Tom's Hardware Member System Gallery

[Darkbreeze]

Have you seen this guy's stuff? Not Legos, but similar idea or look, and just awesome.

A 3D printed computer case build log. I'm going to use 400 LEDs...

Hi guys. I posted my previous log on here and it had some interest so I felt like you guys might like this new one I'm working on. I've been modding for 10 years now and usually my themes are of a pixelated design. This mod is named Aurora Cubes as the case will be built to look like it's made...

forums.tomshardware.com

https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/build-log-metroid-a-3d-printed-computer-case.3231400/page-2

Walkthrough - [Build Log] -ColorFalls- A RGB Wall Hanging 3D Printed Case!

Hello and welcome to my newest build :) I've been modding for 10 years now and usually my themes are of a pixelated design. This mod is named ColorFalls as the case will be built to hang from a wall and look like it's made out of hundreds of cubes that each have a LED and will have...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[jimmysmitty]

My favorite mod was always the old Half Life 2 case mod that was a rusted out and run down case with matching keyboard and mouse and nuclear waste for CPU coolant.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I remember that. There are actually a few like that, but I remember the original one.

 

[WildCard999]

@ThilakRoX

You may not be able to do much with those cables but that dust should be cleaned up as it may be affecting temps/performance. It almost looks like mold on the GPU.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Yes, that case is in moderate need of a can of compressed air so it can be blown out before it becomes a more serious problem.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Want to see puke cable management?
https://ibb.co/QdtgFhL

20200109-162706 hosted at ImgBB

Image 20200109-162706 hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

https://ibb.co/bJgyQwK
The lego pc got some new hardware and style touches.

Case now has a new power button and support for dual slot pcie cards.

Heres the cost so far:

Pentium e6700+cooler+6gb ddr3+lga775 board ($20)
500gb dying hdd i found in a drawer (free)
TT SMART 600w 80+ ($10)
Intel Q9500 (still shipping $12)
Unactivated W10 pro (free)
XFX HD5670 1gb GDDR5 ($15)
Legos (free)

I recently have been winning ebay gpu auctions with low bids and (attempting to) resell them for a profit. In order to test these cards I didnt wanna risk my main pc. So I have added the PSU with dual 6+2pin and the GPU support to this system to make it acceptable for this purpose.

The XFX card in it now is just there untill it sells.

Issues:

1. Lack of cable management. Doubt ill fix it.
2. the motherboard is held in by 2 standoffs, one of which is stripped.
3. the PSU shroud is kind of bending under the wait of this new PSU.

A 2 year old ex cyberpower TT SMART probably isn't what you would reccomend for any system, let alone one that will have plenty of dedicated graphics cards tested in it over time. However, this PSU was only $10 and I know its prior life since i am friends with the old owner. Plus its put in 10 year old hardware worth pennies.

I even snow cooled this pc earlier.
https://ibb.co/BfG0mJC

 

[Darkbreeze]

There's probably more dollars worth of legos kits there than what a cheap case would have cost.

 

[WildCard999]

There's probably more dollars worth of legos kits there than what a cheap case would have cost.

It’s probably a fun project though, like mineral oil builds. If I didn’t give my legos to my friends kids I’d definitely try to build a case with them.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

There's probably more dollars worth of legos kits there than what a cheap case would have cost.

Yes. But i already had legos.

I probably have enough legos to make 3 more identical cases tbh.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Makes sense then. Still be fun regardless.

Funny thing, I've never owned a single lego block in my life.

Lincoln logs. Check.

Green army men. Check.

Civil and revolutionary war sets. Check.

Cap guns. Check.

Pong. Check.

Micronaughts. Check.

No legos though. Ever. Now, my KIDS all pretty much had legos and I played with them with them, but I never had them myself either as a kid or an adult.

 

[MonsterMawd]

NightHawkRMX awesome job on the LEGO theme case mod.

 

[Barty1884]

@NightHawkRMX
I'm sure you saw, but just incase...

