First I start that I bought Cooler Master HAF 932 in 2008 and mine is from earliest revisions, so no paint inside and no additional USB 3.0 ports (however CM's solution add usb in 3.5 bay is ugly IMHO). At some moment I tried to find a replacement for HAF, but in time of RGB, glass and thick metal I did not find comparable a replacement. Therefore in 2017 I decided to fix a problem with absence of USB 3.0 ports and try to make it accurately. My approach is to replace pcb of the front panel mounting with IO ports. I start to ponder how to fit all connectors and I have to remove ieee 1394, actually it is not demanded. 0214 by Altyn10000 posted 20 Jun 2018 at 14:57 To make own pcb that will fit in original place with all holes authentic pcb have to be measured precisely. I used caliper and sketched all dimensions on the paper. Next step, is to design new pcb, I used cad programs, here on the picture example of work process. Haf_front by Altyn10000 posted 20 Jun 2018 at 14:42 When one is planning such work he or she have to obtain all documents on parts and devices that are involved in project. In my case they are datasheets on usb, sata, idc and other connectors. 0216 by Altyn10000 posted 20 Jun 2018 at 14:57 0215 by Altyn10000 posted 20 Jun 2018 at 14:57 Actually it was one the most onerous parts of the project, because companies like CM and others mainly use parts from almost noname suppliers and it is enormously hard to find info on them. I checked every blueprint manually and measured parts to find match. In my design I used usb from ebay and they have good quality also blueprints from the sellers matched pretty well with actual parts. If you want to design own boards with involvement of usb ports you should remember that usb's differential lines (which marked +- pos. neg.) have 90 Ohm impedance. Just for reference, I used board which is 1.524 mm FR4 substrate, so sometimes 90 Ohm lines have unreasonable dimensions, so in my design they are not 90 Ohms every where. However, it is not a debacle and stability do not suffer. On relatively short distances impedance can be way off from a standard value, nevertheless lines have to be deferentially routed. As you can see I saved e-sata, audio connector and led. Audio part has own gnd plane. Desoldering is a crucial process, original pcb uses ROHS solder, so it is very hard do desolder without right equipment and skills. However, it is possible to take all new parts, but i just did not find e-sata and phd 2.0 connectors. Therefore using transplantation was the only one possible way. After final checking of the design I ordered pcb on manufacture (if someone interested I can write what service I used.) Here on the picture a new pcb from both sides as you can see overall quality is higher than original CM's. 20180304_114116 by Altyn10000 posted 19 Jun 2018 at 19:30 Also I bought Usb 3.0 extender cord. I have to buy two of them 50cm obviously too short for HAF. Another part that I changed led indicators, original super bright blue led just bothered me. Therefore I bought 3mm red leds. The only moment that little ring on the leds edge prevents mounting in the original holder, but I solved it. 0149 by Altyn10000 posted 20 Jun 2018 at 14:57 You can file of sanding machine or something like this. Final measurement and placing. 0167 by Altyn10000 posted 20 Jun 2018 at 14:57 Every connector is one the right place and mounting holes too. Then I detached unused cables from the cord and closed a panel. 0217 by Altyn10000 posted 20 Jun 2018 at 14:57 In future plans I want to add USB 3.1 type C on the place of 1394 but I can not find any info about this connector There is no any info on digikey nor farnell nor any other sites. I've only found that Intel promulgated this connector (and forgot to upload datasheets on it) Options from ebay or Lianli obviously too short for HAF. I appreciate if someone give any info about usb C front connector. Also I hope that my experience inspire for technical mods of old cases but that you do not want to replace. Almost all cases can be modified in similar way just be sedulous.
Lovely work. Welcome to BitTech. I gave up on usb 3 boards and opted for an extension cord. My eyes can't handle it, so I probably couldn't solder it either.
Cheapskate Thanks spolsh Yes that's true, however, good modding can fix this. Much worse that now there is almost no really worthy case below 200$ In future plan I also want to add 2*180mm radiator on the top.
Really nice work, found you on youtube and you told me you had more detail here btw. Do you happen to have another PCB handy or info on where you got this made along with the cad files you sent in to have it made to your measured specs?
You might want to throw an @Altyn10000 at him and hope his email notifications are on. His last post was in 2019.
I have started a conversation with him assuming that what you meant? If he has email alerts that will do the trick I hope if not welp I will figure something out myself. I have done some research on front IO I can get that wont break the bank that I could use or possibly modify to fit in place of the front IO. Something like this https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B014VTF6HW...olid=2GBDJQZNWLHRQ&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it or even running some cables from the main board to the front and make myself my own front IO, need to looking into how to cut plastic so it looks nice, using something like these: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B006PHY0GM...olid=2GBDJQZNWLHRQ&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
Hmm I could see if any of the other cm cases IO's could be made to fit in my haf932 front IO frame. Only need to pcb and the small plastic front part. Might be harder to even get spare parts though.
@Altyn10000 is there any possibility of getting the pcb files? I'm very interested in making this myself, and that would be a big help. Even if you just have dimensions that would be great.
