sff build HAF STACKER 915R "SHORTY"

[Mike Dulay]

Good day everyone! Mike here of Mikol Pc Concepts and this is my second time to join this event. My entry for this year is the Haf Stacker 915R "Shorty", a modified Haf Stacker 915R. I've decided to use this case because I've noticed that a lot of SFF cases are coming out and I wanted to try something different. The 915R though is made for ITX builds, the length was that of those full tower cases. I feel like shortening the length would make it ideal and can directly compete with other SFF cases.

 

 

 

Edited January 9, 2021 by Mike Dulay
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[Mike Dulay]

Building on this case I'll be using the following hardware:

 

Processor - Ryzen 9 3900, provided by AMD Philippines c/o Matthew Yap

Motherboard- X570i Aorus PRO Wifi, provided by Aorus Philippines c/o Martin Lopez

* I was supposed to use a B550i Aorus PRO AX however I had to RMA the mobo because of boot issues and the second unit that replaced the first one still has the same issues. Martin Lopez reached out and sent a temporary motherboard for me to use for this event.

Memory- Corsair Dominator Platinums RGB 16 x 4 3200mhz, provided by Corsair c/o Aloy Magtoto

Storage - Corsair MP510 M.2 NVMe 480gb 

PSU - Cooler Master V750 watts SFX modular PSU, provided by CM Philippines

Case - Cooler Master Haf 915R, provided by CM Phils, c/o PC Square

Cooling - Barrow Pump/Reservoir/Waterblock, Bykski GPU waterblock and fittings. Cooler Master 240mm radiator and 3 Masterfan SF120R ARGB Fans.

Graphics Card - 5700 XT reference and 5700 XT Gaming OC from Gigabyte.

 

 

Edited January 8, 2021 by Mike Dulay
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[Mike Dulay]

Before dissassembling the case, I had to do a stock build first to check for possible changes in orientation and also of course to check the measurement and placement of the parts.

(the motherboard used here was the B550i, and the PSU haven't arrived yet) My initial plan was to use a standard ATX sized PSU but based on the my measurements, it would be a very tight fit and additional hardware like watercooling parts with be problematic. I had to reuse the CM 240mm radiator that I previously used in the CMWS2019 event :). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 9, 2021 by Mike Dulay

[Mike Dulay]

Cutting time!!! But first, I needed to remove the different plastic parts and rivets from the case for dissassembly. The goal here was to shorten the case to be able to fulfill the conditions for the SFF category but still has the same overall look of the original case. 

 

 

Starting to remove the rivets

 

 

 

Front removed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the top horizontal bars and plastic parts removed

 

 

Measuring the motherboard tray 

 

 

Readying to cut the tray

 

 

Cutting time!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Removing the uneven burrs from the mobo with a metal file

 

 

 

 

Test fitting

 

 

 

Edited January 9, 2021 by Mike Dulay

[Mike Dulay]

 

 

After filing the metal burrs from the mobo, doing a test fit of the front panel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Removed the 80mm fan mounts from the front panel because it was interfering with intended 120 fan to be installed and to add space.

 

 

With the modded front panel fitted

 

 

 

 

 

Getting ready to cut the top horizontal bars...

 

 

DONE!!!

 

 

Test fitting...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Checking the lower and upper parts for cutting

 

 

Cutting the lower legts/skids..

 

 

DONE!!!

 

 

 

 

Test fitting the plastic feet/skids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looks good to me!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Prepping the top mesh for cutting

 

 

 

 

Cutting!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Test Fit!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 9, 2021 by Mike Dulay
added text description

[Mike Dulay]

After semi-permanently assembling the case, I was supposed to try to install the hardware in the case if in case there are more adjustments to be done, unfortunately the mobo started to have issues booting up. I was able to send it for RMA however it took quite some time for the replacement to arrive. After the replacement arrived, I immediately tested it but alas, still having the same issues.

 

Here is a video of the replacement motherboard: 

 

Fortunately, Martin Lopes of Aorus Philippines, after telling him my issues with both motherboards, reached out and sent a substitute motherboard to be used.

 

While waiting for the mobo to arrive, I took some time to take pictures of the case.

Edited January 9, 2021 by Mike Dulay

[Mike Dulay]

While waiting for the motherboard replacement, I started making the PSU bracket/support/frame. I used right angled aluminum bars, screws and velcro.

 

 

 

 

 

Filing the aluminum burrs and making it even.

 

 

 

 

Drilling holes for the screws

 

Velccro!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 9, 2021 by Mike Dulay
added text description

[Mike Dulay]

Dissassembled the case and prepped it for the paint to be removed using paint strippers, metal brush and sandpaper.

 

 

 

Paint stripped and sanded ready for priming

 

 

Drying them parts under the sun on mom's clothesline lols!

 

 

Primer done!!

 

Edited January 9, 2021 by Mike Dulay
added text description

[Mike Dulay]

After drying the primer for about 20 hours, I sanded the dissassembled case with a 2000 grit sandpaper to remove small bumps and others.

 

 

 

 

After sanding the parts, I set it out on the roof for it to dry while I mix the paint needed. I choose the official Cooler Master Gray which is found on the website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 9, 2021 by Mike Dulay

[Mike Dulay]

After the paint and top coat dried, assembled the case and to ready it for hardware installation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 9, 2021 by Mike Dulay
added text description