PC Modding | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Wed, 29 Mar 2023 23:57:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png PC Modding | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 AMD Frame AAA Custom System Build – Part 4 https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-frame-aaa-custom-system-build-part-4/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-frame-aaa-custom-system-build-part-4/#respond Tue, 27 Sep 2022 11:00:29 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=575551 This is it, the final part of the AMD Frame AAA custom build is here!

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Today’s video brings our mammoth AMD Frame Custom build project to an end. I've been hard at work getting the system ready to go to its new owner – don’t forget we will be giving this system away in a competition very soon! In this video we get the LCD screen installed in its enclosure and fitted to the frame, finish off building the rest of the system and take a look at performance. It's been a long project, but the end result is worth every moment.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
01:04 Recap and competition!
01:55 Part 4 update
04:11 LCD display enclosure
06:07 LCD enclosure building!
09:45 LCD Screen installed
10:45 Building up the custom loop
18:42 Showcasing the final system
23:27 Performance – tuning / FSR / Adrenalin Software
32:31 YOU can win this system!

KitGuru started work on the AMD Frame Build three months ago and its come a long way since then. We started off by modifying the X570 Aorus Xtreme motherboard, the EK-Quantum Velocity 2 water block and the new massive EK Surface X480M radiators, which set the tone of the system theme with a white and chrome look. In part 2 I made some beautiful custom power cables for the Seasonic Prime TX-1000 power supply, put the system on his test bench and showed us some of the features of the latest AMD software.

Behind the scenes, I've worked on preparing the remaining system components ready for Part 3 of the AMD Frame build, in which saw the build start to take shape. The Cooler Master MasterFrame 700 was treated to a covering of white paint, as were the EK-Quantum Kinetic TBE 300 D5 pump/res combo units and the EK-Quantum Vector Master GPU water block. The finishing touches were added to the radiator end caps and then the build began.

Core System Specification

Cooling Hardware

Additional Hardware Components

  • Barrowch multimode OLED display protector with alarm for overheating and Intelligent shutdown FBFT04 V2
  • Waveshare 11.9inch Capacitive Touch Screen LCD 320×1480 Resolution (H×V) HDMI Display Port IPS Display Panel Toughened Glass Cover
  • MDPC-X Cable sleeving – Natural White and Platinum X

In Part 4 we pick up where we left part 3, a few parts were tweaked such as the pump mounts, fan cables and cable combs. The custom loop was always going to be a major job to build as it is two separate loops for one system, also included in the loops are EK Flow Meters and two Barrowch multimode OLED displays which give the user a visual reminder of the coolant temperature as well as the ability to be configured with an audible alarm if the coolant exceeds the users pre-set temperature threshold.

When all this is put together in such a professional way the end product is not only a stunning-looking system but as James shows with his thermal and performance testing, it’s also an extremely competent top-of-the-range gaming system, able to churn out high FPS even at 4K resolution. We think this is one of the best open frame systems we have ever seen, paired with the beautiful white and chrome theme it looks superb.

Don’t forget, we will be giving this system away in a competition in the coming days. Entry to the competition will be handled on our Facebook page. Hence, if you have not already subscribed to KitGuru on Facebook make sure you keep an eye on the page for all the details of how to enter this amazing giveaway.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Learn more about AMD:

Radeon™ 6000 series: https://www.amd.com/en/graphics/amd-radeon-rx-6000-series
Ryzen™: https://www.amd.com/en/processors/ryzen
Ryzen™ 5800X3D: https://www.amd.com/en/partner/new-ryzen-5800x3d-processor

Follow AMD on social media:

AMD UK

AMD US/HQ

KitGuru says: The AMD Frame build is one of our favourite creations so far and one of the best-looking open frame systems we have ever seen. What do you guys think of it? Make sure you enter the competition for a chance to win it!

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AMD Frame AAA Custom System Build – Part 3 https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-frame-aaa-custom-system-build-part-3/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-frame-aaa-custom-system-build-part-3/#respond Fri, 09 Sep 2022 13:36:27 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=573533 Let the fun begin! James starts to build the system and boy does it look good

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In preparation for part 3 of our AMD Frame custom build, I've been hard at work getting all the parts modified and ready to start building the system. Lots of parts that were black are now white, some parts have been wrapped in chrome effect vinyl and some parts have arrived from laser cutting. The system build gets underway in this video and boy it’s looking good. This could be shaping up to be the best white theme system we have ever seen!  

Timestamps:

00:00 Start/Recap
01:20 The hardware
01:55 MasterFrame 700 mods
04:24 Radiators mods
05:15 Waterblock for graphics card
05:42 Pump Res combo part mods & fixes
07:30 What needs done (and some more goodies)
08:41 Assembly of the parts
21:35 The build so far: and coming in Part 4 !
23:35 Which way to mount the graphics card? please comment
25:27 Tubing brand discussion
26:55 Making our own satin tubing
29:32 Check back for Part 4 soon!

There has been plenty of progress since the last time we saw the AMD Frame Custom build. I've finished off all the painting of smaller parts such as the EK pump/res combos, parts of the GPU water block, the whole Cooler Master MasterFrame 700 chassis as well as completing the mods to the EK Surface radiators which now have chrome-wrapped end caps to compliment the white fan mounts that were painted in the first video.

Painting the Acetal parts such as the pump housing, reservoir lid and GPU block end covers was tricky. Initially, there were treated like other plastic parts, so were roughed up with some 400 grit sanding pads, primed with a few coats of plastic primer and then painted with numerous white top coats. However, the acetal is a difficult surface to get paint to adhere to and with the slightest knock the paint would chip and peel off very easily.

This wasn’t going to be a durable finish so it was decided that the paint would be stripped, which wasn’t difficult as it peeled off very easily and a new technique applied. This time instead of going straight in with the plastic primer, an adhesion promoter was used first. A couple of coats of this were applied before the plastic primer and top coats, which seem to have worked very well and produced a much more durable finish that we are happy with now.

As well as painting all the parts ready for assembly, the radiator mod has also been finished. If you saw the first video in this series you will remember that the radiator fan mounts were painted white but a decision needed to be made on what to do with the end caps. These are now wrapped in vinyl with a chrome effect which really sets off the white and silver theme to a treat and fits in perfectly with the other modded parts of the system.

Core System Specification

Cooling Hardware

Now that these parts have been modded, building the system up for the final time can begin. Good progress is made on building the system up but there are one or two things that need to be changed for us to be totally satisfied with the finished product. The EK pump mounts need to be painted white, cable combs need to be swapped for white ones and the cables from the Lian-Li Uni Fans need some modification to match the rest of the system’s custom cable design.

In the next video, the last of the modding jobs will be completed and we will see how the system looks when it’s fully built up, including the 11.9-inch LCD display and custom ‘Ryzen | Radeon' logo panel which we got a sneak preview of this time around. Already this system is looking amazing but we can't wait to see how it looks when it's complete.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Learn more about AMD:

Radeon™ 6000 series: https://www.amd.com/en/graphics/amd-radeon-rx-6000-series
Ryzen™: https://www.amd.com/en/processors/ryzen
Ryzen™ 5800X3D: https://www.amd.com/en/partner/new-ryzen-5800x3d-processor

Follow AMD on social media:

AMD UK

AMD US/HQ

KitGuru says: Even partially built, the system looks absolutely amazing, could it be the best white build you have ever seen? We think it might just be… if we can say so ourselves!

