Project Space Saver

[KurryBoomba]

Hi All,

I know you don't know me very well. However, I'm starting a new desk build. I thought I would share the progress with the Carb community.

Some background:

I built a new desktop in early 2013. This was after a good few years with a laptop (as I was travelling heaps). Now that I had a permanent job, I could have a desktop.

The increased hardware meant that I lost out some space in my room. Also, I was tired of poking around in cases to try fit water cooling things in. So I thought a desk build would be cool! I've wanted to do one since my early highschool days, and now I have the chance.

So, the desk:

My mate and I set about designing something that would fit, and be functional. There is a funny step in the wall of about 100mm, so I wanted to be able to account for that - which we did.

Due to work being a bit manic, after we designed it, we got the laser cutting and ally bending done, rather than doing it ourselves (I know I know, I should have found time!). It came out looking great - and much like how I wanted it!

So, I spent a few hours on Sunday beginning the build. Progress may be slow for the next month, as I have heaps of sailing lined up, which unfortunately takes up a lot of my weekend. But nevertheless, I'll be making progress sin the evenings too.

Hardware is all coming out of my recently upgraded PC. Here is the list:

Hardware
Asus ROG Maximus vii Formula
Intel 4790k
MSI GTX660 twin frozr
Seasonic M2ii 850w PSU
16 gb Ram
1x Samsung 840 pro 256gb (For the OS)
1x Seagate 2TB hard drive (steam and movies)
ASUS Rog Front Base

Watercooling
EK Supremacy CPU Block
EK DCP 4.0 pump
2 x EK XTX 480 radiators
Undecided on the reservoirs setup at the moment...

And finally, some pictures:

Just back from the fabricators:
View attachment 26744
Drilling and screwing (note not the final bolts, just cheapies for the time being!):
View attachment 26747
Test fitting some hardware! Far too early to be doing this, but I wanted to see how it would fit :
View attachment 26746

Please fire away with questions. I'll try provide more info on why I'm building it like it is!

Thanks for taking a look!

 

[Zindaar]

Looks very good

what software did you use to design it?

 

[Neko]

First off where did you have your fabrication done? Secondly what did you use to CAD it?

Sent from my Zest_T1 using Tapatalk

 

[KurryBoomba]

Fabrication done by Acepak - I was very impressed with them, and they were reasonable.

To draw it, we used Solid Works. I did the initial concept in sketchup, and then sat with my mate, who is an engineer, to do the design in Solid Works. SW is brilliant, as it helps you allow for bend radius, and all the other strange things associated with manipulating aluminium.

The biggest thing is to have a really solid design done in a proper CAD program, with all the allowances and tolerances calculated in. I'll take some close ups iof what I mean tonight!

 

[sideshowruki]

Yes yes yes, nice pc

Dat single speed doe

 

[KurryBoomba]

Hahha. That Single speed used to be a full on Road Bike. but after a crash, and a new road bike, its bein converted to a commuter/single speed/moonlight mass/ hipster bike... Recently resprayed matt black too, which looks effing sexy....

 

[KurryBoomba]

so I started cutting out the first radiator cut out. However, it would appear that my neighbours are not partial to loud noise at 10pm on a Monday night. Who knew? (I live in a flat).

Anyway, I made a little progress in the sense that I now know where to cut...

I also built a little board that I'll be attaching the 8 radiator fans to. This will allow me to plug in one power source per radiator (I need to do the calculations and see if I can make one power source for all 16 radiator fans!).

As I mentioned earlier about the detail in design, you'll note the little space holes that were drilled in. This allows for a smooth and clean bend.

View attachment 26757

View attachment 26758

View attachment 26759

View attachment 26760

View attachment 26761

 

[CalMul]

Dude this is going to look awesome! Very very nice man!!!

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[Off-The-Chart]

man these desk build really make me wanna do it, but we all know where that ends up

those bends are insane

yeah, wish I could work in SW especially for the whole 'link' thing with moving parts and seeing how they would work together

this is gonna be another one to sub

what's the plans on the shell?

 

[KurryBoomba]

this is gonna be another one to sub

what's the plans on the shell?

Thanks [MENTION=8442]Off-The-Chart[/MENTION]

What do you mean "Whats the plan with the shell"?

 

[Off-The-Chart]

as in, painting and stuff

windows?

 

[KurryBoomba]

Ah, yes.

So the plan will be:

once I'v finished building it, all holes are drilled/cut etc. I'll disassemble completely, and then powder coat (in matt black) each individual panel.

The entire opening will be a nice 6mm piece of toughend glass. The theme is red and balc (Over done, I know, but it matches the ROG mobo...) There will be some lights inside, for aesthetics and also to allow me to see inside when I want to change something.

There will be fan inlets/outlets too. I haven't decided on an exact location for them just yet, though!

 

[KurryBoomba]

Ok so the last two days have been hectic for me. So no progress has been made!

Tonight I need to get some stuff done. I'm now starting to doubt using a dremmel for cutting the radiator fan holes. Considering a lekker 120mm hole saw...

