Project Red HL2 [UPDATED DEC 24 - 100% COMPLETE]

So here I am planning my first proper mod, it's not an overly awe aspiring mod like Orac3 but its something I want to do, with a bit of everything, including a case skin, window, lighting, PSone LCD, some switches and electrical fixings.

Here are some pics of the design I have made:


Left View

Right View


Top View


Front View


Top-Left View


Side Window


All Angles

I'm planning to order the case next week, its a coolermaster stacker with 12 5 1/4" bays, and hopefully I can get the case skin design sent off to America for them to print and cut so that it'll arrive back in England ready for me when I get back from Spain (Another holiday! ).

Some feedback please, I am still unsure about the picture on the top of the case, but I'll still be searching for a better one, there will be 3 blowholes on the top.

The front panel:
PSone LCD
Aerocool Gatewatch Fan Controller
DVD Drive
DVD-RW Drive
Key Lock - to turn the computer on!, and memory card reader with floppy
120mm green fan
6 switches, wired to turn off the fan LEDs when necessary
USB/Firewire/Headphone Sockets

Specs are in my sig, I haven't actually bought the components yet, but I have put them in my sig for some reason!

Oh yea, don't think "Not another HL2 Mod", cos it isn't really!

 

Woah, sweeet sketchup there my man! hope it looks as good in the end result. I will be following your mod closely

 

In my opinion,... I'd skip the aerogate and spring for a nice VFD/ LCD with temp monitoring and fan control. If you can't, get something that does the job but is kind of plain or something that can be easily modified so that it looks like it belongs with the case. You have all that great custom work and BANG,... Aerogate Gatewatch,... right there, in its normal state. It will stick out. You know? Everything else is hot though!

 

wow HL2! i will be waiting for the final result of your mod. good luck!

 

so, pray tell. what motherboard will you be using? I'll make it so you can update your sketchup

 

You think the G-Man looks ok with all the fans on him? Could you maybe realign those or something? Looks good though.

Edit: Also doesn't the Stacker have that thing on the sidepanel that your putting the window on? I'd just make sure of the dimensions that it will be cut off.

 

I like the Aerogate, but I do see your point - I already spotted that actually - and have been looking for other controllers. If its a single bay controller the spare bay will be used as a drawer - see here, I wanted this in in the first place, but didn't have the space!
I once saw a review on about 20 fan controllers, it was a fab review but I cannot find the article, I think it was Toms Hardware, but cannot find it. If anyone can find it for me I'll be grateful.

I'm using the DFI Lanparty - here, and it'll be cool if you could do the sketchup for me! Could you do the Gigabyte G-Power HSF here ? That is the HSF I am buying.

As for the G-Man, I am still looking for a better picture, especially of one that will blend in better with the pictures on the side panel.

As for the side panel, yes, but that will be completely cut out anyway, I've checked, no problems!

I am doing the sketchup (15MB file) on a 2.6Ghz P4 Laptop, and I tell ya, rendering is as slow as hell after putting all the pieces together!

 

I'll try, i'll do them on sunday, k?

 

Sure!

 

One side... yes. Top and the window'ed side i dont like it. I think one side would be enough, dont really like the top. The side panel would be better without the girl.

 

Finally got the case!

So, 4 hours late the Amtrack people finally delivered my Coolermaster Stacker and Gigabyte G-Power HSF (see article here). And my god, isn't the case heavy, at 20Kg it is a lot heavier than I though it would be, and bigger!


Big mighty box, pretty badly damaged tbh, luckily the case wasn't.


The stuff I ordered + Psone car adaptor all the way from Greece (LCD mod)


Gigabyte G-Power



Case insides


Comparison with a standard side computer on the left/front

It is a beauty with aluminium side panels, which is surprisingly light. It makes me scared that I will have to cut this up!

I've started the LCD mod, will post pics tomorrow when I get the car adaptor modded.

I will also get my caseskin designs done tonight and emailed to America tomorrow.

Specs for this computer:
Athlon 64 4000+ San Diego
Gigabyte 6800 Ultra
Western Digital Raptor 74GB (+120GB SATA)
2GB RAM
With some other stuff

 

where you getting the skins from?
and how much are you reckont hey will cost.

btw, good work on the sketchup plans, mine now look a little piss weak.

 

GIVE me the meshy stuff from the side

 

Some changes, and a vote

I've changed the design slightly, there won't be 3 fans at the top due to case structure problems, just 1 (in the middle)

I have also changed the design of the case skin (from PolyGFX), so which do you like best? (These are only rough versions with edges not completly cut etc)

Design 1 (Left) or Design 2 (Middle) or Design 3 (Right)



The large white area is the side window. The square hole at the top is the fan hole. The semi circle is the CM cover thingy - see pics, and the translucent square on the upside pic is the ventilator.

Audience, vote now!

EDIT: Decided to put another in.

 

I think 2 is the best, tho i like 3 aswell, 1 just dosent do it for me

 

I vote for 3. 2 is just to empty i think.

 

3 looks good

 

i would take 3 too

 

I would go with three, but maybe take the glowing HL2 logo from 2?

 

That's what I've done! I've also scrapped 1 because its too much - athlough I've actually spent hours doing the thing!

But I do like the left panel on design 2. So may actually opt for that!

Trying to get this done today so that I can order it before I go on holiday on Sunday (gotta get up at 4am )