Project: Deuce

Quick work tonight, following up on the pre-fab'd LED strips from last night, I incorporated 2 strips of flat top white/90 degree strips to fill up the shroud's dark area on the other side of the water block (opposite of the fan).

I was using a small power source to run the fans and lights, just to make sure everything was still working after install...

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/lit_up1.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/lit_up2.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/lit_up3.jpg


....

Yummy! ;)

WoW, that adds alot of Bling to an already awesome build. I can appreciate the art used in hiding he wiring. Its something that some folks do overlook when creating a MOD. Great job as usual, I do consider you the Master of LEDS.

Very nice... it would be even nicer if I could see the entire rig not lit up in light. ;)

You will, Pete. But not yet. Still finishing stuff up. I still have a litle bit of painting to get done! ;)

Come On , whats taking so long.. We want PICS... LOL J/K..

Patience is a Virtue..

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/deuce_window2a.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/deuce_window.jpg

I'm letting the clear set on the other pieces (top and other side)

And am madly soldering some LED's for accents. Once I get those in place, the clear should be dry enough for me to finish up the res brackets (that requires sanding and I dont want any more boogers in the clear.... friggen bugs... ), get the res brackets in their final place and I can start placing the tubing. I have two different ways that I have mapped out.

I also need to finish mounting the top res and stuff.... once the roof piece dries a bit more, I can get the acrylics mounted and in place to finalize the tubing!
YAY!!!

The layering is amazing. You sure got the hang of it. Practice Does Make Perfect!! Love the small blue flames. What is that spot on the bottom left just below the rectangle?? Looks like 3 little gray spots? Is that how the paint layered?

Great Job now take a break and relax for a day....:) :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TAZTG

The layering is amazing. You sure got the hang of it. Practice Does Make Perfect!! Love the small blue flames. What is that spot on the bottom left just below the rectangle?? Looks like 3 little gray spots? Is that how the paint layered?

Great Job now take a break and relax for a day....:) :)

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It is an interesting optical illusion. It is not there on the panel.... hrmmm!!

As for the rest, no can do! I'm trying to get this thing into shape for Quakecon, and that started today. I am hoping to get there tomorrow.

Going to be a flurry of updates!
;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tech-Daddy

It is an interesting optical illusion. It is not there on the panel.... hrmmm!!

As for the rest, no can do! I'm trying to get this thing into shape for Quakecon, and that started today. I am hoping to get there tomorrow.

Going to be a flurry of updates!
;)

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WoW, Nice trick.. Looks like there is something there but like you said maybe it was the sun playing on the reflective clearcoat. Take PICS of Quakecon, I love some of the past Rigs..

da-em! You should open up your own shop and go after those uber-rich kids and sell these custom stuff for thousands!! :D

Some amazing updates TD. I'm blown away, I wish I was half that creative (and skilled)!

Ok, so I start out with the bestest of intentions of having Seuce ready for it's debutant's ball @ Quakecon2008... so, I started working hard to make that happen... after the fact I have realized that this goal was *wayyyy* too optomistic... but hey... you aim high! ;)

SO... I start filling the machine with equipment to start getting my tubes laid out and routed.

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/qc_push1.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/qc_push2.jpg


WHat is a computer without a good PSU... and folks, Tagan steps up yet again and hammers out a home run with their STELLAR BZ900 modular PSU.... check this baby out!
All the expansion cables are kept in a service bag, that has a screw driver for those PSU screws.... there is more, but yo uwill have to read the review that will come out after I wrap up this mod. Let's just say Tagan has a great. detailed, customer centric presentation that happens right out of the box. It is a stellar unit that veels good and sturdy. I am looking forward to using it!
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/qc_push3.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/qc_push4.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/qc_push5.jpg


On the Saturday morning of QC, my wife wakes up to find her husband *still* spinning around the kitchen (yes, I took over hte kitchen, as it was just too hot to work in the garage). I had been working none stop.... and I think it was starting to show.

