Description

note to mods, I hope I haven't done anything bad, I messed up a previous build so had to re-created it

Now with a Electro Luminescent (EL) wire mod!

NEW VIDEO NOW WITH A NEW GPU AIO and custom Phanteks Cables (need to update the pics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZhJPT0rnM4

Watch a video of the completed build a 1984 VHS homage! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDUeC1PD148

So this is my first build in 15 years. I used to be a builder/enthusiast. Then life happened and was far too busy. Had been using pre-built boxes until now!

This build and lighting is influenced and inspired by this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDBbaGCCIhk

Here is the reasoning for some of my part choices.

Intel i7-7700K It is a great all rounder with good overclocking potential, great single thread performance and decent at multi threading. A nice balance for gaming and creativity based applications.

NZXT Kraken X62 This thing is beautiful, great performance and looks. Can not fault this bad boy. If you are in the market for an AIO I highly recommend. Iwanted something with great performance and something that looks excellent.

NZXT HUE+ and AER RGB Fans Wanted something a bit extra special for the lighting. The hue is a marvellous piece of kit, each LED is individually addressable giving you unlimited potential, 4 strips are included in the box. The fans are NOT static pressure optimised which is a bit of a let down, but are ok for general Airflow.

ASUS Maximus Hero IX I have always trusted ASUS motherboards. This one is a mid-level board that has some of the features of the more pricey ones without sacrificing too much. Great for overclocking. It also has a built in impedance detection for your headphones so removes the need for an amp.

Corsair Carbide 400C White Fantastic little case! I love it's minimalist look, subtle curves and the huge window. Wish there was a tempered glass version. Plenty of space at the back for cable management.

Cololer Master Master Keys L with Cherry MX Browns My first cherry MX keyboard. I love it .. fantastic lighting effects and millions of possible effects. It's built like a tank and has a great minimalist look. I was a Microsoft keyboard user before :)

Custom GPU backplate So this is my first attempt at making something like that, a sheet of aluminium, that has been bent to form a cover shroud, printed PVC/lino on top. I got the measurements a bit wrong as it was meant to go a a bit more over. Plus could have done with some neon stripes on the side. But it was the first attempt, might revisit later.

EL wire It never dawned on me to use it but I was in a book store of all places, and in the gadget/random gift section there was a EL Wire kit for making your own signs. It was super cheap, about $9 US .... came with 3 meters of wire and a battery pack for power. I bought a 12v inverter from adafruit so that it is now powered by the PSU. The EL wire will last about a year without dimming too much, so its attached with a semi-permanent glue for easy removal in the future.

I have included some older photos before the case had a Electro Luminescent Makeover!

Part Reviews

CPU Cooler

NZXT Kraken X62 Liquid CPU Cooler

What can I say, beautiful! Great performer with looks that match.

Motherboard

Asus MAXIMUS IX HERO ATX LGA1151 Motherboard

What can I say, it's an ASUS and the build quality shows. Great line of motherboards and this one isn't too pricey!

Video Card

MSI GeForce GTX 1080 8 GB Video Card

It performs very well. Does get quite hot.

Case

Corsair 400C ATX Mid Tower Case

The case has plenty of room for a 280mm radiator, ample room at the back for cable management and it looks great!

Mouse

Logitech MX Master Bluetooth Wireless Laser Mouse

The king of mice. This this is spectacular. Great tracking on glass.

Headphones

Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO HT Headphones

My choice of on ear monitors while editing. These are legendary. 250Ohm version should be paired with a good quality AMP

Headphones

Audio-Technica M50x Headphones

Superb all rounder for the price.

Comments

  • 32 months ago
  • 4 points

this is so well done. +1

  • 32 months ago
  • 2 points

I love the backplate

  • 32 months ago
  • 3 points

Thanks! Its a sheet of aluminium and printed PVC, although i got some measurements wrong so might re-do it .. I want the letters to glow .. so might go back to the drawing board for that!

  • 32 months ago
  • 2 points

Probably the most beautiful themed setup I've ever seen. Great work man.

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Thanks! ... Made a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDUeC1PD148

  • 32 months ago
  • 2 points

OMG I want this

  • 32 months ago
  • 2 points

Aaah. The legend case.. Carbide 400c. I press like when i see one

  • 26 months ago
  • 2 points

most beautiful case i have ever seen in my life

  • 26 months ago
  • 1 point

Awww shucks .. thanks!

