Into the unknown I go... (with pictures!)

OKay, I thought pretty long and hard about it and I decided to do this... Black with clear windows with both Blue AND Red Lighting so I can alternate it. The best part is... It looks good either way! ....well that and it will be SO much easier! Gotta work smarter not harder! 8)

...I think someone actually mentioned doing that. lol But I just now realised what they meant.. so sorry to who ever that was that made that suggestion. You obviously know what you are talking about, just keep in mind I can be a lil slow to the draw sometimes ^_^.

that was me (about the multiple colors) but never mind...

I do like the windows in the last design, you should do that, with the windows passing to the top of the case. looks nice

about the colors in the last design... black with any color (red, blue, green or yellow) will look sooo much better than white with any color...

So true, Thats why I am going with black instead of white. Ah! lol I am getting so excited to start this project! I just need that hundred bucks from my dad and I can AT LEAST start ordering the materials! :D

I looked into things like HDD, MOBO, 5.25 mounting, etc etc. And it pretty much looks like I can do it all. The only thing I am buying and not making is like the I/O plate and the PCI slot plates and stuff like that. I also found a neato website for when you are building PC's with acrylic. They also offer a service to do it for you, plans and building, but it is like 400 bucks. I would rather do it myself anyways. ClearPC.com or something like that. Google ClearPC and you'll find it.

PM me if you want my current list for parts... I can send you the links via email or something.

I think I might be on to something here... what do you guys think? If you want to see a certain angle then let me know and I'll either post one up or I can send you the Sketchup file so you can have a 360 look at it.

EDITED for all you dial up users ^_^ Your welcome!

yeah, I'm happy ;)

Thats hot... I hate Paris Hilton. The case is great. Check out mine in the Project worklogs...

how do you plan on runnig the power between the compartments?
i have a trick into how im doing it all... i think it would be cool if you could make each compartment quick release.... just undo a clasp and take it away... or make more than one of each compartment for swapping...

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Originally Posted by EPYK

how do you plan on runnig the power between the compartments?
i have a trick into how im doing it all... i think it would be cool if you could make each compartment quick release.... just undo a clasp and take it away... or make more than one of each compartment for swapping...

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Eh, Having the compartments being able to be seperated would be kind of pointless and it wouldn't be as sturdy or as clean looking in the end. But thanks anyways! It actually was a good idea, but it is just not for this mod:). Oh but the side panels will be like a quick release system. Havent quite figured it out yet, but they will be able to come off with ease.

Well those tubes aren't solid you know! :D lol. Everything will be wired through those tubes. The best part is that the tubes will be painted black too so you wont be able to see the wires.


UPDATE:

So I just found out today that my parents will be down at our lake home for about a month. Which pretty much means that things have come to a grinding stop for about two more weeks. But thats good in a way. Now I can take a break, read up on DIY stuff, plan some more, add more to my shopping list, and give the case a good run through with my brain to see if I have any critical errors or not.

Happy Modding!
MitaPi

So I found this cool new wallpaper for my desktop and I just thought I would share it with you guys. ^_^

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Oh but the side panels will be like a quick release system. Havent quite figured it out yet, but they will be able to come off with ease.

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...strategically placed explosive charges should do the trick... once...

i think the swappable compartments would be an interesting idea, but not this particular case idea. you could just integrate a plug system into the joining walls so that when you have it lined up, everything just latches together and you can get instant power. of course... that means you need pre-existing and stationary wiring in each section. it would be cool though.

actually... i was just thinking about a cool way to turn everything on, besides a regular old switch. you could have a key or something to insert into the front or top of one of the section, and that could hit a switch or complete a circuit to turn everything on. that might be a really cool thing for a nuclear reactor mod... you push in the fuel rods and everything starts up.

I know. You need to to a Metallic Black with a teal blue. I think it would be good to have an intake/exhaust for the HDD compartment. I am going to have mine on the side. Yeah, and I just hooked in 520 watts of speaker to my PC...

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Originally Posted by Slug Toy

actually... i was just thinking about a cool way to turn everything on, besides a regular old switch. you could have a key or something to insert into the front or top of one of the section, and that could hit a switch or complete a circuit to turn everything on. that might be a really cool thing for a nuclear reactor mod... you push in the fuel rods and everything starts up.

