I attempted to take pictures of the chassis after I had it powder coated. I like the color, even though it doesn't match the 3090 FE, but it's exceedingly difficult to get a picture of the color. It basically looks black unless you are looking at it in direct sunlight and/or in a very bright environment.
A different angle of the freshly painted case.
I wanted to take a picture of all the items that I often see online.
NOTE: I intended to use the EKWB AIO 240 (not 280/360 due to size limitations) but then decided to go with a air cooler (NH-D15 Chromax) because the cable routing for the AIO were going to be hell.
I can't seem to force myself to throw away any of the packaging/boxes that I've accumulated over the years. I may have a hoarding issue.
A shot of the completed build from an angle.
A shot of the completed build. View from the front.
A shot of the completed build from an angle.
A peer into one of the windows, CPU-side. Sorry for the reflection.
A peer into the other window, GPU-side. Sorry for the reflection.
A look into the case from the top. No windows here, only vents.
A rather poor view into the back. I hate the default Asus Wifi antenna because it just flops around and is too long. I bought some attached antennas from Amazon so that it just stays attached to the motherboard I/O panel.
Attached into the USB ports are two Logitech wireless receivers, for the mouse and keyboard, and a Sentinel HL security key that one program that I use requires.
Aside from the power cord, the only other cable is a braided DP 1.4 cable (VESA-certified, Cable Matters brand) that runs to the monitor.
Nice PC in a "Triple Bronze" Caselabs Bullet BH8 Case [Working Title]
With my finals finally over, I finally had the chance to build this computer. I've had all of the parts laying around since late January. I am very glad I bought the parts back then as they appear to be borderline impossible to obtain currently. I paid MSRP, or less ($1350 for the 3090FE for example), for all of these parts.
All of the fans are Noctua (2 x NF-A14 iPPC 3000, 1 x NF-A12 iPPC 3000, 2 x NF-A8 Chromax), and the ones that are in the top, visible portion of the case have Phanteks Halo Lux Digital Frames on them (2 x 140mm, 1 x 120mm). There are 4 ARGB led strips (some generic brand from Amazon), two on each side. The cable set was ordered from DreambigbyRayMOD from Etsy. I've ordered a couple sets from him in the past, and they have always been very nice, and the shipping is relatively fast as well. I wanted silicone cables for their malleability.
It is all lumped into a Caselabs Bullet BH8 that I had powder coated locally in "Triple Bronze." I discovered the BH8 as I wanted a closed case (as in, not a test bench), where the motherboard is oriented horizontally. The only modern, readily available option is the Cooler Master HAF XB Evo and I wasn't a fan. Hence, I began my hunt for a BH8. It took me a couple months to secure one. The guy was using it for his son's old gaming PC, so I inherited a bunch of parts that I have to sell. I still paid around what a naked case goes for nowadays according to eBay. I took it all apart down to the screws (which I replaced), replaced the handles, feet, screws, and washed everything before reassembling it. I Wanted something to match the bronze-ish color of the 3090. It didn't really end up matching, but I still like it. The color on the case was originally red and the condition wasn't that great. I think I would also go for a matte finish as the thing is a fingerprint magnet. I may redo it in the near future.
The NH-D15 performs great but I don't like the way air coolers look, and I've never used them in the past, but because of the general size limitations, there is no place to place a radiator larger than 240mm (and the one available place is very inconvenient - in the floor of the case in the bottom section). This is all because the case was missing the top radiator mounts, which accommodate 240mm and 280mm rads. I could place a 280mm rad in the front as I do have the front rad mount, but because the 3090 FE is 313mm long, there is no space to do so. If I go custom loop, the 3090 FE would decrease in length substantially (to like ~260mm), and I want to replace the thermal pads (no issues, as a prophylactic measure), so this is probably where I will invest money next.
Some observations I've made:
1. The iPPC 3000 fans can get very loud (like a vacuum cleaner...).
2. It isn't really a "portable" case when there is a build inside.
3. I wish my build was more "visible" and/or "observable" from the outside.
All of the fans are Noctua (2 x NF-A14 iPPC 3000, 1 x NF-A12 iPPC 3000, 2 x NF-A8 Chromax), and the ones that are in the top, visible portion of the case have Phanteks Halo Lux Digital Frames on them (2 x 140mm, 1 x 120mm). There are 4 ARGB led strips (some generic brand from Amazon), two on each side. The cable set was ordered from DreambigbyRayMOD from Etsy. I've ordered a couple sets from him in the past, and they have always been very nice, and the shipping is relatively fast as well. I wanted silicone cables for their malleability.
It is all lumped into a Caselabs Bullet BH8 that I had powder coated locally in "Triple Bronze." I discovered the BH8 as I wanted a closed case (as in, not a test bench), where the motherboard is oriented horizontally. The only modern, readily available option is the Cooler Master HAF XB Evo and I wasn't a fan. Hence, I began my hunt for a BH8. It took me a couple months to secure one. The guy was using it for his son's old gaming PC, so I inherited a bunch of parts that I have to sell. I still paid around what a naked case goes for nowadays according to eBay. I took it all apart down to the screws (which I replaced), replaced the handles, feet, screws, and washed everything before reassembling it. I Wanted something to match the bronze-ish color of the 3090. It didn't really end up matching, but I still like it. The color on the case was originally red and the condition wasn't that great. I think I would also go for a matte finish as the thing is a fingerprint magnet. I may redo it in the near future.
The NH-D15 performs great but I don't like the way air coolers look, and I've never used them in the past, but because of the general size limitations, there is no place to place a radiator larger than 240mm (and the one available place is very inconvenient - in the floor of the case in the bottom section). This is all because the case was missing the top radiator mounts, which accommodate 240mm and 280mm rads. I could place a 280mm rad in the front as I do have the front rad mount, but because the 3090 FE is 313mm long, there is no space to do so. If I go custom loop, the 3090 FE would decrease in length substantially (to like ~260mm), and I want to replace the thermal pads (no issues, as a prophylactic measure), so this is probably where I will invest money next.
Some observations I've made:
1. The iPPC 3000 fans can get very loud (like a vacuum cleaner...).
2. It isn't really a "portable" case when there is a build inside.
3. I wish my build was more "visible" and/or "observable" from the outside.
Color(s): Black Brass Brown
RGB Lighting? Yes
Theme: Color
Cooling: Air Cooling
Size: ATX
Type: General Build
Contests
This build participated in 2 contests.
| Rank | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| #68 | Build of the Month - June 2021 | ended |
| #132 | Build of the Month - May 2021 | ended |
Build Updates
Post-build thoughts (AKA: anxiety about water cooling)
Hardware
CPU
$ 799.99
Motherboard
$ 482.80
Memory
$ 729.98
Graphics
$ 1,499.00
Case
$ 750.00
Case Fan
$ 59.90
Case Fan
$ 43.90
Case Fan
$ 27.95
Cooling
$ 99.99
Accessories
$ 29.70
Accessories
$ 60.90
Estimated total value of this build:
$ 5,604.04
Approved by: