Cool Sys done, Need help cosmetically
 

http://24.124.39.66/~casey/Waterblock/Strap_Dwn.JPG
There's the homade block:
30c idle (sitting for about 1/2 hour with me doing email, etc)
32c full load (after 30 loops Multi & CPU benchmark in Sandra)
26c ambient (its about 79f in here!)
Ambient was measured using a calibrated lab thermometer. The system temps were measured using the A7V external probe (calibrated off of the lab thermometer).

Anyways, im left with this
http://24.124.39.66/~casey/Waterblock/Case_front.JPG
Anyone have any ideas on a nice looking intake to help this ugly aircooling leftover?

http://24.124.39.66/~casey/Waterblock/Case_bare.JPG
I want a nice big hole to let air through the heatercore, but it has to be beautiful.
Planning to paint, so initial ugliness can be covered with paint

Thanks guys

Well, the first thing I would do is bondo those divets on the corners. I've got an ancient tin of rubbing compound here that is a rounded rectangle almost exactly 120 mm, you might be able to use something like that as a duct between the face and the chassis. Then cut whatever design you like in the front.

you could try using an aluminium grill, like what caseetc sell. apart from that, I don't think there are too many nice looking options

How about squaring off a hole, and then putting some dremel cut graphic in the center? Do you think that would work? and maybe some black speaker grill fabric behind the graphic

Looks good so far. Could we see a side view? I would love to see your entire loop.

http://24.124.39.66/~casey/Waterblock/Cool_sys1.JPG

Its just kinda shoved in there right now...

http://24.124.39.66/~casey/Waterbloc...%20Perfect.JPG

The homade block really is more beautiful outside of the case

that block is quite sexy! what kind of flow patern does it use?

--MAtt

why not just use a 120mm filtered grill. They're square looking.
you could use a laser cust grill on top of the filtered grill for better looks. then paint the case.

that block looks cool, I like the twin spring holddown. How much experimentation did you need to do to get the right amount of tension on the cpu?

experimenting? Hehe, it was more like "what will hold this lead sled down". I bought two springs at the hardware store. Originally I was going to use one, but my barbs were too close together, so i figured two would work. I seem to have picked a winner though. My Vcore is at 1.90 and my 700 is oc'd to 901 @ 29c; 23c ambient right now. There is no flow pattern within the block. here's a pic of the block, next to its top (before cutting and brazing).

http://www.magicalbox.com/~casey/Wat...op%20Plate.JPG

The holes were originally for an acrylic top, but i broke a drill bit in one, and couldnt get the acrylic, so i just soldered them shut and soldered a top to it.

what are those 60mm fan cut outs? cut another set of those right on top of the ones u already got.....maybe put a small 120mm fan on the other side of the radiator (at 7v of course)

I would, but its 145mm from corner hole to corner hole. I left myself in kind of a crappy place didnt I? I think i will bondo those corner holes shut, but after that its up in the air. I originally wanted that "allen key bolted down" look, so maybe I'll play with something like that. A brushed metal plate with 4 allen key bolts holding it down and a 120mm laser cut grill in the middle or something like that.

you could just put a bigger fan in there, like a 150mm fan, it will take up all that room

they make 150's? where do you get them? At 7v, i wonder how much noise they would crank out... Anyways, the loudest thing in my computer now is the IBM 7200 rpm Hdd. It has that high pitch zing to it that I just cant kill.

www.mpja.com have a few 150mm x 172mm fans and 172mm fans