HP-The Crystal Shard

[bobthecarguy]

Hello everyone, stumbled upon this forum when thinking about doing a casemod and was blown away by what people have created here.

I will be doing up an old HP case that I have lying around, it most certainly be as advanced a mod as HP Retro mods shown on this site already but will be fun and a learning curve for me (first mod ever). Today will be some disassembly and plans.

Here is what I am starting with:
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/unmod1.jpg
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/unmod2.jpg

Partial diasassembly, brings back memories?
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/apart1.jpg
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/apart2.jpg

Nice that the Motherboard is attached to its own removable side of the case, should help with cable management. This is a very short case, and will require a bottom addition of some type to keep things from getting too cramped. Lots of acrylic and lexan will be used in this mod, with some use of reflective surfaces. Hardware will be a ASUS mATX board with XP64 dual core, 7900GTX, 300GB Seagate and 2GB Mushkin. Wish me luck!

[jdbnsn]

Good luck, and have fun! Welcome to the forums too by the way.

[Rankenphile]

I have an old case exactly like that. I'll be watching this one closely.

[Seasick]

Thats amazing, I have the exact same HP at home I just took apart and put back together. Was thinking modding it myself but leaving the size as is. I'm a big fan of small form factors and it doesnt get much smaller than this thing. G'luck.

[public_eyesore]

they have those cases at my local ikea as props. lol

[nil8]

That would be a huge case for mini atx. Good luck with the PS.

[Glock9]

I had a case exactly like that one aswell, 6617 or something like that. Should be good to see this work out.

[bobthecarguy]

Well, picked up the Plexi that will be needed from the local supply house today. Decided to sit down and do some layout work and here is what I have come up with:
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/layout.gif

The heavy blue line is the original case dimensions. I will be cutting out the original floor and replacing with Plexi, and adding the lower section of the mod with Plexi also. I toyed with trying to stay with the existing dimensions but the PSU would be tight and airflow would not be sufficient in my opinion. The area in front of the PSU is vent area to supply the 120mm lighted fan. Still unsure of exactly how I am going to integrate the HP plastic panels as I want to make sure the lower section does not look like an afterthought! Always looking for ideas and suggestions so feel free to add any that you might have!

[xmastree]

Still unsure of exactly how I am going to integrate the HP plastic panels as I want to make sure the lower section does not look like an afterthought! Always looking for ideas and suggestions so feel free to add any that you might have!Well, given that you're going to have to do some moulding on the front, what about if you cut the front panel horizontally, up near the 5.25 bays, then move the bigger half down to the bottom and make up something to continue the ridges down each side.

It looks a little tapered, which will make it slightly more difficult, but I can't think of an easier way to stretch it.

That would also give you a location for a large intake fan, rather than in the base, you could mount it where your drawing shows the hard disk and make a feature out of it. That would draw the eye away from any, erm, imperfections in the case sides... ;)

[xmastree]

Extremely quick and dirty photo manipulation to show you what I mean:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/stretched.jpg

[Redundant]

Isn't the PSU going to be sucking up all the dust from the floor?

Maybe try mounting it upside down?

[bobthecarguy]

Isn't the PSU going to be sucking up all the dust from the floor?

Maybe try mounting it upside down?
Yes, the PSU may need to have vents from the sides of the case, upside down may work also....

I like the idea of stretching the front fascia, as it is getting a facelift anyways.

Tonite the bottom of the case comes off, and then all the steel parts are off to the paint booth. Should have an update soon!

[bobthecarguy]

UPDATE: Began working with Plexi for the first time. Started by using a jigsaw to rough cut the pieces, then gradually sanding the edges incrementally using 80, 120, 220, and finally 400 grit sandpaper using a small piece of 1/2 plexi as a block. The fear set in when I decided to try flame-polishing the newly cut edges, having never done it before it was nice to see the video in the Cirque Du Soliel worklog to get the idea of how it was done. First, I broke the edges with a Richardson Blade (a sharp edged scraper), to prevent rounding of the edges when heating (learned about this during practice). Not having the oxy/hydrogen torch the pros do I tried using a propane torch that I use for heavy soldering.

Pieces cut and ready:
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/plexi_cut2.jpg

Flame polished edges:
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/flame_polish.jpg

I also cut the bottom off the case and drilled out the rivets holding the drive bays in place:
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/bottom_off.jpg

http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/bottom_off2.jpg

Checking initial fit of plexi bottom panel:
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/plexi_cut.jpg

This shot gives you an idea of just how small this case is, the board in place is a mATX ASUS board!
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/matx_in.jpg

This is starting to get fun! Next up will be prepping the sheet metal and trial assembly with plexi and fabbed side panels.

[jdbnsn]

Wow! Your edges polished up beautifully! Nice job, mind if I ask how much that thick plexi cost? This is looking good, keep going!

[bobthecarguy]

The 1/2 inch cast Plexi isn't cheap. But I went to the local Plexi supplier and bought a bunch of end cuts, which saved lots of $$$$$. Total spent was $70.00 Canadian for 2 sheets 24"X16"X1/8, 1 sheet 24"X16"X1/4, and 1 sheet 23"X18"X1/2 cast. Way more than I need but I do have another case........:)

[bobthecarguy]

May 1, 2004.

Finally found some time to do a little poly work.