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AMD Frame AAA Custom System Build – Part 2 https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-frame-aaa-custom-system-build-part-2/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-frame-aaa-custom-system-build-part-2/#respond Wed, 10 Aug 2022 10:03:56 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=570361 AMD Frame Custom Build - It's time to make the cables!

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Progress of our latest custom project, the AMD Frame, has been steady since the initial launch of part 1 and today we are back working on the build. In this video we focus on modifying cables, as I make a full set of custom power cables for the Seasonic power supply from scratch, giving you the lowdown on how they are made – as we all love custom sleeved cables, right?!

Timestamps:

00:00 Start
00:52 Creating custom power cables (1:40 link to Seasonic custom video)
15:56 Cable making (timelapse)
21:54 Cables complete
22:18 Checking everything is working
23:09 AMD Adrenalin software
28:27 FSR & RSR / Other settings
30:08 Changing some of the wiring
33:31 Wiring mod timelapse
35:45 Improved cables straight into power supply!
36:45 Next mods for Part 3

In our AMD Frame Part 2 video, I give a refresher course on how custom sleeved PSU cables are made from scratch. We showed you the complete process in detail of how to make custom cables in one of our previous custom build projects, but today’s video is more of a recap on how it's done for those of you who may be thinking of making your own set of custom cables and need a quick refresh.

We take a look at the hardware that is needed to build custom cables such as the wire type, PET sleeving, terminal pins and connectors, as well as the tools you will find essential for building a full set of PSU cables from scratch. There are various ways to build custom cables, using different wire gauges, various types of sleeving and techniques depending on the guide you watch or read. This is our take on it, it may not be the only way about it, but it always results in a great-looking, reliable set of cables in the end.

Tools Required for Building Custom Cables:

Custom PSU Cable Hardware:

As you can see from the video, building custom cables is very time-consuming and can work out quite expensive if you need to buy tools, get quantities incorrect or make a major mistake and have to re-do some cables. You can buy custom-made cables from the likes of Overclockers UK,  Pexon PCs or cablemod but nothing is more rewarding than sitting back and admiring your work after taking the time to build your own.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Learn more about AMD:

Radeon™ 6000 series: https://www.amd.com/en/graphics/amd-radeon-rx-6000-series
Ryzen™: https://www.amd.com/en/processors/ryzen
Ryzen™ 5800X3D: https://www.amd.com/en/partner/new-ryzen-5800x3d-processor

Follow AMD on social media:

AMD UK

AMD US/HQ

KitGuru says: What do you guys think of our DIY custom cables? Are they up to scratch for the AMD Frame build? Will this guide tempt you into making your own set of custom power cables? Let us know!

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AMD Frame AAA Custom System Build – Part 1 https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-frame-aaa-custom-system-build-part-1/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-frame-aaa-custom-system-build-part-1/#respond Sun, 26 Jun 2022 09:00:36 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=564495 It's the start of a new KitGuru modded build series, this time with all AMD hardware!

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Today, we are sinking our teeth into another one of our special modded projects. Over the next couple of months, we are working with AMD to bring you a fully customised, wall-mounted gaming rig that is part of AMD’s AAA system designs. Using AMD's most powerful CPU and graphics hardware for gaming, this will be a unique custom PC that you won’t find anywhere else, so sit back, relax and enjoy.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction
01:00 AMD partnership details
01:45 Core build components
05:28 The case and plan!
07:15 LCD Display
09:00 Cooling – EKWB products
16:02 Cable Sleeving
17:06 The plan for the system – COMPETITION!
17:34 Starting on some of the mods
18:33 Motherboard modding
32:14 Progress so far
35:16 Coming in Part 2

Our latest system build partnership with AMD brings you a customised wall-mounted gaming PC built here at KitGuru using AMD’s AAA philosophy, but what does AAA mean? AMD's AAA systems are built using Ryzen CPUs and Radeon graphics. The system is optimised using AMD software such as Ryzen Master for extracting every last ounce of performance from the CPU and Adrenalin to optimise GPU performance, as well as features such as Fidelity FX Super Resolution to boost gaming performance and AMD link that gives gamers the ability to stream their gameplay.

We will look at how the AMD software can help to optimise gaming and boost overall system performance later in the build series, but first, let’s take a look at the hardware and cooling that will make up the core system and the mods we have planned for the build. As well as AMD being our partner for this build, we have also had some help from vendors such as Gigabyte, G.SKILL, Kingston, EK Water Blocks, Seasonic and Cooler Master which means that we have some tasty hardware ready to be modded.

Core System Specification

Cooling Hardware

Additional Hardware Components

  • Barrowch multimode OLED display protector with alarm for overheating and Intelligent shutdown FBFT04 V2
  • Waveshare 11.9inch Capacitive Touch Screen LCD 320×1480 Resolution (H×V) HDMI Display Port IPS Display Panel Toughened Glass Cover
  • MDPC-X Cable sleeving – Natural White and Platinum X

All of that hardware sounds like a recipe for a very fast system, and as far as all-AMD gaming systems go, it does not get better than this.

As far as mods are concerned, we have a fair amount planned. In Part 1 we get underway by modding the motherboard, since the X570 Aorus Xtreme only comes in a black colour scheme and the theme for this build is white and sliver, we kick things off by stripping the board bare, soaking aluminium parts in a caustic soda solution to remove anodising and giving most of the shrouds and removable trim pieces a few coats of white spray paint. The three M.2 Heatsinks are polished to a mirror finish and coated with a sealer to protect against corrosion.

While we have the painting equipment out, we thought it would be a good time to colour code some of the other parts. The new EK Quantum Surface radiators are a dream with their modular design which makes them simple to disassemble and therefore prep and paint, which I’m sure will please the modding community. Both radiators and the EK Velocity² CPU water block were treated to a custom white finish to match our system theme.

As well as the mods seen in Part 1, we have a bunch of other customisations coming up for this system in future videos such as custom power supply cables, a dual loop custom cooling system, more white and chrome makeovers, case modifications, LCD display integration for system hardware monitoring and a whole lot more, so make sure you keep an eye on the KitGuruTech YouTube channel as you don’t want to miss what’s coming up.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Learn more about AMD:

Radeon™ 6000 series: https://www.amd.com/en/graphics/amd-radeon-rx-6000-series
Ryzen™: https://www.amd.com/en/processors/ryzen
Ryzen™ 5800X3D: https://www.amd.com/en/partner/new-ryzen-5800x3d-processor

Follow AMD on social media:

AMD UK

AMD US/HQ

KitGuru says: So what do you guys think of how our latest AMD custom build project is shaping up? Let us know if you think there is anything else worth adding to the build and don’t forget, we are giving this system away once it's complete!

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AMD Behemoth System Build – Part 4 https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-behemoth-system-build-part-4/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-behemoth-system-build-part-4/#respond Tue, 21 Sep 2021 11:30:32 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=531557 It's finished! AMD Behemoth is running and looking absolutely top notch

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As modded PC builds go, a dual-system with separate custom water cooling loops was never going to be easy. But today, we put the finishing touches on the AMD Behemoth system and finally get to see this beast in all its glory, and boy, doesn't it look great? Well, we think so anyway – all the hard work was worth it in the end!

