Case Mod ZdMods | Harman/Kardon HTPC | Final pics in post #35

[Meelobee]

Since this mod is done I've updated this post with the final pics. Original post starts below the pictures.

HTPC








Storage








Both of the units (bottom 2) and the original H/K AVR355 receiver


All buildlog pics are available here (Facebook album)


Original Post

Hello, Long time lurker showing my casemod in the works:

I've allready made a caselog on tweakers.net so some of you (hello dutchies!) might have seen this allready.

I currently use ps3 media server to stream media from my pc to my ps3 (1080p, DTS.)
This works, but isn't the most enery efficient way to do it. (My pc, ps3, receiver and tv have to be on.) To make this a bit more efficient I'm trying to make a low energy htpc capable of running 1080p DTS movies

Hardware:

Samsung EcoGreen 2TB (F4EG HD204UI)
OZC Vertex II 60Gb
Kingston ValueRAM 4Gb (KVR1333D3N9K2/4G)
Intel Core i3 2100
Skythe Big Shuriken CPU Cooler
MSI motherboard (H61MU-E35 B3)
Ati Radeon 6450 1Gb
Be Quiet! Pure Power 350W PSU


All this will be placed in a Harman/Kardon AVR 355 receiver housing, which I've ordered from a local repair center for H/K.

The modding begins!

07-05-2011
Original H/K print with power & stand-by led, the powerswitch is on this print too.


Powerswitch and power led connected in quite blunt but functional way. I've cut the copper lines on the print with my trusty dremel. Cables will be sleeved:


Volume button, behind the button is a print with a potmeter and 3 leds that light the volume button:


I've put the leds in serie so they can be connected to the PSU and light up the button:



30-5-2011

Glued 2 aluminum corners into the case:


The mainplate can rest on the corners. Here you also see the backside of the case, this will be replaced by a piece of aluminum with the I/O pannel in it.


Started building the HDD rack:




31-05-2011

Continued working on the HDD rack:.


HDD Rack mounted onto the mainplate:


So far:

Enough room for all the parts:



Update 3 - 04-06-2011

More hardware arrived:

PSU and motherboard on the mainplate:

Just enough space between the PSU and motherboard for a powercable:


Overview, here you can also see the holes for the ATX and SATA cables in the mainplate:


Low height memory modules:



Update 4 - 13-06-2011

Continued on the back of the case, I've cut out the piece with all the I/O ports of the receiver


It's not completely done, the corner in the top left isn't straight yet and I've to drill holes in the bottom left and top mid so I can fit screws/bolts there.

Cut an aluminum plate and made it the I/O shield:


Together:


Fits like a charm (Mobo isn't screwed down yet, when it is, the gaps between backside and ports will be smaller.)


Also started sleeving the psu cables. Unfortunately I didn't order enough sleeving so I couldn't finish it. What I've done so far looks like this:


Cut the hole for the PSU:


Connected a Mplay 202 VFD display and build it into the front pannel of the case (top = HTPC, bottom Original H/K.)


Made all the holes in the mainplate the right size, so all cables can go straight down into the mainplate and most of them won't be visible:

SATA, ATX and usb (from VFD) will all be sleeved and routed under the mainplate.

That's it for now, thanks for reading! I'll update this thread once I have more to show

EDIT: Removed pics due to bandwith issue's. Final pics in post #35

Full build album available @ facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...5439069&type=3

[rayson]

looks interesting are you using this for watching movies adn thing like that
the i3 cpu is agreat choice

[Karrek]

Very interesting. Will all of the buttons of the front panel still be functional, or will you be removing some of them?

[Meelobee]

@ rayson: yes it's primary purpose is to serve as mediacenter. There are about 100 HD movies on the 2Tb disk atm.

@ Karrek: I'd like the front buttons to be operational (left, right, down, up, ok and back) but I'm not sure on how I can do this yet. I won't be removing any of them, I want the outside to stay as original as it is. (so you can't really tell which is the receiver and which is the htpc.)

[miahallen]

Great idea, and very nice work so far

[WTF_Shelley]

Originally Posted by Meelobee

@ Karrek: I'd like the front buttons to be operational (left, right, down, up, ok and back) but I'm not sure on how I can do this yet. I won't be removing any of them, I want the outside to stay as original as it is. (so you can't really tell which is the receiver and which is the htpc.)

How i would do this is, to get a cheap usb joypad/ numeric keyboard. Smash it out of it's case, and extend the wires from the buttons terminal's to the usb device.



something like this would do the job for about £7

then map the buttons to xbmc controls


Also you might want to put a small slow fan in the back, so all the hot air isn't being vented by the psu

[Meelobee]

Originally Posted by miahallen

Great idea, and very nice work so far

Thanks

Originally Posted by WTF_Shelley

How i would do this is, to get a cheap usb joypad/ numeric keyboard. Smash it out of it's case, and extend the wires from the buttons terminal's to the usb device.

