Build Log: CaseLabs Magnum M8.....

[Pwnography6]

Heres a picture of a box.....See Post #2 For prologue

[Pwnography6]

Re: Build Log: CaseLabs Magnum M8.....

I Dub thee........

The Caselabs Magnum M8 is a behemoth of a case which fits in very nicely with what I have planned for this build. With a majority of my parts chosen and plans laid out next came deciding on a project name. Keeping with the tradition of naming my Rigs after Dethklok songs and after much thought I have decided to name my build, Thunderhorse.

As previously mentioned the name is the title of a song but ironically is also the name of the worlds largest offshore oil rig. Hey I'm building a rig and it is also going to run on water perfect! I like the idea of theme builds but am hoping to steer away from this as I really just want to build a monstrous H20 beast from my own concepts.

So after a week of teasing you guys with a picture of a box I present to you some pics of parts. Progress on this build is going to be rather slow as I don't want to skimp on quality and I'm also between jobs atm. I will start leaking some plans very very soon just want to get a bit of modding done first. I have included a picture of a few cases lined up so everyone can see the sheer size of this case and its potential!

Currently Working on/Designing/Pondering-

As this Rig is continuously evolving I have added in this section for what is in the BETA stages or items I am currently designing or working on.

• Modified Cooler for Recon and PowerAdjust 2
• Painting things Matte Black
• Desiging quick swap hard Plumbed GPU loop as I bench a LOT of cards, so switching cards quickly is needed.
• Currently working on 6 Bay Reservoir for GPU Loop
• Lot's of "Secret" acrylic work

Parts Aquired So Far-

Components:

Case- Caselabs Magnum M8
Motherboard- eVGA Z77 FTW
CPU- Intel i7 3770K
PSU- eVGA SupaNOVA 1500NEX
SSD- Samsung 840 120gb
Memory- Corsair Dominator GT 8gb
Graphics- Recycling my 2x eVGA GTX460 SC's (Previously in Bloodlines)

H20 Stuff/Cooling:

Main-

• FrozenQ Fusion V Reservoir (Custom Ports)
• Koolance PMP 450 Pump
• Alphacool HF D5 Acrylic Pump Top
• Alphacool NeXxos UT60 360 Radiator
• AquaComputer Aquaero V XT Controller
• AquaComputer High Flow USB Sensor
• AquaComputer PowerAdust 2 Ultra
• AquaComputer PowerAdjust 2 Bezel (Black)
• Bitfenix Recon Fan Controller(Black)
• 120mm Enermax T.B Vegas Duo Fans x4 (Custom Wired)
• 120mm Yate Loon Fans (Medium Speed) x3
• Mayhems Red Dye

Blocks-

• Ek Supreme HF Acrylic CPU Block (Old School design Pre-CSQ)
• Bitspower 4 dIMM Memory Block
• EK FC 460 Waterblocks
• EK FC 460 Back Plates
• AquaComputer Aquaero V Waterblock

Fittings & Tube-

• E22 12OD x 10ID mm Custom cut Acrylic Tubing (E22 - Great New Store Check em out here)
• Kool Room 4 way Splitter
• AquaComputer Inline (Inner/Outer) Temp Probe x2
• AquaComputer Aquaero RGB LED Indicator
• AquaComputer Aquero Laing Pwr Cable
• Bitspower Silver Shinning Multi-Link Adapters x14
• Bitspower Silver Shinning Mini Multi-Link Adapters x5
• Bitspower Silver Shinning Multi-Link Female
• Bitspower Silver Shinning Rotary "Q" Plus Fitting
• Bitspower Silver Shinning Five Rotary Snake
• Bitspower Silver Shinning Flow Meter
• Bitspower Crystal Link Tubes (2x 5 slot, 2x 2 slot)
• Enzotech Silver 90' Rotary Fitting x5
• Enzotech Silver 90' Rotary Barb 3/4"
• Enzotech Silver M-F 37mm Extension x2
• Enzotech silver M-F Extension
• Phobya Silver Stop Fitting x2
• Koolance Reusable Hose Clamps x2

Misc Parts:

• CaseLabs 120.2 Flex-Bay Radiator Mount
• CaseLabs PSU Cover - Ventilated
• Logisys PC Remote Start Module
• Huntkey Pro UPS 8 Point Pwr Surge protector (Cause Im sick of my fluxy pwr blowing parts up!)
• Akaska 60cm Vegas White LED Rope
• Red/Black Combo 550 Paracord
• Chrome Tech Flex Sleeving
• Missile Switch (Momentary)
• 5mm ABS LED Holder
• ModSmart 3 Cable Bundlers (Black/Red)
• ModSmart 4 Cable Bundlers (Black/Red)
• ModSmart 4 Cable Bundlers Mount Saddle (Black)

Planned/Pending Parts:

• Aquacomputer Aquatube Reservoir
• Enermax fans at least 12 at this point (Running x4 360 Rads Do da Math)
• Custom Reservoir
• Custom Fabricated Acrylic
• Lots more water cooling gear (More Fittings, Pumps, Rads and stuff to come)

Quick Links:

01. More Box
02. First Test Install and Measure up
03. Gtx460 Waterblock Installation
04. Enermax Splice & Sleeve Experiment
05. TKR Order #1/Gtx 460 PCI bracket Paint
06. TKR Order #2 Arrives + Moar Parts
07. AquaComputer Aquaero 5 XT
08. H20 Round 1 (Pump Top & AlphaCool NeXxo Radiator
09. More CaseLabs gear and The Last Multi-Links in da world
10. Cleaning Fans, Mounting options, Remote controls & LED Experiment #1
11. FrozenQ Reservoir Arrives!
12. Mistakes are made....
13. Sleeving/ Frozen Q res mounted & Aquaero Bezel Painted

I would like to give a shout out to my favourite PC Component, H20 and Modding supplier over here in Australia. Thanks for the support guys, You Pwn!

The Kool Room

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Ok Let's check out some Stock unistall Pics.....

The CaseLabs Magnum 8


Size comparison Left to Right: Bitfenix Prodigy, Danger Den Torture Rack, Antec DF-85, CoolerMaster Haf-X, Caselabs Magnum.


Love Boxes


eVGA Z77 FTW Mobo


Bitspower Ram H20 Cooler (Just for bling factor)

[Pwnography6]

Re: Build Log: CaseLabs Magnum M8 "ThunderHorse"

I got bored a few days ago and decided to do a bit of a test install to get an idea on sizes.

Conclusions: We got some space!

[boondocks]

Re: Build Log: CaseLabs Magnum M8.....

Case Labs Love, lol. Yep you have lot's of room.
I went the other way (up) I have an SM8 with dual pedestals.
Good luck with your build!

[Pwnography6]

Re: Build Log: CaseLabs Magnum M8.....

Case Labs Love, lol. Yep you have lot's of room.
I went the other way (up) I have an SM8 with dual pedestals.
Good luck with your build!

Thanks Boondocks, I love these cases they really are just a builders wet dream.

Found sometime today to finally get around to sinatlling some Water blocks on my eVGA GTX460s. YES I know they are old, but hey are pretty much my fav card at the moment as the Fold like crazy are pretty mellow on the temps and are just overall nice lil cards. I bought some Old school (NOT QDC) EK blocks off a friend about 6 months back but never had the time or space to install them into my bloodlines build.

Card #1 Pretty Dusty


Card #2 Similar to Card #1


Paste and Pads Applied.


Paste and Pads Applied.


Top and Tails


Top


Backplate


ooooooooo Shiny

You may notice the PCI brackets missing fromthe cards. They are in the paint shop reieving some lovin. More pics soon.

As for the rest of the project Im tempted to rename this thing evoloution, as I will be starting to use the basic setup next week with a very simple easy to drain loop . Im planning on adding bits and pieces every week till she is done.!

[Pwnography6]

Re: Build Log: CaseLabs Magnum M8.....

Ok only a minor update today as I need to finish painting these PCI brackets.

I got a little ambitious last night and decided to try and modify a Enermax Vegas fan. Sooner or later all the Fans is this Rig will be upgraded to these but for now im just mix and matching to get her running. For anyone who is inexperienced with these fans may not know is the have a whole bunch of cables coming off them.

We have a standard 3-pin power plug, another lead with a button which controls the Fans various Light modes and another cable with a dial for controlling your speeds. I have decided to run these from my fan controller so needless to say some modification was required.

I did some splicing and dicing aswell as shortened the LED controller so it could be mounted on the outside shell of the Fan Chassis. Lovely fans but a PITA to mod. All the wires are silver so no playing match the wire along with some other little probs I ran into, on top of all that these fans are kinda pricey so to kill one would be pretty devastating.

After a few hours of fiddeling though I am more than happy with the results. Even added a lil Braided touch to finish it all off.

So was a success if I don't say so myself, The only changes that need to be made is I need to adjust the end lengths as the braid leaves one wire a few inchs longer, So I will tackle that when I can get some 3 Pin connectors. I will also redo the braid as it was my first attempt ever to braid something it looks a little sloppy. Other than that I am fairly happy with the results!

Will post some pics of these PCI brackets once the paint dries!

[Pwnography6]

(Stock Chromish)



(Primer)



(Finished & Installed)

[Pwnography6]

Re: Build Log: CaseLabs Magnum M8.....

So it's been like a trillion years since an update and got lot's going on so thought I better post some progress and stop playing with my new toy.

Pentagram Cherry MX Keychain Via "QwerKeys"

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So First up got another big batch of Gear from "The Kool Room". Lots of goodies here and more lollies

Koolance PMP-450 Pump


AlphaCool NeXxos UT60 360



Aquaero 5 XT



MAYHEMS RED (Really Bad Pic.)

Got a heap more fittings but forgot to get pictures :(

Found one Pic of the Sexy Bitspower Snake Fittings

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Also Got some more bits and pieces from Unnamed American Vendor, Looks like Mr UPS Man got a little heavy Handed with this one.

Bitfenix Recon Fan Controller



Enermax T.B Vegas Duo 120mm



Akasa Vegas LED Strip



Logisys Remote Start = Really unnecessary as I never turn my PC off but you know Bling Bling :)



Temp Sensors & Fittings



Aquaero 5 Waterblock



Chrome TechFlex (This is for an Experiment)

I Also got one of the momentary Missile Switches off eBay dunno what this is for yet but I will Find Something.

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Lots more updates coming throughout the day between article editing!

[Pwnography6]

Re: Build Log: CaseLabs Magnum M8.....

AquaComputer Aquaero V XT

All packed in nice and Snug.


Accessories (Temp probes, Tacho, RPM etc)


Front Panel with Screen Protector Still Installed


The Remote Control


Top down View of the onion like layers of the Controller


The Back of the Aquaero Unit with the stock passive Heatsink that comes standard with the XT model.


Screen with the front Bezel and touch PCB removed.

Success! Time to prep it for painting.


So here you go the Aquaero 5 XT stripped down.


So these are the screws holding the stock passive heatsink in. These will soon be coming out!


AquaComputer Aquaero 5 Water block ready to go.


Thermal Pads Installed


Water Block Installed. Still waiting on Bezel Paint to be finished.

[Pwnography6]

Re: Build Log: CaseLabs Magnum M8.....

H20 Round 1

Playing with H20 Gear.......

Pump Top Install-

Stock Pump with various shiny stuffs. (Pump Top and Mount)



ew Gross stock



AlphaCool HF D5 Top Installed o00000 Lovely



Side View of Pump Top Installed Really Happy With this <3

Radiator Overview-

Just a small overview of the AlphaCool NeXxos UT60 360 radiator. I will be getting another one of these down the track.



Still More to come...........
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@ this point my FrozenQ Fusion Reservoir is still floating around the postal system I was having a joke the other night with a mate that it is being held by customs for fear of being some bomb core. Send in the robots.

[Pwnography6]

Re: Build Log: CaseLabs Magnum M8.....

Top Up order from CaseLabs arrived yesterday, slowly replacing all the standard "Solid" style covers that the Magnum 8 arrived with. So far I have switched the top PSU cover over, aswell as adding a 120x 2 Radiator mount in the front left bay to make it match the right side a bit better.

More Box Love


New PSU Vent


PSU Vent Installed above PSU


New 120.2 Front Rad mount


Rad Mount Installed

The other very exciting delivery was some plain old Bitspower fittings via DazMode in Canada I looked literally everywhere for these last 8 fittings and @ the time of purchase Bitspower reps where telling me 3 weeks Lead in on my fittings + post time. Not really sure what hap[pened here but seems over Chinese New Year Bitsy got lazy . I have talked to a billion shops that normally stock these fittings and not one new WTH bitsy where doing. So I thank the flying spaggetti monsters that I found these last 8 at DazMode, they weren't cheap to get to Oz but I got em.....YAY!

Bitspower Multi-Link Adapters

[Pwnography6]

Re: Build Log: CaseLabs Magnum M8.....

Just some mucking around and planning today.