Started by cutting some pieces and bonding them together. The oblong front hole was done by first boring two holes with a carpenters arbor bit and then joining them with a jigsaw
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/May1/bottom_section.jpg

http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/May1/bottom_section2.jpg

http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/May1/bottom_section3.jpg

I also cut the mid plate as well. The circular hole for the fan was a b*tch to cut with the jigsaw but worked ok, the large rectangular hole is for the psu to intake from.
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/May1/midplate.jpg

http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/May1/midplate2.jpg

Here is the trial mockup (lots left to do)
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/May1/trial.jpg

http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/May1/trial2.jpg

[DaveW]

Looks sweet. you do good work with Plexi. I'll be honest here, it looks machined more than hand cut-circles are perfect, they intersect with your lines at a perfect tangent-really, great job bud!

-Dave

[bobthecarguy]

Thanks, You should have seen how rude it looked at first! Cutting with an arbor bit was a spur of the moment idea, bored my way almost all the way through from one side then finished off from the other. I haven't worked with plexi previously but have worked with fibreglass:

Here is my old car, I made the hood and front bumper with F/G
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/impala.jpg

I think in the future I would like to try making a complete custom Plexi case...

[GT40_GearHead]

Thanks, You should have seen how rude it looked at first! Cutting with an arbor bit was a spur of the moment idea, bored my way almost all the way through from one side then finished off from the other. I haven't worked with plexi previously but have worked with fibreglass:

Here is my old car, I made the hood and front bumper with F/G
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/impala.jpg

I think in the future I would like to try making a complete custom Plexi case...
dude that is rad what engine what trans

PS:i think cuting that plexy was a pain (because of the thiknes)

[DaveW]

Dude, nice car!

-Dave

[bobthecarguy]

509 Big Block, T400 trans. All street legal and ran 10.30's. It is sold now minus engine and trans which are being fitted into a 1983 Datsun 280ZX!

Time is spent 50/50 between that car and this case!

[legoman786]

Dude!! BIG ENGINE, LITTLE CAR!! Make it fit!!

[bobthecarguy]

Kinda like big hardware in a small form factor! I think there is a trend developing....

For the gearheads:

http://streetlegalmonthly.tripod.com

The site is about a year old, the car is just needing wiring, paint, and mufflers. And yes, it is a street car. Check out the video of the old Impala as well.

[GT40_GearHead]

Kinda like big hardware in a small form factor! I think there is a trend developing....

For the gearheads:

http://streetlegalmonthly.tripod.com

The site is about a year old, the car is just needing wiring, paint, and mufflers. And yes, it is a street car. Check out the video of the old Impala as well.

DUDE I SEE YOU KNOW YORE STUFF, I COULD USE YOURE HELP AN A BUGGY PROJECT! WHAT DO YOU THINK?!

[Nagoshi]

Hmm.. I will do my bad boy now and break the convo... but before I do that..

I WANT A PONTIAC FIERO!! 2 seats, rear motor, sport car! Id buy a V-8 350 conversion kit, and I would find some kind of way to supercharge it. It was already done before, ID like to do it, but using old engines in new cars is now illegal in Quebec :( Well maybe it is not, I wil ltry to gather some information about this law... Right now Im 16 years old, Im looking toward this summer to gain nuff money to buy a Fiero!

Okay now time to break up the cars and get back into computer modding :(

[bobthecarguy]

Some new updates to post. My EVGA step-up from a 7800GT to a 7900GTX finally arrived, it's a HUGE card as you can see in the pics!

Here is the initial mobo install prior to getting the video card
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/may21/mb.jpg

The optical drive was going to interfere with the cpu cooling so an impromptu top case mod was born
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/may21/topcutoff.jpg

http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/may21/topofftrial.jpg

Masking tape was used to lay out and fit the drive.
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/may21/cdinstall.jpg

http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/may21/cdinstall3.jpg

http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/may21/cdinstall4.jpg

The PSU neede to be modded to allow the wiring pigtail to come out of the side of the unit as well as the fan was removed from the case and cooling to be provided from above.
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/may21/psu.jpg

http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/may21/psu2.jpg

http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/may21/psu3.jpg

http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/may21/psu4.jpg

http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/may21/psu5.jpg

The new psu fan location interfered with the original case, which was cut to fit and then a fabbed metal panel MIGged in place to cover the hole
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/may21/fan.jpg

http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/may21/fan2.jpg

Couldn't resist a trial assembly to get a feel of how it will eventually come together!
http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/may21/trial2.jpg

http://www3.telus.net/public/buggler/may21/trial4.jpg

yes, I know the wiring is wild! It will be routed behind the lower fans, through the front of the case (hidden behind the fairing) and brought back through where required.

More to come!

[d_stilgar]

Awesome. You do very good work. I'm excited to see this finished.

[GT40_GearHead]

dude ?! is it me or you fixed tha optical drive whit duc-tape :D (nice touch)
hope tha air flow of tha psu aint gona be fu#@$%

great work
(btw: can you get a picture of ya engine in here :rolleyes: :D )

[onelegout]

I love the way this is turning out! The plexi's looking great!

GT40_GearHead - your posts are painful to read man :S

[GT40_GearHead]

I love the way this is turning out! The plexi's looking great!

GT40_GearHead - your posts are painful to read man :S

??? me dont comprende (is it my english, i know:( is bad in fact it sucks but im trying my best) is it something else ?

[Shikimaru]

interesting, looking foreward to how this turns out