Ultra Aluminus Mod in 2 Weeks...

[markkleb]

I just got this case today from Radioshack.com (LOL, Radioshack) for $49 after rebate.
I noticed on the Ultra website they are having a modding contest in 16 days.

I have some H20 stuff left over from Redchrome and a couple of crazy 120mm fans ($29 ea)

I was thinking of using my new DFI Expert mobo and making it REALLY quiet.

First HDDs, do you think it matters if I use 4 or can I use 2?

Video cards, what if I was to use 2 7600GS in SLI (no fans, no extra power,real cheap)

H20, does it matter?(for wow factor)

Inside color? The outside is blue. Right now it looks nice as brushed alum.

Right now I am fixing the air flow by removing the stupid sidways HDD cage.(blocks 75% of the incoming air)

[zekrahminator]

Well hey, it's your build. If I were you, I'd find some way to get red lighting in there, put those 2 uber fans in, and make an amazing aircooled mod. 7600GT's are virtually unmoddable, get some X800GTO's and put silencer's on them. I'm thinking that Zalman will have what you want in terms of kickass-looking CPU cooler, and you shouldn't put in too many hard drives. It's alot easier to hide the cables of less equipment. Then again, I AM talking to the KING of hiding cables. Also might be nice to make a fan controller with 3 settings- Quiet, normal, jet engine :p. This is just if I were you though.
Edit- Forget about X800GTO, X1600 might be a bit better for the price http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102668 .

[markkleb]

the 7600GS's have a large heatsink(no fans) that I could custom paint and put LED's in.(and are silent)

2 HDDs are better(cheaper, lol)

I was gonna use a Swiftech Apogee on the CPU with a single rad where the exit 120mm fan goes. I was thinking about putting the Water pump above the PS so you wouldnt see it.

What do you think I should do about the inside color?

[FLY3R]

That is the cheepest looking case I have seen, i talking about the metal in the inside, i bet its razor sharp. I think this mod could turn out nice, And that could be a really decent system for cheep.

[markkleb]

CHEAP? this case is alum with a very nice paint job. The edges are not sharp and it has a very solid feel.

Ok, just ordered the PS. I figured it was a Ultra Contest so I would use a Ultra PS. I was wandering the web and came across this,
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1273338&CatId=106

It has the real flexable cables the 8 pin power cable the DFI mobo needs and 4 Satas.

Nice thing about this case is the Extra pieces come in a box along with the box that houses the Firewire/ USB/ Speak, mic jacks. You can mount it (or not) in a floppy or cdrom space.
Its kind of a cool idea. Also there is a bunch of screws and a Manual? This is the first time I seen one of those in a case.

The case is Alum (the thickness is like the Qpack) They put braces where they are needed so it feels solid to me.

Another cool thing is all the lights and switches pop out (much easier to mod without the wires in the way)

Oh yea one last thing before I start modding, this sucker is big! It feels like I can put 2 RedChromes inside. There is not gonna be any probs finding room to do anything.

EDIT: last night I ordered 2 XFX 7600GS OC video cards. I got them because they were the cool Black and green ones and they have no fans.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150146

[Azn Tr14dZ]

What do you get if you win? or 2nd, or 3rd place?

[markkleb]

Ur picture in the paper...

[Azn Tr14dZ]

OMG!!! Are you serious!!! WoW!!!

[markkleb]

Ok some of the stuff will be here later today (VC's and PS) Water stuff wont get here till Mon and cpu (opty 148) Tues.

I came up with an idea. I remember seeing it in a comp before (lol, RedChrome). I removed the cage to the HDDs so there is a straight shot out the back past the chipset cooler and Videdcards. I am gonna get a 5" diam clear plastic tube to go from the bottom 120mm fan straight to the back where the cards all connect. I am gonna cut the back side of the tube where the video cards are so air will be sucked in in the bottom front and past the chipset cooler (swiftech) over the Video cards and out the back. That way the H20 will only have to cool the CPU.

I am using the Swiftech MCRES1000 w/ MCP350 pump mounted above the PS. Because there will be very little hose I am gonna use the AN fittings and Braided steel Race car hose.
The AN fittings are very cool as they use smooth bends so flow wont be reduced.

Like the RedChrome I plan on using 4 HDDs below the CDRW with a Scythe Kama fan.

I got a Ultra Xfinity PS with the Flex cables. They should be a lot easier to hide. The PS is Blue Chrome, has two 6 pin conn for SLI and a 8 pin for the DFI mobo and a BUNCH of extra connections.
( I like that Gold Lifetime Warranty sticker)

I love getting new stuff.

[BigD6997]

nice, those silenx fans are nice, but to $$... paint the 5 1/2 cage black, and fill the "ULTRA" in with neon green paint, i think thatwould be siiicckkk

[BigD6997]

ohhh ohhh better, cut the ultra out, and put green leds behind it!

[markkleb]

They cant be 14 db (mabye 10 feet away) but they are nice and move a lot of air. If you turn them down abouy 25% on a control they are silent though.
I really like the ACcooling fans but the Silenx fans are quieter but $29 ea? what was I thinking?

[markkleb]

ohhh ohhh better, cut the ultra out, and put green leds behind it!
Thats a SWEET idea, I wish I had thought of it. LOL:toast:

Ok I think I got the colors, I am gonna paint the mobo tray Flourescent blue and the rest of the inside Black.
But the panel that is brushed alum and says ULTRA will stay Brushed Alum but as per BigD's killer idea i will cut out the letters and back light it. Like RedChrome the wires will be gone and the HDDs will be below the CDRW. The bottom is the coolest part to me. I got a 4 3/4" clear tube that will run from the front 120mm fan to the video cards for cooling. Also because the chipset is in the middle I bought a Swiftech cooler

http://www.frozencpu.com/vid-20.html

I will take off the fan and it will stick into the tube and be cooled by the fan in front. This will allow the H20 to just cool the CPU, eliminating extra blocks and hoses.

