Teufel Hunden...CM Stacker 830

[korben43]

Funny story. I was a Fry's today returning some crap hardware and decided to look around at what I wanted to buy. I was in the case section and saw a sign that made me do a double take. There, sitting in front of me was a small placard that said something like, CM Stacker 830... $99.09... I almost passed out. I asked a sales associate and he said that was the price, but only for the floor model. Well, I got an additional 10% off and walked out the door with a $250 case for $90!

It is a little beat up, but nothing a little tlc (and lots of paint) can't fix. I picked up some black and yellow paint from Lowe's and began painting this afternoon. Here's my progress so far:

[MeltDown]

Let me guess, quad-SLI goes in this one?

Nice deal! (why do we not have a thumbs up smiley?)

[Clue69Less]

Wild bananas!

What is the plan for this build?

[korben43]

I don't know yet. I'm gonna paint the case first and go from there. I might do an Intel X48 build with some 4870's. Water cooling, of course. There might be room for a 360 or 480mm radiator, or both.

[korben43]

Let me guess, quad-SLI goes in this one?

Nice deal! (why do we not have a thumbs up smiley?)

Nah, time to be conservative I'll go for some 4870's in here, maybe the Black Ops board, or the Maximus II Formula.

[mpilchfamily]

I take it you have done no prep work on the case befor painiting it? You realize that the metal is coated to resist curosion which also prevents paint from sticking to it very well. It will easily flake of if you havn't sanded the surface and used a decent primer on it. You may have gotten a great deal on it but you still need to take the time to do a good job modding it.

[anticupidon]

you spend waay to much money on hardware parts...
*jealous*

[korben43]

I take it you have done no prep work on the case befor painiting it? You realize that the metal is coated to resist curosion which also prevents paint from sticking to it very well. It will easily flake of if you havn't sanded the surface and used a decent primer on it. You may have gotten a great deal on it but you still need to take the time to do a good job modding it.

Yeah, I did take some time in preparing the case. The only part I've done so far is the mobo tray. I'm still in the process of taking the rest of the case apart and getting it ready for a nice paint job. The anodized outside casing is gonna be the longest part to prep. Any suggestions on a course of action?

[MeltDown]

Nah, time to be conservative I'll go for some 4870's in here, maybe the Black Ops board, or the Maximus II Formula.

Isn't Maximus II a P45 board? The 4870s (or at least the 4870X2s) might exceed the bandwidth of those slots (PCIe 2.0 x8 = PCIe 1.1 x16). The BlackOps is uber, but beware the top of the stock waterblock is apparently aluminum if you care about the whole mixed metals thing... I say just use some antifreeze and you're good to go.

[Clue69Less]

Yeah, I did take some time in preparing the case. The only part I've done so far is the mobo tray. I'm still in the process of taking the rest of the case apart and getting it ready for a nice paint job. The anodized outside casing is gonna be the longest part to prep. Any suggestions on a course of action?

Is the anodizing in need of a refinish?

[korben43]

you spend waay to much money on hardware parts...
*jealous*

Yes, I do. But better to live in the now. That's my philosophy anyway. That, or I have a problem that deserves some treatment

[mpilchfamily]

If you want to paint it you will need to use a heavy grit paper to really scuff up the anodized layer. Then use a good primer.

[korben43]

Isn't Maximus II a P45 board? The 4870s (or at least the 4870X2s) might exceed the bandwidth of those slots (PCIe 2.0 x8 = PCIe 1.1 x16). The BlackOps is uber, but beware the top of the stock waterblock is apparently aluminum if you care about the whole mixed metals thing... I say just use some antifreeze and you're good to go.

Yeah, the Maximus II is P45. I'll most likely go X48 from Foxconn of DFI. What's the problem with mixed metals in the NB block?

[Clue69Less]

That, or I have a problem that deserves some treatment

Take two QX9650s and call me in the morning.

[korben43]

Is the anodizing in need of a refinish?

Yep, the outside of the case got pretty scratched up. Besides, I want to add some yellow to the outside of the case to highlight the black finish.

[korben43]

If you want to paint it you will need to use a heavy grit paper to really scuff up the anodized layer. Then use a good primer.

I've got the primer already. I'll pick up some heavy grit sandpaper and get to work on that in the morning. Thanks for the help, mpilch!

[MeltDown]

Yeah, the Maximus II is P45. I'll most likely go X48 from Foxconn of DFI. What's the problem with mixed metals in the NB block?

I'd get the Foxconn for sure - I'm the resident anti-DFI-fanboi because we're overrun with people who think their Intel boards must be uber since their S939 AMD stuff was. There's not anything wrong with DFI's boards, they're just nothing special either.

Aluminum and copper will corrode if they're in the same loop with plain water as the coolant - Clue69Less could explain the chemistry behind it. But anyway, if you use Swiftech HydrX or any other corrosion inhibitor it won't be a problem.

[Clue69Less]

Yep, the outside of the case got pretty scratched up. Besides, I want to add some yellow to the outside of the case to highlight the black finish.

So this is black anodized Al?

[korben43]

Yes, not the entire outside, though. Some of it is plastic that can be removed. The side panels, most of the bottom, and the top and front door are all anodized black.

[korben43]

I'd get the Foxconn for sure - I'm the resident anti-DFI-fanboi because we're overrun with people who think their Intel boards must be uber since their S939 AMD stuff was. There's not anything wrong with DFI's boards, they're just nothing special either.

Aluminum and copper will corrode if they're in the same loop with plain water as the coolant - Clue69Less could explain the chemistry behind it. But anyway, if you use Swiftech HydrX or any other corrosion inhibitor it won't be a problem.

I'll keep that in mind, thanks!