Project: Revamp is back online!

[TrevorRC]

Overview of what my plans are and what the timeline is. This week [04/06/06] is Week 1, Week 2 starts this Sunday, and so on.

This next build will be as close to absolutely silent as I can get [watercooling]. 3x120 radiator configuration with 3 of the 120x38 SD's @ 5V, other fans will probably be 2 yates [Side and Exhaust] as well as another SD @7V [Going to have 4x120s in; 3 of those being SDs... so I'll need a little bit more push exhaust-wise to keep air pressure/fow reasonable.] over the video card [Provided it'll clear.]

Week 1:
Case & PSU are/were the first buy, they'll arrive Tuesday/Wednesday-ish. Case from Newegg has arrived, PSU from eWiz which 'Departed from Sunnydale, CA' 4 days ago hasn't budged an inch. Slightly worried, because it might've fallen off the truck :brokenheart:
~$300 there

Week 2:
Next will be a new radiator [MCR320], a RadGrillz, 2/3 more SD fans, 2 Yates, and some Mesh
~50/30/30/15/3... another $120 here.

Week 3:
Next'll be the wiring/cable management [Crimper, pins/shells, sleeving and so on..] and an X-Fi Xtreme Music
~60/70+90; $150ish.

Week 4:
And after that, last purchase for the summer will be a 7900GT. [Unless I voltmod my current card, which I'm seriously considering.]
~$250, by the time I buy.

Total summer upgrades... around 820/1k-ish[Another ~$250 if I go through with the anodization, which I'm unsure of at this point in time. ]

7.50 an hour x 35 hours a week =262 [Some odd overtime here and there, but ignore that.], subtract the feebs' cut, and it comes out to around 200ish. Already paid for Week 1, so I'll be pretty solid with each upgrade each week, and have a bit of cash left over.
Going to California right after Week 4, so I'll probably hold off on the video card. Also be able to buy some of the stuff early as I can sell my current items. [Case, power supply, radiator, and so on.]

Update 1:
PC-G70B just arrived.

First impressions... MASSIVE.

I thought the packaging may have just been a bit over-done, but after taking it out an setting it next to my PC-60... and several inches longer in both height and length.
My guess would be 2/3 for height, 3-5 for length.

After looking at it for a bit, I realized how gorgeous it was.

Slighty dinged, maybe a quarter of a square centimeter in total damage throughout the case, exterior wise. Nothing serious that didn't "rub off".

Tons of room inside, lots of space for wire management. Great airflow, from what I can tell. Found the plate to cover the unused PSU spot. Finish on it [plate cover] could have been better, but I don't think anyone will look too closely.

Also included was an odd-shaped piece, floppy-sized, directions make it seem to be used as a 'duct' for the PSU--air is pushed sideways instead of directly out. [According to Galvanized, this is to keep the rear exhaust from sucking in the PSUs hot air, or something to that degree. My back 120 will be external, so it is a non-issue.]

Over 100 screws included. Bag probably weighs in at a pound or so.

Fans are "Lian-Li", so I can't tell who actually manufactures them. No word on noise yet, you'll have to wait 'till I transfer the system over.

Pictures below:
1) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v167/trevor_r_C/DSCN0182Medium.jpg

2) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v167/trevor_r_C/DSCN0189Medium.jpg

3) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v167/trevor_r_C/DSCN0190Medium.jpg

4) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v167/trevor_r_C/DSCN0191Medium.jpg

5) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v167/trevor_r_C/DSCN0193Medium.jpg

6) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v167/trevor_r_C/DSCN0194Medium.jpg

7) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v167/trevor_r_C/DSCN0195Medium.jpg

Note the size difference between the two cases. The difference appears even larger in real life.
The radiator will be top-mounted as the current one is, however, it will be a much cleaner job

Once the new PSU arrives I'll assemble the new case. For now, back into the plastic wrapper, back into the styrofoam holders, and back into the box that it came in. Nothing is going to damage this case [except my dremel ]

Any thoughts/suggestions/picture demands?

--Trevor

 

[HardWarrior]

Very nice case, Trevor. I look forward to seeing the finished product.

 

[krotchy]

Dude I want your PC-60!, lol.

Ok I read your post and im a bit confused. Your basically installing a watercool setup in a PC-70 for 100% silence, is that correct? You seem to have everything picked out already, so what sort of suggestions are you lookin for?

 

[TrevorRC]

Originally posted by: HardWarrior
Very nice case, Trevor. I look forward to seeing the finished product.

Thanks, me too. The watercooling/dremeling work should be done by the end of next week, Saturday/Sundayish. [Right before I head to California, I leave around the 15th/16th.. date got pushed up a bit.]

Originally posted by: krotchy
Dude I want your PC-60!, lol.

Ok I read your post and im a bit confused. Your basically installing a watercool setup in a PC-70 for 100% silence, is that correct? You seem to have everything picked out already, so what sort of suggestions are you lookin for?

The PC-60....I'll be selling it soon

It's a PC-G70, the new model, with several enhancements over the PC-70/75. Namely, better airflow, secondary PSU/more placement options, and all 120 fans.