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I was thinking of a wireless key chain relay switch. It comes in a pack of two keychains so I can have one for blue and one for red. Or I can really get nasty with techy stuff and have it where I push it once and its blue and then I push it twice and its red and then I push it a third time and its ...purple? That or just keep it simple and have the two seperate key chain switches. I could also take them apart and mount them somewhere if I wanted to too.

That key idea... actually is a really good Idea! I might do that.... But how??

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Originally Posted by progbuddy

I just hooked in 520 watts of speaker to my PC...

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Lol, you are completely insane! But that is possibly a good thing. So how is the system? Worth it? lol like I even have to ask! :p

Its great. It has 8 surround sound effects, an amplifier, and its own huge heatsink w/fan to cool the components that only comes on after a bunch of loud music... lol

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Originally Posted by Slug Toy

ok now i think you have too many fans in there.

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More fans the better i think it keeps air flow going... the trick to that fans though is placemet. a good flow system is key! since i run a prescot core i need alot of air flow. the only problem is noise and since my computer sits in my office i am good. sorry i am rambling.

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Originally Posted by progbuddy

Its great. It has 8 surround sound effects, an amplifier, and its own huge heatsink w/fan to cool the components that only comes on after a bunch of loud music... lol

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Very cool, pictures maybe?

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Originally Posted by justleftlife

More fans the better i think it keeps air flow going... the trick to that fans though is placemet. a good flow system is key! since i run a prescot core i need alot of air flow. the only problem is noise and since my computer sits in my office i am good. sorry i am rambling.

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Airflow is a great thing to have for sure. But the only reason I even have fans other than for the HDD's and a slight bit for the PSU is mainly for the lighting effects. Eventually I will water cool, that is, as soon as I decide to stop being a lazy good for nothing and get a job so I can afford one. But when that time comes you can bet I will go all out little by little. Most likely a high end SLI or Crossfire board with all the nicest certafied SLI or Crossfire components along with the E6600 Conroe (Which I will be using in my "Black Rose" mod at the start of october next year also. Yea, far away I know.) and a few other neat things. I'll probably have this project finished around february of 2007 or sometime around May of 2007. But you can bet if it goes longer than May I will throw in everything I have to get it finished by the beginning of July.

Update (?)

What do you guys think of those Biometric USB Fingerprint Readers/Security devices? I am thinking about buying one and possibly mounting it somewhere on my computer in some hidden compartment so only people that know about it and that also have the accepted fingerprint can acess my computer? What do you think of that?

Also, Slug Toy I am really wanting to use that key design you thought up for the lighting. One turn blue, another turn red and then a third turn its both blue and red. But how I would I go about doing that? I havent even the slightest clue.

As for the side paneling. I am thinking I will do what Dell has done on the 4700. It's a lil latch you push down on and it basically pops off the side panel. I'll have locks on it of course to further prevent theft. But I was thinking I could also put those latches in some hidden compartment so no one would know how the side panels would come off. Might be kind of cool...

Also.. I am thinking about putting in a small LCD screen. Probably in the bottom left box, since there will be the most room to do so there.

Update:


I figured out my case dimensions :eek: THIS THING IS A TOWER! I am going to run to the store sometime soon (hopefully) and pick up a bunch of model cardboard so I can start building a mock up.

Edit:
Ha, I found some file folders that I am going to cut up for my mock up later tonight. :D

Bottom Left Box
15" Tall
12" Long
8.5" Wide

Bottom Right Box
15" Tall
8" Long
8.5" Wide

Top left Box
5" Tall
12" Long
8.5" Wide

Top Right Box
5" Tall
8" Long
8.5" Wide

Tubes
3" OD
2" Tall

I am having a major brain fart right now! :mad: I cant figure out how much acrylic sheeting that is? Can someone help me please? The sheets I am buying are 12" x 12" but I am also getting a few pieces at 24" x 24" for the 15" tall pieces on my case. How many do I need to buy? :?

Happy Modding,
MitaPi

Pics are under Project Trivium in the worklogs area.

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Also, Slug Toy I am really wanting to use that key design you thought up for the lighting. One turn blue, another turn red and then a third turn its both blue and red. But how I would I go about doing that? I havent even the slightest clue.

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ill see if i can sketchup something for you. ive got an idea in my head about how it could look really cool.

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I am having a major brain fart right now! I cant figure out how much acrylic sheeting that is? Can someone help me please? The sheets I am buying are 12" x 12" but I am also getting a few pieces at 24" x 24" for the 15" tall pieces on my case. How many do I need to buy?