[T4 GTR]

Put UV leds in there at angles and sequenced Red, Green, and Blue LEDs

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Would you recommend that case btw?

[BigD6997]

it seems like a nice case + a good price for a all aluminum case, i want to get it and make a integrated water cooling in it,all hiddin and stuff

[markkleb]

The RedChrome was a lot easier to hide stuff. But this is alum and east to cut, LOL

[Azn Tr14dZ]

I can't wait to see how it turns out. How much money do you have to spend on modding comps? First, Lego. Then, RedChrome. After, Ultra. Are you rich?

[markkleb]

I keep using the same pieces over and over, lol

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Oh...but you spent $1200 for RedChrome. Now you got SLI, new case, new PSU. What's your secret? You can whisper it so no one else hears.

[Azn Tr14dZ]

That is sick! That's crazy! Too much time on your hands. Wow... that's so smart. Are you going to sell that too once your done with it?

Can you state the specs?

[markkleb]

I would like to sell it so I can go on to the next project.

The cool part is with the Silex fans and a controller its SILENT (no fans on the Video cards) and it cools the chipset too.

[wtf8269]

Awesome job Mark! Keep it up. Hope you win this. It'll make a good rep for you and TPU.

[BigD6997]

i still say u use my idea!, andthat is a very good idea, die it with uv die, then put a uv light in there

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Wow! You really want to win this! I hope you do.

[OOTay]

markkled, you do some damn good work my friend! I would love to see you win this man! This rig is saweet and love the wind tunnel for the vid cards, totally awesome man. Best of Luck to you!!

[markkleb]

Thanks OOTay, I just love building stuff..

[BigD6997]

how hard would it be to cut out the ultra and put lights behind it? cuz i was thinking about getting this case for a water cooling project

[markkleb]

depends how steady your hands are. Thats my plan for this one. If I mess it uo im gonna kick ur ass for making me do it....:laugh:

If you wanted to be really fancy you would find a Laser cutting place and let them cut it out with a laser. And instead of painting the parts they would be sweet if you took them and had them anodized

[OOTay]

Ohhh shiny lasers! lol... it would look sick with some leds...

[BigD6997]

yeah, it would look soo bomb, and it looks pritty strieghtforward, lots of streight lines, and then just use a grinder for the round corners, if your using a dremel

[drade]

Looking good, go liquid cooling man... Do a hiddin resevoir, get some really nice rads.... A good pump tahts a gimme.. Best of all get great blocks for the cards and the CPU, thats just me though, cause tahts what I usaully put my money to... But great job so far

[i_am_mustang_man]

sick! if that doesn't win, ultra should buy that off you for shows!

[OOTay]

Niiiiiiice! Damn Good Job!

[BigD6997]

yeah whooo thought it would look cool! yeah that is amazing!:roll:

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Siiick! You better win, or else...

[PVTCaboose1337]

WOW!!! That looks amazing... Go Dremel!!!

[Azn Tr14dZ]

I think it would look better if it was black, or some sort of dark color that matches. Is the tube blocking the connection of the SLI bridge, or you just didn't connect it yet?

[markkleb]

Aljon I bought the mobo Refurb from Newegg ($112) and it came with no bridge. I ordered one from DFI and it came yesterday but the MORON FedEx driver didnt deliver it. I have to go pick it up at FedEx Mon cause the driver is scared to deliver to me, LOL

The Bridge fits inside the tube no prob.

[OOTay]

That is a nice lookin pc right there!

[Azn Tr14dZ]

AZN I bought the mobo Refurb from Newegg ($112) and it came with no bridge. I ordered one from DFI and it came yesterday but the MORON FedEx driver didnt deliver it. I have to go pick it up at FedEx Mon cause the driver is scared to deliver to me, LOL

The Bridge fits inside the tube no prob.

You asked for my name so that you wouldn't call me Azn. I gave it to you in a PM, and you still call me Azn...:slap:

[markkleb]

Sorry Aljon, I didnt know if u wanted everyone to know.

[Azn Tr14dZ]

It's ok mark. Is it ok if people know your name is mark?

[markkleb]

You goofball, my name is posted for everyone..:slap:
(ur turn to get slapped, lol)

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Lol...that was the plan...

[Azn Tr14dZ]

K, stop talking because I want to see more of your project! It's really fun reading your project logs because they're so informative and everyone wants to read about it.

[drade]

Oh yea, you can hide alot of stuff with the liquid cooling... Looking good

[BigD6997]

wow this is turning out nice! hope you win, i woulda used green lights but thats just me... god i want to see the ultra lit up now that its black! nice job!!

[markkleb]

hey BigD I was thinking about red lights. You like Green better?

[Azn Tr14dZ]

I would go with red, since a lot of it is black, I think red would go better with it. Green and black seem a little awkward to me, but your call on it mark.

[BigD6997]

idk green and black looks pritty sick i think, i also just kinda like the color green :) hey mark i thnk you and i took all of neweggs openbox sli experts! oh and just so everyone knows since everyone here is on a first name bassis now, my names Drew. but as i was saying not a lot of cases do green and black but i think its awsome

http://mountainmods.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_33&products_id=281

look at the pic of the black and green case

[drade]

Go Green.

[markkleb]

I am installing the HDDs today. What a pain ( I wish I was just putting in 1, LOL)
I think I have a plan that will not hog up space, keep em cool and really look nice.

I am gonna stack them (like RedChrome) but put the bottom 2 in the floppy space and that way there should be 2 or 3 CD slots open.

Another thing I am having probs with the SilenX fans, they are pretty quiet when in free air but when you mount them NOISE... Il try mounting them in rubber but I am starting to miss the AC cooling fans with their rubber suspensions.

Il post picts in a few hours when I have something nice to show.

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Few hours! Aghhhh! I can't wait that long!

