Project Echo - Need some expertise comments from YOU!

[Hannes]

Hi friends!

First post here and I'm probably out jogging when posting this here. :hmm: But'um I'll post it here anyways. Since I've come to understand that no worklogs are present on this site, I'll just go from you passivly viewing my work to asking for your expertise. :awe: Thank you for bringing me and this build to the next level already I've tried to find the forum rules, but failed epicly, if someone would be so kind to show me them, I'd be greatful.

Since I think that SFF is pure awesomeness I'm going to try shugging my gaming-pc into an Fractal-Design Array NAS case. Some peeps where interested to see how it would went, and by that hightend the difficulty by a million. EkWb gave me LC, Fractal-Design gave me the case, Misco.se gave me the PSU, Enermax the fans and Coolingstuff.se the BP adapters. Thanks to them, this build is both more difficult to build, but also alot more extreme.

I've received great responses from other sites, but it's most "hey, that's look fantastic" .etc and not that much hardcore criticism, which is what I want, and need. And here you come into the picture, and which is why I've waited so long to present this build to you. I wanted to have something for you to work with.

The leading words for this project is Art, Performance and Design. :awe:

I have great faith in this community and I hope you'll look really hard for flaws. Because I don't want any flaws with this build, and I've pretty much gone home-blind.

Sponsors:
EkWb
Enermax
Misco
Coolingstuff
Fractal-Design

 

[Hannes]

This is the LC I'm using

 

[Hannes]

Some Misc hardware and Sleeving

 

[Hannes]

Starting to set things together.

 

[Hannes]

Awaiting the case, so this were my backup.

 

[Hannes]

 

[Hannes]

Some sleeving, the 24pin atx is in the same design as the PCI-E now.

24pin ATX

2x PCI-e 6pin

Finished PSU

 

[Hannes]

Things have been set in motion when the Array were delivered.

Please, don't be too kind. I'm already up in the cloud over the praise from other forums. I want harsh, in the nuts criticism. :sneaky:

Peace out,
Hannes

 

[lsv]

Looks cool!

 

[Hannes]

Looks cool!

Thank you.

 

[Emulex]

the cables remind me of those phat shoe strings from the 80's.

I've got a reasonably calibrated S-IPS 30" monitor and i think the images are either calibrated for a different gamma or the darks are too dark. i am not sure if your intent was different or for print??

kingston 64gb? focus? really 64gb? you are going to put that into such a nice setup? i'd go for something like a C300 256gb - just sayin'

the last several pictures look like a cluster - messy air flow blocking.

The copper blocks look like they are some sort of exotic brake pad set laid out that way.

the radiator looks like an intercooler off a small polo 1 litre turbo motor.

even JJ Abrams has been banned from lens-flare.

depth of field on those bright orange cables is too shallow- my eyes want to read a-data - badly - if you did the bokeh post process try to remove some of it. if not oh well.

just curious - can u post a pic of your car?

 

[Hannes]

the cables remind me of those phat shoe strings from the 80's.

Hahaha, they kind of does. It's for the SATA.

I've got a reasonably calibrated S-IPS 30" monitor and i think the images are either calibrated for a different gamma or the darks are too dark. i am not sure if your intent was different or for print??

The pictures from the Enermax Fans on the rocks in post 6 to the last really dark ones is from when I've learned to use my D40 on manuall. So those are probably the pictures you'll need to look at to see my current "skill"-level.

I haven't really touched the pictures in photoshop or anything, mainly because I'm using a netbook with the worst calibrated screen ever. Your S-IPS is probably show you things I can't even imagen. The six(?) last pictures are dark, and is dark on purpose. Doesn't it look good? Those pictures are supposed to be seen as a whole, and is not taken to show certain components.

kingston 64gb? focus? really 64gb? you are going to put that into such a nice setup? i'd go for something like a C300 256gb - just sayin'

Yeah, the focus is totally off. I took pictures to learn, and I've learned how to make the focus area more wide now. As you can see in the later pictures.

I can't really defend the choose of components. I took what I had. If I had the money, I would definitely have chosen atleast one highend SSD.

the last several pictures look like a cluster - messy air flow blocking.

The PSU isn't mounted in those pictures, I've been playing around with different angles and places and I think that this will be the best out of an artistic perspective. Cables will be better managed, but it's that messy chaos - meets sleek design feeling I'm after. I'll be updating you and the forum on my progress.

The copper blocks look like they are some sort of exotic brake pad set laid out that way.

the radiator looks like an intercooler off a small polo 1 litre turbo motor.[/QUOTE]

You got a thing for cars, right? :sneaky: The blocks do look like some sort of brake-pads.

even JJ Abrams has been banned from lens-flare.

It's taken outside, hence the lens-flare. It got that outdoor feeling to it. That picture (probably the most of them) isn't gonna be shown when the build is finished. To make a perfect build-log, you just post the good ones, I haven't done that.. :hmm:

depth of field on those bright orange cables is too shallow- my eyes want to read a-data - badly - if you did the bokeh post process try to remove some of it. if not oh well.

