The Left Handed Build

[Pob255]

lol those wolfking's have the single cheezyist bax art I have ever seen on a pc hardware box.

Interesting to see you went for aluminium, I would not of thought that steel would of added that much when it's just the frame (it's the panels that tend to add the weight on)
Sucks about the twisted steel, how can anyone manage to forge twisted angle section.

Welding Aluminium is also a big problem, not just the TIG but it also take quite a bit of practise to get it right and not just blow holes in it.

I know exactly what you mean about the lengths it's sold in, I get the exact same thing from my, luckly local, metal wholesaler. Although they keep a hacksaw on hand for people like me.

Oooo sli 580's I'm jealous, but no way could I afford it or the PSU to power them.

Finally I love the shelf pc it reminds me of my floor pc

[Savas]

Haha, I think nearly everyone has had a "floor pc" or in his case "shelf pc". Everyone has that same instinct on turning it on even without the "skin". Possibly signs of "addiction".

[piggin23]

Pob, I agree with you, the wolfking boxes are terrible but as they were free, I was not going to say no.
Although, I don't think I will ever use them.
As for the steel, I have no idea how it was not straight but it turned into a nightmare.
I personally think it was stacked incorrectly when manufactured or at the stockists
The steel frame was also 3 or 4 times the weight of the aluminium version. So there is a massive difference.
As for practice with using the TIG, Dirty Den is very practiced or should I say OLD. lol
But I am very grateful for all the hard work he has put into this project.

As for the 580 GTX's
One of the best purchases I have ever made.

And the shelf, oh the shelf, Mrs Piggin, hates the shelf

[Pob255]

And the shelf, oh the shelf, Mrs Piggin, hates the shelf

Cut up the cardboard box and make a cover to hide it

[piggin23]

Thanks, patters78

Cut up the cardboard box and make a cover to hide it

I like the idea Pob but what about the air flow, those 580's get HOT. lol

[Pob255]

All you need to do is cover the front and top, make it L shaped, length of the shelf still be plenty of openness for air movement. heck you could cut a hole in the top and stick a fan above the graphics cards.

[Georgy291]

the cooling on the shelf pc must be awesome

[piggin23]

the cooling on the shelf pc must be awesome

Its not as good as you would think, there are lots of dead spaces were no cool air is passed over components.

[piggin23]

Last weekend, Mrs Piggin gave me some time off, so I could play with my toys.
As you are all aware, I have been running a Sli set up with 580GTX's for a few months now.
I prefer to run new hardware on air for a short period to ensure reliability before going under water.

So ordered up some new EK blocks for the cards from Tom @ ChilledPc





A quick look inside the box





I went for the acetal + nickel again





and a very shiny front





The block comes with a full fitting kit & instructions.





So this is one of the cards sitting on my desk before the operation begins.





These cards have torx screws to hold the cooler on & the dreaded 'thread lock'. Used a T6 bit to undo the screws.





The cooler came off without any incidents





As always there is residue from the thermal pads & TIM on the card





So a good clean with Articlean & Mrs Piggins face pads + cotton buds





Now the fiddly job of putting all the thermal pads in the correct places.



There is a deliberate mistake with this card & luckily I had two, as I only spotted it the second time around. (Its not the TIM by the way)


Card all finished





I then set about fitting the block to the second card.
After a few hours, I had this




A few eagle eyed members will see, I have done quite a few changes to 'The shelf' but they will be explained later.

[Pob255]

It looks like you have a cyborg cthulhu sitting above you.

PS was the mistake you padded two chips that didn't need it and missed the row of small chips?
well going by what was thermal padded on the stock cooler.

[piggin23]

Not bad m8, in my eagerness to get the block on, I missed the R125 chips the first time round.
Luckily I had the second card, otherwise

[piggin23]

Even thought I have been incapacitated with my bad arm, it has not stopped me spending money.





The boxes keep on rolling in. (much to the displeasure of Mrs Piggin)





I see something shiny





Individually rapping is not what its cracked up to be





A quick group shot (ChilledPc is now going to have to re-stock)





Thought I would give EK compression fittings a go this time.





Very good quality





I don't know if I will go with white pipe again but thought I would try it out.

[piggin23]

I decided with all my new equipment, I would have to get a larger power supply




I managed to get this from a very nice man on Overclockers MM





A quick look in the box





More cables than I will ever need (hopefully)





Finally the PSU, an Enermax Revolution 1250





I decided that this build will be special & deserved braided cables.

Old braid stripped off





PSU opened up





Lots of dust inside





The cables were braided with something special.

This time it was dense weave 'ribbon' cable (silver/white ribbon with black braid) specially ordered in by Tom @ ChilledPc








Cables braided & looking good








Unit finished & ready to be fitted.

[razer121]

Thats one sexy looking psu nice one!

[piggin23]

Thanks razer, I think this ribbon braid is going to be used in a lot of builds soon

[piggin23]

This is the update that you all thought would never happen (including myself)

To hold the panels onto the sides of the case I decided to use rivet nuts.



Rivet nuts have pre formed threads inside them & are fitted like pop rivets



To fit them properly, you have to have the proper rivet gun



The frame was drilled, counter sunk & rivet nuts fitted



After lots of drilling, we have

























































































Front view



Side with window



Front & side



Back



Back & side