my random computer build/ mod

The pokemon kid

The pokemon kid

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Mathew
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Well, I have been umming and arring whether to post this up or not but I have decided to just go for it...

I have got myself some cheap computer parts from a friend and want to make a cool gaming pc out of it. I however want to spend the least amount of money getting there as I already have an expensive computer and want a project pc...

I have ordered a cheap case (avp defender 100 matx case) which I intend to mod into a perfect home for my new computer parts.

What I intend to do to the pc:
Create a windowed side panel to show of the parts.
Add x1 or possibly x2 120mm fans in the front.
Re spray all the internals
Overclock the cpu
Custom braid all the cabling
Add LEDs etc to make it look awesome!!

+ any other ideas you can inspire me to do...

A big maybe:
Create a custom watercooled loop?!


The stuff I have:
CPU: Intel core 2 quad Q6600
Motherboard: IPIBL-LB? 775 socket board
graphics card: Nvidia 460 Gtx
HDD: 500gb WD and 60gb SSD
PSU: Corsair tx 850w

Reason for posting up here:
Well I may have a little experience of building computers, I however have little to no knowledge about modding/ DIY stuff.
 
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As Neil said... nice little project.

If you are going to overclock, get a decent CPU cooler. You mentioned watercooled loop, but you might want to start with a decent after market air cooler. Something in the £20-£30 range is probably good enough. You don't want to be overclocking using the stock cooler....
 
Agree with Andy, looking at your tech spec, even overclocked you have nothing there that requires watercooling specifically. A good 3rd party air cooler will suffice.
Any particular games you plan running on it ?
 
Yeh, I can agree that the stock cooler wouldn't be good enough for this build. I would only be looking at the watercooling option dependent on how much of an overclock I am looking to do.

I will wait til the case arrives until I buy a aftermarket cooler. This is simply because I want to see how much room I have after mounting the board. ( bad experience of coolers not fitting last time...)

Well I would in generally like it to run all of my current games such as COD, Minecraft, League, Crisis, Arma 2/3. (the last two being a lot more demanding than the rest.).
 
What you are building will play all of those games without O/C ing (one caveat, what version of Crysis are you running. Crysis 3 is the most demanding. DX11 only)

My gaming PC is way lower specification than yours and can play all the above with no problems. To give you an idea its an Intel e8200 dual core (ancient but great), ATI 4890 1gb ram graphics card, 4gb Ram.

With this i play Battlefield 3 at 1920x1080 on high graphic settings and get between 35-60 fps ( more than fast enough). Similar playability with MOH Warfighter, all CODs etc. So you are going to be fine.
 
I am currently running crisis 1 and 2.

I know that minecraft, league and COD aren't very demanding but I still would like to be able to play them with very decent graphics. Plus it will be my first time overclocking and from a friend who has the same processor. he has said it overclocks very well!

The case has just been dispatched. Now to find myself a decent dremel or something that can cut through the side panel and the front of the case so I can add those fans.

I was also thinking about adding two 120mm fans into the bottom of the case. I would raise the whole case up using larger feet on it and then cut two circular holes into the bottom. What do people think about this idea?
 
Ditto, 2 base monuted 120s are overkill but if they are pretty LED lit and for looks then fill your boots. Lol
 
Gazamonk said:
Ditto, 2 base monuted 120s are overkill but if they are pretty LED lit and for looks then fill your boots. Lol
Click to expand...

I'd use cathodes for lighting rather than fans. You could also look at some LED lighting strips.
 
Of course there are plenty lighting options i was simply making the point that if you are going to put in 120mm fans at least make them asthetic rather than just functional.
 
Well the way in which the case is laid out means the graphics doesnt get much air as the psu is in the top...

I have just changed the cpu paste and fan as there was a slightly better cooler in one of the other pcs. We will see how it gets on.

What colour scheme you guys think might look good? The mobo is dark blue, yellow and green...

EDIT:

This is the state of the motherboard. Now to find a paint brush to clean the rest of the dust off the board and the cooler.


Computer build by Mat Teague, on Flickr

Also here is the power supply. I had an old one in the garage and I am going to use that. As you can see, there wasn't much attention paid to the braiding of these cables originally. This will be different this time around... I am going to order the braiding and heat shrink soon so I can get to work on this mess of cables... ( I am going to cut some of these cables out however, there is 6 PCI-e cables... what were they thinking)


Computer build by Mat Teague, on Flickr
 
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The pokemon kid said:
Well the way in which the case is laid out means the graphics doesnt get much air as the psu is in the top...

I have just changed the cpu paste and fan as there was a slightly better cooler in one of the other pcs. We will see how it gets on.

What colour scheme you guys think might look good? The mobo is dark blue, yellow and green...

EDIT:

This is the state of the motherboard. Now to find a paint brush to clean the rest of the dust off the board and the cooler.