[BigD6997]

yeah i just modded my case a little more, now there are no cables comming out of that front hole, all from behind, looks sooo clean! im going to put up a new page in the mods section

[BigD6997]

cant wait for pics!

[Azn Tr14dZ]

BigD, you should update your case in the case gallery, since you got a new mobo, graphics, as well as some more mods, you should update it.

[BigD6997]

im going to, but i cant for like 2 days cuz im going to be lanning at a friends house, and im also waiting for my accelero x2 to come in, and im modding that so it will be sweet, but yeah im going to wait for a few things then do it

[Azn Tr14dZ]

K. I need to update mine to when I get my AMD stuff here.

What did you do with your eVga motherboard btw?

[BigD6997]

its just sitting here

[BigD6997]

i also have anyother mATX 939 board here to, im going to put it into a idea i have

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Do you have any use for the evga, maybe put it into the "Azn Tr14dz needs a free mobo" foundation?

[BigD6997]

maybe ;)

[Azn Tr14dZ]

I think you live by me, maybe a can pick it up for a few $. Unless you do put it in my foundation.

[markkleb]

Ok fan update, SilenX are out. I am putting this one for a exit fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835186008

And this MONSTER has to look cool on the front
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835129248

and there will be a 80mm ACcooling fan for the HDDs like RedChrome

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Pics?

[markkleb]

Paints drying, later tonight. Its hard for me to wait, usually I mess with it before its dry but tonight is Hells Kitchen so I can wait till its over, LOL.

I painted the HDDs and made the mounting system (insulated from the case) Dam 4 HDDs...

I should have listened to zekrahminator and just put 1...

[PVTCaboose1337]

Yes... that AC one looks awesome... I cannot wait for the final case mod.

[BigD6997]

sweet cant wait to see it

[PVTCaboose1337]

Suggestion: paint the blades of the fan the coolor of the case, like blue, or whatever it is...

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Nice, I like it.

[BigD6997]

lookin good, what else do you have to do?

[PVTCaboose1337]

Looking better....

[drade]

Its getting there....

[markkleb]

Today I need to do the H2O and wiring, Tomorrow the CPU, Chipset cooler and Fans get here.

[drade]

Sweet deals...... it should look pretty dang nice!

[wtf8269]

I don't mean to be picky here, but I think you could clean up where you cut out that ULTRA better. Other thing is I think you should line the case with a couple packages of this (http://www.svc.com/49spsoundpad01.html). By the way, how do you go about painting the hard drives? Do you just mask everything off, or do you actually take the tops off? I'd be worried about messing up the drives myself. Overall the whole thing looks amazing so far. Keep it up.

[markkleb]

I thought I said it wasent finshed, But I forgot (as you get older your mind goes fast). I had to go and buy a small file to fit inside the Ultra. I have cleaned it up a lot.

I have 6 boxes of the Spire insulation, the prob is the inside of the case is a nice blue that matches the outside, I dont want to cover it.

And yes I just mask off the HDDs, if you take the top off ant dust will mess it up. It comes out nice because I scuff the tops with a Scotchbrite pad than paint with a Candy Apple spray paint that leaves a chrome like look (as long as the surface is silver)

[markkleb]

I am so bummed...
I have tried every configuration of fittings and I cant get this Braided Steel line stuff to work.
It has to work well (not just look cool). I have about $200 in fittings and they reduce the flow WAY too much. I would have to go to #10 but because of the way the fittings are I have to use adaptors for everything and its just too many connections. (looks ugly)

Especially my pump and res (Swiftech MCP350 and Res1000) are 3/8" and the Braided adaptors make the ID less than 1/4".

So the question is how to make the silicone tubing look good?

[PVTCaboose1337]

Way to make it look good... hide it and also, make sure it is clear.

[drade]

I am so bummed...
I have tried every configuration of fittings and I cant get this Braided Steel line stuff to work.
It has to work well (not just look cool). I have about $200 in fittings and they reduce the flow WAY too much. I would have to go to #10 but because of the way the fittings are I have to use adaptors for everything and its just too many connections. (looks ugly)

Especially my pump and res (Swiftech MCP350 and Res1000) are 3/8" and the Braided adaptors make the ID less than 1/4".

So the question is how to make the silicone tubing look good?

Well if it is clear, get dye, dye makes that tubing look sick, pinkish clear...

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Lookin good mark, lookin good.

[PVTCaboose1337]

K, tubes look alot better, personally, I love how they look right now... I want to see how they look glowing tho...

[BigD6997]

yup lookin good

[markkleb]

hey Drew they come in Green too...

[drade]

Looking very good so far, great ideas man!

[BigD6997]

yeah i love the way green looks, and blue stuff with green looks even better!

or green with blue, like green tubes blue light, or blue tubes green light u knows?

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Lol, your addicted to green aren't you...

[drade]

Green is a very good color, same with white... Blue and green would look really good, or white and blue..

[markkleb]

That Lian Li case would look pretty sweet if you painted the Inside(silver alum parts) Candy Apple Green....

And I was thinking of making you one of my "Super Sonic Turbocharged WindTunnel Video Card Cooler Tube Thingys" To run from the front thru ur case around ur Video card and out the back with a custom copper heatsink with 3/4" tall fins on ur video card and this for a fan.

http://www.techreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=16992&ch=infotech

Hows that for cooling?

And if thats not enough how about a row of LEDs running down the middle of the tube that flash progressive (like KnightRider) in Green.. Now thats COOL:rockout:

[BigD6997]

yes EDIT: GREEN (lol thought u said candy apple red lol) would look very cool!, good idea, but i had a idea about making kinda of a alluminum shroud for the 5 1/2 drive (so its all flat) and down around with some designs and stuff backed up with either a green or red light, and painted a flat(kind of like the rest of my case) black


oh man i would love one of your "Super Sonic Turbocharged WindTunnel Video Card Cooler Tube Thingys"

but would rather have the "Super Sonic Turbocharged WindTunnel Video Card Cooler Tube Thingys Plus" model

[Azn Tr14dZ]

markkleb, my case is similar to the Aspire X-Dreamer case, do you think one of those tube air things to the graphics card would work on it? I have a 120mm fan in the front of my case, but the thing is, it's stuck there. I'm gonna have to break the fan if I want to get it out.:eek: Where did you get the thing that lets you have hard drives in the 5.25 bays?