That's a result of bad camera handling. I've learned as you may see in the later pictures.

just curious - can u post a pic of your car?

Say what? I could.. When I'm back home in Sweden. May I ask why?

I must say, I asked for criticism, and I got it from you. Love it! :thumbsup: You've made me re-think my pictures, re-think my style and my design. You gave me a new perspective on my own build, which I lacked badly. You've really looked at the pictures and I'm nothing but thankful.

I'm missing a great S-IPS monitor more than ever. I'll probably have to invest in one in a near future if I want to impress anyone with my work and pictures.

Thank you very much!

 

[Emulex]

maybe bust out a light box and stage the lighting. it's very hard to do what you are doing with consumer gear and natural light. hell even with pro DSLR you probably want to stage some reflectors and lighting.

I can appreciate your dedication though. I wish i had the time and energy to build something like that someday but you know children - 0% time except when they nap.

that case that bmw did. while gaudy - man they sure did some awesome photography. i was admiring the pics - so good i think when you buy one for real it would not look so good in your house

I think some specs or titling might be cool. like "ATI overclocked to XXXX" nothing gives a boner more than hot pics but hot specs to back it up.

back to the bmw case - it was one of the first things i thought about when i saw some of your pics. it brought back that memory. i haven't heard much about that exotic case in a while. I think that is a cool thing that i relate the two.

 

[Hannes]

maybe bust out a light box and stage the lighting. it's very hard to do what you are doing with consumer gear and natural light. hell even with pro DSLR you probably want to stage some reflectors and lighting.

A light box, an S-IPS monitor, highend SSD.. You are making me even poorer than I'm already is. But yes, A light box would help giving me some continuity in my pictures. I'm probably going to re-shot all pictures in one set, due to my current circumstances. I've learned a great deal between picture 1 and the last (picture 67(?) and that's just the most descent ones).

I can appreciate your dedication though. I wish i had the time and energy to build something like that someday but you know children - 0% time except when they nap.

But having kids is > building PC's! Even tho they take more time and effort.

that case that bmw did. while gaudy - man they sure did some awesome photography. i was admiring the pics - so good i think when you buy one for real it would not look so good in your house

Maybe you could give me a link to that case? I know the BMW case, but not the build you're taking about. Maybe I'll learn some of directions etc.

I think some specs or titling might be cool. like "ATI overclocked to XXXX" nothing gives a boner more than hot pics but hot specs to back it up.

Aww, hardware is just hardware. () But here's my specs:

Case : Fractal-Design Array Rev2
CPU : i5 750, OC'd if the PSU can take it
MB : DFI LANPARTY MI P55-T36
RAM : 2x2GB A-Data 1600MHz
PSU : Be-Quiet SFF 350w MDPC-X sleeved orange and black + modded for more connectors
GPU : HD5870 @ OC'd to whatever the PSU can handle
SSD : Kingston V-Series 64GB SSD (Taken from a former rig, was a gift from my GF for christmas).
HDD : Depending, Samsung have probably soon (or already have) released the 1TB 2.5" HDD. It's a tempting buy if I'm not able to come over three 256GB ssd's with my student loan @ 800€/month when you're attending school.

LC
CPU : EK Supreme HF
Pump : EK-DCP 4.0
RES : EK Multioption 250 RES
RAD : EK-CoolStream-RAD XT 240 | EK-CoolStream-RAD XT 120 (not sure if I'm going to use the 120).
Fittings : EK-PSC Fitting 12mm - G1/4 Black
GPU : 5870 fullcover block

back to the bmw case - it was one of the first things i thought about when i saw some of your pics. it brought back that memory. i haven't heard much about that exotic case in a while. I think that is a cool thing that i relate the two.

The BMW case which probably is the most innovative OEM (If you can say that) case ever. I'm blushing. :awe:

 

[WoodButcher]

Welcome to anand Hannes!
Though the years we have had many worklogs here. I can't say why but not so many as other sites, in any case yours is welcome.

Your case choice I find interesting, why no optical drive? will you be using an external?

Normally wouldn't say it but you asked, I'm sorry, those cables just look a mess IMO.
I would like to see more well lit internal pics, mounting and location of the watercooling and other internals. Overall very nice work.

 

[JWade]

I like the multi-color braid look, i am going to have re-sleeve my cables now and do a nice tight braid to them.

 

[Hannes]

Welcome to anand Hannes!
Though the years we have had many worklogs here. I can't say why but not so many as other sites, in any case yours is welcome.

Your case choice I find interesting, why no optical drive? will you be using an external?

Normally wouldn't say it but you asked, I'm sorry, those cables just look a mess IMO.
I would like to see more well lit internal pics, mounting and location of the watercooling and other internals. Overall very nice work.

Thanks man! I'm glad to be here! I've received some very constructive response.

It's a work in progress and that's why you haven't been shown the details yet. I'm planning on re-shooting component shots, whole case shots, and down and dirty modding shots too. I haven't written out why I have taken the photos in the thread because I don't want to put the words in your mouth. The last pictures with the PSU mounted in the middle and with cables everywhere is to show you how I plan to mount it. And to show of the sleeving with the rest of the case. It's not a finished product and cablemanagement will be done.

