Covering the PCI Cards...
To complete the 'stealthing' of all errant PCBs in the case I also needed to hide the PCI cards.
An early test-fitting. The PCI cards cover fits below the motherboard cover and was made out of the same acrylic, using the same techniques as mentioned previously. The one shown is the result of my second attempt - the first warping after I gave it too much heat from the heat gun. After I was generally happy with the overall piece it still needed some work to render it usable with the GFX card.
Holes were drilled corresponding to the positions of the RAM on the card in order to allow heat to escape better...
...and channels were cut to accommodate the threaded mounting rods, springs and thumbscrews that attach the waterblock to the GFX card. As the cover would slide on from the side, holes alone weren't sufficient. The bottom edge of the motherboard cover runs along in line with the bottom of the word 'International' shown printed on the protective paper. This means only one of the waterblock thumbscrews is visible, and appears to come out of a hole, the rest of channel being concealed.
The last thing I did after this shot was taken was cut a section out of the bottom lip of the lower opening on the side to accommodate the pump. The pump assists in holding the cover in place over the PCI cards.
After chroming...with rubber sticky feet acting as standoffs and velcro (later removed when it became obvious the pump alone would do a fine job of holding the cover in place). Only one side was chromed to avoid risk of shorting the GFX card.
However, this left a white surface showing. Even though this would be hardly visible in the finished case I cut out a section of foam mousepad...
...and taped it in place with spongy double-sided tape. A black permanent marker dealt with the paper-thin white edge of the plastic surface of the mousepad. Once in place, the white surface is gone.
A little hard to see because of the reflections, but this is with the pump and motherboard/PCI covers in place. Not an ordinary component in sight!
To complete the 'stealthing' of all errant PCBs in the case I also needed to hide the PCI cards.
An early test-fitting. The PCI cards cover fits below the motherboard cover and was made out of the same acrylic, using the same techniques as mentioned previously. The one shown is the result of my second attempt - the first warping after I gave it too much heat from the heat gun. After I was generally happy with the overall piece it still needed some work to render it usable with the GFX card.
Holes were drilled corresponding to the positions of the RAM on the card in order to allow heat to escape better...
...and channels were cut to accommodate the threaded mounting rods, springs and thumbscrews that attach the waterblock to the GFX card. As the cover would slide on from the side, holes alone weren't sufficient. The bottom edge of the motherboard cover runs along in line with the bottom of the word 'International' shown printed on the protective paper. This means only one of the waterblock thumbscrews is visible, and appears to come out of a hole, the rest of channel being concealed.
The last thing I did after this shot was taken was cut a section out of the bottom lip of the lower opening on the side to accommodate the pump. The pump assists in holding the cover in place over the PCI cards.
After chroming...with rubber sticky feet acting as standoffs and velcro (later removed when it became obvious the pump alone would do a fine job of holding the cover in place). Only one side was chromed to avoid risk of shorting the GFX card.
However, this left a white surface showing. Even though this would be hardly visible in the finished case I cut out a section of foam mousepad...
...and taped it in place with spongy double-sided tape. A black permanent marker dealt with the paper-thin white edge of the plastic surface of the mousepad. Once in place, the white surface is gone.
A little hard to see because of the reflections, but this is with the pump and motherboard/PCI covers in place. Not an ordinary component in sight!
RELATED ARTICLES
MSI MPG Velox 100R Chassis Review
October 14 2021 | 15:04
Want to comment? Please log in.