AVOID

[Timpelay]

 

Finally done with all acrylic panels (still need to paint them and make holes for cables and pipes) and I could start with pipe routing. This was my first ever custom loop and I found out quite soon how tricky it is to bend these large tubes without messing them up. I've choosen Alphacool 16/13 mm satin tubes because I want the tubes to be large and clearly visible even from a distance. It struck me though that satin tubes are extremly sensitive to scratches and grease. Just keep the tube in your hand and you'll have fingerprints all over. They could probably be whashed away but seams to stick in that sand blastered surface. With this new knowlege I continued my work with clean cotton gloves leaving no marks what so ever. 

 

 

 

I decided to make my pipe routing unique with this "hidden loop" design that I choose to call it. What it means is that all pipes from CPU and RAM will be routed with bends down behind the vertical mounted graphics card. With this I hope to create something eye-catching and interesting. My ambition is to make it difficult to see with ease how the water is flowing. 

 

Lets start with renturn pipe from CPU to reservoir. This Alphacool res I'm using also makes this more interesting as I can use both inlet and outlet at the bottom, with no need to route a pipe to its top lid. 

 

 

 

 

Second up is the supply pipe that I will route from the pump down below through the mid plate and straight up to right RAM-block.

 

 

 

 

 

Some hours later and things starting to come together pretty good!

 

Note that the reservoir got this short outlet pipe that's also acts as a support. With this in place I only need a guide bracket at the top and the reservoir will be almost free floating.

 

 

 

 

 

When satisfied with these pipe I decided to end this mod session by installing hidden LED strips in both sides of my now open front cover. These are UV-strips and it will be clear sooner or later what they will enlight!

 

As I kept the noise canceling foam on what's left of the front cover I could cut slots in it and hide my LED strips. Now they won't be visible but able to create some pretty amazing effect later on. 

 

Stay tuned!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Timpelay]

 

While pipes are ready for final assembly I'll move on to some other crucial parts of this project. My two Crucial (hehe) MX300 525GB SSDs will get some black paint to better blend in with the overall theme. I'll keep the stickers intact to be able to show of what kind of pieces they are though.

 

 

 

 

Pay attention, this fan mod is part of my key feature and signature for this casemod project. There is RGB fans all over internet these day and I've tried hard to find a way to stand out with something different and great looking. I've come to the solution that I'll use paint, but not just any paint...

 

Getting the fans ready was at first a pain. One fan was sacrificed and all messed up when I tried to remove the fan blades from the motor/frame. Later I found out that you just need to pull hard enough straight up and the fan blades will let go. But it takes alot of force and feels like you'll rip them appart.

 

With fans disassembled they are ready for my custom paint job. 

 

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I said fans would be painted, they were, with this special can. You see what's gonna happen?

 

 

 

THIS!

 

 

 

[Timpelay]

 

When fans are ready for final assembly I could carry on with panel-work inside the case. My lower chamber will have a cover plate with both SSDs attached to it. Cables, both power and signal are routed in behind each SSD and completely hidden when they are mounted. In these pictures below the acrylic has been painted on its backside to create this ghostly mirrored depth. With LED strips this low chamber/plate will look perfect.

 

As I like to put my time into details, this mod will be built to survive the most close views. A huge part of this detail work is cable management. I decided to do all cables from GPU 2x 8pin, ATX 24pin and CPU 8 pin in anomynous black sleeve. With ambition I routed them seperately through the mid plate and motherboard back plate not using any kind of extensions. Probably a bit stupid but will look flawless when everything is in place. 

 

 

[Timpelay]

 

Okay, my plan is to put two "AVOID" logos on this casemod. This is the first one and will be part och the backside case cover.

 

This one is done by hand using a paper template. I think it's a great time to remind my fellow modders that you don't need a laser cutter for this. Just time, ambition and some simple tools. For this I used a jigsaw and a couple of different rasps, that's it.

 

When the cut out was finished, I glued an acrylic sheet to the backside. Together with RGB LEDs this logo will look awasome. You'll have to wait until final pics to se the finished glowin logo!

 

 

 

 

 

[Timpelay]

 

So we're getting close now. Almost all parts are ready for final assembly. 

 

SSDs are painted and mounted, all cables are sleeved and routed through dedicated holes. The entire water cooling loop is finished with pipe lengths, fittings, a new reservoir, pump assembly and drain tube. About time to get the fluid ready!

 

Just a little fan-teaser at the end 

 

 

 

 

[Timpelay]

 

This will be the second logo on display in this project. As the graphics card got a main location and is in focus I will change the Windforce logo to my own AVOID logo. Simple and clean. It will probably not be noticed at first but when you look closer. That's how I like to work with details.

 

 

This will be my last update before final submission. I've chosen to not show all parts that's modded and my intention is to create mystic and curiosity while looking at my finished mod. I hope you'll like it!

 

I'll end my project log with an in progress picture showing me elaborating with RGB and UV lights to get all parts and my fluid to be glowing as I want them to.

 

Thank you and see ya at final submissions!

 

[Timpelay]

 

Project AVOID is now finished, please se first/second post for all info and final pictures!