Also here is the power supply. I had an old one in the garage and I am going to use that. As you can see, there wasn't much attention paid to the braiding of these cables originally. This will be different this time around... I am going to order the braiding and heat shrink soon so I can get to work on this mess of cables... ( I am going to cut some of these cables out however, there is 6 PCI-e cables... what were they thinking)
Click to expand...


Tripple sli or crossfire x,

Anyways that power supply looks all beat up and not that safe, if it were me I would get a modular PSU, that way you can reduce cable clutter without cutting cables, or risk zapping your motherboard/yourself, those caps can hold a charge for days, enough to give you a serious belt.

:)
 
The power supply itself works fine. Just a bit dusty... It hasn't been used in a year and doubtfully would be used for anything else.
I don't really want to be spending more money and simply cutting out the old cables and he shrinking over them would do the trick as I don't need half of them currently... I have no need for the ability to do triple let alone duo sli in a micro tax case.

I saw mention on a forum of a way of taking a PSU similar to the one I have and turning it into a modular one by shortening the cables and creating extenders which would then be attached as the modular cabling...


On another note, the case has arrived! It is tiny compared to my corsair 450d... But it will do the job perfectly, unfortunately, I won't be able to fit 2 x 120mm in the front as there simply is no space... So I am thinking of changing it to a single 140mm in the front.
 
Have now received the three fans which I ordered last week (three coolermaster sickle flows). They have had their cables braided blue and their dust filters added.

The case has also had all the marking added to it for the cuts I will be making! All starting to take shape!
 
An update to the build! I have now gotten some time to braid the Fan extension cables, The sata power and the molex connectors.

I have also now masked the case ready for the cuts/ spray paint and I have now got the hole saws to make the holes. I am going to be cutting Four holes into the case to increase the airflow and make the case that bit more awesome!!


Ready for the cuts by Mat Teague, on Flickr


Ready for the cuts by Mat Teague, on Flickr


Ready for the cuts by Mat Teague, on Flickr
 
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I have now made the cuts! the case looks pretty awesome!

The 92mm fan cut at the back wasnt that great. I am going to need to file the edges down as the hole saw I got is slightly smaller than it needs to be...

Dont worry about the pink outlines. I masked over these because they were wrong...


After the cuts by Mat Teague, on Flickr


After the cuts by Mat Teague, on Flickr


After the cuts by Mat Teague, on Flickr
 
Don't think you'll get much of a overclock on a q6600 with that motherboard if im honest . as for a cooler your going to need something hefty to keep a q6600 cool as your probably looking at 1.35v or so for a 3.6ghz overclock and well they push out some heat :O I use to run mine under a tuniq tower 120 then a thermochill pa120.2 but then it goes down to the chip game you might have a golden chip that likes to clock and not pump out much heat
 
I have the Q6600 too and its currently overclocked to 3.2Ghz on air.
I managed to pick up a G0 stepping which apparently clocks better than the B3 version.

Do you know which version you have?

I removed the stock cooler and dropped in a thermaltake (cant remember exact model)
System idles at 32 degrees C and peaks at 46 degrees C under game play.

I have 4 x 120cm fans (1 drawing cold air in through the front and 3 exhausting hot air 1 rear and 2 side).

As said you might struggle with a seriious overclock on that board.
my chip is seated on an Asus P5K-E board which makes the overclock a doddle!
 
Okay, Finally another up date! A few things about this build have now changed because of a few incidence... But the dremel has arrived and more cuts are being made.

First of all, I am now longer using the TX850w... It sort of exploded...
The motherboard/ proccessor are being changed because of a crack in the motherboard.
The graphics card is now a Nvidia 630 GT 2GB as I am using the card else where.

I have bought a semi modular power supply which will arrive tomorrow. I have also sourced a new motherboard/ proccessor and RAM.

Cuts have been made for the window, and the rear exhaust. Here is some images. The case has also been mostly painted except for the back piece because of my spray paint mysteriously going missing...

There is going to be a lot more updates to this build as its a present for my dad on his birthday. He has flown out to spain and I will be joining him on the 18th...


Computer build by Mat Teague, on Flickr


Computer build by Mat Teague, on Flickr


Computer build by Mat Teague, on Flickr
 
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Just bought another one of these cases! Currently Ebuyer.com has them up for £13 plus free next day delivery.

I am going to take the hard drive cages from my 650D and try and input them into this case. Going to make it into a hard drive holder as I have a lot of data. Going to do the similar mods which I have done to my current one. Only difference will be that I will use a Mini ITX motherboard this time.
 
How did you crack a motherboard?
 
The parts were set up on my desk as I was sorting out the stand offs. The mobo was on the motherboard tray before I put the case back togethor. I had my anti static wrist band attached to the motherboard tray, my dad knocked on the door and pulled it off my desk while going for the door. Hit the floor pretty hard. Its was also missing a capacitor I think, but it was difficult to tell...
 
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