Hmmmmmm.

Hopefully I'll have some pictures for you later.

Unfortunately I have a moer busy Friday night and Saturday

 

[Off-The-Chart]

yeah, the Dremel is really more for smaller work

but hey, if you don't have access to anything else, it should work (but at a snail's pace)

even if you only have a jigsaw, it would be super easy

 

[sideshowruki]

Ok so the last two days have been hectic for me. So no progress has been made!

Tonight I need to get some stuff done. I'm now starting to doubt using a dremmel for cutting the radiator fan holes. Considering a lekker 120mm hole saw...

Hmmmmmm.

Hopefully I'll have some pictures for you later.

Unfortunately I have a moer busy Friday night and Saturday

I have a Jigsaw you can loan, might even have the correct blades

 

[Off-The-Chart]

hehehe, isn't Kurry in CPT?

 

[sideshowruki]

hehehe, isn't Kurry in CPT?

Ah shoot, I didn't see that

 

[KurryBoomba]

I sure am in CT. The place to be... Windy as all hell! Saturday's sailing should be fun!

There is a jigsaw on the boat that I'll go grab

I used to live in DBN, huge garage with every tool imaginable (lathe etc). Now, I'm down to my 'travel kit'. I have a mate with a lathe and milling machine... But the oke is busy...

You're right though, jigsaw is the way!

 

[KurryBoomba]

I was quite slack this weekend in terms of progress.

Ok, thats a lie, I made zero progress

But I have a good reason. This is what I was doing instead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKmd4aXvn6E

Work will continue this week

 

[adielk]

Cool project

 

[AztekSA]

Awesome build man. Did you think about doing a false bottom for cable management. I'm going to be doing my next one out of metal and will definetly be using a false bottom. Makes running them cables a hell of a lot easier.

 

[Off-The-Chart]

the weather down there needs to get kak now so that Kurry can stop sailing and do some modding dammit

 

[KurryBoomba]

Awesome build man. Did you think about doing a false bottom for cable management. I'm going to be doing my next one out of metal and will definetly be using a false bottom. Makes running them cables a hell of a lot easier.

Yeah I've been toying with the false bottom idea.... Was going to fabricate it out of carbon... but I'm undecided still.....

 

[KurryBoomba]

Ok so I've made *some* progress...

As OTC says, the weather needs to get kak... But it hasn't been - its been awesome. And this weekend I'm on the water from Friday till Sunday - so no modding will be done

I cut out the second radiator hole. i know it doesn't seem like much - but its a mission...

Then, because it was late and I couldn't use power tools without incurring the wrath of my sister and neighbours, I decided to sleeve the fans while watching Loct Stock and Two smoking barrels (again).

My plan is to tear the donor pc apart soon (as soon as I get my laptop so I can still remain productive-ish).

I need to do the cut outs for the IO ports and slots. That should be quite easy (touch wood).

Also need to sleeve the PSU - but that'll happen when I pull apart the PC.

I'm thinking of taking the cables with me when I go on my work trip (in two weeks) as i suspect I'll be relatively boared in Mafikeng, Phalaborwa, Welkom and Kimberly!

Some pics in the mean time:

First cut out done:
View attachment 27304

Fans on - just checking
View attachment 27305

Second cut out done
View attachment 27301

Sleeved fans - 4 to go!
View attachment 27302

View attachment 27303

So the plan is to powder coat in black - but this will only happen ince everything is done, all holes are drilled and i've basically had it set up and working!

 

[Off-The-Chart]

was eagerly clicking on the "sleeved fans" image

is that cord or PET sleeving?

wanted to try one with cord, but sadly the clips that hold the stock wires, gets in the way so they would have to be removed to sleeve entire cable

sorry, did I miss this part or wasn't it mentioned, but what is the thickness of the metal?

 

[KurryBoomba]

was eagerly clicking on the "sleeved fans" image

is that cord or PET sleeving?

wanted to try one with cord, but sadly the clips that hold the stock wires, gets in the way so they would have to be removed to sleeve entire cable

sorry, did I miss this part or wasn't it mentioned, but what is the thickness of the metal?

The ally is 2.5mm thick - although on reflection I reckon I coulda gone for 2 or even 1.5!

Its proper Telios from E22. I really want to buy more - but with the PO strikes I'm quite anti...

Should hopefully have enough to finish the build...

 

[Off-The-Chart]

ooooo, I think I need to really try some of that Telios

yeah, I also wanted to order more paracord, but the damn striking kak

those radiators with some nice 'fan hubs' is going to look pretty neat

 

[KurryBoomba]

those radiators with some nice 'fan hubs' is going to look pretty neat

I've built some fan hubs using vero board.... sone cable to the rads to power the fans

 

[Off-The-Chart]

yep, those the ones am talking about

any news on that res? that 400 would look so epic

 

[KurryBoomba]

ja been thinking about that res...

I think I was 2. (I know I want two....)

So going to consider my options... As I said to you, I've been toying with the idea of building my own... So will investigate that next week