Timestamps

00:00 Start
01:00 Introduction
02:55 A recap of this modded build
05:28 Installing the GPU waterblocks
14:50 Working out the tubing loop
17:27 Creating the loop
22:09 Final system build is done! (you can win it, soon!)
24:38 Checking the temperatures
27:38 AMD Ryzen Master and testing CPU clocks
30:21 AMD Adrenalin software and GPU overclocking
32:28 What gains do we get from automatic overclocking?
35:41 Radeon Software – more features
37:04 AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution tested
40:25 Win THIS VERY PC Courtesy of AMD!

Building two systems with individual custom cooling loops and 30, yes THIRTY(!), fans in one system was never going to be an easy task. However, we relish the challenge here at KitGuru and always see a project build through to the end. AMD Behemoth is possibly one of the most difficult builds we have done, with two very high spec systems, dual custom cooling loops, 30 Corsair LL120 fans and some of our own modifications and customisations to give it a unique appearance. It looks stunning now it is complete.

In part 4, which is the final video in the series, we put the finishing touches on the system. Two GPU water blocks are installed and the very daunting task of building both custom loops goes surprisingly smooth, with just a few minor adjustments to the plan needed. However, building both loops was very time consuming, almost two full working days were spent on the custom loops but we think it was worth all the hard work. Check out the images above to see if you agree.

System Specification

Main System

Second System

Cooling

As well as looking amazing, we want to make sure the system is running in tip-top condition and maintaining cool temperatures under load. Towards the end of the video, we test the cooling performance using stress tests to make sure the system will be running cool for the new owner, while also looking at how the AMD software can improve system performance via automatic overclocking and other cool new AMD features such as FidelityFX Super Resolution.

AMD’s latest Radeon Adrenalin Edition software offers a whole host of features for gamers, including recording and streaming that you to easily record gameplay and host yourself on your favourite streaming platform directly from the Radeon software interface. AMD Link means the fun doesn’t have to stop when you are away from your PC either, with capabilities to stream your games to other devices such as your phone, tablet, laptop or TV meaning that you can carry on gaming anywhere in the house or away from home.

Also built into the Radeon Adrenalin Edition software are automatic tuning and overclocking features that make extracting every ounce of performance from your GPU simple. A one-click automatic overclocking tool will boost GPU core frequency giving your more power to get the maximum enjoyment out of your favourite games. Combine auto overclocking with FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) and you should have a gaming system that is capable of running the big titles for years to come.

Don’t forget, one of you lucky folks will be able to win this system in our upcoming competition, make sure you keep an eye on the website and our Facebook page to be in with a chance of taking this system home. All the details will be revealed soon!

Learn more about AMD:

Radeon 6000 series: https://www.amd.com/en/graphics/amd-radeon-rx-6000-series
Ryzen: https://www.amd.com/en/processors/ryzen
Ryzen Threadripper: https://www.amd.com/en/products/ryzen-threadripper

Follow AMD on social media:

AMD UK

AMD US/HQ

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: We hope you have enjoyed the AMD Behemoth series as much as we have enjoyed building the system. What do you guys think about how it turned out? Let us know your thoughts.

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AMD Behemoth System Build – Part 3 https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-behemoth-system-build-part-3/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-behemoth-system-build-part-3/#respond Wed, 01 Sep 2021 13:00:58 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=529260 Our Super Tower AMD Behemoth custom mod project is starting to take shape!

The post AMD Behemoth System Build – Part 3 first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
It has been a while since we brought you the second instalment of our AMD Behemoth custom build so we think it's time for an update. Today, for part three of the project, we begin to customise the smaller parts of the system, show you how to remove stubborn anodising from aluminium parts, and also give our custom laser cut case panels a paint job before installing them back into the chassis.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction
05:36 Removing aluminium anodising
15:16 Modding the motherboards (timelapse)
17:17 Spray paint / colour coding motherboard parts
21:34 Reassembly! (timelapse)
26:27 Laser cut case panels – the plan
30:13 Some panel work smoothing (timelapse)
31:26 Custom Panels installed – update
34:00 Custom Cable work
37:52 Cable modding (timelapse)
39:04 Custom cable showcase

We kick off part three by looking at a couple of different methods of removing coloured anodising from aluminium parts at home, using items that you may already have in your cupboards. If you want to change the appearance of aluminium parts, it's often necessary to remove the anodising before changing the colour. This doesn’t only apply to PC parts, you could use these methods to remove anodising from other things such as performance car/motorcycle parts, bicycle parts or anything else that is made of aluminium and is anodised.

The quickest and easiest way to remove anodising at home is by soaking the parts for a short time in a solution containing caustic soda and water. Caustic soda (also known as sodium hydroxide or soda crystals) can be purchased easily from online stores such as Amazon or eBay. Alternatively, you might be able to pick it up from a high street supermarket or a plumbers' merchant as it can also be used for heavy-duty cleaning and drain unblocking.

An alternative to caustic soda uses something that you may already have in your cupboards. Oven cleaner often contains chemicals that will also remove anodising from aluminium pretty easily, however, a little more effort is required with oven cleaner but it can produce the same result. If you do try either of the methods in the video, be sure to use some protective equipment for your eyes, hands and lungs as both caustic soda and oven cleaner contain harsh chemicals that can be irritating to the eyes, skin and lungs.

As well as this, there are plenty more mods in part three. I disassemble all the small heatsinks, shrouds, covers and heat spreaders from the system’s TRX40 and X570 motherboards and RAM, take apart the CPU and GPU water blocks and treat them all to custom paint jobs so that they fit in nicely with the red, black and silver theme of the AMD Behemoth.

System Specification

Main System

Second System

Cooling

Also in part three, I spend a lot of time fettling the new laser cut panels, the new high airflow front panel especially needs some work to smooth down some rough edges before painting. Once the prep is completed we get to see how the new panels with their custom paint jobs look installed back to the chassis. We saw the front panel in part two, but now it is joined by a modified high airflow top panel with a very smart looking Ryzen|Radeon central logo panel to replace the stock tempered glass.

To finish off the video I make a start on assembling the custom cables. I chose not to sleeve the stock cables in this build and make completely new cables from scratch for both systems as I want the cables to be the exact length with minimal excess cable to hind under the PSU shroud as we are quite limited for space. Like the rest of the system, the cables have a 3 colour scheme of black, red and silver.

Making custom cables with hand tools is a very time-consuming job which is why I only had the time to make the 24-pin cable for the main ATX system in this video, but it gives you guys a first look at how they are going to turn out. Between now and the next video I'll be busy making the rest of the cables so you will get to see the full effect very soon.

Learn more about AMD:

Radeon 6000 series: https://www.amd.com/en/graphics/amd-radeon-rx-6000-series
Ryzen: https://www.amd.com/en/processors/ryzen
Ryzen Threadripper: https://www.amd.com/en/products/ryzen-threadripper

Follow AMD on social media:

AMD UK

AMD US/HQ

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: With the modded and colour coded parts, the new and finished laser cut airflow panels and a first look at the custom power cables, we think the Behemoth build is starting to look very tasty indeed, what do you guys think of it so far?

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AMD Behemoth System Build – Part 2 https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-behemoth-system-build-part-2/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-behemoth-system-build-part-2/#respond Wed, 04 Aug 2021 11:00:29 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=524765 The AMD Behemoth custom build starts to take shape!

