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Redemption

hero1
Level 7
Hello guys

My name is Hero ( I got by the forum name of hero1) and I am from Ontario, Canada.

This is my first time posting here and I am currently modifying my Fractal Design Define XL R2 Titanium Grey. I am customising it the way I want it and I am going to be fitting 2 x 360 mm rads in it (top and bottom). The PSU will be mounted using one of the hard drive cages (the big one), in a way that half of it is outside of the case and the other half inside. I have worked on this mod for almost a month now (taking time off here and there) and I am almost done.

Parts:
Case: Fractal DD XL R2
PSU: Silverstone Strider Evolution 1000 Gold (sleeved with MDPC red,white and black)
CPU: Intel Core i7 4770K
Motherboard: ASUS Maximus VI Formula
GPU: EVGA GTX 780 Hydro Copper
RAM: 16 GB G.Skill Ripjaws Z 1866 MHz
SSD: 256 GB Samsung 830
Sound Card: Creative SB Z
Monitor: Dell U2713HM
Keyboard: Logitech G710+
Mouse: Corsair M60
Headset: Sennheiser PC 350
Other: Logitech G27 Racing Wheel

Water Cooling Parts
Rads: 2 x EKWB XTX 360 mm rads
Pump: EK-D5 vario with plexi top
Blocks: EKWB Copper with plexi top
Reservoir: EKWB X3 150 mL multioption
Rad Guard: Bitspower Radguard 360 mm (red)
Rad Shroud: Koolance rad shroud 360 mm (black)
Fans: 13 x Notcua NF-P12 120 mm fans and 2 x Noctua NF-A14 140 mm

Tools Used:
Hitachi Jigsaw
Mastercraft Maximun Drill/Driver
Dremel 4000 and tons of bits
Bosch 5" ROS
Husky Folding Work Table

Paint;
Powder Coating: Rockstar Red!
i7 4770K| ASUS Maximus VI Formula| G. Skill Ripjaws Z 16 GB 1866 MHz| 256 Samsung 830| AMD R9 290X CF| Silverstone S. E 1000W| Creative SB Z| Samsung DVDRW| Dell 27" U2713HM| Logitech G710+| Corsair M60 and G27 Racing Wheel| Sennheiser PC 350
Cooling: 2 x 360 mm EKWB XTX rads, EK-D5 Vario w/ Plexi Top, X3 Res, Supr Plexi Copper, CSQ fittings, Noctua Fans
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hero1
Level 7
Reserved for final pics and hardware pics.

So my hardware pics: this is the first one and I will be taking some individual pictures later during the day!

i7 4770K| ASUS Maximus VI Formula| G. Skill Ripjaws Z 16 GB 1866 MHz| 256 Samsung 830| AMD R9 290X CF| Silverstone S. E 1000W| Creative SB Z| Samsung DVDRW| Dell 27" U2713HM| Logitech G710+| Corsair M60 and G27 Racing Wheel| Sennheiser PC 350
Cooling: 2 x 360 mm EKWB XTX rads, EK-D5 Vario w/ Plexi Top, X3 Res, Supr Plexi Copper, CSQ fittings, Noctua Fans

hero1
Level 7
This is how my setup looked like before I decided it was time for change:cool:
i7 4770K| ASUS Maximus VI Formula| G. Skill Ripjaws Z 16 GB 1866 MHz| 256 Samsung 830| AMD R9 290X CF| Silverstone S. E 1000W| Creative SB Z| Samsung DVDRW| Dell 27" U2713HM| Logitech G710+| Corsair M60 and G27 Racing Wheel| Sennheiser PC 350
Cooling: 2 x 360 mm EKWB XTX rads, EK-D5 Vario w/ Plexi Top, X3 Res, Supr Plexi Copper, CSQ fittings, Noctua Fans

hero1
Level 7
This is how I want the final case to look like. I have decided to leave the front end the way it is to retain some original F DD XL R2 look. This means the front plastic portion will retain the black colour and so will the ODD cage. I will be adding another card once this build is done!
i7 4770K| ASUS Maximus VI Formula| G. Skill Ripjaws Z 16 GB 1866 MHz| 256 Samsung 830| AMD R9 290X CF| Silverstone S. E 1000W| Creative SB Z| Samsung DVDRW| Dell 27" U2713HM| Logitech G710+| Corsair M60 and G27 Racing Wheel| Sennheiser PC 350
Cooling: 2 x 360 mm EKWB XTX rads, EK-D5 Vario w/ Plexi Top, X3 Res, Supr Plexi Copper, CSQ fittings, Noctua Fans

hero1
Level 7
I measure and taped the areas that were to be cut.

