Jul 12, 2012

Maximus V Mod, By Ban Nguyen

Ban Nguyen has an ever increasing repertoire of creating epic ROG mods, such as the Diablo II ROG-TJ11 and the ROG Rampage. We even fired him some questions to better understand what drives the modding genius. ROG got together with Ban ahead of this year's Computex and arranged to support him make something monumental for the new Maximus V Formula and ThunderFX. When you read the article below, bear in mind he created it deadline of just 6 weeks including construction of a custom shipping crate to send it between Vietnam and Taiwan! It therefore goes without saying that not only is the ROG team in awe of his creation, they are truly thankful for his express modding so we could present the Max V Mod at Computex. We hope you all enjoy this one, and if you have your own mod please join us in the ROG modding forum.

Constructing The Frame

[gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery"]

Mounting The Motherboard

[gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery"]

ThunderFX Gets Its Seat

[gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery" columns="2"]

The Watercooling Work Begins

Ban's idea was to use two acrylic tubes either side as reservoirs. The tubes were 10mm ID, and he needed to do considerable work on the lathe to prepare them and make them water-tight. [gallery include="" size="medium" link="file" template="file-gallery"] The need for roller bearings will become apparent shortly. [gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery"]

A Serious BitsPower Addiction

They are in 'carbon black' in case you're wondering. [gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery"]

Mounting The Radiator

This required a change from acrylic to 5mm aluminum. [gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery" columns="2"] Ban hard at work with file:

Adding The Door Arms &... Reservoirs?

Here Ban makes the case lid from acrylic, along with those arm brackets out of the same 5mm aluminum. They get the roller bearings squeezed in too. [gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery"] Everything gets its place: [gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery" columns="2"] Now for the traditional Ban signature piece: the water routing plate. This time it goes at the top.

Adding The Door Ribs

[gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery" columns="2"] Ban and friend on the job of stacking up the acrylic ribs [gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery" columns="2"]

Get Some Paint On There!

The etching paint fuses to the plastic, making it feel more like anodized aluminum. [gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery" columns="2"] Now everything is painted and ready for... The Maximus V Formula!

Ban made some slight mods to the barbs: The interconnect plate for the two reservoirs use just one pump: [gallery include="" size="medium" link="file" template="file-gallery"] Custom made graphics stand-offs are required, because this is no ordinary mounting: [gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery" columns="2"] Notice the flexible PCI Express adapter? [gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery" columns="2"]

The Pipes Go In.

[gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery" columns="2"] How do they look up close? Awesome.

Bring On The Lights, It's Logo Time!

Hey, Ban, can you mass produce these? I want one! Cheersthanks.

Fill Her Up

[gallery include="" size="medium" link="file" template="file-gallery" columns="2"] then check for leaks:

And The Finished Project. The Maximus V Mod Is Done!

[gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery" columns="2"] How the logo looks mounted. Where does the power cable go? Damn, that's tidy!

Now some close-up details. Below shows the Corsair Dominator GT memory, braided cables and the EK DirectCU II waterblock. [gallery include="" size="large" link="file" template="file-gallery" columns="2"]