The post AMD Behemoth System Build – Part 2 first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Today we are moving onto part two of our AMD Behemoth custom build project. Most of our time so far has been spent planning and designing, but now we move onto the more interesting part of modding and build the system. There is a lot to do to complete this build but first, we must prepare the chassis ready for the system which means chopping, adding and moving panels/parts around to accommodate the vast amount of hardware that will fill this monster chassis.

Timestamps

00:00 Recap
01:39 Project discussion
06:28 Top panel – laser cutting proposal
07:18 Front panel proposal
08:30 Fitting Casters to the case
11:39 Drilling holes
12:58 Wheels attached to the base
14:38 Corsair XD7
17:31 Front Radiator bracket – 16 Fans!
19:09 How to sort out the cabling?
20:42 Looking at the wiring in the Commander Pro
22:30 Trying to tidy routing of cables in the front bracket
24:02 Commander Pro Power Draw and changes for dual system
28:15 Making New Bracket for top Radiator mounting
29:41 TIMELAPSE: Installing another 12 fans into top Radiator bracket
33:14 The system is starting to take shape
36:13 Vented front panel – raw form

Since the first video, most of my time has been spent tweaking the design and layout of the system, which doesn’t always make for great viewing so most of that has been done off-camera. We begin part two with a quick rundown of the plans and then jump right into the mods by adding some castors to the floor of the chassis, which will help with manoeuvring the case while building the system, make life easier for the eventual owner when moving the system and also offer a little more space for airflow under the case.

As well as adding castors to the base, I also removed a part of the chassis that was not needed. The 3.5-inch drive bay will not be populated with any drives and looks a little out of place due to its height difference compared with the adjoining power supply shroud. Because of this, I decided to chop the 3.5-inch drive bay out of the case and make a blanking panel to cover the hole that was left behind, which neatens up the interior.

At the front of the chassis, there is space on the radiator “drawer” for mounting two 480mm radiators, which is perfect as this fits in with our requirements. However, up top the stock radiator bracket is designed for only a single 420mm radiator. Our plans include the installation of two 360mm radiators in the top of the chassis so to make this possible a new bracket is needed.

I decided it would be quick and easy to make this bracket by hand rather than having it laser cut, this might have been a mistake but it was a good learning process. To make the new bracket I took a piece of 4mm thick aluminium plate measuring 500mm x 300mm and used the stock front bracket as a template to scribe out the shape on the plate. I then cut out the bracket by hand using a jigsaw with a HSS metal cutting blade and by drilling.

Once the bracket was cut, the rough edges were cleaned up using files and the whole plate was sanded using 240 grit wet and dry sandpaper ready for painting black to match the chassis. The old single 420mm bracket was chopped and the ends mated to the aluminium plate to allow the new dual 360mm radiator bracket to fit back in the existing drawer runners. Once painted, the new bracket fit perfectly into place and looked as good as stock.

System Specification

Main System

Second System

Cooling

Another important part of the system that needed some working out was how to power and control all the fans. In the front of the case alone there are 16 fans that have a cable for power/speed control as well as a separate cable for RGB lighting, so there is a huge number of cables to manage just for the fans. Both systems will be cooled by a 480mm and 360mm radiator each so there are separate “banks” of fans for each system, making powering and controlling them a bit of a headache.

I decided to power all the fans via the power supply of the main ATX system, so when that system is turned on all the fans will spin up. The downside to this is that when running the mini ITX system alone, the main ATX system will need to be powered up just to power the fans. The alternative to this would be to power each bank of fans by its own system power supply, but this might look odd if only half the system fans are spinning and producing RGB lighting when only one system is running.

With enough Corsair Commander Pro units I can configure each system to have its own PWM fan control, so at least the fans attached to the radiators for the specific system can react to CPU/GPU temperature changes and increase/decrease fan speed to keep the component temperature under control. In total, four Commander Pro units are required, two connected by USB to the main system motherboard and two to the mini ITX system which is explained in more detail in the video.

With all these Commander Pro units and Corsair RGB hubs, there is a lot of wiring. Fortunately, the Corsair Obsidian 1000D chassis does a good job of hiding cables with its metal doors on the right-hand side of the case. Nevertheless, it is still good practice to neaten cables regardless. Connecting all the fan power cables and RGB cables is a laborious job and took me the best part of half a day just to connect and manage the wiring for the front radiator fans alone.

Learn more about AMD:

Radeon 6000 series: https://www.amd.com/en/graphics/amd-radeon-rx-6000-series
Ryzen: https://www.amd.com/en/processors/ryzen
Ryzen Threadripper: https://www.amd.com/en/products/ryzen-threadripper

Follow AMD on social media:

AMD UK

AMD US/HQ

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KItGuru says: The AMD Behemoth build is progressing at a steady pace due to the sheer amount of work needed on such a huge build, but it is starting to take shape now. Would any of you guys like to sink your teeth into a build of this scale?

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AMD Behemoth System Build – Part 1 https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-behemoth-system-build-part-1/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/amd-behemoth-system-build-part-1/#respond Tue, 13 Jul 2021 07:59:05 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=522952 Our next modding project is underway - here James gives us the lowdown on what to expect

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Today, we kick off another one of our custom build projects and this one is going to be very special indeed. Over the next two months, we will be working in partnership with AMD to create the ultimate PC for multitasking – a system capable of rendering huge 4K video files while the user is simultaneously relaxing by playing their favourite games, without compromising on resolution or frame rate.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction / hardware specifications
04:04 Component showcase
06:57 Cooling goodies from Corsair
10:24 The monster 1000D case!
16:07 Dual system layout discussion
20:15 Looking at the Gigabyte RX 6900 XT Gaming OC

If you're wondering what kind of system can do all of this, it’s technically two systems but all housed inside one chassis. This isn't a new idea, dual system cases have been around for several years. The difference with a KitGuru dual system is that not only will it perform great, but it will also have a unique look since we have various mods and customisations planned for the system during the project.

System Specification

Main System

Second System

Cooling

As well as working in partnership with AMD for this custom build project, we have also had some help from Corsair and Gigabyte. Both systems will be cooled by individual custom loops, so a separate loop for each system. The majority of the cooling hardware will be Corsair Hydro X, the system will be outfitted with multiple 480mm and 420mm radiators, dual pump/res combos, Satin Transparent Hydro X rigid tubing and up to thirty fans will be installed inside the chassis.

With all of those fans, it will be a challenge to make sure that the cabling looks neat. We also plan to create a full set of custom sleeved cables for both systems. Unlike some dual system cases, the chassis we are using allows for the installation of two power supplies so custom length and PET sleeved cables will be made from scratch. Other case mods will include a custom front panel, doing away with the glass front and making something that is more personal to the system and with an AMD theme.

We also plan to rearrange the chassis interior a little by removing the 3.5” drive bay cage and extending the PSU shroud to clean up the lines. Added to these case mods will be customisations of the cooling hardware and an AMD themed colour scheme running through the entire system using paints, hydro dipping, acrylic, LED lighting and I might even try my hand at custom vinyl wrapping some parts in this build too, so there will be plenty to look forward to.

Learn more about AMD:

Radeon 6000 series: https://www.amd.com/en/graphics/amd-radeon-rx-6000-series
Ryzen: https://www.amd.com/en/processors/ryzen
Ryzen Threadripper: https://www.amd.com/en/products/ryzen-threadripper

Follow AMD on social media:

AMD UK

AMD US/HQ

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you guys think of our plans for this build? Is a dual system super tower build something that interests you or do you like to keep your work and gaming systems separate? Make sure you keep an eye on the next video when the mods will begin!

