AVOID

[Timpelay]

 

Based on a Cooler Master Mastercase 5 Maker, AVOID is a build with focus on sharpness, glow and dangerous performance.

My ambition for this project is to elaborate and explore this case potential. Then, allow me to follow and enhance it in my project.

 

Specs:

• Cooler Master Mastercase Maker 5
• Gigabyte GA-X99-Ultra-Gaming
• Intel i7 5960X Extreme Edition
• 8x4GB (32GB) Crucial Ballistix Elite DDR4 3200MHz
• Cooler Master V1000
• 2x Crucial MX300 525GB
• Gigabyte GTX 980Ti Xtreme Gaming

 

Watercooling:

• Alphacool NexXxoS XP³ Light Brass Black Chrome CPU Block

• 2x Alphacool D-RAM Cooler X4 Acetal Black Nickel

• Alphacool NexXxoS XT45 Full Copper 420mm Radiator

• Alphacool VPP655 PWM Eisdecke D5 Acetal V.3 Pump

• Alphacool Eisbecher 250mm Acetal + Satin tubes

• Alphacool fittings

• Aquatuning AT-Protect-UV-red fluid

 

[Timpelay]

[Timpelay]

We got ourselves a victim! I won this CM Mastercase 5 Maker at Dreamhack Summer 16. I took my time to come up with a plan to do something I can stand for.

 

When I do mods, I first would like to see what the case can offer. Things as shape, colors, materials or a certain feeling. My goal will be to work with the first impression, explore and transform.

 

I'm not a huge fan of casemods with parts added to it everywhere. Actually I like the challenge to let the finished casemod clearly show which case that has been used. But at the same time stand out and show how something can be refined with small, well planned steps.

 

The closer you look, the more you'll see.

[Timpelay]

Be aware, of hardware!

 

From the moment I saw this motherboard for the first time I knew I had to build with it. Now's the time.

GIGABYTE X99 Ultra Gaming, great thanks to Gigabyte for support!

 

 

It's a huge step to go from 115X to 2011-3, this thing is a beast! Gigabyte has worked hard with features and appearance on this board.

When powered on there are RGB LEDs everywhere ready to light this build up. 

 

 

I asked Crucial to help me fill all empty slots with som RAM. And damn they come through. 

High Speed 32GB Ballistix Elite DDR4 3200MHz. Total 8 modules to fill all slots.

I could have gone for 4x8GB to obtain 32GB total, but for this I need all slots covered. You will see why!

 

 

 

BOOM Like that!

 

 

Got this CPU in my drawer for a while now actually.. Won it at the Swedish casemod championships and haven't been able to use it until now.

Poor me. Nah! Sick piece of hardware right at the hart of AVOID. Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition 5960X 

 

 

[Timpelay]

Well, CM made the Mastercase 5 large enough to fit 3x 140 mm fans in the front. But what they didn't do was to create just enough space to fit a 420 mm rad. 360 mm rad and 3x 120 mm fans will work but look just second best compared to triple 140.

 

Need to do some cutting!

 

Thanks to Aquatuning I got this 420, 45 mm thick Alphacool radiator to squeeze in!

 

 

 

Since this is gonna be a single GPU system and the Mastercase 5 is quite large, I'll do a custom mount for the GPU to put on a show. This will also make room for a bit diffrent custom loop design. GPU will be air cooled which means I can and will work harder with the design for CPU and RAM.

 

All in all kind of basic layout is planned. No rotated motherboard or externa PSU or something.

 

As I said before I will elaborate and explore this case potential and enhance it, step by step!

 

 

 

[Timpelay]

Instead of making new front and top covers I will transform them with a couple of simple steps. But I need to be carefull and not scratch or harm the surface. Actually, I'll do all my mods with ambition to keep factory appearance and color. This could even be a bit harder because I plan not to paint any parts. Paint could otherwise be a good way to cover your tracks when cutting or grinding something. Lets see I'll manage it through this entire mod!

 

I began with the front, covering it with sensitive tape and then marked my cut. I don't own a Dremel so I went for a bit more hardcore sawing. I grinded the last millimeters to be sure not to mess things up. At last I polished the edges and got the plastic to almost identical color as the paint that's used in the factory. Same procedure for the top cover!

