Any ideas for me?

[phen0m]

I want to mod, I just don't know what to do.
I am uncreative. :[
Any ideas for a super-modding-n00b?
I have never modded before but I am building my next computer when I get all the parts. I want to do something really bad, I just don't know what, so please give me ideas, and keep them simple :]


I have 3 computers I can mod.

1: HP pavilion. Its like 10 years old exactly.
2: Dell something. Its 8 years old.
3: I am building this one. I guess I could just add some stuff to it. nzxt tempest case.

[nevermind1534]

I'm guessing that the dell would be the easiest to work with. Or you could pull the blue plastic insert away from the rest of the front bezel, and do a simple paint mod on the rest of it, then put the blue piece back on for a nice effect.

[TheGreatSatan]

Pics of them would help me tons

[phen0m]

I just took pics of #1.
I will take pics of #2 in a minute. Tell me what you think about #1 though.
I was thinking, I could use the swinging door on the top of the case and put some led's in there. If I was advanced, I would cut a fan slot and stick a led fan in there . Then, cut air holes in the side of the swinging door to let air out, and it would look sick with spinning blue or red under that tinted door.



They are sending from my phone :/
It should be done in like 2 minutes.
Sorry for the wait. But please do check back in and give me suggestions.

[Zephik]

Easiest forms of modding:

Painting
Adding Windows
Adding Lighting
Cable Sleeving

You should check out the Modders Wikipedia, it should be plenty helpful to you! I would suggest going to the Tutorials section first if your interested in some easy forms of modding, as the Tutorial section is divided into experience/difficulty levels. :)

ModWiki: Tutorial Section (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/modwiki/index.php/Tutorials)

Good luck and enjoy!

[Xpirate]

Haven't done any big mods either. When I finally do get the time, I have a couple of really old cases that I plan on just painting and adding windows. I already cut a hole for a 120 mm fan in the front and did some sanding.

[phen0m]

Here are the pics:



The front (bottom) half
http://i34.tinypic.com/29c8imd.jpg

The side (both are identical)
http://i34.tinypic.com/2wf3k90.jpg

The top(closed)
http://i38.tinypic.com/f9e748.jpg

The front(top(closed))
http://i33.tinypic.com/2mzb9jq.jpg

The front(top(opened))
http://i37.tinypic.com/29vmelc.jpg



I hope thats good enough.

*****QUOTE: I was thinking, I could use the swinging door on the top of the case and put some led's in there. If I was advanced, I would cut a fan slot and stick a led fan in there . Then, cut air holes in the side of the swinging door to let air out, and it would look sick with spinning blue or red under that tinted door.*****


*EDIT*
I forgot about the top opened.
Here it is.
http://i35.tinypic.com/25s3mud.jpg

[nevermind1534]

I have that same case and a few similar ones sitting right next to and in front of me right now.

[phen0m]

Haha. Theyre sooo old.

[nevermind1534]

A friend just gave me his old one with a P4 1.6GHz. It takes SDRAM, and has a firewire card. It's slightly nicer, but has the spring-loaded drive bay things on the front for appearance broken.

[phen0m]

This is has a 533MHz processor, with 11MB video memory xD
This past week a friend told me he found this old computer and on the front was: "Equipped with a spacious 4GB hard drive"

This computer, when it came out 10 years ago, was the top of the line. It has lasted 10 years of ****. I treat her like she can handle anything an alienware can.
It has a dvd drive and a cd drive, 6 expansion slots, and 2 open drive bays. This computer really is not too bad :]

[nevermind1534]

I have all sorts of computers, dating back to the IBM PS/2 and Apple II. I have a 386, some pentium, II, and III machines, as well as P4, athlon, and on. Sadly, all of my athlon ones and most of my P3 and P2 ones have been from the trash. I recently picked up a socket 775 P4 3GHZ. What kind of processor does that computer that you have have?

[phen0m]

Which computer? The one I am going to build, the one with pictures on page 1, or the dell?

The one I am going to build: Intel socket 775, 2.53 GHz
The one I don't have pics of: Intel not so sure, 900MHz
The one with pics on page 1: Intel not so sure, 533MHz

Do you by any chance have a commodore 64 or 128?
And, I'd love to have an Apple II. That would be so cool. Or to have a commodore.
I love old technology :]

[Zephik]

What I would do with that case phen0m, is change the gray to white and then change the front panel inlay (the semi-clear part on the front of the case) to black. I was also thinking that it might be nice to leave it as is (the semi-clear piece that is), as it might have better contrast with my next idea.