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Intel NUC 9 Extreme Water Cooling Project – Part 5 https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/intel-nuc-9-extreme-water-cooling-project-part-5/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/intel-nuc-9-extreme-water-cooling-project-part-5/#respond Fri, 05 Mar 2021 11:12:52 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=506351 The final part is here - let's take a look at the finished NUC 9 Extreme mod!

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If you have been following our Intel NUC 9 Extreme water cooling project over the last couple of months, you will know that the system has come a long way. Part 5 is the final video in the series where we will find out whether all of our hard work and effort water cooling the Compute Element card has paid off. Will we see an improvement in performance?

In the fifth and final video of the Intel NUC 9 Extreme water cooling project, I finish off all those small niggling little jobs that you often put off, believing they will only take five minutes to complete when actually they last for hours. However insignificant these small jobs may seem, they must be completed to get the final system built up and to test the performance of our custom water cooling.

The video kicks off by looking at some DIY transfers or stickers printed on transparent self-adhesive paper – something that can be done at home with your normal inkjet printer. Getting hold of professionally printed transfers online for a reasonable price and delivered quickly, isn't as easy as it may seem, so I decided to print my own and they turned out better than I had expected. The front of the system now sports a Ghost Canyon-style skull transfer and stuck to the little spoiler on top of the chassis is a new Intel logo to break up the mass of white.

When building a custom system, there are usually wiring mods to be done, which applies to this project too. I made a custom length 12-pin PCIe cable which meant I could do away with that bulky 2 x 8-pin to 12-pin adaptor which neatens the system up significantly. Also, the multi-coloured wires from the Alphacool water DDC pump had to go so I replaced those with custom length black cables. Everything that connects to power now hooks up directly to the PSU so there are no Molex or SATA power cables in sight.

The final mod to the case was to add some custom “underglow” blue LED lighting strips. Once all the mods were completed, it was time to try out or own bespoke NUC 9 Extreme Compute Element copper CPU heat spreader and mounting bracket for the Alphacool CPU water block. The copper heat spreader was bonded to the CPU much like the HIS of a desktop CPU. Our stainless steel CPU block upper mounting bracket fits perfectly and we managed to retain the stock backplate (with a slight mod) and used the stock Alphacool fixings to attach the water block to the Compute element.

Our custom heat spreader and mounting bracket fit as intended, the stock Intel M.2 heatsinks were modified to fit the system in its new configuration and a leftover piece of aluminium was used to make a small heatsink for the chipset. To help distribute heat evenly across the VRM, we made a small copper heat spreader and then the system was ready to be built up for the final time!

Thermals and Performance Testing

With the system rebuilt in its final configuration, we can move on to the thermal and performance tests. Any temperature readings are presented as delta which means the ambient room temperature has been deducted from the actual component temperature reading. The fan speed of the water-cooled configuration has been adjusted to represent the same noise level as the stock system for a fair comparison.

Test system specification

  • Motherboard/CPU: Intel NUC 9 Extreme Compute Element / Core i9 9980HK
  • Memory: 32GB (2 x 8GB Modules) Skill Ripjaws DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM
  • Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Founders Edition
  • 1st Storage Device: 2TB WD Black SN750 PCIe Gen3 x 4 NVMe M.2 SSD
  • 2nd Storage Device: 2TB WD Black SN750 PCIe Gen3 x 4 NVMe M.2 SSD
  • Case: Modified Cooler Master NC100
  • System Fans: 2 x 92mm Cooler Master
  • Power Supply: Modified Seasonic Focus SGX-650

Custom cooling hardware:

  • Custom copper CPU heat spreader
  • Bespoke water block mounting bracket
  • CPU water block: Alphacool NexXxoS XP³ Light – Black V.2
  • Graphics card water block: Eisblock Aurora GPX-N RTX 3080 FE with backplate
  • Tubing: AlphaTube HF 13/10 (3/8″ID) – Ultra Clear
  • Fittings: Eiszapfen 13/10mm compression G1/4 – chrome

Thermal testing results and analysis

To kick off the tests we begin with simple thermal performance tests using AIDA64 to determine what, if any improvement has been made over the stock Intel air-cooled vapor chamber solution.

As you can clearly see, our custom water cooling has significantly improved the thermals performance of the Intel Core i9-9980HK CPU with a reduction in the average CPU package temperature of 15⁰C during the 30 minute CPU stress test.

For the second AIDA64 stress test we add the GPU and memory for an analysis of the full system thermal performance using our custom water cooling. With 100% load on both the CPU and GPU, the result is very impressive with a reduction in the temperature of 17.6⁰C (CPU) and 19.1⁰C (GPU) compared with the stock Intel and Nvidia cooling solutions.

Productivity performance

Before running any gaming benchmarks, we took a quick look at how the improved thermals affected system performance and productivity tasks. Since there has been a significant improvement in the CPU temperature, we can run the Core i9-9980HK CPU at a 105W long duration power limit. This was impossible with stock cooling as the CPU would quickly reach the 100⁰C temperature threshold and throttle the frequency.

There is a noticeable uplift in Cinebench R23 benchmark performance with the CPU water-cooled. Even at the stock 65W long duration power limit, Cinebench R23 benchmark records an increase of 442 Multi-thread points and a notable 15% (1,307 points) performance increase with the sustained CPU power limit at 105W.

PCMark 10 benchmark shows an increase in performance with the system water-cooled but still in the 65W sustained CPU power mode, at 105W the increase in performance isn't as impressive as Cinebench but it still shows that water cooling the CPU improves overall system performance.

Gaming performance

At the beginning of this project, the aim was to finish with a tiny form factor genuine high-end gaming PC that was fully water-cooled, and one that would perform better than stock. To test whether the idea was successful, we ran a series of gaming benchmarks using built-in benchmark tools as well as running 3DMark benchmarks both before and after water cooling to compare performance.

Because the custom water cooling has significantly improved thermals of the CPU and GPU, as well as the 105W CPU power mode, we added an overclock of 100MHz core frequency and 500MHz memory to the GPU. With the stock CPU and GPU cooling, overclocking the system increased temperature very quickly which reduced performance due to the dynamic way that the Nvidia core frequency works.

However, with the GPU and CPU water cooled this was no longer an issue and in some titles, such as older fast-paced multiplayer games like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, we saw up to 10% improvement to average FPS. The performance increase in newer games, such as Watch Dogs: Legion, wasn’t as high but still, a 5% FPS increase at 4K (2160p) resolution is not to be sniffed at.

Closing Thoughts

At the beginning of this project, we were quietly confident that our custom NUC 9 Extreme Compute Element water cooling would be a success to a certain extent, but we were pleasantly surprised with the final results which made all the hard work and effort that we put into the project worthwhile. The reduction in temperature and the performance boost in productivity and gaming was very rewarding for us to see.

As we all know, water cooling has its advantages and this was certainly shown here. The only downside to it is that we couldn’t quite fit all of the water cooling components inside the chassis which would have been the perfect outcome. Nevertheless, once the case was painted and modded, the externally mounted radiator didn’t look too much out of place and it is something I could probably live with due to the significant reduction in system temperature and the performance boost that it brought.

Before starting this project, I had not really explored small form factor systems in any detail, I had built the odd mini-ITX system in the past but this project really opened my eyes to how much systems can be shrunk down in size these days but still pack an awesome punch when it comes to performance in both productivity and gaming.

