Project Simplicity

[Blebbz]

O, so I'm going to be starting my 1st mod soon, "Simplicity". It's going to be a red and matt black theme, and those colours only, with smooth and flowing curves to help disguise the Box that it basically is. I've done a Sketchup Drawing, it's unfinished, i need to put a few more fans in, as well as some feet, but you can probably get the idea of what it is (hopefully) going to look like.
http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/2817/simplicityud7.png
The Case is going to be (mostly) built from scratch, using only aluminium and clear red plexi, but I'm obviously going to hack the mobo tray from an old case.
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2531/simplicity2gr3.png
I'm not going to be watercooling it, because it's a bit too pricy and risky for my 1st case. I'm going to build the case first, then put in all of the components (hopefully I'll have some money by then) and it's not going to be an awesome PC on the budget I've got, so I was hoping that you could help here. I think I'll have around £450 - £500 to spend, so, what should i get? I want to use it for gaming eventually, but I need to get the balance right. A SLI enabled mobo and graphics card and a decent amount of RAM. So I was hoping that some of you could hunt around for me as I'm really busy at school and things. Thanks.;)

//btw that little "Grab" button on the top left of the last picture is a screen grabbing program I use, it's called ZapGrab and it's great for only slecting a certain area instead of sing PrintScreen\\

[psychowit]

OOEH!!! Will be following this good luck!

[dgrmkrp]

Project looks nice :) Sketch is cool, lines are very good. I can imagine it now, and it looks good.

But what is the thing in the front? On the fan? Looks interesting, but could harm the flow if it resembles the pic..

[xRyokenx]

Looks cool dude. I like the theme and all... when I mod my case, it'll just be a few little things. Dang college, lol.

[b4i7]

i like the look of that....some of your designs may influence a future mod of mine

[Blebbz]

But what is the thing in the front? On the fan? Looks interesting, but could harm the flow if it resembles the pic..

Over the fan's and that top air intake part I'll be putting a wire mesh, I didn't do it sketchup because
it's a little to much work but then again I still need to do a few tweaks with the plan. Currently I have 4 fans blowing inwards (1x120mm on front, 3x80mm on top, one of which is into the PSU. I only have one exhaust fan at the moment, but that will be inside the PSU, but i need to sort out a few more. probable 3x80mm on the bottom and 1 80mm on the back (or perhaps I'll try to squeeze in a 120mm fan. If I can't fit the fan on the back Ii'll simply out a fan on the window side near the rear. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
It's got potential to being a very noisy case, but that's a price I'm willing to pay until I'm 100% confident with it.
Anyway, I'm off to buy a soldering iron.

[Blebbz]

UPDATE
I've been busy tweaking the design, and I know someone has access to some machinery that can mill (i think that's the word) the aluminium to the exact shape, and i'll do that and do the bending. He said that it can be done pretty easily in a few hours... and for free! so expect some actual work to be done within the next couple of weeks, plus or minus a couple of days. Keep your patience :P:

[Blebbz]

Final Design

After quite a while of fiddling with the design, I've finally got this:
http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/1070/projectsimplicityangletl4.png
http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/3004/projectsimplicityfrontvw8.png
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2724/projectsimplicitywindowrn7.png
http://img358.imageshack.us/img358/9429/projectsimplicitywindowgu5.png

I haven't done anything for the back yet, but i'll just do that as it comes, because I haven't got a mobo just yet. Expect to see some actual work soon. And if you can see any possible improvements, don't hesitate to tell me.

Thanks,
Blebbz

**Edit**
As I'm really strapped for cash at the moment, if you spot a great deal, don't hesitate to tell me about that either (i'm really strapped for cash) :p

[danthegeek]

That a damn cool design. i especially like the plexi curving along the top. Please dont change that. PLEASE!!!!;)

Sorry I just think that would be awesome.

[NightrainSrt4]

Is the case going to be placed on a desk? If not I probably wouldn't recommend the 3 case fans on the bottom or you will be sucking up insane amounts of dust, no matter how clean you think your carpet is.

[Blebbz]

Is the case going to be placed on a desk? If not I probably wouldn't recommend the 3 case fans on the bottom or you will be sucking up insane amounts of dust, no matter how clean you think your carpet is.


No they are going to be exhaust fans, so hopefully not that much dust

[NightrainSrt4]

You can try your fans that way by all means, but I only said intake because that was the only way that I would have them.

Those fans are going to be fighting against you intake on the front. The front intake fans cool air is going to be sucked right out the bottom if you have that as intake.

But maybe it will work out ok for you.

