dual UV Cold Cathode Lighting Kit
4x Akasa Sound Proofing Kits
UV Blue Molex Plugs
Blue Cable Braiding Kit
UV Green Water Dye

You can now see my problem, it's a Resident Evil case, but i have blue cable braidung and plugs :blink:. Why is this? well i brought them for my old case and never got time to fit them. I don't really have the money to go out and buy a new set :(.

Now for the case mods bit. I've got two Resident Evil ecthings from the US, one is the S.T.A.R.S badge for the window and one is the Umbrella logo for the side. I'm looking for some Biohazard grills for the fans, which i've found but they are out of stock so i'm just waiting on them. The two drives i have brought are black as Resident Evil is dark and evil lol. The case i got is silver so i need to paint it, which i don't know how i'm going to do that lol. The last thing i have in mind for the case is to use a PSOne screen in the front of the case to add that extra blig :D.

Like i said this is my first mod so if you have any ideas or advise you can give would be a great help :). My biggest fear is painting the case. I really don't want to mess it up and i need it painted ASAP as i need to put all the hardware etc into it.

Thanks again for reading my post :)

[mnpctech]

I really don't want to mess it up and i need it painted ASAP as i need to put all the hardware etc into it.

If youre unsure and need it done fast, take it to local Autobody/Paint shop.

[cfuk]

i don't know where that is plus i don't have the money that they will want to do it :(

[mnpctech]

You do have Phone books in Wigan?

Look under Autos, then autobody repair, paint etc.

Ask before deciding you can't afford it... and if you don't have any money.... well.... D.I.Y.

[cfuk]

i'll have a look tomorrow :)

what do you guys think of the water set up? any good?

[fillip]

i'll have a look tomorrow :)

what do you guys think of the water set up? any good?

Well i'm not a fan of DD stuff, mainly becoz i don't like the high flow setups from an asthetic point of view (big tubes look fugly) but from what i've heard DD stuff performs well enough, especially the 12v pumps and RBX blocks

[cfuk]

what do i need for my water set up now? i have the de-ironised water from an old project, dye, getting some crips (the metal things you put around the barbs lol) soon, anything i've missed? sorry for the daft question, but i don't know a great deal anbout water cooling.

Thanks fillip for your comments :). I like the big tubing that's why i went for it, but maybe it's just me lol.

[Fibbles]

I have the pump and it is pretty powerfull. All you'll need is the 1/2" ID tubing and the clamps to secure them. They come in plastic/nylon or steel. I happen to prefer the steel ones because they're easier to secure and use, but it comes down to personal choice. The bay reservoir you've got your sights on is known for its leakability more than anything else. Most people avoid those like the plague. Swiftech has a polyethelene (spelling?) bay res for a 5.25 with dual inlets and a single outlet. It's not as pretty as the plastic ones, but it won't leak. Another choice which might come in handy would be a fill line. It won't take up any bays and would eliminate the reservoir, thus making the water cooling into a closed system. A benefit is that you won't have to worry about the water level much at all, but I don't know of any drawbacks.

[fillip]

A fill line is always a good idea whether you have a res in the loop or not. It's extremely simple to do and makes filling the loop very simple as Fibb's said.

All you would need is a 'T' piece connector, sold by most watercooling specialists and a spare piece of tube. For a fill line it needs to be the highest point in the loop so that air can escape through it instead of being stuck in there. If you're adding a drain line aswell, this would need to be at the lowest point. For a drainage line you're probably gonna need an adjustable valve to you can stop water leaking out when you don't want it too. Again these are easy to come across.

[cfuk]

i'm going for the metal claps they will look better in the system :)

i'll look into the "T" piece thing :) sounds interesting

[Sinner]

that cube will make WM difficult but more power to you if it all goes well.

[328mike]

Sounds Cool

[cfuk]

does anyone know where i can get some 120mm Biohazard fan grills from really cheap in the UK? i've tried ebuyer and it looks like they have stopped selling them :(

[mnpctech]

I'd think people would be practically giving away Biohazard grills... try U.K. Ebay


About that paint job,

The sample chapter from new mod book,"PC Chop Shop: Tricked Out Guide to PC Modding" (http://www.sybex.com/cov_b.nsf/4360.gif?OpenImageResource) has thorough tutorial on doing your paint job

Check out Chapter preview here (ftp://ftp.sybex.com/4360/4360ch08.pdf)

[cfuk]

nice book i've just had a look, but they don't ship to the UK :(

[fillip]

I don't really like the fact that people are deciding to publish 'How to' titles off the back of a couple of mods they did. I wasn't even overly impressed by that Christine mod and didn't think it came close to the standards set by folks like Mnpctech, G-gnome, Zapwizard, Crimson Sky and so on.

People just see cash to be made out of a new fad and that annoys me. There won't be anything in those books you can't learn from friendly folks like us at this and other similiar forums.

A book of mod collections however is a much better idea imo, and would be something i'd be more likely to purchase.

[SIDE NOTE] To highlight what i mean by people profitting from a fad, look at all the books being released for the iPod this xmas - wtf do you need a book about the iPod for!

[mnpctech]

I partially agree fillip.

I paged through 3 of those books and I felt they were written in a "rush out the door" manner. On the other hand, I grew up absorbing "how to" books, especially automotive. Theres just something about reading a book or guide and executing it yourself. I think you can learn and attain more knowing somebody isn't always there for the answers. I guess I'm from the "school of hard knocks" ^_^

From that one chapter, I think somebody finally did it right. I'm anxiously waiting to see the entire thing. Admittingly I'm not thrilled about Xioxide sponsering it.