[markkleb]

Red?

[markkleb]

markkleb, my case is similar to the Aspire X-Dreamer case, do you think one of those tube air things to the graphics card would work on it? I have a 120mm fan in the front of my case, but the thing is, it's stuck there. I'm gonna have to break the fan if I want to get it out.:eek: Where did you get the thing that lets you have hard drives in the 5.25 bays?
Yep, also I was thinking for cases that have 2 80mm fans infront you could use 2 3" tubes side by side like a double barrel shotgun..

I guess you couls even put a HDD in the tube and move the fan to the back (sucking air) to make it even quieter..

[BigD6997]

Red? yes idk red what?

[Azn Tr14dZ]

And where do you get the thing that lets you have hard drives on the 5.25 bays? If I did use your patented tubes, I'm gonna need to cut off the 3.5 bays.

[BigD6997]

you need to build a case were the "Super Sonic Turbocharged WindTunnel Video Card Cooler Tube Thingys" are built in!

[markkleb]

yes red would look very cool!, good idea, but i had a idea about making kinda of a alluminum shroud for the 5 1/2 drive (so its all flat) and down around with some designs and stuff backed up with either a green or red light, and painted a flat(kind of like the rest of my case) black


oh man i would love one of your "Super Sonic Turbocharged WindTunnel Video Card Cooler Tube Thingys"

but would rather have the "Super Sonic Turbocharged WindTunnel Video Card Cooler Tube Thingys Plus" model
You said RED, i said GREEN LED's..

[markkleb]

And where do you get the thing that lets you have hard drives on the 5.25 bays? If I did use your patented tubes, I'm gonna need to cut off the 3.5 bays.
I make the mounts to put the HDDs in the 5.25 bays. But I was saying put the HDDs IN the tube for the Video card...(it would make them quieter also(in the tube)

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Doesn't seem like a bad idea. Where do you get the tubes, I'll try it out myself.

[BigD6997]

You said RED, i said GREEN LED's..
ahhh now i understand... lol...

[drade]

Id paint the inside (all the silver) green.... But I dont know how to, and im a lazy kid, so when I get my new parts, I think ill be (unlazy), wish I had the painting skills you do mark.

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Mark, did you already enter the contest?

[markkleb]

Gotta finish first, One guy entered a comp that looks like a Motorcycle. Its pretty nice, definately original and Absolutely Beautiful detail work, but the wiring is a mess.

Mine should be done tonight, All I need is to wire it and figure how to mount the HUGE fan...

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Did you see the BMW one. That looked sick, but I think yours will be better.

[markkleb]

Update:
The 140mm fan is QUIET and looks so cool, BUT (there is always a but) It dosent blow enough air.

It has to go thru the Rad and than past the chipset and video cards. It may work but not for OCing...

Ok so I tried my favorite the AC cooling 12, Quieter yet and more air but still not enough. Ok back to the closet... OH oh Oh found another Silverstone, SCORE!!!!!

Loud at max but 110 CFM!!!!! thats moving air.

I also found a old AeroCool cool-panel (has 2 fan controls, temp readings,usb,firewire, sata conns, head phone speaker mic, and video and a card reader) Dam thats a lot of stuff in one slot! But it can monitor temps and slow down the Silverstone fan (till I OC)....

(now to cover up the 140mm hole I just cut in the front of my case, LOL)

[BigD6997]

ok well all the other mods = non ultra products and are realy weird... the one that looks like a bmw would be crazy easy to do, go get a mobo tray, and go to a hobby store and buy a bmw body for one of the crazy rc cars, the only one that looks like it could at all compete is the motorcycly one, but that isnt even that good, just that its pritty cool

[POGE]

Overvolt the 140mm fan if its not already running at 12v. :D

[markkleb]

Good Idea Poge but I just made the plate for the Silverstone. il definately try it when I use it.

[BigD6997]

i cant wait to see the final product... and nice job selling red chrome, i just read about that!

[Azn Tr14dZ]

How much did he sell it for?

[BigD6997]

2k

its earlier in the thread

[BigD6997]

I sold RedChrome for $2K, lol


there u go

[intel igent]

Oh yea one last thing before I start modding, this sucker is big! It feels like I can put 2 RedChromes inside. There is not gonna be any probs finding room to do anything.


this case is like my plusview. trust me it'll get cramped;)

nice. keep em coming.

:toast:

[BigD6997]

so whats the ETA on completion

[markkleb]

Im hoping for tonight..

[POGE]

How much money did you make off of redchrome?

[intel igent]

How much money did you make off of redchrome?

2k

[wtf8269]

You could try making the water lines look like braided brake lines by wraping them in silver wire sleeving. It'd look especially sweet if you had uv reactive water that glowed ever so slightly underneath the silver sleeving. Then you could sleeve the cables in the same sleeving as well. Personally, I think you should ditch the Aerocool bay and ghost the disc drive. It's too much clutter for my tastes. Even if the case does have a door. Or atleast paint them to match.

[POGE]

I think you should ditch the Aerocool bay and ghost the disc drive. It's too much clutter for my tastes. Even if the case does have a door.

I am in agreement... looks beautiful so far but that bay looks like crap... (relative to the rest of the case). I really like your attention to details.. painting the motherboard tray and the nuts on the rad. :)

[BigD6997]

yeah looks great, im going to paint my case soon, ive been looking at that swiftech kit, but i dont think it could cool my cpu and my x1800xt... and i couldnt fit they 240mm rad in my case... maybe get it and buy another but extra slim rad (like a black ice stealth rad) and put it in my blow hole, move the sound card down to the first pci slot, then have it go from, pump-rad-cpu-rad-gpu-res-pump, but idk kinda $$ but i already have a good pump and gpu block :), just need a better cpu block, two rads and a res. but still $$ maybe if i get the job at starbucks ill have the $$... but i need a car... ugghhhh damn computers!... anyways NICE JOB!

[markkleb]

This is not a kit. I use Cool Rads and Swiftech and DangerDen stuff. I never buy kits (too $$$)

Also the CoolRads are better Rads(thicker) than the Swiftechs and the Black Ice Extreme.

Where do you live drew?

[BigD6997]

Arizona not to far from Azn but not that close either

[BigD6997]

ok well im going to be building a case to house water cooling way better, kinda on the lines of a mountain mods case, with two chambers, but it will be mostely acylic, with green tubes and green sleeves blue lights, ive decided.. but first i need a job :(

[OOTay]

comp is lookin good my friend, nice job!

[drade]

Looking good! One thing though, the front looks... blan in a way, try makign it an exotic color or something, make it light up?

[markkleb]

LOL its not even close to being done...I spent the whole day yesterday figuring and mounting the fan and figuring how to insulate it from the chassis.

The fans and HDD rack are compleately suspended on silicone mounts. (no metal to metal)

I promise the front will be amazing...

I am messing around with making a NEW shield for the side thats longer, mabye with the Griffin cut into it.

I just hooked up the H2O and am bleeding it. I have routed the hoses so they look like art (I have no idea how it happened just looks so cool.)

I still have to do the wires but am not feeling to good so I will probably do it this weekend.

Remember QUIET is the purpose for this comp...

[BigD6997]

azn its on your old case! were is that?

[PVTCaboose1337]

Must say, not finished, but getting there...

[Azn Tr14dZ]

azn its on your old case! were is that?
? What do you mean?

[BigD6997]

? What do you mean?
your hp case on the back had your product key

[Azn Tr14dZ]

I already tried that. It worked, but 1) it was Media Center Edition, and 2) it was asking for a Disc #2, the OEM of XP Pro that I have is a single disc OS. Ima send you a PM, read it.

[Azn Tr14dZ]

What do you mean newegg won't ship another overnight? I just ordered a wireless router and adapter and payed like $30 for nex day delivery!

[markkleb]

Its too late they would ship it tomorrow, and I need it tomorrow. Besides if you ever ship overnight look at ZZF or outpost first (1/2 for shipping)

[drade]

The front should look amazing... P.S. dont over do it on the lighting (just saying).. I love how you have such a small hook up on the liquid cooling, like its all in the front...

[markkleb]

its only 3' of hose..total. Mt Aerocool panel dosent work (too much banging around in the closet) so its gone.
Dosent matter cause the Silverstone fan (110 CFM!) is really quiet since I mounted it in jel mounts.

My DFI Expert mobo is DOA (no floppy) so I ordered a MSI Diamond Plus for tomorrow (thanks Outpost.com) I have a extra Jetway but the red is too much and the Msi is Black like the DFI. Other cool thing is MSI dosent need a sound card (audigy on board) and The SLI slots are in the same place as the DFI.

This is now the second DOA of Newegg Refurbs....Thank God for RMA's

[i_am_mustang_man]

this thing is so sick. where is the website where we can see the contest/other comps/future losers ;-)

(i'm sorry if it's on here, i just went through 15 pages twice looking for it and didn't see it, so i thought i'd just ask)

[markkleb]

there is a lot of nice comps,

http://www.ultraproducts.com/mod_contest/index.php

[BigD6997]

This is now the second DOA of Newegg Refurbs....Thank God for RMA's
humm the dfi expert open box i bought form new egg works great i love it!

[markkleb]

I have tried 4 different floppies, 3 cables and 3 power plugs and no floppy, either I am stupid (possibility) or something is messed up, I will keep it for a week to see for sure.

I am really bummed because I was looking forward to OCing the hell out of this board.

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Lucky people with DFI, I have a JetWay...

[drade]

Those are some really nice mods some of thoe guys have worked on

[BigD6997]

I have tried 4 different floppies, 3 cables and 3 power plugs and no floppy, either I am stupid (possibility) or something is messed up, I will keep it for a week to see for sure.

I am really bummed because I was looking forward to OCing the hell out of this board.
hummm did you enable floppy drive seek that might work, and set your floppy device(in bios) to a 1.44? and make your floppy the first boot? god the dri expert board has so many damn little things in there that if one isnt set right something wont work:banghead: took me 4 hours to get mine up and running and another day to get it working right and stable...

i also dont have a floppy and when i need one its a usb floppy

www.dfi-street.com realy helps with bios stuff

[markkleb]

Ok so I ordered a MSI Last night from Outpost and she promised it would be here today. This morning I check the emails and Outpost says "Backorder". OK so I call and they said they are sorry but messed up and will send it Mon. MORONS!!!! (can you say cancel)

Ok so I have a day to work, I pull the mobo out of the case and the floppy works...
I check the tray and nothing is hitting so here goes for the Noobes out there (me included) 2 rules...

1- DONT HIT THE CPU WITH A HAMMER AND CHISEL.

2- BUILD THE COMP OUTSIDE THE CASE FIRST!

Well at least I had time to clean my room. lol

PS. and yes Drew I tried changing the settings in bios first.

[pt]

There is another Ultra case equal to yours in there: http://www.ultraproducts.com/mod_contest/view_details.php?id=141 (i think is that)
But i bet yours will win, when it is going to be ready?
(Edited)

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Ok so I ordered a MSI Last night from Outpost and she promised it would be here today. This morning I check the emails and Outpost says "Backorder". OK so I call and they said they are sorry but messed up and will send it Mon. MORONS!!!! (can you say cancel)

Ok so I have a day to work, I pull the mobo out of the case and the floppy works...
I check the tray and nothing is hitting so here goes for the Noobes out there (me included) 2 rules...