A couple things to keep in mind though:

1. Heat rises. No matter how many fans you put in the case, your not going to be able to battle that. So, precisely chosen fan locations and airflow recommendations would be recommended.

2. Vortexes and Deadspots. Having to many fans, without considering the airflow can lead to deadspots and vortexes. Both of these issues can kill the airflow and cooling efficiency of your case.

Saying those things, if I were to keep the fans the way they are, I would make the top fans exhaust, and get that thing on a desk or a hard surface and make the bottom exhaust.

Those are just my warnings, and recommendations if you did not want to change the positions of the fans.

Can't wait to see this go into production. Should be beautiful no matter which way fans are facing!

[The boy 4rm oz]

Sketchups look awesome, I wanna see how this turns out. +subscribe

[Blebbz]

@ NightrainSrt4,
Thanks for the input, i didn't really think about that. It will be on a desk and I will use the bottom fans as intake fans. Thanks a lot, honestly

@ The boy 4rm oz
Thanks :D

I was wondering iif someone could help me here... when i was giving the design a final going over I realized that I have no way of actually getting into the case without moving what I plan to be the mobo tray, so should i modify the actual design of the case or make the plexi so i can slide it out of the front (a bit fiddly), or even just make an extra plate for the mobo to sit on and slide off the top and sides of the case as one?
I'd rather do the latter but any ideas would be great

[NightrainSrt4]

No problem man, just wanted to give you a heads-up. Sometimes you just need another set of eyes to catch some things!

Not sure about how to handle your access issue just yet, let me think on that for a while.

[Blebbz]

@ NightrainSrt4
I think that I'll just put a small set of hinges on the non-window side of the case, where the curve is. Then i can just lift up the window side and have access to all of the components. What do you think?

[Scotty]

I would personally, as previously suggested, switch the fans round, so the top is exhaust and bottom is intake. Then put some air filter things around the bottom that way you won't be sucking up loads of dust like a vacuum

[rendermandan]

nice work on the design. It will be interensting to see how you get this going. +rep

[Blebbz]

@ NightrainSrt4, thanks loads for setting me straight with the fans, +rep

Ok, so Nothing actually made yet, but I've got a net of the case to work with when cutting the aluminium. Not cardboard (too much fuss) but in 2 images I'll print tomorrow on A3 in school, then Shape and cut the aluminium at my Dad's workplace (something to do with making parts for aircraft, he tells me there's tons of the stuff left over), so I should have it made in little over a week. Can't really do it sooner because I've got loads of coarsework to do... meh...

Anyhoo, here are the nets for your viewing pleasure
http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/3914/simplicitynetrg2.jpg
That one is the left (windowed) side, top (windowed), and right side

and another
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/9797/simplicitynet2kj1.jpg
that one is the front and bottom

A little off subject now, but does anyone know where a 16 year old can get a job whilst still in school??? I need to get some money to buy components :p

Anyway... expect a log of some work in just over a week

[Blebbz]

Ok I just want to ask your opinion on something.
UV reactive Red ti nt acrylic, or UV reactive green tint acrylic?
I'm in the process of making the metal parts, expect a log of those soon, but I want to make sure which colour would be best before ordering the acrylic.
Blebbz

[elbarto241]

i personally like green better, its so easy to work with especially considering lighting. true red lighting is hard to come by these days.... my vote goes for UV green :D

[Blebbz]

@ Elbarto
Thanks for the input, but I just think I'll make the window and Fans Easily interchangable, so if i suddenly change my mind it'll be a 10 minute job swapping them all out. Thanks.

[gntlkilr]

Blebbz, man, you got me beat in the coolness factor. My case is simple. Yours is sweet.

[liquid_fire]

If you want true-red lighting, use a red transparency sheet, like for overhead projectors. I used this trick on my 2nd case back in the day b/c i didn't like the look of the red cathode i bought. I had a clear window and put the transparency sheet over the cathode. I suppose you could use it on the window too, just layer it behind clear plexi.

Love the design btw, i'm doing a plexi case myself at the moment. (doesn't have a name yet though..i'm open to suggestions!!)