Sorry to derail cfuk

[cfuk]

it ok mnpctech i argee with you both modding is really about what you want to do and if you need help you'll ask. I just wanted to get my hands on the book to see what they had done and any ideas etc.

i'll have a proper read of the pages you gave me as i think it's going to cost me more to have it done by some one and it won't be the same :)

[cfuk]

does anyone know how much paint for my case will cost me? will i need about 5+ cans? i'm just trying to work out the cost :D

[fillip]

Couple of cans of primer, 3 - 4 of main colour and 2 clear coat for a standard midi sized ATX

[cfuk]

just a little update :). I've order the red cable braiding and red molex plugs, so now i have a spare blue braiding kit and molex plugs if anyone is after some :lol:. I've also got dual red lights now the project is under way :lol:. One last think i've got my hands on a tank o matics with 1/2 barbs :wub:, just waiting for it to turn up. The tank should look better in the case then the floppy drive res as it looks like a test tube :D

[cfuk]

woke up this morning with some things waiting for me to open :lol:. I got the tank o matic, which i'm very happy with and will add to the resident evil style

http://img156.exs.cx/img156/1574/dscf00065oe.th.jpg (http://img156.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img156&image=dscf00065oe.jpg)

The next thing i got were the two sets of the 80mm and 120mm Biohazard fan grills that i got from ebay. I'm more then happy with them. They look the same even tho i got them of different people. Some of the grills i've soon on websites sort of chosen syle in size, but these done.

http://img156.exs.cx/img156/9435/dscf00070dr.th.jpg (http://img156.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img156&image=dscf00070dr.jpg)

[Fibbles]

Did your Tank-O-Matic come with those really yummy Innovatek white and red gummies they bundle? I got gummies with my big Tank-O, my add-on Tank-O, my HPPS and my Flatflow block. Savor them, they're pretty darn good, and what kills me is that there are way too few in that little baggy.

[cfuk]

Innovatek white and red gummies? lol

[Fibbles]

Innovatek white and red gummies? lol
You didn't get any? That sucks! :(

[cfuk]

bought it from some one on another forum, so i don't think i did lol

[cfuk]

now i need use great water help :), i'm hopefully going to get up the water setup over christmas so i need to make sure i have everything before the post dead line. What do i need to have the set up running? i have the blocks, pump, rad, res, tubing, the water, uv dye, getting the clamps money. Is there anything else?

[Fibbles]

now i need use great water help :), i'm hopefully going to get up the water setup over christmas so i need to make sure i have everything before the post dead line. What do i need to have the set up running? i have the blocks, pump, rad, res, tubing, the water, uv dye, getting the clamps money. Is there anything else?
I think you've got it all covered. To fill mine, I used a, um... What's the name of the thing with the big opening on one side and the little opening on the other? It's meant for liquids, anyway. I boiled it for a little bit to get all this crusty gunk off, then I put my water into a smaller glass and poured it into the ressy with the thing.

[fillip]

A funnel?

[cfuk]

:blink:

[Fibbles]

A funnel?
Lol, yeah, a funnel it is. :unsure:

[cfuk]

long time sine i've been on here with xmas and work. In that time i've built an A64 939 system with a 3500+ Winchester :lol:. I've also got a new Tagan PSU and maybe buying a Maxtor 4 line LCD with black bezel.

I need some input from you guys :unsure:. I need a black fan controller from one of the 5.25 bays, but i don't know what to get. I would like one that looks good, but i don't want to be paying loads for one.

The next thing is the cable braiding. Which colour do you guys think will fill the colour of the Tagan and the style of the project?

[fillip]

l and maybe buying a Maxtor 4 line LCD with black bezel.

Maxtor? http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/huh.gif

[cfuk]

Matrix sorry :unsure:

[fillip]

Matrix sorry :unsure:
thought so http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/happy.gif

[cools]

The Matrix orbital displays ARE fan controllers as well I thought? I;ve got a 2 liner here that does it.

[fillip]

The Matrix orbital displays ARE fan controllers as well I thought? I;ve got a 2 liner here that does it.
Not all of them are but any of the newer 4 line serial or usb displays will more than likely have fan ports. The MX series deffinately have fan control aswell as GPO's (general purpose outputs)

[cfuk]

ya the Matrix has is a fan controller as well, but i have 11 fans in the case :blink: so i need another one as well

[Fibbles]

ya the Matrix has is a fan controller as well, but i have 11 fans in the case :blink: so i need another one as well
11? What kind of case?

[fillip]

11? What kind of case?
A noisey one! http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Pug]

If youre unsure and need it done fast, take it to local Autobody/Paint shop.
That's what I did with the bezel door & sidepanel for Hex, just before ModFest04 (it was raining & I was running out of time).

The best bet, I found, was to prep the parts as best you can, then grab one of the guys on a break, find out what colour cars they're spraying that day and ask 'em to just blow over your panels whith the remainder of paint in the gun.

I got a lovely coat of silver pearl laid down and then baked in the booth for a drink of £15. :cool:

[cfuk]

wow pug you got one great deal ^_^ i call down to my local car shop on monday and see what they have to say.

the case is a Mountain UFO case with 5x 120mm and 4x 80mm fans running at 14db :lol:

[Pug]

wow pug you got one great deal ^_^ i call down to my local car shop on monday and see what they have to say.

the case is a Mountain UFO case with 5x 120mm and 4x 80mm fans running at 14db :lol:
Hehe, you might wanna strip it down to panels & chassis so they don't think its a box-trailer with the axles removed! Those buggers are huuuge! :lol: :D

[cfuk]

Hehe, you might wanna strip it down to panels & chassis so they don't think its a box-trailer with the axles removed! Those buggers are huuuge! :lol: :D
i know :lol: and great for water cooling :lol:. I had to mod my desk to get it to fit :blink: