Dell_XPS_mods

[mwdaley]

Having no experience with them, is it ok to place the probes between heatsink and component like that? Is that what they're intended for? I have some probes on my pump/reservoir combo, and I'm not using them because I've never done that before.

[Drum Thumper]

Hey, that case looks kinda familiar!

Nice work. It is, in fact, the same style of case. Just a different front panel after all.

[chaksq]

I have started working on this again. I currently cut a hole in the 3 drive bay covers for an 80mm fan. I will post pictures soon. I plan on using bondo to complete the hole. If I pull it off alright I will add a second 80mm fan to the front below the power switch.

[armadilloben]

wasnt the first pc i took apart it was the first pc i ran linux on (fedora core 2 FTW!!!) lol still have it under the desk

[chaksq]

Finally I am going to be working on this again.

First lets start with the pictures I promised in the last post. Here I cut a hole in the front for an 80mm fan.

The cut is very rough right now, I plan on shaping it more and using bondo to get the final shape. As you can see I will use the 3.5" bays behind the new fan hole to mount HDs in that way they are directly cooled by the fan. I will modify the brackets to allow the HDs to be mounted further back to give clearance for the fan.

A friend gave me a NZXT Apollo case (as I mentioned in the chatterbox) so I relocated the old XPS motherboard and other internals to that case. Now Project XPS is empty so it is easier to mod. More information and pics of that and the now empty case will be posted soon.

[chaksq]

Just a quick update, the other day I was working on a SketchUp model of the stock case so I can give a rough idea of what I want to do.

Its about the right size but all the measurements are inexact, I don't really plan on doing much more detail than this because I don't need it, plus the case is actually more curvy than I can do with SketchUp right now.

For now I can use modified versions of this to show stuff like the two tone paint and side window I am currently planning.

[chaksq]

Ok enough sitting around staring at this thing. Time to mod!

I have a computer workshop of sorts now, mostly just an old door on some sawhorses and a tall metal shelf my father found for free. It does the job though.

I started working on the side panel, I've had an idea for it in my head for a while now. Basically the idea is to have 4 window holes shaped like triangles so what remains in the center is like an "X". Then I'll mount a piece of plexi on the inside and bevel the edges. First I put covered the entire panel with masking tape then drew out the design. Yesterday I rough cut the holes out with my trusty dremel, then this morning I made the holes closer to their final dimensions by sanding them down with the dremel. In a few minutes from this post I plan to sand the holes to their final shape by hand.

Unfortunately my digicam broke and my cameraphone isn't recognizing it's memory card anymore. So it might be a few days for me to get pictures. I have a film camera but I'll need to wait for stuff to get processed.

[Dane Bramage]

i like it. nice minimalistic treatment of a classic. you know... kinda like those guys that build "rat rods" and leave the body all rusty because that's how they were back in the day. for the same reason, i like the addition of the Dell button. i think it just adds to the whole authenticity of the mod.

+rep for keeping it simple.

/sub

[Drum Thumper]

i like it. nice minimalistic treatment of a classic. you know... kinda like those guys that build "rat rods" and leave the body all rusty because that's how they were back in the day. for the same reason, i like the addition of the Dell button. i think it just adds to the whole authenticity of the mod.

+rep for keeping it simple.

/sub

Dane, you should check this thread out.

RIP Bucko, you're not forgotten.

[Dane Bramage]

ooh... thanks for the link.

i may quote from that log...

"The over all paint scheme will be flat black and rust." brilliant!