Project: Gamers donation (PC give away)

[frank_jarle]

Comments goes here:

http://www.diskusjon...owtopic=1459859

 

 

Intro:

 

This is my first work-blog here, and it will probably also be my only one too. I bought a new self-builder computer this summer, so i was thinking what i could do with my previous computer, i was debating with myself if i had space for another computer of this size and footprint in the apartment, i was also thinking if i could maybe turn the computer into a home-server or NAS/SAN, i had many ideas. One of the days i was playing with one of my dear gaming friend it came to my mind that maybe i could donate my old computer to someone who already had a older and weaker computer, less powerful CPU, less RAM etc.

 

This "operation" has been on my mind for few months since i bought the new computer, but it is first now that i actually put it down on paper for documentation and hopefully someone else like the idea too :-)

 

As you may get the idea, this work-blog is all about donating the computer to someone who needs it more then me, to someone i know would appreciate the use of it and let it be in a good home for the years to come :-)

 

I knew i had not been good to make the old computer look at its best, so i had to start to tidy up, order some parts from Ebay, order some parts from the web-shops we have in Norway.

 

Specs:

Cabinet: Antec P180

PSU: Gigabyte GE S800A

Motherboard: Gigabyte X48-DQ6

CPU: Intel Q6600

RAM: Mushkin 8GB

SSD: Intel X-25G 80GB

HD: Samsung 500GB

Graphic: Gainward GT8800/GTX 260 (i would like to replace or find a sponsor so i can upgrade with a better graphic card)

 

The specification of the computer is of course not the best measured with today's high performance computers, nevertheless, it is better then my friends current computer that it will replace.

 

 

What needs to be done

• Clean all the dust that has collected over 5-6 years
  
• Cleanup the cable-mess
  
• Order parts from eBay (fan, fan grill/filter, cables, )
  
• Change stock cooler
  
• Order USB card-reader
  
• Make hole and mount fan/fan-filter in the side panel
  
• Order thermal paste (MX-2)
  

Completed tasks:

• Dust cleaning (no picture from before)
  
• Cleanup the cable-mess (before and after picture)
  
• Ordered and received parts from Ebay (pictures)
  
• Changed stock cooler to Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
  
• Make hole for fan in the side panel
  
• Received thermal paste MX-2
  

The cable mess:

 

The dirt and cable mess:

 

Partial cleanup of cable mess:

 

The shell:

 

The power supply unit comes with 4 temperature sensors, i have labeled these from 1-4 for easy so it is easier to identify which sensor goes where:

 

Out with the old and in with the new (cooler), the old stuff:

 

Out with the old and in with the new (cooler), the new stuff:

 

Mounted back plate for CPU cooler:

 

Mounted CPU cooler:

 

Be clean:

 

Be tidy (i will re-arrange some of the cables on right side, it will look better):

 

Parts from Ebay:

 

Fan modification:

During my measurement of the temperature during idle and load was very high inside the cabinet. I tried different fan modification, changed the direction from pull to blow on the parts, but this was the best i could achieve. (note: in some of the fan combination i tried the GPU came up in 75 degrees and System in 50 degrees)

 

Idle CPU: 39/45 degrees

Idle System: 36 degrees

Idle GPU: 53 degrees

 

Load CPU: 53/61

Load system: 37

Load GPU: 65

 

I was not really happy with this result, so i decided to make a template of the side door with a cardboard and cut a hole for the extra fan i bought:

 

With the testing of the fan on the improvised side door i could see the temperature drop for both idle and load temperature, together with the new cooler the temperature look like this:

 

Idle CPU: 28/33 degrees

Idle System: 34 degrees

Idle GPU: 45 degrees

 

Load CPU: 38/44

Load system: 39

Load GPU: 61

 

The modification of the side door:

After testing with the cardboard and i was satisfied with the result i transfered the cut hole to the panel itself and made ready for the cut, i used a holesaw with a centered drill bit:

 

 

The final result:

 

 

It has been a interesting project and in few days this computer will be shipped to Russia to my gaming partner and hopefully it find a good new home for the years to come. I hope i will get some positive feedback on my request to the webshops, but of course i do not expect anything.

 

I hope you have enjoyed the journey with me, maybe you also have some gaming friends that can not afford the kind of high end equipment as you have, maybe you have one or two friends that you really cherish and appreciate and maybe you like to do something similar, i really encourage to go ahead. This is simply 10 times better then to receive gifts on Christmas eve/day, at least for me personally :-)

 

Comments goes here:

http://www.diskusjon...owtopic=1459859

Endret 25. september 2012 av frank_jarle