Silverstone TJ09 modding?

[SoulsCollective]

Hey all
After seeing the many things that have been done to the great TJ07, I was considering getting one myself to house my rig; the bland and featureless nature of the Kandalf is starting to piss me off, as well as restricting my ability to use a second rad without having to hang one off the back and have it suck in hot air.

Looking at it's newer brother, though, the TJ09, I can't help but think this may be even better.


http://www.silverstonetek.com/images/products/tj09/view-1.jpg
Front
http://www.silverstonetek.com/images/products/tj09/view-3.jpg
Rear side
http://www.silverstonetek.com/images/products/tj09/view-4.jpg
Back
http://www.silverstonetek.com/images/products/tj09/view-5.jpg
Front side
More images from the TechLounge (http://www.thetechlounge.com/article+images/391/SilverStone+TJ09+FullTower+Case/) review, which may give more of an idea of what I'm on about.

So, here's what I'm thinking in order to get a w/c loop in there.

1) Lose the top two 120mm fan mounts and the top mesh grill, and extend the cut-out further towards the top-ports. This should give enough room to get a 360mm rad in there to suck cool air from outside the case.
2) Remove the front intake fan mounting mechanism and replace with a 240mm rad (may extend slightly above and below actual opening. I'll use a 120mm if it does too much). The fan doesn't actually suck air from the HDD area, as may not be clear from the above photo, but instead from vents on either side of the case - the TechLounge photos may be of more use to illustrate this point. This, again, will give the rad access to cool, outside air.

So, does anyone know of any mods like this done to the case? Will it work?

[Vice]

Looks interesting, and it seems like you know what you want.

Seeing as how new this case is, no one has really had a chance to play around with it, so hey, grab a dremel, and see where it takes you!

~Vice

[SoulsCollective]

Cheers :) I'm also toying with the idea of fitting a single-stage in the HDD bay area, but I'll work out the w/c bit first.

No other comments? Noone's tried this?

[xVeinx]

This case has been modded by a few people in other forums. A post in the news section had one shown, although the mod sucked horribly. Anyways, I think you have some good ideas. What I've been told about the case is that it is exceptionally nice, and that the only down side is that the sides of the case are a little thin. Good luck!

[coolrmaster]

hot air rises so you'll want the top rad to exhaust out the top of the case

screen looks kinda wide so you will probably have to make a custom grill for the top, also not a lot of room between top of case and top of mobo

there's easier ways to do this via the tj-07 or the old school stacker cases

good luck, you'll need it

[picard]

this is already an excellent case. It is un-necessary to modify it.

[SoulsCollective]

hot air rises so you'll want the top rad to exhaust out the top of the case
I know, but that'd mean that it's using hot air - mounting a radiator behind the mid intake fan will mean that the air that will be used to cool that, and that therefore has picked up heat from the coolant stream (and from all the other hardware in the case), would be then being used again to cool the larger rad. This will give some serious efficiency issues. Dodgy MS-Paint theoretical airflow illustration below.


61461

Essentially, there'll be two different cooling flows at top and bottom, which should help keep the PSU cool. I realise that there are efficiency issues here as well, but I believe the benefits will outweigh the costs.

screen looks kinda wide so you will probably have to make a custom grill for the top, also not a lot of room between top of case and top of mobo
The mesh at the top is 120mm wide, apparently - just enough for the fans. Even so, I'd be making up my own grill anyway, as the mesh isn't long enough for 3x120mm fans. Clearance is indeed an issue, but I've been digging around for pics and came across one over at [H] (I know, I know, I was only looking) that showed a PA120.3 mounted at the top, albeit with minimal clearance.

good luck, you'll need it
Cheers mate :)

this is already an excellent case. It is un-necessary to modify it.
Lul whut? I'm going to have to mod it to fit a w/c loop in there. The top fans aren't spaced correctly for me to simply hang a rad off the fan mounts, and in any case, that would restrict me to only being able to use a 240mm rad.

[Rilla927]

This is beautiful case. I have been inquiring recently about this case and every person that had one said it has excellent airflow. Yes, it's a tad thin but that doesn't mean it's not workable just like any other.

It's a tough call between the new Lian Li PC-A70 coming out soon.

http://www.lian-li.com/index.php

The new Tj-10 will be out soon too. It looks like the Tj-09 but with a door on the front.

Good luck too which ever you choose and give us pics.

[SoulsCollective]

This is beautiful case. I have been inquiring recently about this case and every person that had one said it has excellent airflow. Yes, it's a tad thin but that doesn't mean it's not workable just like any other.f you know anyone with the case, could you get them to measure out the dimensions of the mesh grill on the top? I've been told it's 120mm wide, but it'd be good to confirm both width and length, so I know how much I'll need to cut.

Thin material is not a huge issue (I'm generally a bit obsessive about my PC, so it's very unlikely it'll get knocked around too much), and in fact might be a bit of a bonus as it'll be that much easier to hack up.

The new Tj-10 will be out soon too. It looks like the Tj-09 but with a door on the front.Never been a fan of doored cases, so I think I'll go with the TJ-09. Thanks for the info, though.

Good luck too which ever you choose and give us pics.
Cheers, will do. I'll get a full build log up when I get everything together, as it seems the general consensus is that this'll be workable.

[Rilla927]

I will look around for you and see if I can find those dimensions you are looking for at a few other places also.

[SoulsCollective]

Cheers mate, appreciate the help.

