- Quick Link to last Update - Well I finally have some time to get back into modding so I now can finish off my PC-75 Mod which I had logged way back in november last year (PC-75 Styling if you can remember) and I can also start on my HTPC. This Log is about the HTPC and I'll make a Log about the PC-75 later tonight when I start it. Well the design for my HTPC hasn't really been made yet but considering the last few months it has been housed in a Coolermaster ATC-620C-SX1 so I decided to use that as a base. - First Up I collected everything I was going to use for this Mod and my to Finish off My PC-75 and remove everything from the Case. Unfortunatly I was sent two Coolermaser Aerogate II's instead of the Coolermaster Musketeers I ordered so I'm still waiting on them. I'm going to be ripping them apart and placing the dials on the front of the case which is wear the name dialed HTPC comes from (I really need to put more effort into naming my Case mods) - There isn't much Room inside this case when everything is put in so air flow is tight and the System runs at 45C+ so to help out with air flow I've decided to remove unnecessary cables from the PSU. So I removed the P4 power Rail as the motherboard I'm using doesn't need on of these and also that usless old school plug I think it's an AT plug but I've never used it in any computer system I've built. And them some Heat shrink to stop the end ever touching somthing they shouldn't. - Add on some spiral wrap and my PSU is a lot neater than before and airflow will be better. I'm not having a window in this case so I'm not to worried about looks which is why I opted for the spiral wrap not proper cable sleaving - Alright now to work on the Case. It doesn't look to bad to start althought the aluminium front panel is pretty heavy. I'll probably try and get my new case front to look similar to this but for now I must remove it. The front was only held on my 5 screws (one really hidden away between the CD-ROM bay's) so that was easy to get off - A pair of tin snips and now some unnecessary section are removed and a quick test of the top panel and I notice that the front is a flush fit which will save me from wrapping the front around the top slightly. And remember people when working with anything that can fling stuff into your eye's alway wear a pair of classy glasses. - The bracket to hold the HDD's and Optical drives in place were conveniently split in to two seperate parts so I removed the rivets holding them in place and used just one and placed it in the centre. To do that I also had to remove the bar across the top of the housing which means a stuctural support loss so I won't be able to sit anything heavy on top of the case now which I doubt will be a problem. - Now using some of the aluminium from my first attempt at buildig a case I mounted a panel to the front of the case it's pretty much screwed in place the same way as the original panel was, this plate will be my base for mounting the VFD and the dials from the coolermaster Musketeers and anything else thats needed. Now to Mounted the VFD into place and removed the section for the DVD drive and all that I can do now until the Musketeers arrive is to maching up a large stainless power button and work on the Design layout on the front. - I did a knock up in photoshop of the front panel concept I think it's going to consist of some stainless mesh for looks, a small sheet of perpex to cover the VFD and a USB plug on either side of ease. (this knock up was done in photoshop so it's nohing special just an idea on layout) So until I put up a Log on my PC-75 continuation or the Musketeers arrive I'll leave it as is. Also if anyone know of any case mods that have dials on the front panel or any equipment that has lots of dials on the front and looks pretty good can you please post some links my imagination is being pretty stretched as to a layout at the moment. Until next time. Alex Ynema!!
Project: Dialed HTPC - Update #2 Well It's sunday and not much I can do today as the Musketeers Haven't arrived yet So I'm posting everything I've done since the last time. - Well after scratching the out casing and drilling some holes in the wrong spot i've decided to paint the case black or a dark metallic blue (will work out what I want when the shops open tomorrow). Also the holes you can see are the ones for the bolts to hold the Blue LED fans in place. I've decided to use hex socket bolts to hold the fans in place because the stainless bolt will contrast nicely to the Black/Blue casing. - I also Added some Blue LED case feet to the case which will give it an underglow. That's about all I've done on this case as there is little to do until the musketeers arrive but I have done some work on my PC-75 have a look for the Water Bracket Project log I'll put it up after this.
Well It's monday Now and the Post Arrive No musketeers yet but I did get a DVD that I bought Off eBay so at least I'll have something to do today. Well It actually just came Like that I found it really handy to Cause I could train it across the floor of the Case so it doesn't get in the way of anything Also it's a Zalman Noiseless 300W ATX Power Supply if anyone wanted to know.
I love to see computer cases and parts scattered on a table, on the floor , everywhere!! It makes my day!!! WZ
tm36usa - no problem. and Yeh HTPC stand for Home Theatre PC it's just a Box I have that sit's under My TV so I can play all formats of Movies on PC plus DVD's plus when I'm at College it acts as my TV as well (It has a 19" LCD with it also).
I was going to ask actually.... I couldn't tell if it was a Zalman or a SilenX - I have both and they're identical inside, the thermistor's in the same spot and it's the same color. Just the zalman has the PFC thinger. The ATX cables really are excessively long on it. I would shorten it myself but I have this fear of eventually changing cases and having myself a nasty problem when it won't reach. A little tricky to see where it's headed but interesting nonetheless.
Quick Addition Well I haven't gone to town today to get some paint and the Musketeers haven't arrived so all I've done today is a test mount of the fan and Hex Socket Bolts. They look good a when I get some paint and do a proper paint job instead of the quick Matt black i think the will look even better. Also the reason the bolts are not aligned is because the grill is too wide to allow be to drill holes in the right spot and the height of the panel isn't enought to allow me to mount them in a diamond position so the are about mid way if you get what I mean. It actually looks better in real I should have chosen a better angle but never mind I'll do that in the next update
Most things look better in real.. Anyway, though I personally think it is mounted slightly higher than what I'd prefer... I like it. It's not the everyday square, level mounted fan that you see. It's different, and I like different.
Well the Musketeers Still didn't arrive today but They better be here tomorrow or I'm going to get really annoyed. Anyway I went shopping today and here's what I got. - 1x Clear Acrylic Spray Paint - 1x Metallic Charcoal Spray Paint - 1x Metallic Blue Spray Paint - some Kneed-It Putty - 1500grit and 2000 grit sandpaper (For My Water Bracket) - Doing Tests of each the Metallic Blue and Metalic Charcoal Paints I decided to go with the Metallic Charcoal. It's a Lot darker in real than the Photo I really think camera's have a real problem with photos they are never what you can see. - Because I didn't have much else to do cause the Musketeers weren't here yet I started machining the face plate up, The Slot for the DVD and the Big bottem slot for the VFD unit and the two little ones which I'm going o put stainless mesh behind after it's painted. Then I made up a square 20mm x 20mm riser and mounted the face plate onto the mounting plate from before using the Kneed-it Putty to fill in all the gaps and every clamp I could find the hold it together while the putty dried. The bolts you can see around the plat are the same ones as the fan and I'll put them back in after the face gets it's paint job. Well that's about it for the HTPC I spent the rest of the day working on my Water Bracket and It's almost finished. Until Tomorrow
Well I recieved an email today from PC Case Gear letting me know that the just received the returned items (So much for express post that 6 Working days) and have also run out of Musketeers and don't expect to have any until the end of the week so I won't get them until later next week. And along with that when I was putting the radiator on my Water Bracket I managed to puncture it so I'll have to get the soldering iron out and fix it. And I also went to see Spiderman 2 which was worse that the first one. So it's not been the best day.
Yah, I had a visit from the courier today, My Musketeers finally arrived. This means that tomorrow I can start Modding again. Also I got some Acrylic Metallis Black Automotive paint to repaint the case and front panel so that the had a hard wearing surface. But until I start modding Cya and keep up the good work on other mods there are quite a few goods ones out there
Well Got a bit done today. I've had to repaint the case and front panel with "Proper" paint so it will no longer be cheap spraypaint it with be custom made Automotive Acrylic Paint. So far in that I've only just put down the Primer. In other things I've resoldered the Musketeers so the dials are now plugable with short cables so I can have the Circuitry inside the Computer with the Dials outside. I've also prepared and finished cutting the front panel. I'll take some photo's tomorrow when I have some Time cause today I had to work and also get the panel finished and primed. Mod on people!!
Update Time!! Well didn't do a huge amount today but I do have a few photos So here we go. - The Primer Job on the Panels. Nice army green/beige color - The two Musketeers PCB's resoldered and tested in one housing. Need to shift the plugs as I think it will be a little hard to plug the dials in. - The back panel remodeled to fit the two PCB's - Resoldered the Plugs and now the unit is complete. - And now the Unit with the rewired Dials in place in the computer case frame. I think all the cables will be long enough to reach the distance. Well that's it for now Until I get the Final coat on the Panels so I can put it all together. Hopefully I'll be finished this weekend and take it to Reload LAN near where I live. Pitty they won't have a case modding comp (They recon there's no point cause the rich *******s who go will win cause they can afford to make there cases specy, But I've barely put $100AUS into this project) Until Then Catchya all
