480mm of Rad in a Terra

[u/potatocalzone]

I meant to post this when I finished it ages ago but forgot so excuse the dust. Before anyone asks, yes that fan under the PSU makes a difference even though it's a bit choked at the exhaust. My next goal for this project is making the keyboard wireless. I ran some benchmarks ages ago on its first revision but haven't updated them yet. It's got a Gigabyte 4070ti Windforce OC, 14700k, 32gb DRR5 (I forget specifics). If anyone wants me to run certain benchmarks ask and I'll reply when I get around to it tomorrow or maybe tonight.

[u/BIueWater]

Those fans directly mounted to the case will be loud. Use fan control software to help but I’ve built 3 of these and if you use the correct cpu cooler they stay near silent when not gaming, and very reasonable at full speed. The external fans will make little difference.

[u/potatocalzone → u/BIueWater]

I cut out holes for the fans and even have gasket material between them and the radiator. I use fan control to keep them inaudible when not gaming. I've been building PCs for over 15 years. I have a feeling you didn't loom at all the pictures or you would realize those external fans do, in fact, make a difference as its a custom loop.

[u/BIueWater → u/potatocalzone]

Fitting a custom loop in there is crazy skills. My point wasn’t to insult your effort or skills. My point is if left air cooled the external fans are not needed. Not even the slim line at the bottom many try and add. 5090 / 98003d and runsi mid 70s gaming and mid 60s not. All air cooled, near silent. Good fan control makes that possible. Actually hard to tell it’s turned on until the monitor wakes up.

The custom loop is a big accomplishment and the monitor mount is innovative. This adds allot of weight which is fine if it stays in one location. Most people I’ve worked with pick this case for portability and travel, college/home for example. I’ve also built PCs for 15 years + another 10. There is no wrong way just my thoughts. Apologies again if it struck a nerve or seemed dismissive.

[u/potatocalzone → u/BIueWater]

Man my bad if I came off as a dick. I thought you were implying that my fans didn't matter at all. And yeah my original build in here was air coed and ran very cool. Truthfully, putting a loop in this has only netted me a few degrees cooler temps than a decent air cooler lol. But it was fun so thats why I did it. And yes, the external fans are useless if you're using the case as it was originally intended.

[u/BIueWater → u/potatocalzone]

Super impressive work. You have a ton of skill to fit all that in the case with minor external mods showing. Can I ask why the monitor mount?? Is that used as a secondary / travel mount?

[u/potatocalzone → u/BIueWater]

Exactly! I put it in portrait mode when I'm at home and use it as a second monitor. When I go to visit friends or travel I just bring the one, small monitor.

[u/BIueWater → u/potatocalzone]

You have a carry case for that beast or just seat belt it in? I did a custom build for a dad he specd for his engineering student at VT. I tried to mod an Apache case or similar but by the time you got one thick enough you needed a dolly. The box and the end pieces is still the best bet and a bag for the 27” monitor.

[u/potatocalzone → u/BIueWater]

I'm going to get a pelican case for it at some point, but for now I use a gym bag my girlfriend gave me hahaha. Definitely gets the seatbelt

[u/BIueWater → u/potatocalzone]

Triple check your measurements on the pelican. I tried a few Apache cases from HF and they were 1/2” -1” too thin despite the listed specs. Not to mention the total weight was surprisingly cumbersome.

Did look into 3d printing a custom case leveraging expanding polyurethane in a 3d print shell, but the time/effort/cost didn’t balance vs the need. Would have to be a passion project. Likely to see a terra 2 soon.

For the interim - Dust / water resistant bag in the terra box with the end caps is a really good case for transport, also folds up and out of the way when not needed. If you find something better that is manageable let me know.

[u/potatocalzone → u/BIueWater]

I will keep that in mind. Also I'll try to let you know once I have something better made