Edit: Also, could you get the length from the back of the case to the pop-out top ports, and the height and width of the intake vent for the mid-intake fan (the one behind the HDD area)?

[Rilla927]

Top Mesh Grill 11 3/4 x 6 1/4

Here is a 46 page thread with mods done on the Tj-09.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1080113

[SoulsCollective]

Cheers for that. I did have a look through that thread, but noone there has done anything like what I'm proposing to do. The w/c build all are just using 240mm rads attached to the original fan brackets.

Pansies :p:

Check out the awesome shipping damage (http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1030798782&postcount=633) some poor bugger suffered...

[.Logic]

Check out the awesome shipping damage (http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1030798782&postcount=633) some poor bugger suffered...

Good to see silverstone coming up with some new abstract designs eh?

[SoulsCollective]

Haha yeah :D

Case ordered, should be arriving mid August. Just trying to decide what rads to use atm. First up will be powder-coating the inside a uniform black and maybe fitting castors.

[Origin_Unknown]

Good to see silverstone coming up with some new abstract designs eh?

jesus christ.... i almost cried when i opened that link!!!

the case looks awesome in black though

[albertyin]

I also want to mod this case with water cooling
but still waiting for my rad and some water blocks.....
Cheers

[Rilla927]

Nice choice! You can post some pics for us after you get it done.

[SoulsCollective]

I also want to mod this case with water cooling
but still waiting for my rad and some water blocks.....
Great :) What had you planned to do? Similar to my idea or a different implementation again?

Nice choice! You can post some pics for us after you get it done.
Cheers, will do.

[albertyin]

I'm still thinking about it.....
I just wonder how to amount the Pa.120.2 on the top...
and I'll use 2*PA120.1, one in the back, the other back to the HDD
it may take me one month to finish it XD

[EJTREM3]

i have one, and i soo happy whith this case, i have before a TT armor, and when change at silverstone my temps drops around of 30% overhall.
i have a black edicion with window, and the config fans is
Top pushh off case air
rear push off case air,
i have one kama bay on front case with 120mm silverstone fan
and fan stock of intake vga.

i planning paint case with metalized paint in navy blue, and ac ryan blackfire 4 interior fans.

and sorry for my poor english

[SoulsCollective]

I'm still thinking about it.....
I just wonder how to amount the Pa.120.2 on the top...
You won't have to hack up the top of the case, as the existing mesh will be long enough, but you will have to remove the existing fan mounting bracketry - it's too thick when combined with the size of the Thermochill rads and will interfere with your mobo.

i have one, and i soo happy whith this case, i have before a TT armor, and when change at silverstone my temps drops around of 30% overhall.
i have a black edicion with window, and the config fans is
Top pushh off case air
rear push off case air,
i have one kama bay on front case with 120mm silverstone fan
and fan stock of intake vga.

i planning paint case with metalized paint in navy blue, and ac ryan blackfire 4 interior fans.

and sorry for my poor english
Sounds good :) So you're not modding it, just replacing the fans?

[Rilla927]

i have one, and i soo happy whith this case, i have before a TT armor, and when change at silverstone my temps drops around of 30% overhall.
i have a black edicion with window, and the config fans is
Top pushh off case air
rear push off case air,
i have one kama bay on front case with 120mm silverstone fan
and fan stock of intake vga.

i planning paint case with metalized paint in navy blue, and ac ryan blackfire 4 interior fans.

and sorry for my poor english
Good to see more people working with this case. You all can show us pics when your done.

The navy blue sounds nice, can't wait to see it. I love looking at other peoples cases.

Can you give a link to ac ryan blackfire fans? Never heard of them.

[Origin_Unknown]

Top Mesh Grill 11 3/4 x 6 1/4

Here is a 46 page thread with mods done on the Tj-09.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1080113

thank you for that link, im having a look through that thread right now.

I do really want this case but i also want watercooling :( a custom case is the way forward i feel :p

[Airblazer™]

It's a great case alright..I'm looking to order the side panel with the window so I can make use of lighting.
It does get dirty very easy as fingerprints leave a mark on the black case as least but it's easy to clean off. Nice and light chassis as well although I wouldn't mind the side panels being another mm thicker.

[cantankerous]

make the side panels thicker and beef up the stock internal fan and the case would be complete IMO. Make the center fan easily swappable like every other fan in the case wouldn't hurt either.

[Rilla927]

thank you for that link, im having a look through that thread right now.

I do really want this case but i also want watercooling :( a custom case is the way forward i feel :p
You welcome;)

[albertyin]

You won't have to hack up the top of the case, as the existing mesh will be long enough, but you will have to remove the existing fan mounting bracketry - it's too thick when combined with the size of the Thermochill rads and will interfere with your mobo.

so I wonder how could I mount the rad.......
did anyone give me some advice?
and the top panel is also a little thin, could it afford the weight of 120.2+fans?

[SoulsCollective]

so I wonder how could I mount the rad.......
did anyone give me some advice?
Easy enough. The mesh is a continuous strip, so all you have to do is secure the rad to the top of the case and line it up so the fans are beneath the mesh.

and the top panel is also a little thin, could it afford the weight of 120.2+fans?
Sure, that should be fine.

[albertyin]

I already thought how to fix the rad, but still waiting for the material
maybe this case can be finished moding in August

[SoulsCollective]

W00t! ETA for the case is next Thursday. Let's hope my new rad &c arrive by then...

[Rilla927]

Wow! Thats great.

Time has went by quick. Can't wait to see the progress.