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P180 Case - First real install! *UPDATE*

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XARiUS

Member
Hey guys! I finally got all my parts to do my first really *picky* install where I actually gave a crap..(at least, I thought I was picky).. After coming here a few days ago for the first time and seeing pics of everything... all that clean wiring.. you guys inspired me! Please let me know what you think and if you see any areas I could improve on...

Specs:

P4 640J 3.2ghz 2mb cache W/ Arctic Cooling Freezer7 + AS-5
Abit AW8-Max 3rd-Eye II Motherboard
Antec NeoPower 480w PSU
1Gig (2x512) Corsair Value Select DDR2 667mhz
BFG 6800GT OC PCI-E (copper/clear w/leds)
LiteOn Generic DVD/CD-Rom
HP(BenQ) dvd640 DVD-RW w/LightScribe
Maxtor 160gb SATA drive (can't afford raptors lol)
Zalman ZM-MFC1 Fan Controller
3 CoolerMaster 120mm Blue LED Fans
1 Antec 3-Speed 120x38mm lower chamber fan

Pic #1 Inside
Pic #2 Inside
Pic #3 Inside, No Cage
Pic #4 Inside, PSU Wiring
Pic #5 Outside
Pic #6 Inside (no lights)
Pic #7 Inside (no lights)
Pic #8 Inside, No Cage (no lights)
Pic #9 Outside (no lights w/ flash)
Pic #10 Outside (no lights w/o flash, holy bright batman)

** UPDATE **

Okay, so I re-did some wire runs and while at Fry's today picking up some stuff for clients, I came across this sale they had for 12 dollars. I have to admit, I've *never* been a fan of the led fans and cold cathode tubes, I always thought it was a waste of time and money. But for the all of 30 bucks I've spent on fans and the UV tubes, I have to say the results really impressed me.

Enjoy guys! Let me know what you think..

Pic #11 Inside w/ UV cathodes

 
I think it looks great. Can't get much better. I did away with the fan cages (I dont use the top mount as its blocked off) and softmounted all my fans. You can do it w/ the bottem fan or use screws if you dont have softmounts. Makes for a little more room down there. Also, it is possible to run the USB and mobo connector wires underneath the mobo and have them exit at the base of the mobo, but its a PITA and you machine looks sweet as is. Well done X 🙂
 
Originally posted by: JBDan Also, it is possible to run the USB and mobo connector wires underneath the mobo and have them exit at the base of the mobo, but its a PITA
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Thanks JB! I actually did run the 4pin power connector under the motherboard, but there wasn't enough room for the usb/firewire connectors to come out on the bottom.. There's only about 1/8" clearence between the case wall and the mobo. I'm not terribly worried, I got everything clamped down in there as much as humanly possible, so I'm happy!

andrewbabcock: I got the fans from newegg. The Antec tri-speed fans that come with the case are horrendously loud! (though they do move some air). These fans are seriously whisper quiet. The only thing I can hear is my damn BFG card with all the fans cranked wide open (even the huge 120x38cm is running full blast).

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crak, if you look at the psu wiring picture, you can see where I was able to squeeze my modular connectors thru the fan housing on the case. I actually was able to squeeze *two* of them thru there but wound up only needing one, so it saved me a bunch of out the top and back down the other side crap.

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Originally posted by: XARiUS
crak, if you look at the psu wiring picture, you can see where I was able to squeeze my modular connectors thru the fan housing on the case. I actually was able to squeeze *two* of them thru there but wound up only needing one, so it saved me a bunch of out the top and back down the other side crap.

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Click to expand...


where am i looking? 😕
 
also, what PSU are you using? I think I might be ditching my OCZ 520W.... I'm looking at the new Antec PSU's coming out. supposed to be P180 friendly in length.
 
Originally posted by: XARiUS
Originally posted by: CraKaJaXwhere am i looking? 😕
Click to expand...

Click Me! Look here!

I'm using the Antec NeoPower 480.. and yes those new PSU's look great...

