Building my first computer, Alternate title: where... does this.. go????

Yes. it's been some time but now I'm back....and what have I been up to?

I have finally started building my Gaming Computer!!!

I couldn't use the case I modded  as I needed room for the graphics card I wanted... Oh well.

Anyway I'll put up the photos as soon as I can but meanwhile here are the components I have so far, and what I'm saving up for to complete it.

What I have installed already:

Case - CoolerMaster Mystique 632S

Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3P

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E6420

CPU Fan - SilverStone Nitrogon NT06

PSU - Zalman Heatpipe cooled 600watt, ZM600-HP

HardDrive - SeaGate Barracuda SATA 80GB x2

                - SeaGate Barracuda SATA 320GB

FloppyDrive - One I had lying around the house.

OpticalDrive - R/W DVD/CD Pioneer

What I have still to aquire:

RAM - Corsair Twin 2 x 2048 - 6400C4

OS - Windows XP Home SP2 (no Vista for this kid until all the bugs are ironed out)

Graphics Card - GeForce 8800GTS 320MB

I am soooooooo anxious to get this thing going, anyhow I have had heaps of time to install what I have and to double and triple check, plus I have been organising making the leads and cords all neat. Pride in workmanship.

Pictures on the way.

Altogether now....

I have finished except for the clear cover to go over the side panel, otherwise the air won't flow right folks.

As always check the photos.

I'm so, I'm so, Happy

I'm so, I'm so, Happy

Cha Cha Cha

Let there be light

Check out the panel.

This is the effect that you will get when the computer is on.

See my photo link.

The front panel is almost done, I did a first coat of primer and then noticed some rough areas so I'm going back in with the sandpaper.

Soon as it is done the case can be reassembled.

My friends at Rosman computers are arranging the insides for me.

This is my first computer that I have built ever, so I'm not blowing a huge amount $ on it as if something goes wrong..........sob!!

Finished the side panel

I have been away because my beautiful Mum passed away:

Slán leat Dawn éirimiúil

I have been working on my project to keep my mind occupied.

Finally the panel has everything cut out.

Sanded back the paint and went finer and finer grit so that the metal was as smooth as the proverbial.

I've sprayed the primer coats.

The other panels have had their coats of the main colour.

See photos.

Spray Painting, I now respect graffiti artists

I have just spent ages sanding off the paint I put on.

Now I have started again and PREPARED the casing first.

Then resprayed.......using a gentle flowing motion side to side yadda yadda yadda, oh well it looks heaps better.

I really don't know as I will go all out for the mirrored finish, I've just read this blokes tutorial and really, I mean wait 28 days after painting 12 coats.... wax after waiting 30 days from using polishing compund.........Please, I'm an old girl already....I'd be dead before the job would be finished.

Anyway I'll do a few coats to build up the colour.

The gentle art of cutting metal and bleeding to death

OWWWW!!!!!   

Enough said, it's just that I faint at the sight of blood.

I shall engrave this upon my memory........ cut metal is sharp!!!

The 'blow hole' is cut out and I've started a perspex cover so the fan lights can be seen.

I've cut out the perspex for the front fan for the same reason.

I have to fill the void left as a result of exposing the fan and moving the Reset button. The plastic facing at the front had an undulating wave shape so that at one side the front cover and the fan meet quite snuggly, while on the other side there is a gap.

Have a look at the photos and you will see what I mean.

The dilema is whether to use perspex and join it all, or whether I can use clear Acrylic and would that chemically bond to the perspex cover.

In Dental Technology we use MethylMethaculate (Acrylic) in either veined pink or clear for constructing dentures.

We will see what I do.

I tidied up my place and sorted all the tools, materials and stuff into a orderly system. I just had to, I could never find the tool I needed or where I had just put that bolt I needed.

Wait for it I even vacumed, I meant business.

I want to thank Peter P. (my sweet petal) for lending me his diamond disk and tungstun bur. He also shares his bread when we go out to eat lunch together.

I loves the smell of cut metal in the morning

I’ve bought carbon paper home and will start tracing out for the case mod.

I won’t actually tape the case prior to cutting as I’m used to cutting bare metal.

I’m using a cutter we use in dental technology called a ‘Joe Dandy’. It’s a circle of abrasive material which is used with the dental handpiece and can cut metal easy, we use it on our Chrome Cobalt partial dentures.

I need to check out rubber edging and paint oh .. and nice bolt heads for the fans.

I will have to put pictures in as I go along.

I have the paint, evidently I’m ‘fully sick’ and my project the ‘sickest’ according to the young guy who I got the primer, colour and enamel paint from. 

Goodo!!  I believe.

It’s now Wednesday and I’ve spent nearly all day cutting out the case  and checking where I’m putting the front case fan and the top case fan.

Neighbours hate me this I KNOW…..etc.

Everything is coming along nicely, if slowly. Just can’t afford to muck it up.

I love being covered in dirt and really tired, great stuff.

My Mouse Mod

I have been toying with the idea of modding a mouse, this is before I saw the famous 'Alien Fossil Mouse'©.

I've started it.....carved in the Sims 2©

 trademark and where the crystal plumb is I cut through to the inside and will try to place in an LED to shine out.

I've had the I.T. manager at work trying to teach me ohms law, he's such a nice bloke he even downloaded, for me, all this material on PS2 mouse wiring and info on resistors.

I have actually been very lucky really, I've had help from 3 fantastic I.T. guys, B. and V. from the work and P. from another section. Thanks fellas.

My brother would help except I've crossed the fence and am building a PC, that's treason to a Mac man  .

I will put in a picture of the mouse as soon as I can get hold of the digital camera. Someone I know loves her camera, so I better promise chocolate .

Budget anyone

I know I could build the most mega fantastic computer, except for one thing.....................finance.

I have had a reality check and will not get the thermaltake Amor case....ooooooh!

I have a decent tower case which I just purchased fro the Salvation Army for $45.

I can't really use the innards as they are rather old, but it's great fun and a learning experience to take them out and put the back in.

If I ever get to upload the picture you will see the computer in pieces on my bed.

I have just discovered the world of computer 'modding' yeeha! and I have most of the stuff already for drilling designs because of my job in dental prosthetics. Dental drills and burs.

If my avatar comes through on the page, this is the one I'm cutting into the side of the case.

I went out and got some good case fans and a fan controller, I want this thing to be like a wind tunnel.

Heat Kills Computers.

I purchased a Coolmaster power supply yesterday from Rosman computers.

Bunnings will here my little footsteps today as I checking out perspex.

So it begins

Not long ago I couldn't turn a computer on, now I'm building one.

Not long ago if I wanted to go into a programme I would stand at the top of the stairs and bellow for my nearest and dearest to come up and get me into Leasure Suit Larry©.

I can still here the groans from my brother when I rang up with another query, poor dear does it he need this. He works in I.T. all day and then comes home to be my 'helpdesk'.

One day I just thought, do I need to have people run away from me or take the phone off the hook or threaten me with bodily harm if I ask where's Solitaire one more time.

I decided to learn all about what my brother termed a 'Black box of binary bits'

Now I am half way through a correspondence course and have been given administration rights to the computers at work.

In fact I love messing about with computers now.......soooooo on to my big project.

To all of you who have already done this, be gentle as it's a big deal for me.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the great folk at Rosman Computers in Thirroul, they were very kind to me.