First Mod: Green Light

[Fuganater]

I have many questions about making you own case.

My idea is to make a either clear, or part clear case. I'm not 100% sure which to do because I've never used Plexi Glass before. I could take apart an old tower, paint it, and cover with clear plexi or just do somekind of front and side windows. If you have suggestions please post them. (I'm open to all.)

The last case mod I made I just bought everything for it. Now, I want to totaly make my own customized case. My MOBO and GPU are NVIDIA so I'm thinking of going green. Maybe green lights, or green water cooling, or green fans. IDK!?!?!?! So many ideas and only me to talk to about :( (Thats why I came here :D)

Cooling. Water cooling or just fans? Water cooling looks WICKED sweet but I'm not sure I can do it, or afford it. I've seen some kits for like $300 and some for like $80. IDK the difference or what to be looking for. Guidence is much needed.

Now, Lighting. Does a Cold Cathode light do the same as a UV light. The UV light is purple (YUCK!). I want to do either totaly green or mostly green with like one Red fan or water tubes. So I have no idea how to light this sucker.

If I make this from scratch with the fram of an old PC and not buy one. Where should I buy Plexi from? Any suggestion on sites? Money is really tight but I already have my Mobo, GPU, CPU, and Primary HDD. So I don't crapy cheap stuff, but something that won't break my bank account.

As for the one I wanna buy. I'll post pics when I get off work tonight. If I don't buy the case, then I'll make my own. But I think I'll get the lights and stuff I found cuz the are uber sweet looking.

Well, comments welcome to help me with my first mod.

Thanks guys,
Fuga

[xRyokenx]

They do have clear acrylic cases for sale.

www.newegg.com will become your best friend after this, lol.

Look around for the watercooling stuff, there are a few threads about it.... and Paul's book is helpful too, lol.

[Crazy Buddhist]

Cooling. Water cooling or just fans? Water cooling looks WICKED sweet but I'm not sure I can do it, or afford it. I've seen some kits for like $300 and some for like $80. IDK the difference or what to be looking for. Guidence is much needed.

Good air cooling will beat cheap water cooling and cost less. Check out the cooler I have on DeskPooter (click the link under my sig) from Noctua - it's a beast (and it's the small version) - and despite having buttered the thermal paste on with a spatula I can run my 2.2Ghz rated Athlon x2 4200+ at about 2.7Ghz without anything going wobbly ... when I get home and redo the paste properly I am expecting to get 3Ghz from it.


Now, Lighting. Does a Cold Cathode light do the same as a UV light. The UV light is purple (YUCK!). I want to do either totaly green or mostly green with like one Red fan or water tubes. So I have no idea how to light this sucker.

UV looks purple but makes UV reactive things glow (whatever color UV reactive coating they have)

Cold Cathode produces light of the colour of your choosing ... I have green cold cathodes on DeskPooter ... take a look - I think it's what you want.

Also I have UV but the UV is going to point at the ceiling and light up a batman logo :)


If I make this from scratch with the fram of an old PC and not buy one. Where should I buy Plexi from? Any suggestion on sites? Money is really tight but I already have my Mobo, GPU, CPU, and Primary HDD. So I don't crapy cheap stuff, but something that won't break my bank account.

Erm ... Modding supplier websites stickied in the forums.

Best wishes with the build ... keep us posted + pics

:)

[Fuganater]

Woot response!! :banana:


They do have clear acrylic cases for sale.

www.newegg.com will become your best friend after this, lol.

Look around for the watercooling stuff, there are a few threads about it.... and Paul's book is helpful too, lol.

Meh... I really don't want to go with a complete clear case because it has to look uber neat when its done, and I'm not sure I can do that well at first. With a frame, I can atleast keep 1-3 sides covered and just paint them or put some decal on it.


Good air cooling will beat cheap water cooling and cost less. Check out the cooler I have on DeskPooter (click the link under my sig) from Noctua - it's a beast (and it's the small version) - and despite having buttered the thermal paste on with a spatula I can run my 2.2Ghz rated Athlon x2 4200+ at about 2.7Ghz without anything going wobbly ... when I get home and redo the paste properly I am expecting to get 3Ghz from it.

UV looks purple but makes UV reactive things glow (whatever color UV reactive coating they have)

Cold Cathode produces light of the colour of your choosing ... I have green cold cathodes on DeskPooter ... take a look - I think it's what you want.