The switch from 2x120->3x120 will allow me to still watercool, but run my fans at 5V, absolutely-silent. Same performance. I'm sick of the noise in my room from my current case, and it's too crammed with the watercooling for my tastes.

Suggestions would range from alternate ideas on placement, fans, radiators and so on. Tips and tricks for the modifications, additional modifications, the like.

Thanks for the interest.
--Trevor

 

[HardWarrior]

You must be really good if you feel comfortable taking a dremel to all that sweetness. I'm going to do a MountainMod next time, just so I can mount a 120.3 right out of the box and have TOO much room for a change. Yeah, your case is a major improvement to the PC 7x series.

 

[TrevorRC]

Originally posted by: HardWarrior
You must be really good if you feel comfortable taking a dremel to all that sweetness. I'm going to do a MountainMod next time, just so I can mount a 120.3 right out of the box and have TOO much room for a change. Yeah, your case is a major improvement to the PC 7x series.

After the hack-job I did on my PC-60 [TWICE!], and the savior that was the AC-Ryan RadGrill, I'm quite confident that I'll be able to do this with no problem. That, and the tips GY has given me. I'm more comfortable with this now that the anodization is a bit stronger I can actually mount it firmly. Should be good. If I chicken out, I can always use the 4000W laser

 

[HardWarrior]

:laugh:

 

[TrevorRC]

Hey, having a father in the manufacturing business has it's perks

Edit: Sweet, he didn't. CNC ahoy.

 

[TrevorRC]

HODGKINS, IL, US 06/08/2006 2:42 P.M. DEPARTURE SCAN
HODGKINS, IL, US 06/07/2006 1:32 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN

PSU has finally moved... hopefully it'll arrive in Indy tonight [3 hour drive from Hodgkins -> Indy], then be at my door when I get back from work tomorrow [And I'll also be ordering my new parts tomorrow, too!]

--Trevor

 

[RallyMaster]

Heya Trevor. I'm in Indiana as well, heh. I know the feeling of waiting for parts...nowadays I'm at home (graduated from HS and I basically play CS and then wait for UPS/Fedex to get me the package).

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Tip: Not that I will need/want to adjust the rails on the 0560G but on the side you will note
two ports with the three pots inside. Inorder to access these while the PSU is inplace, my
next case will have the area over these two ports opened up for access w/o removing the
PSU


...Galvanized

 

[TrevorRC]

Advice noted and taken

PSU arrived, it's a nice piece of work. Pictures coming tonight or tomorrow, I'll open 'er up and see how it goes.
The PC-G70 is now completely stripped down as well, only the frame is left... going to wash and wax the anodized parts as per GY's suggestion.... then stick it all back on [except for the top] and wait for my new parts to arrive.

I'll be ordering the watercooling parts tonight/tomorrow.[Week 2], but they probably won't arrive 'till around wednesday/thursday next week.

I'd have it all done tonight, but a friend leaves for Basic Training tomorrow.... so we're throwing a party tonight. Pictures of that, too, if I can grab a camera.
--Trevor

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Hey! This is C&C. No Face art with Sharpies or worse

Take your time so you don't disfigure anything. Modding is not molesting


...Galvanized

 

[Nirach]

Just checked my eighty's I removed from my Lian-Li'd Xbox, apparently they're Arx DC Brushless, my uncles PC-70 had similar unheard of fans. Not too noisy last I heard, although he had a bit of paxmate on his.

Looks like this'll be an interesting project, looking forward to seeing it getting put together

 

[TrevorRC]

Nice update...
As it turns out, I'd already paid my Dad for the stuff I purchased a while back.... so, 300 dollars that I'd dedicated towards repaying a loan is actually being re-directed

Meaning...week 2 and 3 are going to be purchased at the same time, so the entire upgrade cycle [with an exception of the video card] will be done next-week sometime. And I've still got quite a bit left over. Good stuff.
--Trevor

 

[skooma]

Spend some of that $300 on a camera that focuses

Good stuff indeed. Keep us updated man. :beer:

I just ordered one of those 0650g's my ownself. I was happy to see it ship today but I forgot how painful it is waiting on ewiz delveries. Hopefully it'll make it in a week.

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Modding is not molesting

Thats gotta end up in someones sig

 

[TrevorRC]

Originally posted by: skooma
Spend some of that $300 on a camera that focuses

Good stuff indeed. Keep us updated man. :beer:

I just ordered one of those 0650g's my ownself. I was happy to see it ship today but I forgot how painful it is waiting on ewiz delveries. Hopefully it'll make it in a week.

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Modding is not molesting

Thats gotta end up in someones sig

Apparently it does focus, but only when I use auto :roll:. And that usually turns on the flash... I'll figure it out later.

Update...
New system is almost-completely assembled [No watercooling yet.] Quite pleased with the case... the fans are a tad loud [if silence is the objective], so I've got them all off [It's open-air, so no real use for them right now anyway, the case is stripped.]

Used a DMM to test the rails on the Strider, and apparently they're quite a bit over 12... [12.34] Drops to 12.26 when fully loaded.. this is the 12V1 rail [Only the CPU is affecting the voltage on the DMM, I loaded the GPU to see if it made a difference and nada.]
Might be using those pots ....provided I can figure out which is which. Heh.