My next idea would be to add a window onto one of the side panels of the case (or both panels? But with the off center front inlay, having only one window might look better?). For the material of the window I would use plexiglass, but not just plain clear plexiglass, I would choose a clear gray or otherwise known as "smoked" color. This is particularly nice looking when you add a bit of lighting on the inside of the case, as all you will see is the lights themselves. Its a pretty nice effect when all is said and done and will add a good bit of uniqueness to your project.

Word of advice; Learn proper procedures befor attempting the final deal. Such as how to get an excellent paint job (primer, sanding, etc) and what tools to use when cutting out a window (refer to the modwiki for this).

Also, don't forget! Measure once, then twice, and then measure again just in case you had a brain fart, THEN cut. :)


I have that same case and a few similar ones sitting right next to and in front of me right now.

I have a similar case as well! Its just about identical to phen0m's, except the front panel inlay is a solid navy blue color and is centered more on the main front panel.

My father also owns the same case as I do. As well as my best friends brother. On top of that I believe more than a few members here have basically the same case.

Apparently HP was a very popular brand of PC back in the day?

[nevermind1534]

The one I don't have pics of: Intel not so sure, 900MHz
probably pIII era celeron
The one with pics on page 1: Intel not so sure, 533MHz
Possibly PII era celeron.

I even have the apple II monitor. I like that the apple II has a TV output. I got that, along with an atari (not the 2600) from my mom's friend's husband, but he didn't want to give away his commodore (it was his first computer, and he liked the s-video inputput on it's monitor).

[Zephik]

Do you by any chance have a commodore 64 or 128?

I love old technology :]

I have a Commodore 64 somewhere in my storage. Tooth Invaders FTW! :D

Who doesn't? :)



This computer, when it came out 10 years ago, was the top of the line. It has lasted 10 years of ****. I treat her like she can handle anything an alienware can.
It has a dvd drive and a cd drive, 6 expansion slots, and 2 open drive bays. This computer really is not too bad :]

Well I don't know about that, alienwares are pretty nice... ;)

But these beastly rigs are built like miniature tanks! or at least mine is. I remember taking it apart and being surprised at how thick just the side panel is. You could lift it into the air and try and bend it with your hands and it would barely budge.

Pff, cases these days just aren't built the same. The quality and overall structural rigidity of some cases is pretty sad sometimes. (reasons why I love the Nzxt Adamas and Nzxt Rogue, VERY thick aluminum! :))

[phen0m]

The case that I have pics of must weigh at least 35lb.
I was so suprised at how heavy it was when I did a heart transplant on it last night.
The side panel itself weighs about 5lb.

@nevermind- the one I have pics says pentium!!!. The other just says celeron.
I took the 900MHz and put it in the case on page 1.
I also added 128MB of RAM. Thats twice as much as she had in here to start with.
I have never in my life saw so much dust 0.0 It was everywhere!

[nevermind1534]

I think that computer (the one you have pictures of) will take any socket 370 processors, except for the tualatin. Mine came with (I think) 512MB RAM and an 800MHz Pentium !!!. If you want to put a tualatin in there, you can get a socket voltage adapter from ebay. One of those would let you go up to 1.4GHz. Be careful taking it apart. There's some spring loaded aluminum tabs that you have to pull to take parts of it out. You may have to use a dremel if you want to put a different power supply in there.

[phen0m]

It was so hard to get to things. I had to remove the PSU before I could even see the motherboard. Then, to get to the ram port things, I had to squeeze my hand under the dvd/cd drives and there wasn't hardly enough room to fit a finger between there. It was so hard to put in the new RAM. I cut myself like 3 times. Oh and, I tried to pull the plugs out of the dvd/cd drives so they wouldn't be in the way but I pulled so hard and they wouldn't budge. But, it has one of the coolest motherboards. Its orange and black. It looks sweet.

[nevermind1534]

You should put a window in there. Why couldn't mine have a cool motherboard like that? Is teh power supply a small one, or is it full-size?

[phen0m]

Its full size. Well, pretty much. Its only a wee bit smaller than my dell's psu.

I think the best thing to do is to put in a window.
But, I have to learn how. Then buy the supplies. Then, make it pretty in there.
Trust me, nobody wants to be able to see the inside of this case. When I saw it, I was like- :{}

[TheGreatSatan]

That first one you took pics of will be a nightmare to mod. I actually had someone give me that case once and I donated it to charity because I couldn't think of anything to do with it. The case is way too tiny and doesn't it have that annoying PSU on its side covering the motherboard?