Also I have UV but the UV is going to point at the ceiling and light up a batman logo :)


OK so no UV. I can do just green cathodes and green tubeing on the wires. But should I do heatshrink or Mesh?? or both or how ever you do that. (Ugh... my noobishness is showing :/)


Also that Cooler is on a AMD CPU and I'm using an Intel. Will it still work? The one I have is the retail one that comes with Intel Processors. Its not bad but not great.

I'm trying to do as much research as possible before I get this party started. Been looking at moded cases for like a month and now I can't wait to make mine.

Thanks for the imput!!
-Fuga


EDIT: My friend told me I should just buy a case and do this mod as a side project. What do you guys think?

[Fuganater]

OK. Now if I were to buy the whole deal, here are the parts:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Fuganater987/Computer%20Buy/XFXnForce650iUltraNVIDIAMOBO.jpg
XFX nForce 650i Ultra NVIDIA

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Fuganater987/Computer%20Buy/XFXGeForce8600GTGPU.jpg
XFX GeForce 8600GT

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Fuganater987/Computer%20Buy/TriCoolLEDGreenFan.jpg
TriCool LED Green Fan- To replace the stock ones in the case.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Fuganater987/Computer%20Buy/SaitekEclipseKeyboard.jpg
Saitek Eclipse Keyboard- Keyboard that you can change the color. Nuff said :D

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Fuganater987/Computer%20Buy/FlexiGlowxRaiderMousePad.jpg
Flexi Glowx Raider Mouse Pad- Sweet looking

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Fuganater987/Computer%20Buy/IntelCore2DuoE66002.4GHzCPU.jpg
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Fuganater987/Computer%20Buy/CathodeLight.jpg
Dual 12" Cold Cathodes

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/Fuganater987/Computer%20Buy/Antec900Case.jpg
Antec 900 Case

So if I make my own, I'll prob just scrap the Case and keep the lighting because they are pretty good.

Lemme know what you all think!

Thanks,
Fuga

[Spawn-Inc]

going with what xRyokenx said you can buy the clear case then get some deep green paint and paint the sides you don't want clear. you could get some bright white cold cathodes and hopefully have a nice green glow on the one side. otherwise just do 3 or more coats of green paint.

do you plan on sli because if you do you will need another board, but i think you said you already have it.

as for air cooling the thermalright Ultra 120 extreme (http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main_product_ultra120_extreme.htm) is the best air cooper on the market. just make sure you have the room for that thing its huge! if you want a cheap but better than stock for the mean time, like me, then the Arctic cooler freezer 7 pro (http://www.arctic-cooling.com/cpu2.php?idx=79) is the way to go. i got mine for 29.99 in Canada and lapped it for a bit more performance.

if your going with water most kits are a big waste of money, there are a few that are worth the money such as swiftech kits. swiftech is one of the top brands in the water cooling world. if you do go with water cooling what are you looking to cool?

[Fuganater]

do you plan on sli because if you do you will need another board, but i think you said you already have it.

as for air cooling the thermalright Ultra 120 extreme (http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main_product_ultra120_extreme.htm) is the best air cooper on the market. just make sure you have the room for that thing its huge! if you want a cheap but better than stock for the mean time, like me, then the Arctic cooler freezer 7 pro (http://www.arctic-cooling.com/cpu2.php?idx=79) is the way to go. i got mine for 29.99 in Canada and lapped it for a bit more performance.

if your going with water most kits are a big waste of money, there are a few that are worth the money such as swiftech kits. swiftech is one of the top brands in the water cooling world. if you do go with water cooling what are you looking to cool?

1. The GPU is SLI ready, but I'm not doing SLI. (GPU and Mobo came as a comb)
2. I like the first cooler. Looks like it will work well. (bookmarked :D)
3. And as for water cooling, I have no idea where to even start. I've been trying to find some good posts and other sites about it but it is very confusing. If I do water cool, I would want to cool my CPU, GPU, North Bridge and South Bridge. Although my NB has a Heatsinc on it.

[Spawn-Inc]

1. ahh
2. ya i wanted to get it but i have a 250mm fan (http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/18666/2965717170100511463S600x600Q85.jpg) in my case (http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/19430/2405584610100511463S600x600Q85.jpg) that would block it.
3. here (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9237) is a explanation of water cooling from me. its for the most part complete and will hopefully be of some help.

[Fuganater]

Heres my first shot at making a case in SketchUp:

http://img408.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1sttrygreenlight1oi6.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1sttrygreenlight2oc1.jpg

Wacha think?

