Modding my Buddies PC

[TheGreatSatan]

Someone I work with has been having problems with his old HP and asked if I could fix it. I told him that it would be better to buy a new one, but he just doesn't feel that he could afford it. So I told him that I could upgrade it for cheaper. He also said that he's just sick of looking at the case and said he wanted a new one, but I assured him that a little paint will go a long way. He didn't choose any specific color, he just said "surprise me".

I forgot to take a pic of the entire case prior to modding, but you'll get an idea of what it looked like before. Here's the bezel.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/8478/before14hq.jpg

It separates at the bottom, which will be cool later.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9594/before21ha.jpg

This is the right panel before

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/6815/beforeright4cb.jpg

Here's the panel after.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/5450/paintpanel8md.jpg

I decided to go with black and green theme for the case.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/2512/paintcase1br.jpg

Here's the old system.

AMD 1.0GHz
384MB PC133
OLD video card, sound card

http://img317.imageshack.us/img317/5186/oldsystem3zb.jpg

I gutted Paradise Lost and put the parts in his system.

P4 2.8GHz (FSB 533)
80GB Seagate
HD cooler with LCD temps
512MB PC2100
Onboard video and sound

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9320/system6my.jpg

I painted the bezel black and the floppy and DVD drive green.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/2991/beforebezel2dg.jpg

The lower portion of the front I painted green

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/7687/paintbezel7bw.jpg

And put it on.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/8315/afterbezel13qx.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4807/afterbezel23rk.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/2410/afterbezel30nr.jpg

Here's the panel for the window.

http://img317.imageshack.us/img317/1807/window14zs.jpg

Flipped over you can see what I'm cutting.

http://img317.imageshack.us/img317/4443/window27dx.jpg

http://img317.imageshack.us/img317/573/window32on.jpg

The window gets cut tonight.

[dgrmkrp]

darn, i destroyed a case just like this in order to digitize the atx components inside.. the mb tray, the back panel.. now i think i'll put it back together :) it's pretty nice (lots of potential), except for the very poor alignment of the psu just above the cpu... the project: very nice!!!

[Aero]

yeah, lots of older cases have that crappy PSU over CPU design, I have a few around here, it really limits the mods, or you have to work around it, which isn't too bad.

Nice case BTW, the green almost looks translucent.

[MrSlacker]

I am not sure, may be its just the pics, but green doesnt seem to be even. I'd say it needs a few more coats of paint.

[TheGreatSatan]

After several coats the paint looks the same. I'll clear coat it a couple times too, but I don't think it'll change much. It's still a hundred times better than before. I'm rushing because he gave me a week. I need half that much just for painting.

Question. Under the motherboard the area where the holes are is slightly raised. If I use standoffs here the motherboard will be too high for the IO plate, but if I don't it looks like it'll short out the board on that surface. Am I just too worried or what?

[TheGreatSatan]

So, I cut the window.

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/331/newwindow10xk.jpg

And painted the inside of the panel black. . .

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/3403/newwindow27sx.jpg

And the outside green.

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/4889/newwindow38fa.jpg

I painted him a mouse to match.

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/7140/newmouse4rd.jpg

I do like the way it turned out. Obviously I took the time to make sure he had a real clean wiring job.

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/9938/alldone18nw.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1964/alldone22su.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4069/alldone30hz.jpg

The only lighting I added was this green bubble light.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6696/alldone46wd.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7520/alldone56ty.jpg

[Xato]

That case came out pretty pimp. And thats probly as far as you could take it before bondo comes into play =P

[TheGreatSatan]

Exactly.

[OvRiDe]

Very nice.. The first few pictures definately don't do the color justice.

Lucky friend..

[dgrmkrp]

yep..lucky friend:).. and a nice modd.. still.. there is one thing.. the psu colors.. :) .. and maybe a small quick etch:) on the next window?
this is very nice and like i said, it makes me wish i wouldnt have vivisected my old case... but.. as long as i have my bondo fumes... i can forget :)