Center island has the top of the case with the window bent and attached. the Rad is attached, and the 2 hoses poking through there are to the rad...
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/qc_push6.jpg

I am so surprised that I was still so full of energy. I did not feel tired. Truly inspiring and wierd at the same moment.
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/qc_push7.jpg

That is Sophie... and she thinks, "Daddy haz leuzed his marblez..."
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/qc_push8.jpg

Me looking at the completed buildout of hte lower section, sans the roof and radiator...
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/qc_push9.jpg


I built a power bus bar to be used to hook up the 6 LED's that I had setup on the 5v supply side, as well as the 2 12v pumps sources. I simply took all the lines togheter and tied them into a common spade bit and attached them to a strip on this bus bar. I then built a standard female molex and tied the 12v - G - G- 5v into their corresponding bus bar terminal. I must say, this turned out to be a Godsend of work, as it allowed me to hook up an external PSU and run the pumps without firing up the unit running the motherboard. 1 plug for both the pumps and the corresponding LED work... sahwheet!
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/qc_push10.jpg

Full the reservoirs, and preparing to turn on the pumpz for a leak check... no wait... I dont eve nhave to turn on the pumps! I came back to the computer after loading the water (30 minutes, as I stepped away for a bit to eat...) and ZOMG! I'm missing water! ***?!?!? Both res's were half full... uhm the loop on the right haz sum 'splaining to do!
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/qc_push11.jpg

Not a good pic, but I was grabbing the paper towels at this point....
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/qc_push12.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/qc_push13.jpg

I had 2 confirmed leaks. 1 off of the lower video card (cuz the water kept pouring out in lurches after collecting in the acrylic of the fan shroud!) and the other off of the pump intake.

It was here.... that I threw up my hands, stepped back, and went to QC without my rig.

Also, not pictured here was the fact that my top acrylic that my rad was attached to, cracked. I thought that I had caught all of the potential pain points, and had taked corrective actions to relieve the stresses.... apparently I missed one, because t fractured into the top window acrylics. I'll have to pull the top back off again and rebuild the window. I will likely have to contact Thermaltake to see if htey have nay spare tops laying around that I can buy off of them, because if I dont redesign this top window, I'm just going to be continually breaking and over stressing the acrylics.

what a freakin bummer.... but you dont learn without breaking a few eggs! Unfortunately, this was a rather unique egg that I had cur and etched with a laser.... &@)$&#()$*!!!!

So. I move into post quakecon mode... after taking a break and coming out to QC and hanging with the awesomness that are the Austin Modders, I return home refreshed and more relaxed.

Next up... the results of sleep and a bit more time to think about stuff....
:)

Sorry to hear about the Stress Fracture... I know the hard work ou put in and it can bum ya out. The leaks are fixable and that should work it self out. Can you use a different type of Plexi for the top, something a bit more durable that can handle the stress?

Lets Face It Sophie is right... You as crazy as they come.. LOL Hope you had time to relax and enjoy QC..

possible.... but more likley that I just try to get a new top for the case and rebuild the thing.

Here is an update:

So...I started working on this now, and put my head in a "post Quakecon" mode... making damn sure that this thing would be ready for the Republic of Gamers convention happening here in Dallas this next weekend. Already have my ticket, already have my hotel room... and this time, I'm going to game and have fun! ;)

First things first.... these drives have too much bulk on the power cables... see how they roler coaster all over the place? Well... that had to go....
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/post_qc_push1.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/post_qc_push2.jpg

http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/post_qc_push3.jpg
Ahhhhh! Much better!!!

My MAZE5 had a leak, under the fitting with the little nick behind it. (Staring down at the top, the nozzle on the right). I took it out, and I'll be darned if the thing did not have an O ring seal in it!!! I pulled one off of another in the garage, and it has sealed itself up nice and tight!
http://www.tech-daddy.com/wlog/deuce/post_qc_push4.jpg