Project: Minimalistic

[tinker]

I'm finally getting started on my mod! I have posted what I would like to do and asked different questions here (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11676).
I'm starting a thread here because I will be making a worklog for it.

I ended up buying a Coolmaster 690 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137) instead of building one from scratch like previously planned. I did this mainly because it's my first complete mod, I didn't want to do something too difficult, and money factors somewhere in there as well. I will still be mounting a monitor similar to the sketchup model I did in the original thread. I also have some other ideas floating around but none of them are for sure. If anyone has suggestions feel free.

I haven't bought anything other than the case, power supply, plexiglass, and monitor because I'm waiting until I have enough money. It's pointless to buy stuff as I go because as always with technology things just keep getting cheaper.

Right now I only have a few pix because I was cut short on my workday today. Hopefully I can get some more done tomorrow and post some progress.

Sorry if any of the images are of poor quality. My camera is kinda crappy.

Front/side of case. I will be mounting the monitor on that side (mobo side)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/2302515325_3f5c22d3c9_o.jpg

Old 15" HP monitor that I will be using.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2133/2303312320_81a1522ba1_o.jpg

Really noisy picture of the monitor with the cover off:rolleyes:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3114/2303312554_407d02970b_o.jpg

Close-up of the buttons on the monitor. Not exactly sure how I am going to mount them.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2010/2303312654_c77f58b0e5_o.jpg

The plexiglass is clear and then I got a tube that I will use as risers for the monitor
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/2303312256_130c678673_o.jpg


Sorry for the lack of images but like I said I should get some more up tomorrow.

Oh! Almost forgot. Check out Defyant's HPRes-Server (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2853). It's not where I got my idea but it shows kinda where I'm going at least. He's much more talented than me though.:D

[p0Pe]

well:D... its a nice case:) im curious to see what youll do to it:D

[ShadowNyfe]

yay! finally another cm 690 case mod :] I'll be watching.

[tinker]

I got some stuff done today. I didn't get as much done as I wanted to but thats to be expected I guess. Being my first major mod, a lot of the time spent was just figuring out the right tool and technique to use.

I got the piece of plexi that will be covering the monitor screen cut and roughly sanded. It's got a few bumps and scratches on it so I may cut a new piece. Trying to decide whether I have the patience or not.:)

Ok so here are the pix. They explain what I'm doing better than I could...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/2305259789_761fe5bdf3_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/2305257855_49f87ca843_o.jpg

This is everything mocked up. I still have to cut one more piece of plexi that the monitor will mount to. I want to try and keep the front piece from having to many screws in it.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/2305257503_a1af88646f_o.jpg

An out of focus shot of what it will look like when mounted to the side of my case.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2028/2306060276_8a43aaeb7d_o.jpg

And from the front...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2043/2305261133_1b127f5f76_o.jpg

This is what each bolt will look like. It's a clear PVC tube that acts as a riser. I have 6' of it and will probably only use 10". :) Maybe I'll do something else with the rest. Some cable management or something.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2250/2306226458_c300ca3efb_o.jpg

Thats all I got to today. I stopped mainly because I need to get a better drill bit for when I drill the mounting holes in the case and the bolts I got are a 1/2" too short. I should have an update within a few days.

Before I forget. I also wanted to ask you guys if I should add some LED's to light up some of the plexiglass. I was thinking I would put white or blue ones on each tube riser which would give a cool effect. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[tinker]

There is about a foot of snow outside and I don't have the supplies I need to get more done on this. Kinda annoying because I wanted to get a lot done today. Whatever. I may just do some odds and ends if I feel like it. There won't be much to show as far as the worklog goes.

Hopefully I can get the stuff I need sometime next week. We'll see.
Sorry for the delay.

[Ap1thy]

cool, but are you still planning on the side and top windows? imo it would be nice to see something on the one side besides just an LCD bolted there

[tinker]

I will be doing a side window on the other side. I may do a window on top but thats unlikely. I was planning on doing one because I would be putting fans there but there are already mounts for fans so it's kinda unnecessary.
And about the LCD side... I probably will leave in basically like that just because the point is to keep it minimalistic. I will be adding some LED's to it though to add a little bit. If you have any suggestions to what I should add that would be great.
And thanks for the input.

[tinker]

Sorry to anyone who may have been watching this. I think I have taken on too many projects lately plus school and work tend take up a lot of my time. I have now moved this project to number one on my list after I finish a huge paper for school...

I will be going tomorrow to the plexiglass store to have them cut new pieces for me. After seeing how awful my cuts were and the lack of skill I have with this stuff I am going to have them machine everything for me so it will look perfect. I feel a little guilty not doing my own pieces but I would rather it look perfect than do an okay job myself. Hopefully they won't charge me an absurd amount to do it.

I have also changed the design a little bit to hopefully make it a little bit more clean. It's difficult to explain so you'll just have to wait until start piecing together everything.
I still am unsure as what to do as far as lighting around the monitor. I was thinking I would light the riser tubes with blue LED's but if you have any suggestions they would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry for the lack of updates and hopefully there with be something to show some progress within the next week.

[Eclecticos]

Looks fantastic so far! Subscribed.