Project Evo 3 - CM 840 ATCS/Bulldozer Build Log Updated 6th September

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mav2000

mav2000

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Time to get some ideas going for the new project. Its been about a few months since the end of the last and I have been itching to get things going again, but with a new job and work being what it is, there has been very little time to do anything. This is again going to be a tower build with a new case and some new parts as and when they happen. So to start things off, here are some of the parts that are with me and also what I am planning to get.

1. CPU - Bulldozer, when it comes

2. Mobo - AMD 990FX CH V - Already with me

3. Ram - Super Talent Chrome

4. GPU - AM going to wait till October or so for a new AMD series, till then the 5850 will do, specially since I can play all the games I want without a hitch. SO I am going to ditch the 6XXX series for now.

5. PSU - Most probably Seasonic, an X750 fully modular is what I am looking at right now

6. Controller - Just got myself an Alphacool heatmaster, and while its not as polished as a Aquero it costs about 2/3rd that of the basic LT Aquero. And it works like a charm.

7. Storage - 1x1TB Seagate HDD and 1x120GB OCZ Vertex 2

8. Case - Now heres the big question. I love a couple of cases and this is what it boils down to:

a. CM 840 ATCS - With the amount of testing I do, a removable mobo tray has a lot of benefits for me. Also I really like the simple design. The draw backs? Well, for one I will have to work on the interior and secondly I need a windowed panel, which is not available anywhere here...let me know if someone can help me on this. Will save me a whole lot of time.

b. Corsair 800D - I like it a lot and really dig the Alu finish on the front. But the main issue is its been overdone quite a bit by a lot of people and it does not have a removable mobo tray

c. Lian Li A70F/71F - Well, this one is nice, but its going to take a whole lot more work to get a water cooling system integrated in it.

Well, the PSU and the case is a bit undecided and so is the theme. This time I will probably go all out on the sleeving, but try and keep things as stock as possible, because with more complexities come more issues, specially when I have to change out parts. I am also thinking of adding a couple of Quick Disconnects, to make sure the mobo tray can be removed in the ATCS. My only other issue with the ATCS is that its EOL and a new model should be coming out rather soon, but well the flip side of that is that it may come to India only after 8-10 months of the international launch. The main issue in India is that CM struggles to sell even 1 piece of the ATCS/Cosmos a month, while they sell 300-400 of the HAF X. Therefore they have decided to concentrate on this market and leave enthusiasts out for the most part of it.

BTW, all three cases cost roughly the same for me. Dont expect updates anytime soon, as I have a lot going on at the moment.
 
Its been a couple of months since Evo 2 was completed (link in my sig). Even though I was pretty happy with how it all turned out, somewhere I was just not happy with the case itself. The HAF X is a great case, but its a bit too industrial in its looks. While I could manage a lot of mods on the inside, there was not much I could do for the outside.

Life being what it is, I have been busy with a new job and some more responsibilities and even though I did have a plan to work with an 840 ATCS when ever I got the chance, I just didnt follow up on it. The 840 ATCS has been one of my dream cases for a long time. I have followed a lot of builds with this case and the amount of space, the finish and the overall lines have always kept me mesmerized and it was one case that I was sure of from the moment I saw it.

Well a few days ago, I called the regional distributor, and while talking about a couple of things I found out that there is only one 840 ATCS available in my country now and that has some issues with the side panel. I thought about it and my love for the case over rode all other considerations and within a few hours I had decided to go ahead with the purchase (at a great price), with the assurance that the side panel would be replaced. So, last evening I got the beast home and this is where it all begins.

Some of the parts that I have ordered over the last few days have arrived and some are still on the way. But here is a list of parts that I am going to be working with:

Motherboard - Asus Crosshair V 990FX

CPU - AMD Phenom II 1090T, will be changed to Bulldozer once it arrives

Ram - Super Talent Chrome 2000 Mhz CL8, may change to Gskill 2133 CL 9 depending on which one clocks better for me once BD is in

GPU - Powercolor 6950 Unlocked to 6970 :drum:

PSU[/B ]- ANTEC HCP 850 :eek:

Storage - 1 x120 GB OCZ Vertex 2, 1 X 2 TB Seagate 7200.12

Controller - Alphacool Heatmaster, very under rated controller and works beautifully with Windows 7 64 bit. Can run 4 pumps without the need for an extra module

On to the watercooling parts:

CPU Block - EK Supreme with easy mount

GPU Block - EK 6970 EN Nickel/Plexi Version

Radiators - Black Ice GTX 360 and Black Ice GTS 240

Pump - Swiftech MCP 355

Tubing - Primochill Black 7/16" / 5/8"

Fittings - Bitspower Silver Compression Fittings and a whole lot of other bits and pieces

Fans - Scythe Gentle Typhoons GT 15 for the rads. Have also ordered some 2150's, but thats going to take some time.

Res - Well, this is still to be decided, as I need to figure out if I need a bay res or a tube res. I have an EK 150 tube res with me right now, but I dont know if it will work as well as I want it to.

On the mods front, I have a lot of ideas and I hope to have some of them done, while others may not be possible at this time. But one which will saty as always is some beautiful sleeving from MDPC

I hope to keep you entertained and I also hope to get a lot of inputs from you guys as the mods go on. Thanks for reading and I will leave you with some pics to start with.

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Aah..So you decided on the ATCS..Nice...