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Up vote, because:

  1. Awesome Build

  2. New Retro Wave Theme

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Heheh, you heard this one? It's a great chill wave one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQdHTpxcbck

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Made a little 80's style montage.

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

The Miami Theme always gets me! Excellent Build!

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you :) I think the EL wire sealed the deal. It gives that 1984 wireframe graphics feel to it.

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Now with extra synthwave :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDUeC1PD148

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Nice job sir.

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Omg its beautiful! I love how the lighting is bright but the colour use isn't over the top like some lunatic rainbow. Although that 7700k and 1080 deserve something better than a 1080p monitor :3

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Yeah that is next on my list of things I MUST have :)

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Dude you make me drool everytime i look at your pc

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

I made a little 80's montage of the case https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDUeC1PD148

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Wow! That little LED wire makes the case really pop! Gonna have to try to find one of those for my build! Looks excellent!

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Hehe, thanks!, if you are interested, it's an EL (electro-luminescent) wire. Adafruit has some in various colours. It's pretty cheap. https://www.adafruit.com/category/50

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Doesn't the EL wire fade pretty quickly? There must be a more permanent solution with similar effect, I had thought of something like the so called tron tape or reflective vinyl wrap that's used on emergency vehicles. It would be a more permanent solution.... But Would then require another light source to make it pop.

Clear acrylic also with the tron tape along its base with some reasonably powerful led at each end would also work and could also be in someway hooked into the others RGB LED'S. that's another permanent solution but would take more work but would be more customisable. reflective-vinyl is one source.

Anyways jus my own thoughts, but great find. Very inspiring +1

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

The wire I have is rated for 6000 hours before it starts to dim. That's almost a year of 24 hour operation. or 2 years general use. By then I would probably have another build. I want something steam punk related next.

But all of those ideas are great! Lots of options. :)

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Holy mother of

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

heh :)

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Damn man. One of the sexiest builds i've ever seen +1 Do I hear feature?

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Nah, there are far more deserving builds on here. Some of those custom loops are insane! But thanks for the thought!

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

BEAUTIFUL!

  • 32 months ago
  • 1 point

Whoa, I don't know what's the deal with 80's retro wave builds nowadays, I thought it was only me but then it got Baader-Meinhof all of the sudden. Seriously though, this is so refreshing, look at that backplate and AIO pump!

  • 31 months ago
  • 1 point

God damn, that's a stunning looking setup mate, very nice!

  • 31 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you! ;)

  • 31 months ago
  • 1 point

I am planning a build with both the Kraken X62 and Maximus IX Hero, but I have heard of issues with the Kraken getting in the way and overlapping the first DIMM slot, therefore not being able to install the ram in that slot. But it looks like it worked for you - did you have any issues? It's weird because I've seen pictures where it overlaps but yours looks like it doesn't.

  • 31 months ago
  • 2 points

Strange, the ram is pretty bulky as it is .. and I have 3mm - 4mm space still. I wonder if its a manufacturing error margin at play here, some might be a few mills out ... maybe you can push them in more, not sure. But have had no issues here .. its keeping my I7700K at 4.8Ghz at 1.3v pretty cool at 69c under full load.

  • 31 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you for the reply! Yeah that is strange, you can see an example of what I'm talking about here: https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?90790-Maximus-IX-Hero-and-X62-cooler-blocking-first-DIMM

At any rate, I think I'll still get the board - maybe the other guy messed up an installed it wrong somehow? Who knows!

  • 31 months ago
  • 1 point

Used flash so you could see the motherboard markings in relation to the cooler. He's seems to be shifted to the right and down a bit. Looks like he hasn't mounted it properly. The top bracket has 3 positions. He must have not used the right one.

http://imgur.com/a/cViDy

  • 31 months ago
  • 1 point

Awesome. Thank you so much, you've been very helpful! I'm definitely gonna grab the kraken x62 and that mobo. :)

  • 31 months ago
  • 1 point

Sorry just want to ask are the front fans on rad intake or exhaust?

  • 31 months ago
  • 1 point

Intake, I actually have added another pair recently to the rad for push pull config. (Same for the GPU AIO) ... http://imgur.com/a/PnoeO

The top fans are airflow only optimised so I have good positive pressure in the case to keep the dust out.