 

This shape will allow me to get a see through window at the top and a very evil front! Covers still have their magnets hidden and are attached to the case in the same way as before. Perfect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Timpelay]

This is a think outside the box moment.

 

I got myself 8 memory modules to play with. They were always planned to be water cooled, but not in what kind of way. The most common way should be to rip all original parts off the modules and attach new covers prepared for a ram-block. That's actually kind of boring and by doing that you toss away all that is of the original memory design. In this case Ballistix matte black texture and logo. Instead I came up with a different solution. Probably not the best regarding cooling, but hey, do I even need to water cool my RAM? Nope. Allthough colling will be next level, it's all for the looks.

 

Anyway, I stipped down my modules and removed the aluminum top. Then I carefully drilled and threaded them. Reassembled everything back together and now I got Crucial Ballistix Elite DDR4 with ability to mount Alphacool x4 ram-blocks on! Perhaps the first 8 modules ever!

 

 

 

[Timpelay]

Lets begin with case modifications to handle my modded top cover. The case got a metal "spoiler" at the back which the top cover hooks on to in it's locked position. I hade to split this spoiler in two and keep only the far sides. This was made because of my open back end of the top cover. Back to it's original position with rivets and no one could say that this was not factory design!

 

 

 

 

As the 420 mm radiator is not supported I had to cut a custom hole in the bottom of the case. Case feet design in shape of an arc will pass right over and protect the radiator and fittings from any damage when bolted back in to place. I will use the two ports facing backwards together with 90 degree angled fittings back up into the lower chamber of the case. Bottom ports are later perfect for drainage and change of fluid. Just need to remove the case feet and good to go!

 

 

 

[Timpelay]

As I want everything to be united in appearance for this mod, some hardware needs to be modified. I think it's sad to see that modding your hardware isn't that familiar anymore. Perhaps it's because of better looking components or there is more to choose from these days. Anyway, my motherboard got white and red parts that has to be removed or painted. Lets get to it.

 

I/O and audio shroud and was removed and painted matte black. I also removed all heatsink covers (sorry Gigabyte, no more logos). With these things done and all my ram + ramblocks and CPU-block mounted this assembly looks dope!

 

Actually the radiator got some paint aswell to be all perfect.

 

A Killer!

 

 

 

 

I just had to bolt it right into the case and see how it looked. Pretty damn good right? 

 

My wide open top cover will also show my internal parts from a bit different kind of view. This means I will need to work hard and make sure everything will look perfect from side window and top. I'll make sure my pipe routing will give you satisfaction!

 

 

 

So far, so beautiful.

 

It's amazing to see how my small and simple mods are about to transform this case into a quite unique project!

 

 

[Timpelay]

 

So, as the top cover will be open and provide see through down below, I need some acrylic as window. For this I choose Makrolon, a polycarbonate that's absolutely clear. I used the original frame as template for my window, also re-using its thumb-screws for fastening! I'll keep the cover on until final pictures to save it from any scratches. 

 

 

 

 

With top window done I continued with the internal design. Instead of painting the inside parts of the case I will use a special diffuse opal white acrylic to achieve a ghostly depth in the panels. It's just the cover that's ice-blue by the way. All these acrylic parts will be painted with matte black paint on their back sides. I tried it on some smaller parts and it looks amazing. 4 mm of diffuse depth will swallow my lightning in an unique way. This show off will yet have to wait until final pictures, because I will neither not remove this protective film before I need to.

 

I will prepare sheets for the motherboard tray, the lower PSU + pump camber (both side and bottom) + the mid plate and side of the radiator in front.

 

 

 

 

 

I said that my GPU should be mounted vertical and this case got a rear panel that could be made for this! Right next to the PCI covers there is this mesh for extra ventilation. Just about the right size for a GPU mount and located cloose to the side window. 

 

I used a simple hand-cutter and got my hole in about the size needed. Then grinded the edges down just a bit matching the combs. For the actual mount I used a 2-slot aluminum piece taken from an In Win D-Frame Mini. This one received 8 mm spacers and was then bolted to the case mid plate. Rock solid!

 

For the connection I used an angled Li-Heat PCI-e 3.0 extender cause I want this to work flawless. With about 15 mm spacers the GPU will now be lined up perfect and linear.

 

Gigabyte 980Ti Xtreme Gaming lurking in the dark.