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math problems!!! ill work on this as soon as im done dinner.

give me a few hours for both of those things.

Sweet, thanks Slug Toy! I am working on my mock up right now, but I decided to take a break. Also.. I am running out of tape really fast! lol Not good :p

Catch ya guys in a few!
MitaPi

Oh and progbuddy.... It's official, you have the biggest computer speakers I have ever seen! lol

Update:

Sweet, I am almost out of tape but I have the bottom half mock up done. I am not taking my time and I am rushing things so it looks like crap. But it at least will give you/me a general idea of the size. That way I can plan things better.

ok i have a model for you. i modified it slightly since you want it to control lighting. my original intent was for a system on/off "key".

my head hurts now, so im going to take a little time to sit back, ive been on the go since about 6 this morning, and its just after 9 at night now. 4 hours of lecture makes you very bleh.

ill hopefully have an answer for the number of acrylic sheets tonight.

OKay I got it! One turn of the key and the system turns on, another turn and it lights up, ANOTHER turn and it switch's colors! ...and then the final turn turns on both the blue AND red lights!

...does anyone know how I would even go about doing that? lol

ah buggery!!! i cant get my head working right now. ive got math class tomorrow, so ill work out how much acrylic you need then. its just review, so i can afford to screw around for a while.

as for controls... i say this:

-push the key down once to turn everything on
-turn the key to first position (farthest left or right) to turn the red on
-turn the key to the middle to turn both red and blue on
-turn the key to the other farthest position to turn blue on
-push the key down again to turn everything off

again... my head is out of gear right now. ive got an idea to make it work... kind of like brushes on a motor and how they make contact. another sketchup model is in order, but that is for tomorrow.

Just a small update...

I have no idea how to wire up a PSP LCD to a computer... so I decided to use this instead!

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=G8270&cat=CON

And here are some pictures...

The case is awesome. Just etch out some curves in that glass.

Well I am re-drawing my case in actual size on sketchup... and I think I am going ot have to re-design it a bit because my original drawing and my dimensions are way off. I'll get back to you guys when I have my actual size drawing finished. Till then...

Happy Modding!
MitaPi

Update:

Okay, so holy cows of flaming doom. This case is officially a (slightly bigger) Full Tower, which in the previous drawings it was a slightly bigger than a standard mid-tower. This means a few things... namely more supplies to buy and a altered design. The color scheme is going to stay the same, but I dont know if the previous design will still work for me, we'll see though. It looks really good so far... much much more space than I had originally planned out. To give you and idea of how big this thing is... It has 6 5.25 Bays and a 120mm fan to cool down the Hard Drives and it's 8.5 inches wide. Well actually... here, I'll just give you the new dimensions.

Bottom Left Box
15 inches tall
13 inches long
8.5 inches wide


Bottom Right Box
15 inches tall
10 inches long
8.5 inches wide


Top left Box
7 inches tall
13 inches long
8.5 inches wide


Top Right Box
7 inches tall
10 inches long
8.5 inches wide


Tubes
3 inch OD
1 inches tall

So yeah, this thing is massive! But it is very cool looking and I dont mind massive things so much. I like having attention drawn to me. ^_^ Kind of good, Kind of bad... but when modding, its mostly good.

I'll have pictures posted hopefully by the end of the day. Not final, but sort of a accurate rough draft version of the final.

Happy Modding!
MitaPi

don't mind about the size, mind about making it look good ;)

I'm actually planning / designing a case which will be about 20x22x8 inch in size... that's not much different than you're planning... I don't see a problem

(unless you don't have the space to put it somewhere in your room :S )

and then remember my idea... that thing is probably going to be at least 20x20x10.

are those dimensions fairly final then? i dont want to try to estimate how much acrylic you need until you're happy with the dimensions.

Slug Toy,

That Key/switch thing looks a lot like the "MagLock" from "Star Trek: First Contact" (No, I'm not a trekkie)

As for the different "modes", maybe try a rotary switch? And possibly glue it to a button switch for the pressing function...

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don't mind about the size, mind about making it look good

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Oh dont worry, I could care less about size. Thats why I let it get so big when originally it was supposed to be a small slim case. It's all about what I like visually for me.

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are those dimensions fairly final then? i dont want to try to estimate how much acrylic you need until you're happy with the dimensions.

