Red Nineteen Project Log 25 - 7th July 2006

The first update for the weekend (expect many more)...

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02196.JPG[/img]
^ My 7800gt stripped bare of its noisy stock cooler.

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02197.JPG[/img]
^ The Arctic Cooling Accelero X1 fitted - it's 100 times better, as it is sooo much quieter!

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02198.JPG[/img]
^ A shot showing the back mounting plate. They didn't supply me with enough thermal pads, so had to use the old ones from the original heatsink.

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02199.JPG[/img]
^ The new cooler in place. The only thing that makes any noise now is the CPU HSF. It's quiet, but not quiet enough for my liking - so I'll wire it into the fan controller too.

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02201.JPG[/img]
^ Remember the front USB ports on the fascia? Well I didn't like the mouth style, so decided to fill it back in. Here's a bracket being glued to form a base for the filler.

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02202.JPG[/img]
^ A second coat of filler on the top panel.

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02203.JPG[/img]
^ Filler on the fascia.

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02204.JPG[/img]
^ Using the orbital sander to smooth it down...

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02205.JPG[/img]
^ Finished, ready for painting!

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02206.JPG[/img]
^ The top blow-hole completely filled in now. There were a few small gaps, but all have been totally filled in now.

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02207.JPG[/img]
^ Some cutting-disc action...

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02208.JPG[/img]
^ Which ends up like this.

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02209.JPG[/img]
^ Some more cutting-disc action. This time on the foxconn provided rear USB/Firewire port blanking plates.

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02210.JPG[/img]
^ The finished article. They should be easier to access in this position.

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02211.JPG[/img]
^ A shot from the inside - they should *just* about reach the motherboard once it is in place.

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02212.JPG[/img]
^ The case can now finally be primed with some grey primer!

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02213.JPG[/img]
^ Another angle. Hopefully I've still got plenty left for the side-panels and fascia.

[img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/25/DSC02214.JPG[/img]
^ Half of the paint ended up on my fingers. I'll wear gloves next time...

So the painting is finally getting under-way. Tomorrow I'll sand down the primer and give the case a coat or two of the red paint. Or I may prime the side-panels and fascia, leaving me the case to measure up the electrics. That's going to be the most time-consuming part now, as I re-solder and sleeve all of the cabling. Check back for more updates over the weekend!