Project: Antec

[Son1990]

Project: Antec

I have been wanting to do my first case mod all summer and its finnaly done! I needed one before school started so I can get myself organized instead of running caseless like I have been since I built my first rig a few months ago.

I Started out with a somewhat new Antec Soho case i got for sale at CompUSA....kidna a present from my mom trying to tell me to keep busy.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20001.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20002.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20003.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20004.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20005.jpg

I really only hated four things about this case:
1.The size of the fans that were stock with the case.
2. The way the fans were only allowed to clip into socket not screw
3. The lock on the side panel
4. The length was not as long as id wish.

I didnt have any plans for the case. I sat down and took a look at it for a while, seeing what I could do. I tried not to get overzealous so i took my time.

Continued.

[Son1990]

I started by tapeing all the areas I planned on jigsawwing or dremeling:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20007.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20010.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20008.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20022.jpg

[Son1990]

I went through thousands of cutting wheels (really only 20) with my dremel to cut out the back wire management hole along with cutting my finger :( I drilled the hole thinking I was gonna use a jigsaw but didnt.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20011.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20016.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20013.jpg

Then some after shots of the wiremanagment hole:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20017.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20019.jpg

[Son1990]

After a bit of thinking I whipped out my nibblers, handy little things arrent they, and nibbled away every [4] fan hole grill:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20027.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec20021.jpg

More updates pictures tonight or in the afternoon

[[OC]Lucifer]

Looking good so far.. keep those pics comin' :)

[Son1990]

Roger that...truthfully...its pretty much done...just am being lazy with the log and worried about taken bad pictures :)

~Ken

[[OC]Lucifer]

Understandable.. alot of people make awesome mods but dont take the extra couple seconds to make sure they take good pics of it.

[Son1990]

Exactly. Like the thread says my camera has been actin up and I dont have the best camera for taken quality pics so im doin the best i can :)

~Ken

[Son1990]

Just a little update. I got these from a friend...thought they migh BAM spice the case up a notch :) You can get these from frozen CPU in all diffrent deisgns but i thought since Im running an AMD Platform...these are apporpriate:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2366.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2368.jpg

~Ken

[Son1990]

MINE!

<glee><drool>

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2369.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2370.jpg

</glee></drool>

[Son1990]

Here is the PSU put inside the case...I couldnt hold myself any longer

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2375.jpg

[Son1990]

LEDs:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2291.jpg
Resistors:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2339.jpg
Bezel Pictures

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2235.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/Antec32.jpg
bezel on my electric bench

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2287.jpg

[Son1990]

Glue gunning the LEDs onto bezel

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2295.jpg

First 12 LEDs soldered

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2302.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2342.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2336.jpg

[Son1990]

Ta Da!!!!!!!!!! 12/24
got to stop by Radioshack for 12 more LEDs and Home Depot for more Glue Sticks.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2376.jpg

[Son1990]

Fan Grills cut away....more liked.....nibbled.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2284.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2308.jpg

[Son1990]

Fans with Molding.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2378.jpg

[Son1990]

Lights off....

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2380.jpg

Lights on...

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2381.jpg

I plan to put a picture on the right side and then another, in sections so when all drives are closed it forms one picture. As you cansee there is a fan controller and 2 stealthed drives (#2 and #4).

[Son1990]

Went out with my mom to Home Depot, CompUSA, and Radioshack and got a few goodies to top this project off if you can see whats in the pics...ask:

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2383.jpg

Pictues of new bought fan and fan grill along with one of the top rails installed as well as some new CC's i bought.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2385.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2389.jpg

Then the new bezel I put togeather....from right to left:
On, DVD door, CD Dorr, reset.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2387.jpg

[[OC]Lucifer]

Wow. Again - shaping up nicely. whats the fan in the middle front of the case for? just intake?

[Son1990]

There are [2] 80mm intake, [1] 120mm intake and [2] 80mm exhaust. i was thinking about putting another 120mm as exhaust on the bottom but decided agianst it sinse my time is almost up.....My DFI will be arriveing tomorrow. What ealse do yout think i should do...i need some ideas :) How do you like it so far?

~Ken

[RedDragonXXX]

Very nice, keep it coming :D

[[OC]Lucifer]

Maybe some dust filters for all those fans?

[Son1990]

Restricts air flow. I use compressed air to clean...any more?

~Ken

[Polonator]

Woah, so many LEDs! Any chance of programming a little light show?

[Son1990]

My dad was tossing be ideas of flashing and lights flashing clockwise....but I decided against it for it would eventually become very annoying.


~Ken

[Son1990]

Well bada-bing bada-boom and Im done. There are a few things i didnt cover in this log due to my room being messy and I need to clean it along with lazyness and the urge to play with my new beast. The few things i didnt cover are electrical related...such as push buttoms and levers i installed and a few more LEDs for Polonator :) I will post some braggin pictures later.

~Ken

[Son1990]

Not as many mods were done on this project hence my first project. i do love the turn out of the modifications i did make such as the wiring which im extreamly proud of. The fans are running on 12v mods. You may se ethis case go under the knife again :)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2390.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2391.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2402.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a236/Son1990/DSCN2398.jpg

[Son1990]

I cant sleep. Its late and im mad that this case didnt turn out the way I wanted it to. SO i ripped off the drive stands with my hands and put 3 120mm fans, remanaged the cables, and re arranged the back 2 80mm fans to blow directly onto my SLI cards. I plan to put 2 more 120mm fans in the back and a few on the side panel as well as at the bottom of the case.

I further plan to make ducts to one of the exhaust fans from the Processor. Lazer LEDs will be removed as well as lighting. Right now I have my HDDs sitting ontop of my PSU and I need to find a better place for them

I am also in the middle of sketching out a new top for the case, to extend it as high as my desk and add a few more goodies to it. Sooooooo Concider this project log...NOW RE-OPEN

~Ken

[Bhugarov]

Very nice job. As more ideas come you will find that you just NEED to do more, or re-do something...modding is an addiction. As for the Dremel blades: everyone seems to over-use the the Dremel. You can (and should) use a jigsaw whenever possible. Use metal-cutting blades (very cheap), and clamp your workpiece down to a srcap piece of plywood; it's easier when you have two hands to work with, and it reduces the chatter, and tool breakage.I also like using a nibbler ...great tool.
I've been a toolmaker, machinist, and moldbuilder for 30 years, and like to make work as easy and accurate as possible. That's where the proper tools pay off.
Keep those goggles ON, and your fingers out of harms way.

[Son1990]

I have ALWAYS wore my goggles. But i got that cut from touching a sharp edge my nibbler contriubuted to.

~Ken