HP case help needed~~~

[Darkhome]

Hi I just found this HP Pavilion 7420 comp in the street and I want to know if the case can be useful to me. I want to know what can be done to make it better. Can you guys help me? Thank you.

PS. I need help with the back of the case. I think i need to cut it.
http://www.imgdump.net/images/img_3679.jpg

This is the inside of the case.
http://www.imgdump.net/images/img_3682.jpg
http://www.imgdump.net/images/img_3683.jpg
http://www.imgdump.net/images/img_3684.jpg

This is the front.
http://www.imgdump.net/images/img_3681.jpg

This is the back ( I need help because the motherboards are not shape like this back )

http://www.imgdump.net/images/img_3680.jpg
http://www.imgdump.net/images/img_3685.jpg

[Cevinzol]

I'm a little rusty but that doesn't look like a standard AT board layout to me. Looks like an early integrated M/B, possibly a proprietary design so you will have to do some cutting and pasting. The dimesions seem off. Have you tried fitting you're board in it? Seems like their isn't enough height before you run into the PSU bracket.
Did I count right? Looks like the back has 9 expansion slots maybe thats what's messing me up.

[mszo]

yeah..i had a similar problem with a gateway PC. they usually don't make them the same as a regular case would be for one simple reason. people like you and I. They don't want us to change it and replace things. They want us to go out and buy a whole new machine from them

[xmastree]

Yep. There are a lot of cases like that from the big manufacturers. Came out before standard ATX cases, and they're all proprietory. You'll need to rebuild the back panel if you want to use it.

[Darkhome]

Thank. Well this is my plan. I am going to cut the everything inside the blue line and rebuild one side for the motherboard and the other side I can place a fan.
http://www.imgdump.net/images/s2_ff9fed1e687.jpg

I am preaty sure I can fit everything inside the case because everything that was inthere was huge. The hard drive was a really old 2.5GB Bigfoot. It is 7.6 inchs long and 5.3 inchs wide.( It is a big foot!) The motherboard was 9 inchs long... so I am sure I can fit everything I need in there.
Can you guys help me with some ideas. I dont have any cash to spend right now... and on the other hand I want to create my own case.

[xmastree]

So far we've just seen the chassis, I presume you have the cover and the plastic front panel?

[Darkhome]

Yes I do have the other parts. I just took off the back of the case I am going to make it out of wood. Am just not sure if if the motherboard is going to fit.... any suggestions?

[xmastree]

So, you're gonna use the chassis, but make the front,sides and top from wood? Hey, I like that idea. How about making it look like an old vintage radio.
Instead of the usual window on the side, make a grille something like this:

http://www.homeaudiosuperstore.com/media/images/crosley/cr32o.jpg

As for fitting the mobo, about the only thing you can rely on is that the slots will be the standard spacing.

[Darkhome]

Yes I am going to use wood but only for the back... I am going to remake the back because a motherboard is not shaped like it. I am going to take the slots from the old back and add 5 of them to the wood one. I am going to put the power supply like this mini comp http://www.newegg.com/Product/Showimage.asp?Mode=&Type=&Image=11-164-034-08.jpg%2C11-164-034-14.jpg%2C11-164-034-15.jpg%2C11-164-034-16.jpg%2C11-164-034-11.jpg%2C11-164-034-17.jpg%2C11-164-034-09.jpg%2C11-164-034-10.jpg%2C11-164-034-12.jpg%2C11-164-034-13.jpg%2C11-164-034-18.jpg%2C11-164-034-19.jpg&CurImage=11-164-034-11.jpg&Description=Linkworld+A312-C2211-P4+Black+Metal+ATX+Mini+Tower+Computer+Case+300W+P ower+Supply+-+Retail

I need help telling the different sizes on power supplies.

[xmastree]

You might have trouble mounting the psu above the connectors like that. Most modern motherboards ahve the CPU up there, and the psu would block the airflow.

[Canada's Own Falcon]

my suggestion. Since most mobo's will come with a back peripheral plate, I would mark the size of that on the back, chop that out, and then mount the plate. I would also suggest chopping the entire back out (Minus the psu portion) and replace it with a solid piece of steel. (Might require welding.) Realistically, it's more worth it to go and find a nicer/newer/Not proprietary case and use that. The disadvantage of this one is that it was made to fit an HP mobo, not a regular style. (Notice the Mouse, and keyboard connectors are vertical, not horizontal)
And just in case you care the specs (http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&lang=en&cc=ca&product=61080&dlc=en&docname=bph03542)
nice, it's even complete without HDD rack mounts...

I can give you a couple suggestions, but it's going to be a lot of work.

If you intend to use that case. It looks like the expansion slot section is only riveted on, I would drill out those rivets, and cut some of the expansion ports out, then mount it into the wood.
I would leave the PS mount where it is, it's a fine location.
You'll have to get some way of mounting the HDD's in
I'd be interested to see the side in the fashion of an old wooden tv http://members.aol.com/channel1tv/images/moto9t1.gif only with the tube on the other side. (Make the tube the window.)