1- DONT HIT THE CPU WITH A HAMMER AND CHISEL.

2- BUILD THE COMP OUTSIDE THE CASE FIRST!

Well at least I had time to clean my room. lol

PS. and yes Drew I tried changing the settings in bios first.
That sucks, ypu shoulda just got it from newegg...

[OOTay]

none of those ultra links work for me :(

[BigD6997]

nice front looks sick... is a led going behind that?

[BigD6997]

yeah, building the comp outside the case helps... i had it outside my case for a week to make sure it was good b4 i put it in

[Azn Tr14dZ]

That looks sick! What are you planning to put behind that?

[BigD6997]

1- DONT HIT THE CPU WITH A HAMMER AND CHISEL.


and how did you learn not to do this? :slap:

[markkleb]

and how did you learn not to do this? :slap:
when I was removing the IHS on my beloved 3700+ on the RedChrome build.. it was like 3am and I dont know what I was thinking..

[BigD6997]

when I was removing the IHS on my beloved 3700+ on the RedChrome build.. it was like 3am and I dont know what I was thinking..
nice:wtf: .... was it a san diego core? i want a san diego core, my venice only oc's to 2.740 with 1.58v (on water) kinda sucks cuz others get theres up to 2.9 on air but w.e

i was thinking about taking the IHS off mine... but with a razor blade

[markkleb]

yep and it was 2910mhz on AC Freezer(with the Silverstone 120mm fan). The only thing worse than that is if someone shot my dog (if I had one)

I loved that CPU...:cry:

[BigD6997]

you probly woulda hit 3ghz if u got that IHS off... ahh i want a opti 146 or 365 or any san diago core....

[markkleb]

I just got a Opty 148 for this comp (with the DFI Expert) I am hoping to break the magic 3000 too. I have the absolute best mem so it should be no prob.

So far temps are cool (27-28C while programming)

I am way too scared to take a chance now taking off the IHS (this 148 cost me $250)

[Azn Tr14dZ]

What's the highest a venice can reach? I've barely started overclocking my new one, since I just got it setup last night so I'm only at 2100mhz (thanks Mark for the XP x64 idea).

[BigD6997]

the highest mine hits on a resonable vcore is 2740

ive heard of some breaking 3.0

[Azn Tr14dZ]

on what multi is that 2700 Drew?

[BigD6997]

11

but that doesnt matter since my mobo can go 350fsb+

[Azn Tr14dZ]

oh...im overclock my 3200 in a few. Right now, it's at 210x10. I changed the Geil to 1t timings. All default voltages. How high do you think I could get before any voltage changes for the memory and CPU?

[BigD6997]

shoulda got some ddr500... you might have to raise the volts a lil and ull be fine... 1.425 should be fine to run it at, and u can probly get at least 2.6 out of it, if you mobo and ram is fine with it

[BigD6997]

I have the absolute best mem so it should be no prob
humm what mem do you have?

[Azn Tr14dZ]

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2506&p=7

Look at the overclocking on my board, the JetWay.

So, you saying 1.425 on the 3200+ and 2.6 on the GeIL should be fine?

[drade]

The front looks very very very nice mark.. The tubing should show up on that like it is its job.. ... make some lighting in front of that... on the bottom, and a little in the back.. props!

[markkleb]

Thanks Drade,
just for fun I painted the back side of the mesh with Flourescent blue, the front still looks silver but when you put a UV light inside the mesh glows. Looks cool.

I am playing with fans, there is a Delta fan thats Double fans (GFB 1212 VHW) It blows 220CFM. And its $50, lol. So I have been playing with my fans and the best so far is Silenx and a AC cooler 12 sandwich.
It seems that you need a SLOWER fan on the outside (air goes in) and a faster fan on the inside(air goes out). It feels like it blows a lot more air.

Funny if you put 2 of the same fans backwards they cancel each other out.

[drade]

Never knew that
:laugh:

[PVTCaboose1337]

The front looks really badass! I love what you have done to that comp!

[markkleb]

its hard to explain what else im gonna do but its gonna look a LOT cooler....

[Azn Tr14dZ]

How long until the next pics?

[markkleb]

tomorrow I will make the front panel

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Cool...can't wait.

[BigD6997]

Aljon: no im saying you can get a decent overclock with 1.425v to run on consistently.. but from a max overclock ur looking at a chip that ranges from 2.6-3.0 so you never know... but on air the max v you can realy give it is 1.55v and thats not very good to run on but its fine for benching... so find the max oc you can get with 1.425 thats what im doing

[BigD6997]

update?

[Azn Tr14dZ]

My 3200+ is @ 2.4GHz right now, tested Prime95 all-nighter. The GeIL is @ 240mhz, 2-3-3-6, 1T command rate. All at stock voltages. I'm not gonna raise the voltage too much on my 3200+. It performs well for me at 2.4, maybe 2.6 at most. If I can push it more than 2.6, I'll still keep it at 2.6. It already performs better than my D 820 @ 3.3Ghz. This JetWay overclocks better than I expected. if my memory can't handle faster speeds at 240mhz, Im gonna increase the voltage. The max for VDimm is 3.25.

Thanks Drew.

[BigD6997]

np... yeah thats a good oc.. it sounds like u got a good core to get that on stock voltage... my core wasnt a great oc'er

[Azn Tr14dZ]

I thought I would have to raise the VCore, but it was still stable. I'm also surprised how the GeIL is hangin in there at stock VDimm. I'm thinkin about raising it to 2.8.

What games you play?

[BigD6997]

cs;s bf2 cod2 and im going to get guildwars

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Cool, I play CS:S, DoD:S, UT2004, CoD:2, Far Cry, and Guild Wars(original, not Factions).

