Hi guys, this is my very first time creating a thread here so any suggestions or criticism are very much appreciated.
I'm not aiming for building a beautiful & expensive rig here since I'm not a pro modder as many sifus here & I'm building on budget.
This build is gonna take quite some time to finish due to time constrains in which I will mod only on selected weekend.
My plan is to modify an old & obsolete Lian Li PC-V600 mainly for water-cooling.
Water-cooling itself is considered overkill to me for my current PC specs plus I only use my PC to surf this forum & facebook
Just wanna have fun building a PC on my own way of customization.
As the title suggests, 'Simpa' (simple), I'll keep this project as simple as possible, minimizing damage & error and finish-able.
Okay, let's start.


Hardware specifications:

Processor: Intel Xeon E5 2660
Motherboard: Asus Rampage IV Gene
RAM: Corsair Value Select 4 GB (temporarily doing dual channel on the Asus board)
SSD: Intel X25-M 160GB G2
Hard drive: Hitachi Ultrastar 1 TB
Video card: Sapphire HD6870 > changing to other card, still deciding
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610W
ODD: No plan so far

Cooling Components:

CPU waterblock: XSPC Rasa waterblock > changed to EK Supreme HF Nickel-Acetal
GPU waterblock: None so far
Pump, top: Koolance PMP-450S, COV-RP450 with reservoir > reservoir changed to Bitspower Water Tank Z-Multi 250 POM version
Radiator: HW Labs Black Ice GTX 240 & GTS 360
Fans: Some of generic 120mm fans, Sanyo Denki 120mm x 38mm (might change later)
Fitting: Bitspower compression 7/16" 5/8" silver shining
Tubing: Primochill Primoflex Advanced LRT Onyx Black

This post has been edited by imnovice: Dec 17 2014, 10:53 AM

Meet the victim


3D view of the case


Side view. A windowed side panel is a must? Okay, I'll do something with it


Side panel mesh. I'll reuse it


A quick look at the case's internals


Side panel opened

This post has been edited by imnovice: Jun 3 2014, 03:36 PM

Nice to see a fellow Xeon user modding. Can't wait to see it finished.

good luck ts, all the best

@Lucassss & najmul, thx guys


Pop that rivet up!


5.25" drive bay & hard drive cage dismantled


Stripped it down & ideas started to come. Put this here, put this there


Just another view

As a start, I'll settle the top part of the case 1st for fixing a 360mm radiator. I'm still waiting for the radiator & some other materials to arrive. A test fit for the radiator is needed, to be safe. I hope I can do something during this coming weekend. Stay tuned

This post has been edited by imnovice: Jun 3 2014, 03:37 PM

Can't wait to see the final product!

any update? hm

Small update

Sorry guys for not being able to update anything for the past weeks. I've received my 360mm radiator recently & done test fit for some of major components inside the case. I choose to rotate the the case 90 degree instead of existing layout. Thinking of cutting the motherboard tray to fit mATX motherboard only to gain more space so that I will be able to add another 120mm fan beside the processor. Test fit still in progress however to get the best placement of those components.



Test fit for major components



Uncompleted not-so-nice scketchup just for imagining how should I work on

This post has been edited by imnovice: Jun 3 2014, 03:38 PM

Progress


The ATX motherboard tray to be transformed to micro ATX


Making holes for cable management


Holes done

Trying with 24-pins connector


Initial plan for motherboard tray


Bending them


Bending done but I don't like it


This looks better

This post has been edited by imnovice: Jun 3 2014, 03:39 PM

Initial plan for PSU placement. Marked for cutting


Cutting the PSU opening


Cutting done but the outcome was bad. This cutting method is faster but needs to be done properly


I cannot fully cover this opening with the PSU bracket so I'm going to redo it


Additionally I realized that I could make use of the gap between PSU and chassis' base. I'm going to readjust the PSU placement later because...


I need to make the base first. This is originally the chassis' backplane. Marked for cutting


Cutting done

This post has been edited by imnovice: Jun 3 2014, 03:41 PM

This aluminum sheet will be the chassis' base. Marked


I made this simple guider to help me making straight cut


Cutting the 2mm thick of aluminum. Much faster than rotary tool although the best is to get a jigsaw


Fitted nicely


Just another view

This post has been edited by imnovice: Jun 3 2014, 03:42 PM

Trying the motherboard tray placement before marking


Marked for cutting


Cutting done


Trimming it


Aligning the tray


Riveting it


The tray safely in place

This post has been edited by imnovice: Jun 3 2014, 03:43 PM

Redoing the PSU opening. Marked for cutting


Cutting done


The new PSU opening


Aluminum plate installed


This thing will act as spacer between PSU and chassis' backplane


My second cutting disk for this project before I accidentally cut my finger with it. I need a glove!

This post has been edited by imnovice: Jun 3 2014, 03:44 PM

Great job man! envy ur skills. wish i have more time, money and space to mod like u! hahaha

Thanks brother but I only mod in very limited space, just those pictures didn't show lol

Small update. I've had some time to work on the PSU bracket yesterday.


Material used


Screwed in those square aluminum log


PSU vent interface. Marked for cutting


Test fit & how it should sit in the chassis


Test fit with real PSU


Cutting done with real PSU installed


Finished product & installed on the chassis

This post has been edited by imnovice: Jun 3 2014, 03:46 PM

Good morning. Another small progress from me. I've done the fans' blow hole for backplane. Check these pictures out:


Planning for correct fans & radiator placement. Clearance between radiator, side panel & display card are critical here


Fan's blow hole done


Just another view


The San Ace fan tapped with M5


Test fit of those fans with radiator


Final look of the backplane


With most of major components in place

Another major thing to do is 360mm radiator mounting which would be my next job. Stay tuned

This post has been edited by imnovice: Jun 3 2014, 03:47 PM

what a nice clean cut for the fan hole. can share with me how you cut it?
Is it using holesaw?

Hi, I used palm router to do it. Sorry for no photo snapped because things happened pretty fast.

This 2mm thick aluminum sheet will be holding front 360mm radiator


I've decided to cut this chassis' structure to allow for easy installation of front radiator


Test fit of the plate


The plate will be screwed on this metal thing


Marked for riveting


Tapped it with M3


Safely in place