[xRyokenx]

Looks pretty cool... take a few more screenshots from other angles and post those too, so we can get a better idea. Like the green theme though, that's awesome.

[Crazy Buddhist]

Also that Cooler is on a AMD CPU and I'm using an Intel. Will it still work? The one I have is the retail one that comes with Intel Processors. Its not bad but not great.

...

EDIT: My friend told me I should just buy a case and do this mod as a side project. What do you guys think?

Yes the cooler comes with the fixings for just about anything .. I have the baby version 92m fan .. the full size version is with a 120m fan search the forum posts for Noctua and I think you will find posts where I linked to reviews. It way outperformed cheapo watercooling setups and is superquiet (i.e. <20 Dba) and was within a whisker of the thermaltake spawn highly recommends for performance.

:)

ps regarding your friend .. and me ... and anyone else ... I think you have to look inside for the answers.

[Blebbz]

Hey if you do this case don't bother buying the mouse mat - I think you'd know how to mod one of those lol
Oh and nice designs, but are you leaving the side entirely blank or putting a symbol on it or even etching it?

[Spawn-Inc]

i like it! its neat how the whole side panel is clear.


Hey if you do this case don't bother buying the mouse mat. I think you'd know how to mod one of those lol

i second that. you could get a 3/8" plexiglass sheet and cut out the center and drill holes facing out and put green LED's in them. you could get a usb cable to power it, and even add a cheap usb hub.

[Fuganater]

Hey if you do this case don't bother buying the mouse mat - I think you'd know how to mod one of those lol
Oh and nice designs, but are you leaving the side entirely blank or putting a symbol on it or even etching it?

But it looks UBER sweet!! lol

And yes, I'll post some more angles soon.

[Fuganater]

i like it! its neat how the whole side panel is clear.


i second that. you could get a 3/8" plexiglass sheet and cut out the center and drill holes facing out and put green LED's in them. you could get a usb cable to power it, and even add a cheap usb hub.


Now your getting crazy! Lemme figure out how I'm gonna do the PC, then worry about the mouse pad.

[Blebbz]

hehe just get a sheet of green plexi and a plain mousemat. Oh and enought LEDs to run off a 5v (USB) line, or baterries.

cut 3 identical pieces of plexi to your desired shape, for the underneath of the mousemat.

on one of them, cut out about 2cm from the inside and squeeze some LEDs in there, with the Line coming out through a gap for the power supply.

Glue the sheets together,and glue the "cut-to smaller shape mousemat" on the top and voila!

If you don't want the sudden increase in height, you could always file/ san a slope in the side what you wrist would be on. Hey if I had the stuff I'd do it. Actually I did but my stupid mother chucked em.

oh and it's not crazy.. it's imaginininininininative :up:

[Fuganater]

Ill keep that in mind after I get the computer finished. Also I'm almost ready to start a worklog!! :banana: :banana: All I have left to do is measure a couple of old cases I might use and get going :D CAN'T WAIT!!!

Thanks again for the help guys,
Fuga

[Fuganater]

Ya green theme is cool and all.... but idk. Seems like it needs something more. Any ideas?

[Spawn-Inc]

going with the nvidia theme maybe the logo etched into the clear side panel? or a black and green theme.

[Fuganater]

Ya it just seems plain :(. I kinda wanna do something with like plexi to spice it up or maybe some kind of Battleship/Aircraft Carrier themed. But i love the idea of green

[Crazy Buddhist]

Ya it just seems plain :(. I kinda wanna do something with like plexi to spice it up or maybe some kind of Battleship/Aircraft Carrier themed. But i love the idea of green

If you want to spice it up using colour then you are facing a design issue that comes up in every field from renovating your kitchen to picking your outfit for the day:

Spawn's suggestion of black/green will work - black goes well with everything.

Another route is to chose a complimentary colour: another green, certain shades of blue and yellow.

Third route is to chose a contrasting colour: Some reds and oranges work great with green but my favourite, personally is purple.

There is a handy online colour chooser here (http://www.wellstyled.com/tools/colorscheme2/index-en.html) that lets you chose a base colour then play around with contrasting/complimenting colours and another one here too (http://www.colorschemer.com/online.html). If you hit purple then chose contrasting ... the kermit-coloured glow of green CCFL comes up ;)

:)

[Fuganater]

Thanks alot dude. That gives me another way to check out colors. + rep for that!!

So I've started my worklog. You can follow along here: Project Green Light (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11000)

Thanks for the help so far. Keep commenting please everyone!!


Fuga