Hey Guys,
I wanted to share with everyone my worklog on my ASUS ROG Case mod. This mod is very different from many of my previous mod. For this contest, the contestants received points in 3 categories. The contestant with the most point was crowned the winner. The 3 Categories were the following (1) Super Pi 1m Time, (2) Weight, and (3) Style. So the mod had to look good, be light weight, and fast as possible. These categories actually made the contest very appealing to me.
So here goes. Since this was an Asus competition, the requirement was to use an Asus ROG motherboard. I chose to use the Maximum III Gene motherboard. The mATX form factor was ideal for the weight, and the board also looks great with the Red and Black.
As for performance, the processor would be a very crucial part. The rules stated that only Water and Air cooling would be allowed. Since performance was based on SuperPi, I went with a very cost effective Intel i3 Processor. With only 2 cores, I did not have to worry about dissipating unnecessary heat.
To cool the processor I used Corsair’s Hydro H70. This very small All In One cooling unit provided the best cooling possible with minimal weight. The weight of the H70 is just slightly higher than some of the very High End CPU HSF. I sacrifice a few grams for the superior cooling.
As everyone knows, high end power supplies are VERY heavy. The weight typically is a sign of a very well built power supply. I have always favored using SilverStone PSU in my projects. I just enjoy the great quality and craftsmanship. I used SilverStone’s ST45SF power supply. This is a SFX form factor with 450 watts. The power supply supported 2 PCIe, as well as a single 36A rail, which ideal for SuperPi and CPU Benches. Look at the small size of the PSU next to a SilverStone 120mm fan. The Corsair H70 was upgraded with the higher CFM 120mm SilverStone fans.
As for the memory, I went with a set of Corsair Dominators with the Cooling fan. Corsair’s high performance memory and color schemed, matched perfectly with the Asus ROG colors, which will be used in this mod. For storage, a 64GB Corsair SSD was also used.
We just covered all the great gear in the rig. Now its time to get into the mod. Check the next post.
- Ton