Anyway, up and running smoothly. Didn't quite get the sound card in all the way, so no sound right now... off to restart it and see push 'er in a bit, and fix the master/slave problem with my two CD/DVD drives.

Pictures coming soon, as well Time to start a for-sale thread, too. Meh.

--Trevor

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

POTS: Use the right sized screw driver, if you have more than one DMM, hook it up the other rails, make any adjustment minor, as it doesn't take much to make a difference.
I bought some 2ohm@25W ballasts from BGMicro for $0.49 each, just to play with. Two in parallel will load the 5V to 5A. Just for testing & setting purposes mind you. Have not played with them yet.

PICS: Turn off the flash and do your photography outside in what I call bright shade.

http://www.dpchallenge.com/index.php >learn >tutorials:thumbsup:


...Galvanized

 

[scrawnypaleguy]

I <3 G70B.

Sounds like a lot of fans if you're going for silence (even if they are all 5 volted). Every fan in my case is 5volted (or nearly so; some are thermally controlled), but I still consider it kinda noisy at times. Make sure you do something about the hard drive noise by either using some spare 5.25" bays for suspension or getting a full enclosure. Check out silentpcreview.com for more tips. Also, you might want to do a fan swap on the psu now before you get everything all perfectly wired so you won't have to work on it later.

Looking forward to more pics!

 

[TrevorRC]

Something amusing to note... when I flip the power switch on the back of the PSU, the lights in my room flicker. :laugh:

Also, something VERY interesting, IMO anyway.
Sound quality from my Audigy2ZS was VASTLY improved with the new power supply. Not a clue as to why, but there was an instantaneously audible difference.

--Trevor

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Lights flicker=Inrush Current. Look up the spec.

Use care if/when reducing fan speed on this PSU. It does use TEAPO caps, just as PCP&C does. We have had two 510s go down on this board in the last two weeks. Since your WCing the ambients inside the case won't be as high as an air cooled rig but even then don't go below 70cfm @ 12V. Mixing silent freak quiet "think" with a WCed gaming rig "reality" is a very poor mix.

NOTE: I have no idea how the rigs with the 510s were set-up or if the end users changed out thier fans.


...Galvanized

 

[TrevorRC]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Lights flicker=Inrush Current. Look up the spec.

Use care if/when reducing fan speed on this PSU. It does use TEAPO caps, just as PCP&C does. We have had two 510s go down on this board in the last two weeks. Since your WCing the ambients inside the case won't be as high as an air cooled rig but even then don't go below 70cfm @ 12V. Mixing silent freak quiet "think" with a WCed gaming rig "reality" is a very poor mix.

NOTE: I have no idea how the rigs with the 510s were set-up or if the end users changed out thier fans.


...Galvanized

Meant to tell you, looking into making a waterblock for my PSU. Was thinking about copper but then realized it'd just be too-damn-heavy.... so I went out and got a nice big aluminum block. Going to practice on some Delrin first, then move on to the Al.

Assuming 75% efficiency [Efficiency will actually be higher, provided I keep it cool] and it's drawing ~350W/400W 87.5W heat dump. I figure any block would do it, so I don't need to do much in the way of elaborate designs for thermal dissapation. [AKA massive restriction.]

Thinking a nice half-inch diameter U-shaped tube through the block would take all the heat out necessary.

Any thoughts?

--Trevor

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

"Any thoughts?" Yeah! Don't do it as it will prove to be big waste of T&M.

Study this thread http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1723
? With no real air flow, how is the PCB's population cooled?


NOTE: On checking/setting SMPS voltage.

I like the fact that the pots can be accessed with the cover on because magnetic fields can cause minor variances. Voltages must be checked with the minimum loads on the three prime rails. I would do any final setting with the unit warm and under load. No adjustment should be necessary. But you will do it........because you can.


...Galvanized

 

[TrevorRC]

Jus ordered it all.

Dimwit that I am, I ordered it near midnight when I'm half-asleep. [Awake now. Meh.]

I purchased an MCR320 at Jab-tech AND Performance PCs, and had TWO Radgrillz in my cart.

I was ordering from 4 stores, so it got kind of hectic and I can see why I made the mistake. No excuse, though.

Sent Performance-PCs an email after I got the confirmation and realized my mistake [literally 30 seconds afterward]

Hopefully they'll cut me some slack and take it off. If not... oh boy.

Moral of the story? Don't do anything financially related when not completely awake/sober/etc.
--Trevor

 

[TrevorRC]

Jab-tech works on Sundays, so my order there has already shipped. Not moving quite yet, but I have the tracking number. No word from Performance-PCs on whether or not they'll fix the order [read above.] Assuming Newegg will get it out Same-Day, so that'll ship tomorrow as well. Performance-PCs should, too, as it's only 2 items.
No experience with Petra's Tech Shop, but hopefully it'll be quickly.All-in-all..... hopefully everything will arrive Wednesday. Latest would be Friday =/ Still, plenty of fun to come I just hope the PPCs and Jabtech stuff come first...

--Trevor