[phen0m]

Yes it does. And yes it is tiny. I could barely get to anything. It was so frustrating. But, I figured if I modded it, I would do it on the outside mostly.
But, the psu can easily be removed.

[nevermind1534]

I think the case you have is a little bigger than the one that TGS is thinking of. I have your larger (but still small) case, and the really small one. It's almost impossible to do anything in that one. You may have to use a dremel if you replace the power supply, and possibly a drill (or dremel with drill bit), because, on mine, some of the fittings and holes didn't line up. You have to upload some pics of the motherboard.

[phen0m]

I should of took more pics last night.
I will take it apart again today though.
Last night, I upgraded it a little.
I'll make a thread about it and you can look at the pics of it there.

[nevermind1534]

I have some old parts that will fit/work with that computer that I may be able to send you, if you need them.

[phen0m]

Thanks. Does an adapter exist that can enable me to put newer processors into this one?
I think I am going to (if I can) move the cd drive to be vertical and have it pop out of the tinted door on top.

[nevermind1534]

P !!! Tualatin (up to 1.4GHZ) is the newest that you can put in there. You will need on of these (http://cgi.ebay.com/o-370-CPU-Celeron-3-Converter-Socket-for-Tualatin_W0QQitemZ300260216679QQihZ020QQcategoryZ4 614QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem). Just search on ebay for "Tualatin" under PC components.

[phen0m]

Can I get that exact one you gave me a link to?
How much do they usually cost?

[nevermind1534]

You can buy that one in the link, but you will still need the cpu for it, though. If you need any SDRAM, let me know. If you look through everything, you may find another adapter cheaper. I also like to look through the auctions, sorted by time: ending soonest, rather than Best match.

[phen0m]

I just put in 128MB ram. Now it has 256 and it can still support twice that.
That would be really awesome if you would give me ram.
I can't believe how nice everyone here is :]
Thanks for helping me out with everything. I think I am going to make this crappy 10 year old computer awesome!!!!!

How much ram do you have (that you are willing to give away)?

[nevermind1534]

I could give you the full 512. Could you pay for shipping? PM me with details. I have lots of other stuff, too. Just let me know if you need anything else. I just got this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130257073682) huge lot of stuff. I do want to keep some of it, though.

[phen0m]

Wow, I wish I would have known about that!
I'll PM you.

What all was in that pack?
I mean, I know HD's and audio/video cards but do you know the specs on them?

[nevermind1534]

most of them are ATI Rage, but there's one with a fair amount of memory and a small heatsink that might be a little better. I won't know what it is until I try it. I'm keeping the best stuff that I can use to myself.

[phen0m]

I have come up with an idea of what to do.
I think, I will cut a window into the left panel.
Then, put a UV light just out of sight, to the right of the window, inside the case.
Then, try to clean up all the cable and make them pretty and neat, and sleeve them.
Then, paint the inside with UV reactant paint, probably blue, but maybe green.
Then, get some led case feet, the same color as the inside paint.
And, put the cd and dvd drives vertical and have them pop out of the top door.
And, in the top door, have a 140 or 250mm fan with led's the same color as the rest of the stuff.
I think this will be schweeet.
I just have to learn how to do all this xD
I think it won't be that hard, once I cut the window out.

[Cymae]

thow the HP out the window. It doesn't work with new internals.

[phen0m]

thow the HP out the window. It doesn't work with new internals.

I am not going to use it. Just mod it.

[Xpirate]

thow the HP out the window. It doesn't work with new internals.

You can always just cut the internal frame out and use it to build a custom case. Building that area for the expansion slots is kind of tedious.

[phen0m]

I need to buy a dremel. :/
I need to get some money to buy a dremel.
I need to get off my computer for more that 10 minutes at a time so I can earn some money.

[nevermind1534]

I would recommend the $100 one. It's the best model, and comes with pretty much everything that you need.

[d_stilgar]

I have too many ideas, so I give this one to you. I'll just post videos.

old2u0He8Lo&feature=related

jJuvX0hlOxU&feature=related

ufhABu0KGMI&feature=related

[phen0m]

Thats pretty sweet. I am seriously considering making that thing. Thanks for the video, d_stilgar

[phen0m]

@D_stilgar, do you have any ideas for my cases as well?