Thank you very much for your very giving respons.

I like the multi-color braid look, i am going to have re-sleeve my cables now and do a nice tight braid to them.

I think that multicolors are the new thing, and then maybe also doing something different with them, like braiding.

 

[WoodButcher]

I think that multicolors are the new thing, and then maybe also doing something different with them, like braiding.

For some it may be ok but the braid is what I don't like. It is nice to see some new thinking, I look forward to seeing the completed work!

 

[Hannes]

Woodbutcher, maybe I'm able to change your mind about that til' the project is finished. :sneaky:

Bitspower products, sponsored by Coolingstuff

2x 45* adapter
3x 90* adapter
6x stop adapter

Fans sponsored by enermax

The reason of the dissmantle were to be able to have the "enermax" logo in the same direction as the "EkWb" logo. You can also see very well how much space a rad and fans take in this case.

​

 

[Hannes]

EkWb watercooling components sponsored by.. wait for it ..EkWb!

CPU : EK Supreme HF
Pump : EK-DCP 4.0
RES : EK Multioption 250 RES
RAD : EK-CoolStream-RAD XT 240 | EK-CoolStream-RAD XT 120
Fittings : 14x EK-PSC Fitting 12mm - G1/4 Black
GPU : 5870 fullcover block + backplate
+ Feser one Coolingfluid sponsored by Coolingstuff.se

Be-Quiet SFX 350w PSU sponsored by Misco.se​

Beginning to mount some hardware in the Fractal-Design Array (rev 2) Sponsored by no-one else but the eminent Fractal-Design

LC loop

The psu test mounted and with some experimental cablemanagement. I'm going to hide the cables alot more, that's my conclusion.

..And would you like a pen?

What's left to do?

# Plexiadapter for 3x2.5" SSDs/HDDs in the front
# Mounting and placing of the PSU
# Mounting and placing of eight white leds
# Pump switch, between EK 4.0 -> EK 2.2
# Reservoar switch between EK Multioption 250 -> EK multioption 250
# Plexi roof/top
# Cablemanagement
# Sleeve Leds, fans och pump
# Fill the LC loop with orange water
# New feets
# Switch radiatorgrill
# etc etc..

 

[Hannes]

I've started the PC and it works! I've OC'd it the CPU to 3.6GHz and that together with my 5870 gives me 22k in 3dmark 06. My motherboard bios can't bring the BLC over 170. Does someone know a work around?

The cooling is quiet, and really cool. My CPU @ load is 50*c and my GPU is 43*c Since my loop goes Pump > 240 rad > MB > GPU > CPU > RES > Pump it's quite good temps, don't you think?

Progress don't come without setbacks. I must have been drunk when I put together my PSU since my molex and sata cords were all put together in an mirror image of what it should have been. The result is 3 burned out 1TB sata drives and one SSD.

 

[WoodButcher]

I've started the PC and it works! I've OC'd it the CPU to 3.6GHz and that together with my 5870 gives me 22k in 3dmark 06. My motherboard bios can't bring the BLC over 170. Does someone know a work around?

The cooling is quiet, and really cool. My CPU @ load is 50*c and my GPU is 43*c Since my loop goes Pump > 240 rad > MB > GPU > CPU > RES > Pump it's quite good temps, don't you think?

Progress don't come without setbacks. I must have been drunk when I put together my PSU since my molex and sata cords were all put together in an mirror image of what it should have been. The result is 3 burned out 1TB sata drives and one SSD.

OUCH! that hurts, I did the same thing once, lost a CD/DVD and a floppy. Nice about the boot though, always a good feeling.

 

[Hannes]

OUCH! that hurts, I did the same thing once, lost a CD/DVD and a floppy. Nice about the boot though, always a good feeling.

Yeah it is. And it worked like a charm when I figured out why it didn't find any drives.

 

[Hannes]

Oh, now I got something you didn't see coming. :O

I've dismantled the rig surely 10 times, since I last updated this thread, and I've been busy with some stuff, besides modding so it have been slow progress. But I hope you like this anyways.

#1 -I have done a plexi+led thingy under my motherboard, to illuminate the rig from within. I think that it have given the build some edge. But I don't really have a good picture of it right now. But here's one bad for you:

I've also mounted the PSU, but that cablemangement wasn't very flattering, so I've redone that since the picture above.

#2 I've sandblasted, and powder-coated my case white! And the result was perfect. A really nice finish, and I personally think that it gave the whole project more of a custom feeling, and making it stand out even more. The pictures I've taken isn't really artistic, but they show my result at least.

Enjoy!

Further plans are to do something artistic with the exterior, do some cablemanagement, buy acryl and do a mount for 2.5" drives and SSD's in the front and do a window-top for the case. You don't want your friends dirty hands on your hardware, do you? Anyways, stay tuned - More updates will come

 

[Zap]

I wish I could get a Fractal-Designs Array in the USA. Heck. I'd even be willing to pay for it, and use it as God himself intended.