Sneak Peak of in progress mods to "Main"-Update: Side Panel (56k warning)

Here's a link to pics of current 'in progress' mods to my main PC, aptly called, "Main" ;)
http://www.gam.net.au/pcmods/sneakpeek/index.html

Summary of stages represented:
- Earlier mod to fan holes, CPU side vent (air duct) and handles.
- Previous cable management mod is great but needs refinement. The TTBT accessing and mounting alternative works very nicely too.
- 'As good as new' mod... sort of. Reduced the rpm of my 6800GT, in "Server", to 3800 from 4400 and dropped 4c degrees. I thoroughly cleaned the GPU heatsink and fan!
- Recent front bezel 'MeshX' centre piece and front intake for front fans.
- The most recent window mod has been a real pain. Very fiddly and time consuming... badly planned (i.e., unplanned ;)). Nearly there, but still a bit to do yet.


I have been taking photos as I go. I'm endeavouring to put together a few guides on the subject... down the track.

Cheers

Looks good GAM, got my opty in one of those boxes -- some tidy fan guard removal there :)

Cheers jimwah. All the fan grills were removed some ago. There's an error on one of the front ones. I didn't change from the 92mm to 80mm holesaw before I started... oops ;) Actually been quite a few 'oops' along the way.

I'm the master of 'oops' so no worries there. I don't even attempt mod's more complex than cable tying things together anymore, I'm a danger to myself & others with power tools ;)

Looks good.

"oops" is not the word for when i thought i destroyed my v2000b side panel modding it. I put two 120 intaks on the left side just before the mobo tray.

It's a dodgy photo (out of focus), but there is a subpanel, lower right, that houses two 120mm intake holes. One for a fan over the PCI slots and the other for the CPU HSF intake.
http://www.gam.net.au/mods-main/snea...89.25a.crp.htm
(haha, my wife just popped by and had a look at the sidepanel. "What have you done? That looks s:banana::banana:t." LOL, well it does at the moment, as it is still covered with various protective/guide tape, pencil/texta lines etc. ;))

The following shot shows the original sidepanel mod where I cut a 120mm hole for the CPU intake and a 92mm hole for the GPU fan. I had the GB GA8i945p-Pro in the case at that time and the CPU was located a good 25mm or so further back. That hole well and truly took out the latch. I wanted it back (as I seem to open and close my case all the time :rolleyes:), hence all the fiddly, trial and error, work refitting the latch into the window.
http://www.gam.net.au/mods-main/snea...45.25a.crp.htm

@jimwah, I love powertools :D, but I get a bit carried away sometimes ;).
@smopoim86, there were a couple of occassions where I thought I'd totally ruined my sidepanel, like the first mod which took out the latch, and during these current mods. I've managed to recover though, fortunately ;).

Hmm, looking good! And don't mind some of those oops moments, it is what can sometimes give a case character :D

I have an unfinished case project as well, unfortunately with me being at school I really can't do much with it. Good thing is, it is for my brother so he gets to pay for everything :D bad thing is he doesn't have much money :( so I'm limited what I can do but I think we can work within the small budget. Besides, by the time I get time to work on it maybe he'll have more money to play with :)

Side panel window with latch, CPU intake and GPU/PCI side fan... done!

Still things to do like replace certain screws, painting/finish? (at least touching up), remove material from front 'door' (top), replace ex-TTBT fan in side panel, build CPU duct from clear acyrlic?, cable management mod refinement (replace certain cables, expand some holes, etc), attempt to cover up/rectify mistakes, etc... off the top of my head ;)

Some pics (150-250KB each):
http://www.gam.net.au/mods-main/snea...47.5.a.crp.jpg
http://www.gam.net.au/mods-main/snea...56.5.a.crp.jpg
http://www.gam.net.au/mods-main/snea...57.5.a.crp.jpg
http://www.gam.net.au/mods-main/snea...59.5.a.crp.jpg
http://www.gam.net.au/mods-main/snea...61.5.a.crp.jpg
http://www.gam.net.au/mods-main/snea...64.5.a.crp.jpg

Because I didn't plan ANYTHING with this mod, lots of trial and error time spent working this out right (note the errors too-fan holes too big ;)):
http://www.gam.net.au/mods-main/snea...53.5.a.crp.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SparkyJJO

Hmm, looking good! And don't mind some of those oops moments, it is what can sometimes give a case character :D

I have an unfinished case project as well, unfortunately with me being at school I really can't do much with it. Good thing is, it is for my brother so he gets to pay for everything :D bad thing is he doesn't have much money :( so I'm limited what I can do but I think we can work within the small budget. Besides, by the time I get time to work on it maybe he'll have more money to play with :)

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Let's hope he's got the money to let your creativity flow uninhibited ;)

Couldn't help myself, in the absence of the intended full worklog/guide, I have to post some updates on the latest touches to the front panel... now, let there be some light! :D

http://www.gam.net.au/pcmods/sneakpe...MG4747.25a.jpg

http://www.gam.net.au/pcmods/sneakpe...MG4748.25a.jpg

http://www.gam.net.au/pcmods/sneakpe...MG4749.25a.jpg

http://www.gam.net.au/pcmods/sneakpe...MG4750.25a.jpg

http://www.gam.net.au/pcmods/sneakpe...MG4751.25a.jpg

Sorry about the quality of the pics, too lazy to get the tripod out for the 'lighted' shots. ...next time. ;)

btw, the acrylic on the front panel is actually purple and the side panel window is a black tinted colour.

Additional notes:
- Most visible fans behind acrylic (new) are clear, non-led Antec Tri-cools.
- All CCFLs and LEDs are white.