First time, gimmie some suggestions.

[timmer]

Well, ever since seeing that Doom3 case and then learning that Paul had a book out (which I bought after seeing his work :p)...I though to myself, "It would be damn cool if I actually did my own case mods, not just a factory installed window with some rounded cables (what I have right now). Since It will be my first time, I don't want to get(read: ruin) a $100+ case, so I thought I'd just buy a cheap case that looks mod worthy (Kinda looks like a Coolermaster Praetorian :chit: ). It's summer for me now, so I thought that this would be a sweet summer project. This is the mockup that I have so far.

http://img142.echo.cx/img142/15/case3pq.th.jpg (http://img142.echo.cx/img142/1271/case1ku.jpg)

I'm also thinking about painting it flat black, and incorporating some sort of stealth-bomber style cutouts on the side.

So if you have any helpful hints for a first timer, they'd be much appreciated(sp)

[Frakk]

you are the first, first time modder i have faith in lol. i mean you actually got the book, made some good sketches and know whats going on :D most first time modders jump into a complicated case without knowing how and most projects turn into nothing :( anyways, i assume you have the tools required and know how to use them, so I wouldnt worry too much, go nuts with it. if you have questions on specific jobs like wiring or anything just ask, i dont know your abilities thus i dont know what to suggest. btw what are those 6 military switches will be used for? :D

[Xato]

Bombing 6 foreign countries!
And the post count climbs as the FBI visits the site again! :D lol.

On a serious note, i must say that taking power tools to a cheap/plain case is a much better idea than cutting into a brand new... superlanboy... with its shiny metal... DAMN YOU CRIMSON!!! YOU BLEW IT UP!!! DAMN YOU!!! DAMN YOU TO HELL!!!
Although i must say what crimson turned it into looks much much much cooler than it originally did.
The only tip i can offer you, is make sure you commit yourself to spending lots and lots of time on your mod, and keep that commitment right to the end. If not, you will have a half done case that looks silly.

[timmer]

@Frakk: The switches will be used for turning on and off the 6 fans. And yeah, I'm sure I'll have to find the schematic for wiring it up :/

@Xato: My other case is a superlanboy :p

[Frakk]

timmer I would use potentiometers to control the speed rather than turning them on and off. if you have a basic knowledge of electronics it shouldnt be a problem. if you dont, try google-ing for some tutorials, theres a lot out there.

[timmer]

But the switchs look so damn cool...and how am I supposed to bomb 6 countries with pots?

I may do some pots and some switches...

[Frakk]

yeah you could mix them up as well. on the more important fans like cpu, gpu, main intake i would put potentiometers since they should be always on, and put swithces for the optional intake/exhausts.

[timmer]

cpu and gpu will always be on, and probably the top blowhole on. now i just need a way to convince my rents to spend 200 more on my computer..

[Frakk]

cpu and gpu will always be on, and probably the top blowhole on. now i just need a way to convince my rents to spend 200 more on my computer..

keep the airpressure to neutral or slightly negative and have an intake always on with the psu's exhaust. good luck with the parents :D

[UK-Blade]

Some nice ideas.

Here's another. If you like the idea of switch guard/toggle switches (whatever you want to call em), why not do some extra modding. Take the switches out and replace them with pots. That way you can flick em up and spin em round (if you get my meaning)

Then you have the best of both worlds.

Just an idea.

Good luck either way.

Keep us posted. ;)

[Frakk]

Take the switches out and replace them with pots. That way you can flick em up and spin em round (if you get my meaning)

now thats a pretty good idea and I would love to see it done. however it would take some serious consideration and search for a suitable potentiometer in size and specs. wow i have never thought of that.

[timmer]

Heh, I'll have to email the teacher I had for electronics about that...casue he's the person that I know that would know the most about that kinda stuff.

[timmer]

I just thought of another idea! I could put a stealth-bomber cockpit like thingy ontop of the power button, put a little hatch thing for me to open it, then put this thing (http://xoxide.com/vl-system-touch-one.html) inside of it, and nobody outside of my family would know how to turn my computer on :D

[Xato]

If you really wanted to make it fancy, you could get one of those PC remotes that turn your comp on and off... then modify that to open the little cockpit... then have the power button inside. THAT would be fancy and stealth :D

[timmer]

Well I'd lose the remote :/

Plus I don't have a lot of money to spend...and I've almost spent the lil bit that I'm putting aside for this.