*snip*
something like this would do the job for about £7

then map the buttons to xbmc controls


Also you might want to put a small slow fan in the back, so all the hot air isn't being vented by the psu

That's actually a great idea to use a keypad, I ordered one right away, thanks for the tip

Not sure if I want to put a fan in the back, more fans = more noise. (Not that I'll be hearing them when a movie is playing, but still..) The sides and top of the case are perforated, so heat probably won't be a problem. If it is I can allways add a small fan later on.

[Meelobee]

Small update..

Added an alumimum plate behind the front to hide the original print in the front. .

EDIT: Removed pics due to bandwith issue's final pics in post #35.

[Andy Mc]

Looks good.

[shah]

Very nice... Good stuff

[Meelobee]

Received a package containing sleeves, heatshrink, Sata connectors & a pin-remover:


Finished sleeving the PSU and guided the cables under the double bottom:

USB & Sata cables are all sleeved:


[sneak preview]
This:


Plus this:

[/sneak preview]

That's it for now, thanks for reading! Comments and tips are welcome!

EDIT: Removed pics due to bandwith issue's final pics in last post.

[Shael]

very elegant work on the mod the cable sleeving fits nicely with the brushed alu keep it up subbed.

[Cheapskate]

Preview: Internal EM shielding?
What you have so far is pretty awesome. I need to make something to replace my aging cd setup someday, So I'll be watching.

[Meelobee]

Originally Posted by Andy Mc

Looks good.

Originally Posted by shah

Very nice... Good stuff

Originally Posted by Shael

very elegant work on the mod the cable sleeving fits nicely with the brushed alu keep it up subbed.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Cheapskate

Preview: Internal EM shielding?
What you have so far is pretty awesome. I need to make something to replace my aging cd setup someday, So I'll be watching.

Yup...well not for the EM shielding, but I made this:




Used a perforated aluminum sheet to make a cover for the motherboard. I still need to make the holes for usb, P4 and powerswitch/led.



I hope the holes in the alu sheet and the Skyte CPU cooler are enough to keep temps ok.

..Till next time!

EDIT: Removed pics due to bandwith issue's final pics in last post.

[KoSoVaR^]

nice job there ! to bad you did a horrible heatshrinkjob

[confusis]

I see you bought a GPU, very nice brand and model.. where's it gone? lol

[talladega]

Originally Posted by KoSoVaR^

nice job there ! to bad you did a horrible heatshrinkjob

too bad you suck ass




Meelobee, youre doing an awesome job

[Shael]

Originally Posted by talladega

Meelobee, youre doing an awesome job

Agreed witht his comment.

Originally Posted by KoSoVaR^

nice job there ! to bad you did a horrible heatshrinkjob

HMMmm some people dont agree with this one though

you did a good job on the heat shrink sleeving. Love the Mobo cover nice idea. if the temps get too high you clould always look at creating some slots in the cover to increase air flow.

[Meelobee]

Originally Posted by KoSoVaR^

nice job there ! to bad you did a horrible heatshrinkjob

Why is it horrible? Thanks for the constructive feedback!
I know I should have ordered pre-cut heatshrinks, but when the AXT plug is in the mobo you hardly can see the difference in lenght.

Originally Posted by confusis

I see you bought a GPU, very nice brand and model.. where's it gone? lol

It's still on a shelf somewhere. The onboard video/audio play everything I want perfectly (1080p, DTS) so there's no real need to use the Radeon. I should have done a bit more research before ordering the parts.. lol So I'll probably use it in another mod.

Originally Posted by talladega

too bad you suck ass
Meelobee, youre doing an awesome job

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Shael

Agreed witht his comment.

HMMmm some people dont agree with this one though

you did a good job on the heat shrink sleeving. Love the Mobo cover nice idea. if the temps get too high you clould always look at creating some slots in the cover to increase air flow.

Thanks! This is the first time I did sleeving, next mod will have better sleeving hopefully I hope the temps stay ok and if they don't I can indeed make some slots, or add a fan in the case to create more airflow.

[KoSoVaR^]

Originally Posted by Meelobee

Why is it horrible? Thanks for the constructive feedback!
I know I should have ordered pre-cut heatshrinks, but when the AXT plug is in the mobo you hardly can see the difference in lenght.

You should have ordered the sleeve near the atx-contact better, before sleeving and removing the pins you should have took an marker and marked the cables just below the atxplug, there are some tiny tips that i use when i sleeve , then i ofcourse cut some 100pieces of 1cm heatshrinks and i alligh the sleeve on the marked line and the heatshrik just below the start of the pinhead...

I found some pics on my pc