[BigD6997]

yeah im going to get the original as well... i like it cuz u dont need to pay to play... like WoW wich i find quite lame... its 180 bucks for a year... totaly weak

[OOTay]

mark someone did a mod like your front a while back. http://www.mnpctech.com/Ultra_Aluminus_Case_Mod4.html

[zekrahminator]

Nah, it's alot better to see your spin on things. Because your spin on things usually involves soldering wires to motherbaords :laugh:. Oh yeah and because you're probably the most experienced modder here short of W1zzard and other mods.

[markkleb]

thanks Zek..

[Azn Tr14dZ]

What are the specs on that comp again, I forgot?

[OOTay]

nice dood, nice!

[BigD6997]

yeah also yours has a lot more attention to detail than many of the others ive seen

yeah whats the specs now has anything changed?

[drade]

Wow does that look nice..... I think you should paint the little mesh.... and around it 2 different colors... thats just mua

[markkleb]

I have been a little under the weather lately. So I am moving a little slow.

I competetely REDESIGNED the Rad and Fan to Rad and FANS.

I put the AC cooler 12 on the outside and the Silverstone on the inside (inside a shroud and insulated to quiet down noise)

It makes a lot more air. Il try and get it mounted today and see if I can get it programed.

[markkleb]

AlecStaar and Drade mentioned painting the mesh. I kind of like the gray but Alec said Black.

What do you guys think?

In the four corners of each front piece (top piece and bottom piece) I am mounting LEDs. I put them in the corners so you wont see them just some of the light thru the mesh. Also I am using a Scythe Kama fan under the CDRW (has a blue led fan inside) for cooling the HDDs like the RedChrome.

[drade]

Black would be better then gray, id give it that look that would say "this pc owns" gray is a pretty commonlu used color for mesh as I have seen...

[drade]

If the front was black, some red would look AMAZING around it

[drade]

pretty nice, i love the foam idea, good noise dampener..

[markkleb]

Yep, it does cut down on noise. Fans vibrate and create resonances that become magnified by the case, a thinner LOOSER case amplifies the noise. Kind of like a big woofer in a car makes the trunk and metal vibrate (sounds lousey from outside)

I think thats one of the main reasons why the AC fans are so quiet. I tried the insane$$$$$ SilenX fans and though they are quiet (in free air, not mounted) and move more air, the AC fans kick their asses in quietness after they are installed.

I was looking at a Crazy delta fan (2 fans together, 220CFM) and noticed that one of the fans was slower than the other. So I started playing with all my fans (I have about 30) and noticed the best (most quiet, most air) was the AC12 on the outside (slower) and the Silverstone on the inside(way faster) and not only was it quieter but the slower fan seems to feed the faster one and there is a LOT more air in the tube...

[markkleb]

Finally figured the probs. The PS had no 5V in 90% of the wires. Thats why the Floppy didnt work.

And one of the HDDs (I have 4) is junk..

Things go so much more smoothly when this "stuff" works. I cant believe I almost RMAd this mobo. Thank god for multimeters

[BigD6997]

nice ideas, not to many days left tho

[BigD6997]

so the ultra psu is junk?

[i_am_mustang_man]

so the ultra psu is junk?
hahhahhaha

[markkleb]

nice ideas, not to many days left tho
Can you please come over and help, "Ive fallen and I cant get up"

Or im just an idiot:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: go faster, stop changing shit...

[BigD6997]

Can you please come over and help, "Ive fallen and I cant get up"

Or im just an idiot:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: go faster, stop changing shit...
did you get the ps working right? if so is everything workin good now? do you actually have to show that it works?

[Azn Tr14dZ]

No, I think so. you send pics in to Ultra. I forgot what kind of pics though, like if you need CPU-Z, or something like that.

[markkleb]

I ordered 3 new HDDs, probably here Tues. I got WD 160 gig Sata2 16mb buffers. I am finishing the tube now and later I will start to make the panels for the CDRW and Kama.

The only thing is cutting and fitting the wires (there goes my lifetime guarantee, LOL) Than paint the mesh Black.

[BigD6997]

nice so its almost complete... this is going to be a nice pc

[BigD6997]

and dude if you live in Arizona sure ill come over and help!

[markkleb]

Id love the help but its WAY TOO HOT in AZ....lol

One thing that would be fun is get together for a couple of days and do computer stuff. I would love to show how to mod and learn stuff also...

[BigD6997]

yeah that would be sick, how far are you from arizona..lol

[drade]

try living in maine, not even close to like anyone on this forum other then a few in NH,MASS...

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Id love the help but its WAY TOO HOT in AZ....lol

One thing that would be fun is get together for a couple of days and do computer stuff. I would love to show how to mod and learn stuff also...
Can I be in this?

[BigD6997]

try living in maine, not even close to like anyone on this forum other then a few in NH,MASS...
yeah, hey wasnt there a TPU google thing that showed were everyone lived it you signed up?

[BigD6997]

nice, those damn sli bridges are tricky there so small and easily lost... that might be why ati made a huge donggle thinggy, damn there smart.... im glad to hear its almost done!

EDIT: damn i wish i could solder that well!

[drade]

Poge posted it. I think it would be fun to have like a Modding Clinic / lan Party. Here in Reno, Nevada or on the East coast, west coast or even in the middle.

And yes Aljon ur invited...

Ok back to serious stuff, I lost my new SLI bridge(only had it a few days, lol) So Donna at DFI is overnighting me another one.

I painted the mesh Black and Flourescent blue on the inside. I found a old Lian li CDRW hidden door thing and just mounted it.

The Scythe Kama Bay will sit below it. I was gonna put a custom start button but Im running out of time (3 days, 12 hours)

I am gonna start doing the wires now (hopefully Il finish tonight).