The improvement we saw in productivity meant that this system was genuinely on par with some high-end desktop systems I have worked on. It would make the perfect partner for someone that needs a true high-performance system for maybe editing photos or video on the go and could be easily connected to a hotel TV or portable monitor to enjoy some gaming while away on business trips or holidays even.

In terms of the gaming performance, this is a very capable machine. Our tests at 4K resolution showed the Watch Dogs: Legion benchmark almost hitting an average 60FPS at 4K with the Ultra graphics preset – something that is even difficult to achieve on some high-end gaming desktops, which is very impressive from a tiny form factor system such as this.

Find out more here:

INTEL INNOVATION: intel.com/innovation

VISIT INTEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk7SjrXVXAj8m8BLgzh6dGA

VISIT INTEL TECHNOLOGY:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_9tBCeHdBG13If451X7FRw

GHOST CANYON: https://simplynuc.co.uk/ghost-canyon/

SCAN: https://www.scan.co.uk/shops/intel/ghost-canyon-nuc

EBUYER: https://www.ebuyer.com/store/Components/cat/Barebones/Intel

KitGuru says: This is where the Intel NUC 9 Extreme water cooling project comes to an end. It's been exciting and eventful and has taught me a lot about how to use the available space inside a small form factor chassis like this. Would you guys be interested in building a NUC 9 based system in the future? if so, would you go down the water cooling route too?

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Seasonic AURA MODDED Build (Part 3) https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/seasonic-aura-modded-build-part-3/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/seasonic-aura-modded-build-part-3/#respond Thu, 26 Nov 2020 15:44:23 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=495341 We move onto the next stage of mods with the Seasonic Aura build!

The post Seasonic AURA MODDED Build (Part 3) first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
It feels like a long time has passed since we last brought you an update on the Seasonic Aura custom build project, in typical 2020 fashion we have been hit with some unexpected delays which seem to be the norm these days. However, today we have a big update with the project, and you can watch it all in the latest video episode.

In Seasonic Aura Part 3, we get to see some of our laser cut aluminium panels, the custom power supply shroud with a ‘Powered by Seasonic’ logo is looking fantastic. We mod the power supply shroud further by adding a blue acrylic panel, illuminate it with LED lighting and detail the steps to make your own LED lighting strips at home to save a little in your wallet.

Making LED lighting strips is an easy DIY PC mod you can do at home, all you need is a self-adhesive LED strip (typically used in kitchens for illuminating countertops) some wire and connectors. We used a blue LED strip but the same method is used for any colour strip, even remote-controlled RGB strips can be adapted for use inside a PC. We also recycled some old Molex power connectors to connect the strips to a 12v outlet from the PC power supply.

While in the mood for wiring mods, we partially built the system, finalised the layout of the main components then set about modifying other cables. The multicoloured wires coming from the Alphacool pump had to go. To tone these down, we stripped the pump cover off, removed the original white Molex power and four-pin fan header connectors, added some black PET sleeving and some fresh black connectors, now the cables look fit for this system.

Additionally, the CPU block cable needs to be modified too, the length of the cable was reduced to minimise the need for cable management, this again involved removing the top cover from the CPU block, de-soldering the tiny wires from the small LED Alphacool logo, reducing the cable length, re-soldering and sleeving the cable, before assembling the CPU block LED panel and top cover. These are small mods but it’s the detail like this that counts towards the overall quality of the finished build.

The addition of aluminium laser-cut parts such as the custom power supply shroud, GPU backplate cover and the SSD covers complement the brushed aluminium effect memory modules we previously modded, as well as the aluminium heatsinks on the Gigabyte Z490 Vision D motherboard and provide an excellent contrast with the black parts and subtle blue lighting. The system is starting to take shape now.

We have more mods and tinkering to come with this system, next time ill be making up custom length and sleeved power supply cables from scratch to replace the stock Seasonic cables, so make sure you stay tuned to the KitGuru YouTube channel and keep checking back in at the website for the next instalment of the Seasonic Aura mod project!

KitGuru says: After a small delay, the Seasonic Aura System is starting to come together quite nicely now, and we can see that subtle industrial theme beginning to come through. Let us you know what you think of how the system is progressing and if there is anything you would change or add to the build.

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James Mods: Electroplating At Home (How To Guide!) https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/james-mods-electroplating-at-home-how-to-guide/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/james-mods-electroplating-at-home-how-to-guide/#respond Mon, 12 Oct 2020 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=489393 At the KitGuru modding workshop today, we delve into the ins and outs of DIY electroplating and show you how you can jazz up your components for very little cost, using many of the things you may already have around the house...

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At the KitGuru modding workshop today, we begin to take a look at some of the processes and procedures that we think will come in handy to you guys when modding your own systems at home. We delve into the ins and outs of DIY electroplating and show you how you can jazz up your components for very little cost, using many of the things you may already have around the house.

Disclaimer: Be sure to take all necessary safety measures when working with chemicals, including wearing gloves and eye protection. Always follow the guidance given on the product packaging. KitGuru takes no responsibility for any injury or damage caused by following the procedures in this guide.

I have always been fond of electroplating. Back in the days of modding cars and rebuilding engines, I found electroplating to be a great way of making old and rusty parts look like new again, and a bit of elbow grease and know-how is all it takes to electroplate metal parts at home. It is also much easier and cheaper to set up your own little plating rig than you might think. In this beginner’s guide to electroplating, most of what you need to get going might already be in your home, or you can find the parts at a small cost at either the supermarket or the major online retailers.

To set up your own electroplating rig at home, you will need the following:

  • White/Spirit vinegar
  • Table salt
  • A metal anode such as Nickel, Copper or Zinc
  • Power supply – an old phone charger will work (around 5v 500mA)
  • Glass or plastic beaker/container
  • Hydrochloric acid (optional)

The list above is the bare minimum you will need to set up your own electroplating rig at home, some tools will also help with the process such as tin snips, soldering equipment, pliers/wire cutters, sandpaper abrasives and metal cleaning supplies, a digital multimeter will also be useful but not essential. Once you have gathered everything on the list, you are ready to begin making the electrolyte and start electroplating.

In the video, we focus on nickel electroplating. It is also possible to electroplate using other metals such as copper and zinc, however, nickel is usually my preferred finish. For the first step, you need to cut your Nickel anode into two strips or if its already prepared, place the strips in your container at opposite sides. We cut two strips approximately 10mm wide from the Nickel plate, bent over the top edges and hang them over the rim of the container.

Next, fill up the container with white/spirit vinegar and add the salt, the amount of salt needed isn’t critical, we added approximately a tablespoon of salt to 400ml of vinegar. The salt is added to the vinegar to reduce the electrical resistance of the solution and raise the conductivity, this helps accelerate the production of nickel electrolyte which is the solution we are making to electroplate parts with.

We now have everything set up and ready to start making nickel electrolyte, the original connector on the power supply (old phone charger) needs to be chopped off and the positive and negative cables connected to the top of the nickel strips, for this we soldered alligator clips to the ends of the wires. Plug the power supply into the mains and away we go, we are now making nickel electrolyte. We would suggest leaving the solution for approximately two hours to make a high concentration of nickel electrolyte with a lovely shade of green to it.

