Project: Accelerated Fear

[JohnyFive]

Update 4

cant wait... hurry up!!

Hehehe iv been working hard man, and its sooo hot here its vitually impossible to move without passing out!

I'm currently preparing for my first mod. (Still gathering supplies and tools) I bid on a computer on ebay about five months ago. Won it for 5 bucks. It was this crappy looking dell called the "Optiplex". Had I known then what I know now, I might not have bought it. It weighed about as much as a VW Bug, and took just about as long to strip down to the basics.
So I'm glad to see someone else knows my pain. At least we are taking something horribly ugly and turning it into a work of art.
Congrats on getting yours underway! I look forward to seeing this thing take shape.
It's already 5,000,000 times better looking.

I know dude tell me about it! It still weighs a ton even with half the steel ripped out of it!

Anyway, heres another update for you guys, my previous update was me getting about 2/3's the way through my PSU mod, heres the rest of it.

I had to re-sleeve a lot of the wires, they were becoming way too bulky, at one point i thought it was going to be imposible to get it all back in the box!

Heres the PSU case after 3 coats of primer, 3 coats of Vauxhall Platinum and 2 coats of clear laquer, i rubbed down between coats with 1500 wet and dry.

A close up.

Really glad i took the time to prep everything and rub down between coats, really happy with the finnish.

OH MAN! i got a new cat!

Cute hey? He likes to attack me whilst im modding!

Back on topic, heres the case with the PCB inside, also showing how the wires are layed throught the plate/gromets, man its a really tight fit at the front!

Heres that front panel test fitted, it fits nice.

However, the edges of the plex looked like ****e, need a good old polish. Got some T-Cut

And polished that edge for hours! But look at the edge now...

wasnt expecting such a nice result from T-Cut but im pretty impressed, bought it up to a real nice shine!

After putting the plate on and looking at it for a while i decided it was a bit plain, needed somthing more, decided to add some chrome bezel led holders to the front! Went to maplins to get some Chrome LED Holders, the conversation went a little somthing like this:

Me: Oh Hai! i need some of these.. (points to chrome holder with blue led in the catalogue)
Old Man Maplin: We dont have any.
Me: Oh... you sure... you didnt even look on your stock list...?
Old Man Maplin: We dont have any.
Me: Ok, can you just check, i need them.
Old Man Maplin: -Silence-
Me: Hello?
Old Man Maplin: (looks at computer) We dont have any.
Me: Oh...ok, do you have anything similar i can look at?
Old Man Maplin: No.
Me: Do you have the chrome holders by themselves in stock?
Old Man Maplin: Yes.
Me: Do you have Blue LED's in stock?
Old Man Maplin: Yes.

-.-

Anyway, after probably one of the most strangest interactions with a shop keeper ever in my life i got my led holders, i also coaxed him into giving me 4 blue leds for the fan, and 6 62ohm resistors so i can run them of 5v.

Masked up and VERY carefully marked the front plate.

Used a Vernier Caliper to measure the diameter of the holders, there 8mm, i drilled a small pilot hole then added some vaseline to a 8mm drill (prevents melting) and opened up the holes.

Stringy swarf! No melting! Good!

Checked the holders for fit.

Perfect!

Next i wired up the two leds

I used expensive speaker wire, its silver and gold in colour, clear sleeved. I covered it with some black braid but you can still see the silvery sheen underneath. Once i had extended the 5v (red) wires, and the Ground (black) wires i made a back-spur of each which will run the fan and front panel LED's.

I needed to make the window for the side cut out, i was really dreading this as i had no room to work, the wires were so cramped up to the side. I decided to unwind most of the wiring and re-do it to make myself a bit more room, i ended up gaining about 3mm! All i needed though as my plex was 2mm thick, YEAH!

If i leave it clear it will look like a lod of wires in a clear box, so i frosted it up!

Layed it on for a test fit.

[JohnyFive]

Then i mixed up some rapid araldite and carefully applied it to the parts of the window that will be behind the metal, then clamped it for 10 minutes.

I added another fillet round the edges, i didnt want this falling out and electrocolourcoating the cat!

Window finished.

Heres the gap i had to fit it in!

Not much room at all eh?

The cat has been living in the PC desk draw for some reason!

He woke up! hahah

Anyway, PSU is pretty much done, i opened up the lugs on the crimps and plugged them back into the ATX connector.

Time to pour some power in this thing!

Wouldnt be complete without the night shots!

Im really pleased with how its turned out, took a lot of effort but it was worth it.

Hope you guys enjoyed reading, next update to follow soon!

Comments always appreciated.

_'j5

[Drum Thumper]

That, my friend, is what modding is all about. Fan****ingtastic!

[JohnyFive]

That, my friend, is what modding is all about. Fan****ingtastic!

Thanks man, that etch you did on Frankenstripe just gave me a really cool idea, donno if im brave enough to try it though!

[Drum Thumper]

The frosted plexi is a nice touch as well. I'm considering frosting a bit of my side window just to hide some of the drive cage.

[DonT-FeaR]

omg i waited just but worth the wait very nice

[The boy 4rm oz]

That looks beautiful. +rep

[Eclecticos]

Your cat looks pissed off. lol
Looks fantastic! Clean Execution. +Rep
The first time iv'e seen anyone use cable sleeving on LED wires.

[Dane Bramage]

very nice looking psu. the attention to detail is awesome. nice work.

[Beta-brain]

Just caught up with your mod, great job love the case cut out and that PSU is better looking than anything you can buy.
I see your in the UK (I'm in Cornwall) where did you get the Styrofoam from?

I bought some of my plexi on ebay it's good stuff but the p+p was almost as much as the plexi so I bought some A.C.Ryan stuff from a UK shop and it was scratched, had an air bubble in it and had no protective film on it, so I can't recommend them but, I won't post their name here but if you want to know who they are so you don't go there in the future send me a pm
+Rep +Sub.