WOOO you did my idea (painting the mesh black), the mesh black is gonna look so nice!!!

[OOTay]

dood i love the wiring nice job and the front is freaking awesome man nice job!

[KennyT772]

peel off the fan stickers. the white shows right threw the grilll and throws off the look. if the fan was sposed to be seen it would be led. other then that it looks real nice

[zekrahminator]

I wish I could get away with modding like you can :D.

[BigD6997]

omfg teach me how to wire like that! very very nice job! lets see some pics of the inside with the water cooling and such, if its done. but congrats on teh amazing job

[markkleb]

peel off the fan stickers. the white shows right threw the grilll and throws off the look. if the fan was sposed to be seen it would be led. other then that it looks real nice
I like the sticker:(

[drade]

nice!

[BigD6997]

awsome man truely awsome... i love it, now lets get that ultra in there with the lights behind it!

[markkleb]

Im making a new one, a little bigger and I am gonna try to etch the Griffen Logo into it with the HDD light where its eye is

[drade]

looking pretty good

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Nice...

[Azn Tr14dZ]

What else do you need til your done?

[drade]

Lighting is next I think.....

[BigD6997]

humm thats a good idea to make a new one... but it is the ultra contest.... make them so you can interchange them

[markkleb]

ITS ALIVE!!!!

Finally got it running. The SLI was easier than I thought to setup. I put a speed controller on the Silverstone fan, because its in the shroud its very quiet, looks like I am getting 27C at idle for CPU and 32C for chipset.

The last fan is coming tomorrow and Il polish it up and take the final picts. I am still trying to figure lighting but I have lots of options.

[BigD6997]

sweet... post some benches up when your done to, i want to see how well two 7600gs's perform

[markkleb]

I am downloading 3DMark05 right now. When I checked the temps of the cards it said 48C, I turned up the fan in the tube and now its 41C.

This is the first time I checked a cards temp, whats good?

[BigD6997]

i dono whats good for those cards... but 41 *C on passive cooling sounds good... oh and do you mind if i use your uber super video cooler tube thingy idea?

[markkleb]

WHAT!!! ARE YOU NUTTS???? stealing my idea...:eek:

Thats why I put it here, for you guys. It seems to work really well. I hope it works for you too.

I figured the lights, UV was ok but I got a 3 color LED (Red, Blue, Green) and if you point it at the mobo from the back fan it makes the inside look like rainbow. A really nice clean light.

I got the tubes from a local plastic shop for about $8 for a foot. Its 4 5/8" OD.

Also I thought 2 smaller tubes with 80mm fans would look like a double barrel shotgun...

EDIT:
Ok I ran 3Dmark 05. First time I forgot to set the bios to SLI, I got a 4623. I was pissed cause my X850 beat that.

Than I set the Bios the right way(I think?) and my second score at 3D 05 was 8460..

Thats at completely stock with 1 HDD no Raid, Opty running at 2200mhz.

[drade]

Nice mark... Good temps!!!!! CONGRATS!

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Nice Mark, at least you got your system running, my rig won't install RAID for some reason. I've been working on it for hours, but a no go, only one of the two 80GB HDD's will work. IDK why. Pissing me off.

[BigD6997]

mmmhhh 8460... i think thats the same score my voltmodded 7800gt, like the exact same score.... but for 2 $100 cards wow thats good!

EDIT: oooooooo my score was 8470!!!!

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Good job Mark! What else do you need to do until you finish?

BTW, did you get my message? I need help w/ RAID bad! And fast!

[i_am_mustang_man]

wow! that's almost a double score from sli vs non sli. impressive for nvidia! this is looking so sweet mark!

[markkleb]

mmmhhh 8460... i think thats the same score my voltmodded 7800gt, like the exact same score.... but for 2 $100 cards wow thats good!

EDIT: oooooooo my score was 8470!!!!
Check this out I found it last night,
http://sg.vr-zone.com/?i=3625

I am making a new tube and putting in the lights and sound card and Im done. Il post the finished picts this afternoon.:roll:

[BigD6997]

omg 400hmz-720mhz these gards will own harcore... if you oc both of them it will beat my x1800xt :(

[Azn Tr14dZ]

They beat my XL already in SLI, but not in single though, but for ~$100 each, not bad.

[BigD6997]

i wonder how the gs's sli performs in real world gaming tho

with everything maxed in FEAR except sof shadows and doing the test i get a avg 75fps, min. 37fps

oh and on 1.39v i got my cpu to 2.53ghz so im going to run it at that, and its completely stable and basicly stock voltage .02 higher, hopefully i can get it highger with less v's

[Azn Tr14dZ]

My stock was ~1.4.

[Cj_Staal]

~-Removed-~
Mod feel free to delete this.

[KennyT772]

:laugh:

amen

[Cj_Staal]

Want me to delete it?
(my post)


Your project is beautiful, 5 stars =)

[Azn Tr14dZ]

That looks really P.I.M.P! It looks slick with that black and blue! Really smooth.

[POGE]

I love the front... and all those other honeycomb things! Since when did I "make you buy an sli board"?

[zekrahminator]

I have only one word...Amazing!

[markkleb]

I love the front... and all those other honeycomb things! Since when did I "make you buy an sli board"?
You bought my Ultra..lol

[KennyT772]

that is beautiful.
i have to search and search to find a single wire. the gpu duct is really sweet. imagine if u paired that with vf700's with no fans... either way it looks awesome.

[POGE]

You do know if you add an sli bridge to the ultra and connect 2 terminals on the chipset with a pencil it becomes a full sli-d right? No bios flash is even needed, and it posts as an SLI-D.

[markkleb]

Yep but when the comp starts up you dont get the Cool screen that says DFI EXPERT.....
LOL

[POGE]

You can mod the bios splashscreen. :p

[BigD6997]

^^ yeah ive heard of that (the mod of the ultra to sli-d)... and yes it looks sweet hope u win man!!