After approximately two hours, turn off the power and disconnect the power supply from the nickel anodes, at this point we are ready to electroplate our parts. For this, we have chosen to nickel electroplate an old AIO CPU block copper cold plate. To achieve the best end result, the part must be immaculately clean and free from any corrosion, so the more time spent cleaning up the part now the better. Any imperfections found on the metal surface before will show up after electroplating so if you want an immaculate finish, the part must be perfectly clean and free from any rust, oil, or dirt.

Before electroplating we prefer to etch the surface of the metal that is being electroplated by soaking the part in a diluted Hydrochloric acid bath, this is where the brick cleaner comes in. This step primes the surface of the metal for the best possible adhesion of the nickel plating. However, this is optional and can be skipped if access to hydrochloric acid isn’t possible, brick cleaner is a good substitute as it is hydrochloric acid based.

With the part clean and etched, we are now ready to begin electroplating, just like the process of making the nickel electrolyte, this stage isn’t difficult. Using one of the nickel anodes from earlier, place this back into the beaker containing the nickel electrolyte and connect up the positive wire from the power supply to the nickel anode again and connect the negative wire to the part you are electroplating.

Suspend the part in the nickel electrolyte and turn on the power. Ideally, we like to keep the part moving by hand in the solution while electroplating, to stop bubbles sticking to the surface of the part for too long and potentially affecting the finish. The other option is to keep the solution moving by using a stirring device or a fish tank aerator.

The nickel plating should be visible on the part quite quickly, even after 10-15 seconds in the solution you should see the processes taking effect. The longer you leave the part in the solution the better, we recommend around 40 minutes for a good quality durable finish. Once 40 minutes is up, turn off the power and remove the part from the electrolyte, rinse it off in clean water and admire your work. If required, you can polish the nickel plating with some metal polish for a mirror-like finish.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Electroplating transforms the appearance as well as offering protection to certain metals, making them more durable and more resistant to corrosion. The electroplating process isn't as difficult as it may seem and can easily be set up at home. We hope you guys find this guide gives you guys the confidence to try out electroplating your own parts, it really is great fun.

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Seasonic AURA MODDED Build (Part 1) https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/seasonic-aura-modded-build-part-1/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/james-dawson/seasonic-aura-modded-build-part-1/#respond Mon, 21 Sep 2020 07:59:02 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=486594 Today, KitGuru embarks on a new area of content by kicking off on a series of projects in which we work in partnership with manufacturers to create unique one-off PC systems and modding projects. We begin this new venture working together with Seasonic to create what we are calling the Seasonic AURA system, a fully customised and unique system with a Seasonic theme.

The post Seasonic AURA MODDED Build (Part 1) first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Today, KitGuru embarks on a new area of content by kicking off on a series of projects in which we work in partnership with manufacturers to create unique one-off PC systems and modding projects. We begin this new venture working together with Seasonic to create what we are calling the Seasonic AURA system, a fully customised and unique system with a Seasonic theme.

The aim of this new section of KitGuru is to create unique systems, documenting the various modding processes along the way. We expect each project to take a month or more to complete and will present all the processes in multiple part videos published weekly. The Seasonic Aura aims to be a fully customised unique system created for Seasonic and will truly be one of a kind.

The various modding processes we will be aiming to cover over the coming weeks and months will include laser cutting, water transfer printing, electroplating, custom cables, cable sleeving, custom water cooling, painting, polishing, general cutting, chopping and many more. So, if you have always wanted to step into the world of PC modding, but never known where to start, hopefully, this new series of KitGuru videos will provide you with the knowledge and motivation to create your own unique PC builds in the future.

Seasonic Aura will be a subtly modded system in keeping with the Seasonic style, so no outlandish RGB lighting here. The system will use mostly stock parts such as a Fractal Define 7 XL case but heavily modified with Seasonic branding and logos laser-cut into various panels, new panels made from scratch, perfectly managed custom sleeved cables, customised lighting and much more.

Seasonic Aura hardware specification:

  • CPU – Intel Core i9-10850K
  • Motherboard – Gigabyte Z490 Vision D
  • Graphics card – Gigabyte RTX 2080 Super Gaming OC Waterforce
  • Memory – 32GB (2 x 16GB Modules) Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO DDR4-3200
  • 1st storage drive – 500GB WD Blue SN550 NVMe M.2 SSD
  • 2nd storage drive – 1TB WD Blue 3D NAND SATA SSD
  • 3rd storage drive – 1TB WD Blue 3D NAND SATA SSD
  • Power supply – Seasonic Prime TX-1000 100W 80+ Titanium
  • Case – Fractal Define 7 XL
  • System Fans – NZXT AER P120 120mm

As well as the unique modifications, the Seasonic Aura system will be cooled by a fully custom water-cooling solution provided by Alphacool. The overall theme of the Seasonic Aura project will be based around a black/blue appearance complemented by an industrial-looking mix of chrome and brushed metal parts. With this in mind, the custom liquid cooling loop will use brass chrome hard tubing and blue coolant.

Since the system is a Seasonic based project, custom length PSU cables will be made from scratch. The whole process of constructing the cables will be documented including crimping new terminals, re-applying the connector and sleeving the cables with black and blue PET sleeving. A bunch of other mods are planned too so make sure you stay tuned to see how this project turns out.

KitGuru says: Do you have an interest in modded PC systems? If you do then make sure you keep up to date with the progress of the KitGuru Seasonic Aura project and see how the final system turns out, this should be an interesting project to keep track of.

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Thermaltake AH T600 ‘Attack Helicopter’ Case Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/thermaltake-ah-t600-attack-helicopter-case-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/thermaltake-ah-t600-attack-helicopter-case-review/#respond Thu, 28 May 2020 11:27:47 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=467404 Does the AH T600 chassis from Thermaltake take us to heights we have not reached before?

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We got our very first glimpse of the Thermaltake AH T600 chassis at CES 2020 earlier in the year and have been looking forward to getting the opportunity to take a closer look at it ever since. According to Thermaltake, the AH T600 is styled around an attack helicopter and is aimed towards those who really want to show off their system with its rather unique appearance. But the real question is, what is it like to build a system inside? Let’s find out.

Thermaltake has a history of producing cases that its extensive modding community has adapted into some very interesting creations. In 2016, Thermaltake launched the Core X9 chassis that was later modded to look like a tank and both the Core P3 and P90 have been crafted into some weird and wonderful creations in the past too.

Then in 2019, Thermaltake equipped its production lines with the tooling to make its own unique and outlandish looking cases in-house. The AH T600 attack helicopter themed chassis is the first case to be created from this new production model and is available for enthusiast PC builders to purchase now.

AH T600 is technically an open frame full ATX tower chassis and is intended to be used for showcasing unique builds in the best possible way. It is equipped with five tempered glass panels, three at the front which sort of resemble an attack helicopter cockpit, as well as two glass side windows that are mounted on hinges with thumbscrew fasteners for easy access to the interior. There are also a generous amount of panel gaps around the chassis, so airflow shouldn’t be restricted.

The structure of the chassis frame is constructed from steel and the outer shell is manufactured from a combination of steel and plastic panels. Compared with the average mid-tower desktop cases, the AH T600 is a bit of beast. With all the panels installed it measures 750mm from front to back, it stands approximately 620mm tall and weighs in at over 20kg empty.