Looking forward to it Sir...

How are you gonna be tackling the removable Mobo tray, will you be adding some quick Disconnects to the tubing?
 
Thanks...yes I may add some QD's in the future, but even without those it should not be very difficult to work with.

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

Let the mods begin. To start with I had to disassemble the bottom of the case to remove the HDD bays....but why? Well to cut it. My trusty drill came into play right away:

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Once out, I used the dremel tool to cut around three HDD bays off. Trust me when I say a dremel is a lot more useful on aluminium. I didnt even use 1/4" of a cutting wheel.

Then put it back to see if it fits well:

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Looks fine now. then tested if the rad fit. Well it didnt, so redid a bit of cutting and then it fits very well:

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SO there we have the bottom rad in place, but you dont see any expensive brackets do you?? Well this is what I have used to mount them:

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So well, that ends that for now. the risers will help to attach the rad to the bottom 120 location.

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The fans will be on top of the rad, pulling air in from the bottom. I hope that explains that.

Next up, we have to disassemble the entire motherboard tray, out with the drill and its done in no time:

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Then I went to work on the entire case:

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And now its ready and packed for taking to the powder coaters.

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And how can I forget my trusty tools:

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Well, thats it for this update...see you guys soon. Next up we will be working on sleeving the front panel connectors fully. MDPC FTW.
 
.....are you planning on using both the rads in a single loop?....the 360 and the 240?

...Also very nice selection of Controller : Alphacool Heatmaster :)

Good Luck....you already know I am following closely.....
 
.....possible to share the flow diagram?

or let me guess:

RES->Pump->360RAD->CPU->GPU->240RAD->RES.

Am I correct...I assume you are not putting the chipsets under water as I did not see any mention of the Chipset block.

Also what color have you thought of for the powder coating? Are you gonna be powder coating the entire ACTS or gonna plan some schema or something. Also please check out DazMode's Orange Build Log on youtube, maybe can give you some idea's. If you will see it, he is routing his fill port tubing and some other tubing in a very interesting way, I suggest you have a look if not already maybe can give you more idea's than we can.

I assume you are going with Black and red scheme again :) I liked the Carbon Fiber of your last build any of the carbon bits this time?

I am sure that you would have contemplated the idea of a dual loop as well, if you did what were your thoughts on that? You prefer to loop it all in one or am I missing out something? I understand it does require more equipment...but anything else keeping you away from a dual loop setup?
 
Well, lets start with dual loops. Its possible. The controller will run it no issues there. But its just a pain to keep your eye on two sets of water temps, two sets of pumps...two res's etc etc...Anyway too much extra work. the money is not much as I already have a pump and am anyway going to get a res, so I can get a dual bay, dual pump setup.

The color scheme is a surprise, so wait for it. I am sure a lot of guys will like it and I am sure some will not. But its something that I like so am working on that. The outside will be the same as stock as I like the anodised finish

The loop config will be res-pump-240rad-gpu-cpu-360 rad-res...
 
Holy !! :)

Your up to your naughtiness again hehehe ;)

looking absolutely awesome bro..

Glad you did finally get the 840 from CM after hunting for it :hap2:

needless to say im following this thread with keen interest.. just been busy with work .. :(

Cheers and kind regards !
 
Hey, Shatul wassup too?

Yep he is at it again with his Dremel :)

Interesting will wait and see the Color scheme...

Think I will start my WorkLog too...you guys can help me out.

Yeah I agree with the dual loop, your controller is fine, but not worth it keeping tab on two different loops....

color scheme I assume cause of your black tubes will be UV black and red I guess but you can surprise us all :)
 
Hey tooli good to see you here...am still waiting for your mail buddy....anyway yup I am quite happy to be working on a dream cabinet for me atleast.

Color scheme is something I have yet to see on an ATCS...I dont know how it will finally look, but wish we all the best.

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

On something thats a bit more difficult for me:

I need a side panel design. The design has to be classy, so no dragons, bells, shields, game icons at all. Very classy and clean. The chosen design will have to be made in corel draw. I will give you the dimensions. It can be a startight out window, or a window with some more elements etc. The design that is chosen will get a prize from my side....and it will be a good prize.
 
Thanks for looking in...guys I need some feedback on the side panel...come on wake up..

Anyway, I am also looking for male/female ATX connectors, 8Pin connectors and 8PIN ATX connectors...any ideas?
 
SO as promised, here is some sleeving goodness...got to doing the front panel wires, and removed a few in the process. I really dont require an Esata and front panel audio headers...so thats gone now..

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And back in the box it goes ....for now..
 
@mav

sir your work is impeccable

but if you are looking at seriously cutting alu or steel, more than a dremel you would need a jigsaw

a cheap chinese can be had for ~2k and a B&D one for not much more

im currently in the middle of my exams after which i hope to start on a log of my own

best of luck with your work :)
 
And here are the pics of the powdercoating work. It's going to be a darkish white, a bit greyish, but more white in the right light...also made sure to get a wrinkled finish

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The powder coating adds a bit of weight and strength to the otherwise fragile aluminium...hope you like it.
 
So we start off on the RED carbon fiber....

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Heating it up and making it work on the curves..

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Some cutting and finishing done:

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Now have to work to get the mobo stand offs in and am waiting on the rivets and the PSU to reach me...then more work will start. Sorry for the grainy pics, it was quite late when I finished.
 
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