  • 31 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you, dont think I be able to do push pull on the front because i have a strix 1080 ti and nzxt kraken x62 on front.

If I could get your opinion, for my build for me to get good air pressure i have to set up:

  • front - rad exhaust (kraken x62)
  • top - intake (2x 140 fans)
  • rear - intake (1x 140 fan)

Same case same rad

  • 31 months ago
  • 2 points

Hmm.. you're going to get constant dust as your moving air back to front really. I would do front intake (single pair of fans is fine) ... and exhaust top and back. Why do you want to do front exhaust out of interest?

  • 31 months ago
  • 1 point

Well... hearing if I do intake on a radiator wouldnt that bring warm air into the case? Im just concern it would do harm. I was planning doing an intake on front and top leaving rear as exhaust only?

So front rad intake Top intake Rear exhaust

  • 30 months ago
  • 1 point

+1 for Malibu lol, I have a pink Malibu theme in one of my pics

  • 30 months ago
  • 1 point

That is a very very sexy build good sir! Hat's off to you!

  • 30 months ago
  • 1 point

Thank you! :)

  • 30 months ago
  • 1 point

I just don't understand why would you go with 5400 RPM hard drives... I mean, it's up to you, but 7200 RPM is faster

  • 30 months ago
  • 1 point

Came back to see what you did to your backplate and dude it's sick! The EL also looks insane on the 400C. Thinking about doing it to my 460X now. Is it loud?

  • 30 months ago
  • 1 point

Thanks! You mean the EL power supply/inverter? This one from Adafruit is decent and it's inside the case in the power supply basement. It's not audible with the case closed. https://www.adafruit.com/product/448

  • 30 months ago
  • 1 point

I love it! Thanks. You found a good tutorial for the backplate as well? I mean thI Aero is truly on of the ugliest 1080s on the market but you made it hella sexy with that backplate!

  • 29 months ago
  • 1 point

I think you've change the game with the EL wire mod.

  • 27 months ago
  • 1 point

How did you get the light to shine through the edges of the case if you don't mind me asking?

  • 26 months ago
  • 1 point

Sorry for the late reply. Its ELECTRO LUMINESCENT wire .... i super glued it to the edges.

  • 26 months ago
  • 1 point

Thanks!

  • 26 months ago
  • 1 point

How did you change the lighting for the RAM sticks? Is there a software?

  • 26 months ago
  • 1 point

Corsair Link software lets you adjust the LED's

  • 26 months ago
  • 1 point

Holy hell. This is amazing. Not only did you put together a beautiful build, you even made an 80's montage for it. Well done, dude. It's perfect. I hope you'll reply so I'll have an easy way to come back here to ogle your build for inspiration haha.

  • 26 months ago
  • 1 point

how did you get the backplate like that?

  • 25 months ago
  • 1 point

AWESOME. Can u share the wallpaper? i cant find it.

  • 21 months ago
  • 1 point

Well thats a feature and a half if I ever saw one

  • 18 months ago
  • 1 point

How did you connect the EL wire to the PSU? I'm looking into doing some EL wire on my upcoming build thanks to you, but I'd like to know how to hook it up. Assuming this is the inverter you were talking about, which end goes into the psu and how? Great build btw, and awesome videos. 10/10

  • 17 months ago
  • 1 point

You typo'd the price of your MB to $4400, which makes this build show up as waayyy more expensive than it is. I was so confused at first.

But it looks amazing! I'm using this exact color scheme in my Hotline Miami build (:

  • 16 months ago
  • 1 point

Wow. Buddy that's stunning.

  • 13 months ago
  • 1 point

my god... this makes me wanna grab a collard shirt, roll up the sleeves, go to the club, snort some... ANYWAYS... well done sir. well done.

  • 12 months ago
  • 1 point

Nice looking build ! Looks very clean and very well photographed.

  • 29 months ago
  • 0 points

I love synthwave and your built is the best I have ever seen ! :)

2 questions :

  • what is you led strip set-up (one front, one rear vertical ?) ?

  • do you have other lighting around the case on your desk ?

  • 28 months ago
  • 1 point

Thanks! So 4 strips gives enough length to go left, top, right.

I have additional 1 strip under the case (powered by mobo RGB port) and 1 LED strip magnetically stuck to the back to give a glow on the wall, also using an internal RGB port from mobo.

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  • 31 months ago
  • 1 point

Hahah thanks.