Project monster computer

So I'm sure the title says it all... I got ahold of an old Abit server tower for like 15 bucks on c-list. Supports 6 hard drives and 5 5.25" drives. It's big old and scary looking, but there's something I dont like about it... It's just, too plain.

Here's what I like about it:
-it's big (dwarfs my G5 Powermac)
-lot of room to work with
-lots of drive space
-front vents
-slide out motherboard tray

Now the dont like...
-it's tall but kind of thin.
-old looking. Too cold.
-only built for one like 2" fan in the back.
-the inside isn't really great for airflow, maybe TOO BIG.

I'm basically at the moment gathering ideas for it. Here's what I currently have.
-painting the front black and putting green led or neon whatever inside, so the front has a fading green light. Supposed to look menacing.
-putting 2 studio rack fans on the top of the case.
-2 200mm fans in the side of case
-grinding case to bare metal then repainting.

Beyond that I'm stunk. I'll post pics when I can. (as I am on an iPhone.)

Lol, stunk, that's a new word

Anyways, for ideas, there's a lot you could possibly do with a large case, requiring various degrees of modding.

You could, for example:
Put several complete computer systems in it, and figuring out how to switch between the two easily.
Water-cool one higher-end system, and mod a portion of the case for great airflow and put all the radiators down/up there (e.g. a separate compartment for the bottom third of the case, with fans at front and back of case, blowing air through the rads or something like that)
Or you could always just stick with a normal pc build, and mod it only a little (or a lot) for looks and airflow :)

I love big cases, they give you so much opportunity to do whatever you want!

You said it yourself "monster computer", so go ahead and make it a monster :D you can still stick with the ideas Aldersan gave above, especially the multiple systems in it and still be able to do a monster theme.

You could put your computer and game system(s) in it. As far as air flow you can always add holes and ducts and fans and make the air go where you want/need it to.

Sheesh! a 360/PS3/Wii/PC combo unit.....

top end i7, a couple GTX 590s, as much RAM as you can shove in there, pack the HD bays with 1TB drives and top it all off with watercooling ;)

At least that's what I thought when you said "monster".

Great ideas... Currently until I get time to mod it, it's got a p4 with an asus p4p800 mobo as a mockup so I can see where everything fits and how it lines up.

I like the monster theme... Care to expand more on that idea?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ozziesironmanoffroad

Great ideas... Currently until I get time to mod it, it's got a p4 with an asus p4p800 mobo as a mockup so I can see where everything fits and how it lines up.

I like the monster theme... Care to expand more on that idea?

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Check out some of the previously completed mods and also spend some time in the idea zone...

Maybe some of those monsters on Google images can inspire you :P

http://www.google.ca/search?um=1&hl=...w=1024&bih=648

EDIT: Post some pics of the case ;)

Best ones I have so far. Will take more once I get home.
I will say I'm a hackintosher, and love the look of the g5. What do ya guys think of incorporating the monster hackintosh... Incorporating both into the case mod.. Only thing I can think of is cutting the front off replacing with mesh and having an apple logo on both sides, but the apple being eaten by something... By what though, I don't know.. (brainstorming here)

I'd say swap out the floppy for a fan controller/card reader.

PS: The PowerMac G3 has the potential to hold 6 internal HDDs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ozziesironmanoffroad

but the apple being eaten by something... By what though, I don't know.. (brainstorming here)

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LOL...what do you think? Monster, Oz, Monster :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AmEv

I'd say swap out the floppy for a fan controller/card reader.

PS: The PowerMac G3 has the potential to hold 6 internal HDDs.

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You read my mind... A reader will be going in there.
And the g3 can hold 6 drives? Wow... Wasn't expecting that! Buddy gave me that thing, eventually I'll prob put an atx case in there with some led's under the apple, and sell it.

I plan on painting the face black.. Don't care for the front much ( except the vents) and I would customize it, but I haven't the slightest clue how to alter plastic, let alone keeping it neat.

And monster, oz, monster? You mean like having a cartoon evil Ozzy eating the apple? Haha. I'm wondering about ways to edit the apple... If I even decide to go that route.

That middle floor begs to have an awesome watercooling floor installed!! :D

It's not recommended or official, but it is possible.

Example eBay auction for pic

Take a look at these for inspiration:

Talk to TLHarrell about etching/engraving if you want to take that route...

PS: I like the Ozzy eating the apple idea :D

Why not:

:D

Those are dope!!!

Hah, those portal ones are hilarious, good find AmEv!

That needs a lot of paint!

Also, if you were still interested in doing the 2 pc in one thing, I (with the help of Will o course! :D) figured out an easy way to switch between the two pc's :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aldersan

Also, if you were still interested in doing the 2 pc in one thing, I (with the help of Will o course! :D) figured out an easy way to switch between the two pc's :D

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KVM:P

lol, that works for peripherals, but we figured out how to easily switch between powering the two motherboards with a switch and the power button :D

The green wire, right?

What Will suggested was wiring 2 positive leads from the button, one for each motherboard, then the negative lead to the middle prong of the switch, then one negative from one side prong to a motherboard, then the other side to the other motherboard

Oh, THAT way.


Clever!

Na, the 2 pc thing I'm not too interested in... Lol.

So some progress... Have my motherboard and power supply fit into the case... Finishing tonight. Need to cut a hole in the 5.25 bay so I can run the cables down the middle, running them on the sides, the case won't close.

I painted the top sides and front black, they are outside defuming, they still reek of rust oleum.

Here's what I got so far.

Looking pretty sweet! Have you thought about liquid cooling? There looks to be room on the top section for a 240-ish rad on the top and a 120-140ish rad on the back above the psu..could be sweet! Would look something like in my case, except it wouldn't be right over your motherboard lol

I'm planning on water cooling eventually.... For now though it's going to be air. I dot want to go cheap on water cooling, cuz I plan on building an i7 rig and OC'ing it.

Another thing I had suggested to Omega, I dunno how much room you have behind your motherboard tray, but you could cut some hole's in the tray along the edge of the motherboard and route your cables immediately behind it, helps hide cables excellently :D But again, it depends on having a lot of space behind the tray.

Let's just say my atx power cable cant fit between the frame of the case and the side panel. :(

Hmm, then another option a lot of people do is make alu/plexi panels, to cover their wiring and other stuff. Of course, this is all assuming you want to hide your cables lol

It's got metal side panels. Only thing you'll see INSIDE the computer is the neon glow from the neon lights behind the front grills. I'm just worried about airflow.

Ahh, then you got nothing to worry about! Tape them cables down to the tray and call it good ! :P Otherwise, looking good, I love big cases!

Lol that was what I'm planning on doing tonight just so I can have a computer again, and clear space out of the room. Neatness comes later.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ozziesironmanoffroad

Let's just say my atx power cable cant fit between the frame of the case and the side panel. :(

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What if you unsleeved it to separate the strands? Sleeving is cool, but tucked away cabling is even cooler. Heck, if you're OCD you can sleeve the individual wires and get the best of both approaches.

EDIT: Ah, I see it isn't sleeved. Man, that must be really tight back there.

Lol, if he cant even see the cables, theres no point trying to sleeve them :P

Ya... Very tight. I'm thinking I may just hold off until I get my settlement from work (class action money) and buy a power supply with the longest wires I can find. Lol

or you could pick up sleeved extentions in the colors you like :)

Cut a hole. It's ugly, but it also will start raining again any minute. Will work. Will post up pic