Long story short I was going to use some old Gelid Wing 12 fans for the "Pull" fans on the Alphacool NeXxos radiator. They were pretty filthy so using some shop towel and cotton swabs I set out to clean them up.


BEFORE:

AFTER:

Anyways after cleaning these up and screwing everything together it seems the setup is 2mm too high to allow for my top cover to sit flush. It does clip in using these fans but I can tell it's not right and that's enough of an excuse for some redesign so I'm now on the market for some slim 60-65 CFM 120mm Fans. (This will also save me some painting in the long run too)

Had to do some disassembly today also the rear PCI/USB needed a work over from silver to black so did the bracket for the Logisys Remote control PCB as well as the Aquaero 5 faceplate. The Bitfenix recon was also due for a spray but it seems the face plate is made from a strange rubbery material. I may Design a custom Acrylic Plate for this in the future.

Heres some pictures of the Logisys unit shame the PCB is Green .

Waiting for paint to dry is boring so I started work on modifying the Corsair Dominator Ram cooler for other Evil cooling purposes. This cooler came surplus with my Dominator Ram and is too nice to waste so got something useful in mind for it .

While i had the drill out I thought I would rectify the only issue I have had with the CaseLabs case the flexbay mounts. During my test fittings on the fan controllers I notice that the small holes on the Flexbay mounts where not drilled out enough to actually fit their internal holder. Tiny problem easily fixed by slapping a bigger drill bit through.

How they should be


Needs a boar out :)

I really have started to dislike these individual mounts they look kinda messy and seeing I know I need exactly 3 bays I will be getting hold off a set of these down the track.

Flex-Bay 5.25 Device Mount - Short SD 3U - CaseLabs Store

Much Neater.

Got a bit bored tonight so decided to try out my new Akaska Vegas LED strips, (I will be doing a review of these soon) I really like them here is half a strip installed (9 LEDs) beneath the long side of the motherboard pretty happy with the effect and light desperation a few more of these and I will be set.

LEDs installed under mobo


LED effect


Daylight


Darkness


View through front

That's it for now more updates soon!

[Pwnography6]

Re: Build Log: CaseLabs Magnum M8.....

Customs are finally done with this it would seem. More Pics and Review coming soon.

[Pwnography6]

Re: Build Log: CaseLabs Magnum M8.....

Heres an easy way to kill $80 + worth of parts. What we see here are 2x scratched switches and an off centre LED holder. Can't afford to replace any of this so will just have to make do :(

I should know better than rushing. Also had my sheds flood lights die on me so have no shed lights or photo lights now.

Then there is this mess with the res- pump......It's not gonna work without 90's or friggin hose so pretty much loosing everywhere today.

Gotta push on I guess....

[Pwnography6]

Re: Build Log: CaseLabs Magnum M8.....

So had a few days off to reconsider a few things with this build and going to be changing things up a bit. When I can afford it I will be splitting this loop into 2 with the Ram and Aquaero block joining up with some other component cooling and the CPU will have a much nicer solo loop instead of sharing with components like it is now. But that's down the track as money is fairly tight again :(

Other than that I have done a small amount of sleeving as again couldn't afford much so Sleeving is happening piece by piece. (well thats how it feels anyway)

Here is a shot of some 550 Paracord sleeving I did a while ago this will all be getting traded out for Tight Braid Pet flex, which im liking a lot more than I used too.Bit more pricey but sick of loose threads from the para.

Still have a bunch to go + some fans and other bits and pieces.

I got these chrome 5mm LED holders from eBay a while ago these all need a paint :)

(Just realised I have a photo of one of these painted in the above post showing my half asleep lining up on the switch panel (DURP) )

I also got the Aquaero Back together this week after painting the bezel this is a bad picture but IRL it looks mint. The screen looks pretty bad but it still has the protective film on it.

Lastly I got the FrozenQ Fusion Res mounted in, I really love this res but regret not getting more extra ports put into it. Scuse all the finger prints all system needs a clean.

So that's it for now, have a few more parts on the way but that will be the last bits for a while. Fingers crossed some work comes up, Iv got a crazy idea in my head using some HDD water blocks and the Caselabs pedestal but is way out of budget ATM (Pedestal $300 to import :(, HDD blocks round $190). I guess I could always try build a pedestal for a while I was going to make one from a Coolermaster HAF-XB but the dimensions are out by about 150mm from memory.

Getting tempted as this build goes on to try for a Lil sponsorship but just don't know. Anyways as usual will keep it all up to date as it happens!