My desk/computer project

However, I've now decided that I want to change things around a bit. I've yet to see any cases that really grab my attention, and due to the desk that I've got (Ikea Expedit bookcase with the desk extension) and the orientation, there's few cases that will both fit in the gap I've got, and allow me to view the watercooling stuff.

Therefore, I've decided to design and make something that will fit the space, and show off my PC.

So - I introduce to you, my desk design, modelling courtesy of Google SketchUp - the 3D warehouse is great and you can find almost anything!!







I have a home server sat on the bottom shelf, which runs mostly headless.

My plan is to have a nice sheet of either clear or tinted perspex on the front, and have the back part mostly open for the mess of cables - it won't be seen given the placement of my desk.

I may use something like the Bitfenix braided extension cables for the connectors - my theme ideas at the moment is black/white (it would have been a pain to model those - you can probably get the idea!)

I've modelled 2 radiators for symmetry - the second may not come just yet, but the 6 fans will definitely be there, so that there's a nice flow of air going over the motherboard and other components

Me likey I take it the reservoir with the tube bit inside helps stop water escaping when filling the system up? I used to run mine (same pump but different res) with the pump in a similar position but as it's not at the highest point the water had a tendency to escape if the pump was turned off when filling Moved it up to the top of the case now which makes it a bit easier. I'm thinking rackmount for my next case with a bit more thought to leak and splash protection as I've had a few close calls in that department.



I remember hearing of people experimenting with oil cooling a few years ago and wouldn't mind looking into it at some point. What kind of oil are you using? Is it the whole system thats submerged?

I managed to pick up some old advertising boards from work, which are some ~3mm thick white plastic, which should be quite easy to work with - at the very least they'll be good enough to mock it up in something real, in case I decide I need some other material.

I started off by grabbing a piece, then measuring out for the angled base by using one of the original shelves from the shelving unit.




This stuff is really easy to chop up - something large and straight, such as a spirit level, and a sharp Stanley knife, and it goes through like a hot knife through butter!



A quick calculation using an online calculator, and a left-over bit was chopped into a pair of triangles with one 30 degree corner to give some basic support at the right angle for the base part.




(I've not actually put them in the right positions yet, but the general idea is there!)

I think I'll be needing to get some right-angled brackets to start to secure some of this together - some careful planning and I should be able to get any screws that need to go through anything out of sight enough and behind other stuff, like the motherboard tray.

I think I've figured out what your favourite colours are!

Nice build - not my personal choice of colours though!

First off I grabbed some power tools to begin some assembly of some bits. And of course - you can't work without a cup of tea, either!



When I built the shelving unit, I was left over with 2 large shelves, and 4 of the dividers which sit upright. My plan is to use the 2 large shelves and 2 of the dividers to make a box frame which will be mostly solid and won't move (much) - but will still allow me to slide the whole unit out should I need to do any maintenance on the computer.

The dividers, however, wouldn't have given me enough space with them the "correct" way round, so I've now rotated them by 90 degrees, to give a little more height.

Also, because I want the insides black (for now!), I've cut out a piece of the plastic sheet to sit over the face of it, and one of the triangle pieces to give a guide for the angled "base" bit to be supported on.



I've used the right-angled brackets as spacers so that the upright bits aren't tight against the inside faces of the shelving unit, just to give myself a little bit of "wriggle room" when sliding it in and out.


I then cut out another 2 of these triangles, so that I can have one either side, and two more further in-board to provide plenty of support to stop the angled "base" from flexing and getting out of shape.



Mirroring to the other side, I placed the angled base on for a trial fit.



I then decided to see how it would look using a couple of the extra Sharkoon Silent Eagle fans I'd purchased from the MM, positioning them so that they'll sit in roughly the right place once the depth of the radiator is taken into account, it seems as though I'm a little short on the depth of the bits I've cut out so far!



And that doesn't take into account the space needed for the end tank on that end of the radiator which has the barbs in!


However - this isn't a huge problem - the bit that's currently at an angle will be just the right size for the roof now, and it seems as though the triangles are long enough, and I'll need to re-do the side bits - despite my best efforts at modelling it accurately in SketchUp - there's no substitution for making it for real and seeing whether it works! (And I've got plenty of those white plastic boards to mess with!)

This is brilliant, I'm definitely the kind of guy who only uses computers as a tool for getting things done. But to see one modded like this is really inspiring, and I can definitely appreciate the skills and talent required to do it this way. Top drawer stuff Confused bookmarked!

James

I ordered some extra barbs, some cheap ones for the rear that won't be seen, and a couple of EK ones for the visible bits which match the barbs I've got everywhere else already.

So, I wrapped a little bit of PTFE tape around the threads to aid the seal, and affixed as necessary.





OcUK cheapies on left, EK on right.

I first looked into watercooling about 10 years ago, and there wasn't anywhere near the selection available as there is now. There were a couple of companies who made water blocks for the processors of the time, but getting hold of them was fun.

I had an Eheim pond pump, some tubing, and an old car heater matrix as the radiator, a real Heath Robinson affair!


I've had a tube pop off once - I'd just put the current graphics card in and re-done the tubing, but hadn't clamped down around the barb. I wrigged it slightly as I put it in, and the hose popped off when I switched it on. I just let it dry out for 24 hours, and it's been absolutely fine since!

I needed a neat way to bring the power cables from the power supply, which will be underneath the motherboard, up to the various components.

Without having anything useful like rubber grommets like many of the cases you can get nowadays, I had to think of something else... so, I decided to bring the cables in through the back using some NZXT extension cables...



The cutting out of the metal panel is a little rough around the edges at the moment, but I only have a hacksaw available - I'll eventually get a file in there to tidy it up a bit and remove those sharp edges!




Not that the edges will be seen from the front, though...


I saw on here someone had set up a load of LEDs under their motherboard which provided some lighting, which I liked, so I decided to copy the idea, utilising some of the Superflux LEDs left over from when I did my Prelude headlights and taillights back in 2007.

LEDs laid out in place


Now glued in position and soldered up.