Or what about one of those keyless entry things for cars? But I dont know how I could obtain one, or reprogram it.

[timmer]

K drop the plane idea, I don't even like them at all.

So this is my brand-spankin-new idea!

Front:
http://img29.echo.cx/img29/5543/front1iw.th.jpg (http://img29.echo.cx/img29/5543/front1iw.jpg)

Left Side:
http://img103.echo.cx/img103/7710/leftside4tf.th.jpg (http://img103.echo.cx/img103/7710/leftside4tf.jpg)

Right Side:
http://img103.echo.cx/img103/4753/rightside2ki.th.jpg (http://img103.echo.cx/img103/4753/rightside2ki.jpg)


The orange will be a orange acrylic window, and there will be dual white ccfl's in there to light it up

I'm thinkin about having the fans at the front and at the back as intake, and then putting quad 90's at the top for exhaust.... :eek:

And yeah, the switches will be color coordinated...the blue led rocker's will be cool air (intake), the red will be hot air(exhaust) and the white will be for the white ccfl's!

[UK-Blade]

Hi Timmer

Me again.

Nice phoenix.

If you still want to use toggle switches only (without modding to use pots) found some nice switches here (http://www.12vp.com/Item_Coyote_Table_Page.htm)

Also if you do want to mod them then it should be really easy Maplin in the UK do these (http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=37319&doy=28m6) military style covers, so you could put them over pots instead of switches.

Let us no how it goes

[ninja]

is the book worldwide for sale? what's its name? :p
if i knew where, i'd buy it (my very first book 8))

grtz

[timmer]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0789731924/thebestcase06-20/104-0202518-0713543?creative=327641&camp=14573&link_code=as1

My parents wanted me to read a book this summer (I hate reading...BOOOORING), so hey...I got a book that I'll read :D

[Xato]

I definately need to pick up that book... except its hard to find in australia... :(
I might have to order it, and have it shipped from america maybe.

[timmer]

ok, here is a very rough draft(as you can see, the front and the back dont line up :/)!

http://img108.echo.cx/img108/2810/frontleft2ot.th.jpg (http://img108.echo.cx/my.php?image=frontleft2ot.jpg)

http://img108.echo.cx/img108/1021/frontright4os.th.jpg (http://img108.echo.cx/my.php?image=frontright4os.jpg)

http://img208.echo.cx/img208/2909/left.th.jpg (http://img208.echo.cx/my.php?image=left.jpg)

http://img208.echo.cx/img208/1535/right.th.jpg (http://img208.echo.cx/my.php?image=right.jpg)

http://img288.echo.cx/img288/4360/top3ft.th.jpg (http://img288.echo.cx/my.php?image=top3ft.jpg)

http://img288.echo.cx/img288/6133/bottomleft1rt.th.jpg (http://img288.echo.cx/my.php?image=bottomleft1rt.jpg)

http://img225.echo.cx/img225/6302/bottomright8se.th.jpg (http://img225.echo.cx/my.php?image=bottomright8se.jpg)

http://img225.echo.cx/img225/1301/backright4ws.th.jpg (http://img225.echo.cx/my.php?image=backright4ws.jpg)


EDIT: With the LIS POP VFD displays for $40 I might have to pick one up for this....anybody have experience with VL systems LIS displays?

[MrSlacker]

that looks very cool. why not get 1 120mm fan?

[Xbrid]

I Want that book as well. that window is looking sweet as well

[timmer]

why not get 1 120mm fan?

Becasue I plan on getting all Thermaltake Silentcat fans (21dba 54cm for the 90mm, 21dba 27cfm for the 80mm)

[prosser13]

A window might be a good idea, maybe in the shape of the bird on the side (phoenix)? You could use orange as a style throughout, with some orange lighting, etc.

[timmer]

A window might be a good idea, maybe in the shape of the bird on the side (phoenix)? You could use orange as a style throughout, with some orange lighting, etc.

Yeah, that is going to be a window, just I don't know how to do transparent stuff in the program that I used. And it will be orange acrylic (I havn't see orange ccfl's), so there will be 1 white ccfl at the top and 1 white at the bottom :)

[timmer]

damnit newegg doesnt carry that case anymore...so I'll just have to get this one...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811125478 :D

[Aero]

hmm.. cool. I like your designs. I should scan my German spiral notebook from last year, I have about 6-8 different designs in there. I should also read that book,, but I'm busy reading The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos before I get to physics next year...OH right, I say go for the mod, you'll have fun and learn alot :)