Case Mod - Suggestions

[Sleepy_Steve]

Building a new comp to be in THIS (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811125468) case. (Water cooling is out of my budget, so this rig will run on air)

But i wana have some fun with it in the case modding area... but my lack of skill / time (2 weeks) to do it all in restricts me to the quick, cheap, easy, and not so risky mods.
So far i have thought of tihngs like:

1) stealthing the optical drive
2) painting the interior (but not components) flat black
3) moving the drive cages in the lower front back a bit to let in two 120mm intake fans. (unsure of clearance issues)
4) 92mm blowhole in the top
5) cutting up the side pannel and giving it a plexi window.
6) backlighting the front grill with some green cathodes (amd rig)
7) making my own molex cables so wireling looks clean for once
8) home made intake filter for 120mm fans
9) a couple more cathodes inside the case to show off the shiny parts

Can anyone tell me the feasability of converting a vantec nexus fan crontrolers leds (the ones in the nobs) from blue to green?
Does anyone have4 any suggestions for anything else?

[Overclocker.IL]

Sounds great - Wish I had hands to do this kind of work ....

[Electron Chaser]

I have this case and I love it. Big and plenty of room to mod.

Hmm some ideas? Well let me show you a few of the things that I did it may give you some ideas.

The Dual PSU setup. Custom bracket I designed just for this case. Even if you don't go with the dual PSU you can use the other space for the second PSU and place fans there instead.

Dual PSU Bracket print (http://home.comcast.net/~electronchaser/Dual_PSU_Bracket.pdf)

http://home.comcast.net/~electronchaser/Close-up_Dual_PSU_Bracket.JPG

Then there is the triple blowhole setup I did. with an 80, 92 and 120mm TT SF II I placed the speed controls that come with the fans on top for easy adjustment.

http://home.comcast.net/~electronchaser/NewCase6.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~electronchaser/NewCaseTop.JPG

Then I modified the side panel for an Intake fan for my Vid card. I was able to mount a 150mm fan with no problem and it kept my vid card nice and cool. The upper is my exhaust duct for my CPU. I also had a nice ducted Tornado to cool my RAM

http://home.comcast.net/~electronchaser/Pics_003.jpg

[DietPepsi0219]

hmm how bout....a remote controlled start up, or instead you could have fireworks shoot off eachtime you start it up...either one

[Electron Chaser]

Another pic

http://home.comcast.net/~electronchaser/Pics_002.jpg

Then there is the rear MB cooler mod

http://home.comcast.net/~electronchaser/NewCase3.JPG

a small 80 X 15 mm fan blowing on the back of the CPU socket area on my MB. Didn't do much for temps but it did keep the air flow in the back of MB moving and alleviate dead spots.

Make sure you also cut out your fan grills. They really cut down on the noise as well as improve air flow.

http://home.comcast.net/~electronchaser/IMGA0034.JPG

There you go a few ideas I hope this helps.

[Sleepy_Steve]

haha, yeah i forgot to list cutting out the metal in the way of the intake fans.

Since EC has this case i thought id ask about clearance.
A) is there enoughclearance to route power cables behind the mobo? or does it make more sense to route it above the mobo in all that empty space?
B) those hard drive cages - can i move them back about 1-1.5 inches and mount a couple 120s as intake?

Anyway i plan to use medium to low speed fans on this... be interesting to see how well it turns out. I anticipate being surrised at my skills (in both the good way and the bad lol) so it should be a fun project.

Ill be ordering this stuff the day before i head back home, and think ill make a project log once it arives as ill have access to a digi cam once more.

[Electron Chaser]

haha, yeah i forgot to list cutting out the metal in the way of the intake fans.


A) is there enoughclearance to route power cables behind the mobo? or does it make more sense to route it above the mobo in all that empty space?
B) those hard drive cages - can i move them back about 1-1.5 inches and mount a couple 120s as intake?


A) There is about a half an inch or so between the MB backpanel and the side panel of the case so you should not have any trouble stashing stuff back there.

B) You will not have the room to move those HDD cages back for 2 very good reasons reasons.

1 There is a lock pin on the bottom of the upper drive bay that allows you to lock the 3.5 cages in place not very easy to move at all also the bottom support of the cages is riveted to the front of the case. Again not an easy mod to make.

2. The most important one of all. This case only being 18" deep if you move the cages back depending on how many drives you intend to use and your video card you choose something is going to have to give because there will not be enough room for everything in the case.

This picture gives you a good idea of what I mean. This was with a old crappy card when I first built it. With a 6800 Ultra they almost touched and it was a pain trying to remove the drive cages with the HDD in them as I had to remove the Video card to get enough clearance.

http://home.comcast.net/~electronchaser/Pics_004.jpg

[Sleepy_Steve]

Holly *Explitive*!! - I just realised this project needs a name :bang head

:thinks: nothing happens... jumps on aim... asks friends... decide to stick with the tried and true. Anime charicters. Got it down to a toss up between Jet from Bebop, or Ichigo from bleach... decide on Jet as it fits with a big black case and the current naming theme on the network.

I also hope i remember to take picks as i progress. Not used to snapping photos as i work. But at least i have photobucket once they are taken.

[Sleepy_Steve]

Design limitations and the peskey laws of physics have once again joined forces tothwart my dreams.

Actualy, thats some good info on the clearance. I ran into similar issues in my current lian li box - clearance of under 4mm for hard drive data cables, and HDD power lines hiting and forcing the video card out of thier way.

I kind of had my heart set on some 120s as primary intakes for the case but i guess the case and i will have to reach an understanding on that.

[n1nj4]

ive been considering getting some sheet metal and making a case from scratch, as i have yet to find a case that im 100% happy with, even as a base for modding. as far as intake fans on the front, you dont NEED a 120, but there might be a way to do it. you just may have to sacrifice some hard drive slots.

[Sleepy_Steve]

Loose my precious HDDs?? Indeed that is a big sacrifice. If i can get it to work, thats great, if not ill do what i can to maintain positive pressure within the case.

New Idea - dual PSUs... not linked... just an old AT psu i have lying around for the case fans and cathodes... maybe the opticals and floppy drive / card reader as well if there is the power for it / the components work propperly when started up in that order.

n1nj4 - do you have the tools (rivet gun and maybe a welding rig) to make your own case? If so you are definetly letting me barrow them for like a day or so.

[Electron Chaser]

Did I fail to mention that 2 of the mounting clips for the front 80mm fans are actually on the HDD cages?

[Sleepy_Steve]

lol maybe :p so... is there the 25mm i need infront of those cages for some intake fanage?

[Sleepy_Steve]

Rather than make a new thread - Im bumping this with two questions.

1) EC, or someone else with same case - can you confirm if there is 25mm in front of the HDD cages for some fanage? - If not thats fine i just need to know lol.

2) Can anyone tell me the feaseability of converting a vantec nexus fan controlers led's (the ones in the nobs) over to green? Or would it be better to make the case lighting blue to make tihngs match? - If it can be done, please give a time est, so i can think about if it is worth it for me to make the effort.

Oh and the link to hte fan controler i have on hand for the project is here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813999504).