[Blebbz]

Thanks liquid fire
Thanks loads, I've been hunting round for some decent red plexi/acrylic for ages but I can't seem to find it anywhere, but now I'll just use the red transparency sheet, and it'll probably work out a lot lot cheaper. But What about air bubbles? I'm a bit screwed if I end up with those :think:. Ahh well, I better get this thing moving, expect the finished metal parts in the next few days :D

[liquid_fire]

Thanks liquid fire
Thanks loads, I've been hunting round for some decent red plexi/acrylic for ages but I can't seem to find it anywhere, but now I'll just use the red transparency sheet, and it'll probably work out a lot lot cheaper. But What about air bubbles? I'm a bit screwed if I end up with those :think:. Ahh well, I better get this thing moving, expect the finished metal parts in the next few days :D

Would 3M spray adhesive work, or would it just make it cloudy btwn the colored and the clear?
I went to Delvies plastic online for my plexi: http://www.delviesplastics.com/ (PLEXI)
They have translucent and transparent in all colors, so you can get red plexi, i'd still use the transparency over the lights though.

[Killdrath]

estreetplastics.com has red plexi, both transparent and translucent, IIRC.

[Blebbz]

MAJOR SETBACK
I was just about to take the photos of the completed metal cuts, when i noticed that there was nothing there to take photos of.
I searched frantically until I discovered that my stupid mother threw them out earlier that day... along with the mobo tray that I had based the case design around and case fans.
I had them all in a box neatly tucked away, so when she opened it to see what was inside when I was out at school, she spotted the pieces of metal that I was planning to use for the front plate, and judged it as junk.
Now I have to start all over agen. :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

[The boy 4rm oz]

Man that sucks major ass. I told my mum that if she ever touches any of my computer stuff I will disown her lol.

[Blebbz]

Good job I hadn't bought the stuff what really matters though.

[Juan]

yeah, I had my mom throw away my 8800 gtx in the trash can. she thought the box was empty. had to get an rma, said it was DOA.;)

[The boy 4rm oz]

Damn really? I think that tops the list, that REALLY sucks.

[xRyokenx]

yeah, I had my mom throw away my 8800 gtx in the trash can. she thought the box was empty. had to get an rma, said it was DOA.;)

That's why I don't let anyone throw my boxes away, in fact, if it's a functional item I keep the box for later on just in case I need to RMA it or store it while it's not in use, lol. So did it get borked or what?

[Blebbz]

yeah, I had my mom throw away my 8800 gtx in the trash can. she thought the box was empty. had to get an rma, said it was DOA.;)

:eek: Shocker! I hope she paid you back for it!

[Juan]

:eek: Shocker! I hope she paid you back for it!

I was so pissed, didnt talk to her for a week. I sobbed in my bed that night, cuz I thought I wasted 650$$. called nvidia the day after, they said they didnt cover that. cried more. next day called again said it was DOA. success!:santa:

she didnt pay me back,because I didnt pay for anything. but she did get me a slushi. it tasted good
:)

[The boy 4rm oz]

HAHA, yeah a sugar high always fixes everything lol.

[Blebbz]

Wow this has got sidetracked... a lot!

[The boy 4rm oz]

Haha, true true, thanks for the second bar lol.

[xRyokenx]

I think I've learned something from this thread: Don't let mom touch any of the stuff, tell her you've got stuff you're working on and to let you handle it all, lol, and she can help when you're completely finished. Heh heh...

[Blebbz]

Haha, true true, thanks for the second bar lol.

Ur welcome :up:

[Juan]

I think I've learned something from this thread: Don't let mom touch any of the stuff, tell her you've got stuff you're working on and to let you handle it all, lol, and she can help when you're completely finished. Heh heh...

especially if you have an 8800 gtx:p

[Blebbz]

If I had one of those I'd be scared of taking out of the packaging it got mailed in, nevermind leaving in the sights if my mum. I'd tuck it away in a secret safe of a display case, to protect my £300+ piece of plastic.

Hey didn't this start off as my worklog! I nearly forgot... I'm on work experience this week and next week at an aircraft engineering place. There is lots of heavy machinery and stuff for working metal, so I'll see if I can build my case (AGAIN!) while I'm there. So lets pray that I get this bloody thing off the ground.:up:

***EDIT***

OMG i just realized, 4 pages of chatter non-related to the mod, should I start a new thread and close this once I get the actual pieces made and photos took?

[xRyokenx]

Umm... just leave this open for random banter or whatever and make another thread for the worklog, or something, lol. That or we can stop chattering about schtuff and you can start the log here, lol.

Yeah, nobody messes with my computer stuff, I don't think they care to, and my mom lets my room be a mess, heh heh, it's not her job to clean it.

[Blebbz]

Oops... wrong place... sorry XD

[cured]

why are there fans on the bottom? wouldnt that just make it louder

[The boy 4rm oz]

The fans on the bottom are used as intake as well as the front. Generally this shouldn't make the PC to much louder but this all depends on the speed the fans are running at and how much the chassis vibrates.