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fancy. but if you look in my thread, I was thinking about removing the fan mounted in the bottom chamber leaving the 2 I put in there on my own. Then I can run all of the cables in the bottom chamber rather then have them in the top chamber laying on the sliding door. I think it would look ALOT better. But I ran out of zip ties and I'm also waiting for my fan controller/ 4 3pin extensions which SHOULD come tomorrow. if they don't, someones getting a phone call 🙂 that looks nice though, but I think I'm going to try my idea..... we'll see. is there a store that I can go to to buy zip ties? someone has got to have them.... I hope I dont have to order them online 🙁
 
lol! You can get zipties at.. ace hardware, walmart.. heck maybe even the grocery store!

Yes, it is easier to remove the fan. I opted to put it back in becuse my antec psu has a 120mm fan thats on top, not rear, so I could probably use something to help get the heat out.

Before this rebuild, I had the fan out and did run the cables thru the lower chamber. To be honest, it didn't make a huge difference in my opinion. I actually thought it made the lower chamber look crappy with all the wiring. Obviously thats just my preference! Your install looks great though, I'm sure it'll look nice with everything tied up.

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Well, I don't know if you have seen Dynamix's pics.... but he ran them that way and it was an amazing job. I think it wouldn't look that cluttered if you pulled it tightly and hid the slack behind the top HD cage, but I'll just have to see. btw, check your pm.
 
Yes, but as far as the bulk of the cabling went.. He cheated a little ;-) If I remember correctly, he skipped all the front panel connectors like, usb, firewire, audio, didn't use a floppy and removed the lower fan and ran all his wires down there.. 🙂

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I moved the high volume fan, from in front of the PSU, to the spot in front of the top hard drive cage. I didn't need it to cool my PSU, and this way it blows across the drives. It's a lot louder since I connected the fan, but not unbearably so. I will say, that fan *barely* fit in there though 🙂
 
Wow... So many sexy computers and wiring jobs here on C&C.... 🙂 Just that one cable in the upper right... Sleeve it. It throws everything else off. hehehehehe. Oh, and do you mind if I use pics for my page?
Tas.
 
lol tas, you noticed!!! I had a helluva time getting the molex all the way into the back of the zalman fan controller... so I jacked on an extension (which is why it's unsleeved like the rest).. I didn't want to have to run ANOTHER sleeved cable from my psu just for that one lil sucker hehe.

Thanks for the compliments, and you're welcome to use the pics however you wish, so long as it doesn't wind up as some sort of kinky porn 😉 lol.

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Originally posted by: XARiUS
lol tas, you noticed!!! I had a helluva time getting the molex all the way into the back of the zalman fan controller... so I jacked on an extension (which is why it's unsleeved like the rest).. I didn't want to have to run ANOTHER sleeved cable from my psu just for that one lil sucker hehe.

Thanks for the compliments, and you're welcome to use the pics however you wish, so long as it doesn't wind up as some sort of kinky porn 😉 lol.

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Do you need a sleeved extension? I can sleeve one for ya. I have plenty lying around. Just let me know how long you need.

And don't worry, they won't be on any pron site. Just here. And if you are worried about pron and stuff, ignore the bit about me wanting Dynamix's machine to have my kids... Um, yea. I like that case.
Tas.
 
Well, I do need a sleeved extension, but I need to find one to match the ones that came with my PSU (antec neopower 480). They all came pre-sleeved the way you see them. Just no extensions. They have some cable kits on their site, maybe they have extensions instead of just sleeved modular connectors.. 🙂

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Okay. Because I have black and UV blue material (both heat shrink and tubing). I could mod you an extension, no problem at all... Up to you boss. 🙂
Tas.
 
Hey nice rig Xarius. I have that psu as well, you said that you can fit the four pin 120v connector underneath the motherboard? Awesome. What kind of motherboard is that anyways?
 
Thanks scrawny! It's an ABIT AW8-Max 3rd-Eye II for P4 LGA775. It supports DDR2 up to 800/1000mhz!

Single PCIE, so no SLI, but I'm not looking for SLI anyway..

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well xarius.... i'm in class right now and when I get home my fan controller will be at my doorstep...... sha-wing.
 
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