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I wont allow it to get any bigger. lol I dont think it really can without being just rediculous. So yeah, that is about as final as it is ever going to be. It might get smaller, but I doubt it. I dont want to re draw and alter stuff again. It's a pain. But in any case... just go off of those dimensions.

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As for the different "modes", maybe try a rotary switch? And possibly glue it to a button switch for the pressing function...

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IF I can figure it out, I am going to have a basic key hole that you turn to do everything. It will go in this order... system on, blue, red, blue/red. I want to keep it fairly simple as you can see. I am actualy thinking of using a really old style key/hole. The kind where the key has a lil handle and it has a bar with like a tooth at the end. Super old school but I want it to look new and nice. Which I can do by chemical cleaning or just by buying one that looks nice. But yeah, I think it would be cool to carry around a nice and shiney gold key that turns my computer on. :D

Ooh, also I found an LCD screen that I am going to use instead of my PSP. I think I already mentioned this... but oh well. Its good in case someone missed it I guess.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16874104009

Seems small right? lol wrong! I drew up the actual size of it onto my sketchup drawing that is actual size as well.... and its almost too big. It actually might be.. but I over drew it for safety so I think it should fit nicely. In your hands.. it looks small.. on my computer.. it looks big. I am happy :)

Oh and it also has like all the hook ups to work easily without doing a whole lot of wireing. I can also buy a adapter to I can hook it up to my computer via VGA.

Triple post! HA! :p

So I forgot to save my work... and now it's gone. :eek: So I have to RE DO THE ENTIRE FREAKING THING! Pretty much sucks like a monkey, but I have had worse things happen to me. Luckily I wasnt that far into the design anyways. Well, time to start crackin! Wish me luck! I'll be sure to remember to save it this time.

good practice. you should have seen how many times i designed some things... i can still whip up one particular case model in about 10 minutes.

go for details this time. include the key idea, even if it isnt finalized. it helps you visualise everything, and can help make design choices.

Will do Slug Toy. This time I am going to do everything how it is going to be in real life. Although the color and texture will never look real.. it will still help give the best Idea possible. I have to admit.. I am quite excited! I've always wanted a Tower PC. ...and now I got one! The thought of renaming it as "Nephilim" crossed my mind last night when I started my mock up. Huge hardly describes it, But it will be a nice eye catcher thats for sure. I hope it at least gets 3rd place in one of our local lan's. That would be cool! :)

Well, I am having a huge creative block right now. I have basic shape of the case... and thats about it. Maybe you guys can help me think up some idea's?

If you want my sketchup you can PM me for it and I'll send it to you. You pick how it is transfered. (Email, Messenger, etc.)

Everything is exact size. 120mm fan, optical bays, case, space in between sections, so on and so forth.

ok, send it on over then. i might as well have a shot at it. im going out in a few minutes, dont know how long ill be, but you better send by email just in case this takes a few hours.

oh, by the way... i got an email from tigerdirect regarding you and some entry. did you enter some sort of contest? i hope you did because i just did too by responding to that email.

Yup, I enter in Tigerdirect.com contests every now and then. This one is for a conroe! And by you filling it out you just gave me an extra entry for this week. So thanks! :) This also means you have a chance too of course. ^_^

Okay, I'll send it now. Remember to use accurate measurements. lol I hate re-sizing things :p

HA! Today I got my new toys in! I got a second LCD monitor, a USB wireless adapter and some new temporary replacement *cough* dell *cough* speakers. So yeah, I am pretty excited right now! I am thinking about mounting the two monitors into a acrylic case so its easier to transport and I can minmize the space inbetween as well. That way I can also mount my webcam into the center of the dual screen case instead of just one monitor. Which would look odd.

Just 2 weeks left untill I get my acrylic sheets in! :D

Well I havent given you guys pictures lately, So it is about due time for another batch yes? These next pictures I worked with one of our fellow modders and TBCS Forum follower to come up with. I think he did a FANTASTIC job dont you? How about a round of applause for "Slug Toy"?!

Still a work in progress, But I think I am getting pretty close to the final product!

i see you got rid of the big central window there. i personally liked that bit... but it looks pretty much as good without it. now it looks like some sort of really expensive computer grid thing.

i think the black and turquoise go good for this thing. if you're using clear acrylic for everything, just get some green and blue led's and it should work.

How's about this for size?