View: https://youtu.be/z1l4Hk9T1Y4?t=1094

 

[Darkbreeze]

Nice man. You got a moment of fame on the interwebs too.

 

[DMAN999]

Very Cool that it made it into a video !

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Yea, thats the one. I submitred that awhile ago. Cool

 

[JohnyMayhem]

It’s alive!

CPU - Ryzen 7 2700x
GPU - EVGA RTX 2060 Super
RAM - G.skillz Trident Z RGB 16GB 3200
MOBO - ASUS Prime X570-p
Case - Thermaltake Commander C34
Fans - Thermaltake Pure 12 120mm
PSU - Corsair RM850x
SSD - Samsung 970 EVO Plus m.2 500GB(OS)
HDD - Seagate BarraCuda 2TB x 2

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[jimmysmitty]

It’s alive!

CPU - Ryzen 7 2700x
GPU - EVGA RTX 2060 Super
RAM - G.skillz Trident Z RGB 16GB 3200
MOBO - ASUS Prime X570-p
Case - Thermaltake Commander C34
Fans - Thermaltake Pure 12 120mm
PSU - Corsair RM850x
SSD - Samsung 970 EVO Plus m.2 500GB(OS)
HDD - Seagate BarraCuda 2TB x 2

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Damn. Front of that case looks like its begging for a nice custom loop system.

Also any reason why you have the GPU in the bottom slot?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Also any reason why you have the GPU in the bottom slot?

That's what I was wondering.

 

[JohnyMayhem]

Damn. Front of that case looks like its begging for a nice custom loop system.

Also any reason why you have the GPU in the bottom slot?

No specific reason really, just where I mounted it

 

[JohnyMayhem]

That's what I was wondering.

Nothing specifically, just did

 

[JohnyMayhem]

I checked the board and it shouldn’t make much of a difference speed-wise, but I haven’t fully updated software and drivers as I just completed the build so I haven’t run any benchmarks

 

[jimmysmitty]

I checked the board and it shouldn’t make much of a difference speed-wise, but I haven’t fully updated software and drivers as I just completed the build so I haven’t run any benchmarks

In single VGA card mode, use the PCIe 4.0 / 3.0 X16_1 slot for a PCI Express x16 graphics card to get better performance

Thats from the manual. I would use the first slot personally.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Yes, it makes no sense, on this, or any other board, to use a lower slot when the primary slot is not populated.

Also, I'm interested in why you chose an X570 motherboard with a 2nd Gen Ryzen CPU. Do you have plans to change CPUs in the near future?

 

[JohnyMayhem]

Yes, it makes no sense, on this, or any other board, to use a lower slot when the primary slot is not populated.

Also, I'm interested in why you chose an X570 motherboard with a 2nd Gen Ryzen CPU. Do you have plans to change CPUs in the near future?

Yes this is just a build to start myself off. This is my first ever build. I am not a heavy gamer, just a hobbyist that only gets a couple hours a week in, if that, with my twin toddlers. This also doubles as a music production work station for my music. I chose it so in the future when I want to upgrade, I can with any part.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Yeah, no worries. That makes enough sense. I probably would have still just gone with a B450 or X470 board, because I don't really see much value in X570 even with PCIe 4.0, which nothing really uses advantageously even with supposedly PCIe 4.0 friendly devices, but that could change.

I would for sure move that graphics card to the upper, primary slot though. The primary x16 slot is always the one intended to be first populated when only a single graphics card is used and aside from the fact that you want your graphics card using the designated CPU routed lanes rather than chipset lanes. It won't be earth shatteringly faster, but it will be somewhat faster.

Plus, there is generally a benefit to cooling by having the graphics card further away from the top of the power supply as well. Not specifically because of any heat coming from the power supply, but because of the amount of SPACE between the power supply and graphics card, which allows for better airflow from the front of the case to the fans on the graphics card. A better "air path" if you will. Will the air path is restricted, the cooling performance usually suffers somewhat.