In terms of hardware component support, the AH T600 can house up to EATX form factor motherboards, CPU coolers up to 195mm tall, power supplies with a maximum length of 200mm and graphics cards up to 440mm long. The rear panel allows for vertical or horizontal PCIe add-in card installation and there is space for up to two 3.5-inch HDDs or a total of three 2.5-inch SSDs or HDDs.

AH T600 is Tt LCS-Liquid Cooling support certified which means it is perfect for hardcore enthusiasts to build complex and extreme custom liquid cooling solutions inside. Generous radiator mounting options are available, with support for up to 480/420mm radiators or 4 x 120mm/3 x 140mm fans in the front,  up to 360mm radiators or 3 x 120mm/2 x 140mm fans in the roof and there is space for up to 360mm radiators or 3 x 120mm/2 x 140mm fans to the right of the motherboard tray.

Pre-installed to the floor of the AH T600 chassis is a removable bracket for installing compatible water pumps or pump/res combos and the front panel I/O consists of power and reset buttons, power and HDD activity LEDs, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a single USB 2.0 Type-A, one USB Type-C port and 3.5mm HD audio jacks for headphones and a microphone.

The Thermaltake AH T600 is available in either black or white colour schemes and is available to purchase now. The Black version is priced at around £250 and the Snow white version is a little more expensive at around £265 in the UK, which I suppose doesn’t seem too expensive considering the unique design and sheer size of the case, if you are into this kind of thing of course.

Key features

  • Distinctive attack helicopter design
  • Support for extreme water cooling setups
  • Tempered glass front and side panels
  • Ideal for showcasing unique builds

Specifications

Case type Full tower
Dimensions (H X W X D) 628.3 x 337 x 763 mm
Net Weight 20.64 kg
Side panel 5mm Tempered Glass x 2
Colour Black
Material SPCC
Drive bays 2 x 3.5″ or 3 x 2.5”
I/O Panel Type-C x 1, USB 3.0 x 2, USB 2.0 x 1, HD Audio x 1
Expansion Slots 8
Fan support Front: 4 x 120mm or 3 x 120mm or 2 x 120mm or 1 x 120mm /3 x 140mm or 2 x 140mm or 1 x 140mm

Top: 3 x 120mm or 2 x 120mm or 1 x 120mm / 2 x 140mm or 1 x 140mm

Right: 3 x 120mm or 2 x 120mm or 1 x 120mm / 2 x 140mm or 1 x 140mm

Radiator support Front: 1 x 480mm or 1 x 360mm or 1 x 240mm or 1 x 120mm / 1 x 420mm or 1 x 280mm or 1 x 140mm

Top: 1 x 360mm or 1 x 240mm or 1 x 120mm / 1 x 280mm or 1 x 140mm

Right: 1 x 360mm or 1 x 240mm or 1 x 120mm / 1 x 280mm or 1 x 140mm

Maximum CPU cooler height 195mm
Maximum VGA length 300mm (With Water Pump)
440mm (Without Water Pump)
Maximum power supply length 200mm

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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The 2019 Thermaltake CaseMOD Invitational Season 2 voting is underway https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/the-2019-thermaltake-casemod-invitational-season-2-voting-is-underway/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/the-2019-thermaltake-casemod-invitational-season-2-voting-is-underway/#respond Fri, 27 Dec 2019 11:23:00 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=443779 PC modders worldwide will be pleased to learn that Thermaltake has proudly announced its most exciting modding competition of the year, the Thermaltake Case MOD Invitational Season 2 is underway with voting running until 7th January 2020. All the amazing projects can be found on the Thermaltake CaseMOD website as well as on the CaseMOD …

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PC modders worldwide will be pleased to learn that Thermaltake has proudly announced its most exciting modding competition of the year, the Thermaltake Case MOD Invitational Season 2 is underway with voting running until 7th January 2020.

All the amazing projects can be found on the Thermaltake CaseMOD website as well as on the CaseMOD Invitational Season 2 Tt community thread. Fans of the PC modding community can now register a vote for their favourite modder and win prizes at the same time. Thermaltake encourages you not to hesitate in registering and everyone is welcome.

If you would like to take part, head over to the Tt Community forum and sign up. Once logged in to the platform, all you need to do is simply place your vote in the thread of the modder you support. When your vote is submitted you will be entered in a competition with the chance of winning some awesome prizes from Thermaltake, including a Core P5 V2 case, a Thermaltake Pacific C240 DDC water cooling kit and a PF1 850 power supply.

Contestants finishing in the top three places of the 2019 Thermaltake CaseMOD Invitational Season 2 will win cash prizes totalling up to $15,000 USD. The winners are set to be announced by Thermaltake in January 2020 once voting has closed.

Voting will be held on the Tt Community forum either through the desktop website or mobile app, with prizes being handed out randomly to voters. The total percentage of the score that is allocated to the voting community is approximately 25%, with 25% of the score coming from Thermaltake and a further 25% by professional modders and the final 25% coming from sponsors.

For a full list of voting rules and prizes, head over to the official 2019 Thermaltake CaseMOD Invitational site. To download and vote on the mobile app install the Android app here and the iOS app can be found here.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you a fan of the PC modding scene? If so and you have a favourite modder, be sure to register and vote in the 2019 Thermaltake CaseMOD Invitational Season 2 now!

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Thermaltake takes aim at modders with ‘Super Tower’ chassis https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/thermaltake-takes-aim-at-modders-with-super-tower-chassis/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/thermaltake-takes-aim-at-modders-with-super-tower-chassis/#comments Sat, 26 Nov 2016 17:26:13 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=313154 The PC modding scene is always very exciting and this year, Thermaltake wants to get more involved with the launch of its brand new Super Tower Chassis series, designed in collaboration with Watermod France with a focus on innovation and craftsmanship. The Tower 900 is an E-ATX vertical chassis and is the first TT Premium …

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The PC modding scene is always very exciting and this year, Thermaltake wants to get more involved with the launch of its brand new Super Tower Chassis series, designed in collaboration with Watermod France with a focus on innovation and craftsmanship.

The Tower 900 is an E-ATX vertical chassis and is the first TT Premium modder edition case. As you may have guessed, it features a vertical mounting design and uses a 5mm thick tempered glass panel to show off the hardware inside. Having collaborated with Watermod France, this case also delivers a vast range of options for custom liquid cooling systems.

tt-900

The Tower 900 is designed to showcase your system, which is why tempered glass panels are used. In addition, thanks to the ability to vertically mount graphics cards, GPU sag should be a thing of the past.

If you are looking to maximise your liquid cooling loop, this case comes with a chamber design that allows you to isolate high capacity radiators and creates additional internal space for tubing and other components. Aside from that, the whole case is dismountable with modular parts, so you can build the system from the ground up with different panels, racks and other mounting arrays.

Aside from that, with this being an E-ATX case, it is designed to house a lot of high-end hardware. You will be able to fit tower CPU coolers with a maximum height of 260mm and multi-GPU configurations with up to 400mm in length. For drive bays, you can install six 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drives with the HDD cage, an additional two 2.5-inch drives with trays and one 5.25-inch drive.

The Thermaltake ‘The Tower' 900 chassis is available in two editions, the standard black and a Snow (white) edition. It can be found through TT Premium directly with prices starting at $249.

KitGuru Says: As someone who likes to show off their rig as best as possible, I can appreciate the look of this case, though I'm not in the market to build a new system myself any time soon. Are any of you guys looking to build a new PC at the moment? What do you think of Thermaltake's new ultra-flexible offering?

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