First up is the top panel



Then I went after the bottom panel. I didn't like the metal guides that were used to hold the dust filter as they made me do a wider cut than I would have wanted.



The left side panel was next as this is where the big window will go.


i7 4770K| ASUS Maximus VI Formula| G. Skill Ripjaws Z 16 GB 1866 MHz| 256 Samsung 830| AMD R9 290X CF| Silverstone S. E 1000W| Creative SB Z| Samsung DVDRW| Dell 27" U2713HM| Logitech G710+| Corsair M60 and G27 Racing Wheel| Sennheiser PC 350
Cooling: 2 x 360 mm EKWB XTX rads, EK-D5 Vario w/ Plexi Top, X3 Res, Supr Plexi Copper, CSQ fittings, Noctua Fans

Nawesemo
Level 7
Oh my...

*drools a lil

your old setup is pretty nice can't wait to see what you come up with for this 😄

good luck.

Nawesemo wrote:
Oh my...

*drools a lil

your old setup is pretty nice can't wait to see what you come up with for this 😄

good luck.


Thanks man. I hope that I don't disappoint!
i7 4770K| ASUS Maximus VI Formula| G. Skill Ripjaws Z 16 GB 1866 MHz| 256 Samsung 830| AMD R9 290X CF| Silverstone S. E 1000W| Creative SB Z| Samsung DVDRW| Dell 27" U2713HM| Logitech G710+| Corsair M60 and G27 Racing Wheel| Sennheiser PC 350
Cooling: 2 x 360 mm EKWB XTX rads, EK-D5 Vario w/ Plexi Top, X3 Res, Supr Plexi Copper, CSQ fittings, Noctua Fans

hero1
Level 7
So then I decided to got and make a bottom rad plate out of the piece of metal that came from the left side panel. I trimmed the piece and drilled holes using a Drill/Driver and a 4" hole saw. I made a mess with the middle hole.






I even tried on the Bitspower Radguard and it didn't look good.
i7 4770K| ASUS Maximus VI Formula| G. Skill Ripjaws Z 16 GB 1866 MHz| 256 Samsung 830| AMD R9 290X CF| Silverstone S. E 1000W| Creative SB Z| Samsung DVDRW| Dell 27" U2713HM| Logitech G710+| Corsair M60 and G27 Racing Wheel| Sennheiser PC 350
Cooling: 2 x 360 mm EKWB XTX rads, EK-D5 Vario w/ Plexi Top, X3 Res, Supr Plexi Copper, CSQ fittings, Noctua Fans

hero1
Level 7
The top cut on the case was slightly long so I didn't like that and I didn't like the bottom mess either. I decide to go and grab 2 12X18 steel sheets and make new radiator plates.






And I did a mock assembly with the rads to see how it looks.



i7 4770K| ASUS Maximus VI Formula| G. Skill Ripjaws Z 16 GB 1866 MHz| 256 Samsung 830| AMD R9 290X CF| Silverstone S. E 1000W| Creative SB Z| Samsung DVDRW| Dell 27" U2713HM| Logitech G710+| Corsair M60 and G27 Racing Wheel| Sennheiser PC 350
Cooling: 2 x 360 mm EKWB XTX rads, EK-D5 Vario w/ Plexi Top, X3 Res, Supr Plexi Copper, CSQ fittings, Noctua Fans

hero1
Level 7
When I saw that everything was good. I wanted to go ahead and paint so I looked at a mock painting of the right side panel and I thought something was missing. I am happy to have support from friends on CMC site who suggested that I should sand the whole thing. And I did just that. These pictures will show the first sanded parts but I have it all sanded and ready to paint:cool:

Mock paint:


Sanded Parts




i7 4770K| ASUS Maximus VI Formula| G. Skill Ripjaws Z 16 GB 1866 MHz| 256 Samsung 830| AMD R9 290X CF| Silverstone S. E 1000W| Creative SB Z| Samsung DVDRW| Dell 27" U2713HM| Logitech G710+| Corsair M60 and G27 Racing Wheel| Sennheiser PC 350
Cooling: 2 x 360 mm EKWB XTX rads, EK-D5 Vario w/ Plexi Top, X3 Res, Supr Plexi Copper, CSQ fittings, Noctua Fans