Thx! This is build #2. To be honest everytime I started the M$ installation I found myself looking for excuses to have fun with the case and not deal with the software crap.

bjp999 - The cages are still a PIA to get in and out. It was easy at 1st, but now I have a lot of wiring for all the fans etc. I wound up using mainly the knockout punch set that deees recommended. I didn't really need the nibbler (cool tool tho) and didn't use the dremel till the 3rd build. The knockout punch set lists the dies by the pipe ID. Add 1/2" to the die size for the actual OD hole size. Ex. the 3/4" die cuts a 1 1/4" hole. You can fit an IDE cable through this by bending the head as shown below. The 24 pin PS connector will fit through a 1 3/4" hole using the same method. If you have a bunch of wires to route, put the cables with the big plugs through the access hole 1st lol. BTW - I think Antec owes you a lifetime supply of Nine Hundreds! Look at what you started.



MetalRush - I found the best look was primer then flat black for the interior. I tried paint only and the result was blotchy. cabbspapp - I only sanded to remove scratches & tool marks (as shown in my 1st post, pic #6). One touch with the die grinder at 20,000 rpm - done. I did experiment by giving the 1st cage a light sand with 400 grit for tooth and no sanding on the second. I saw no difference in the results. Follow the instructions on the paint can. I usually gave 1/2 hour between coats. 1 coat primer, 2 coats flat black. If you wait more than an hour the next coat of paint can wrinkle (and you have to wait 3 - 5 days before recoating). Let the final coat dry overnight before handling. No one is going to wait a week for the paint to fully harden so expect mars. The HDD cages scratch while moving them in and out. If any scratches are visible from the side I touch them up with a black magic marker. This works well for any small scratches. The 1st set of HDD cage pics show the flat black finish. Later pics have a semi flat black paint on them. Semi flat matches the exterior finish well, but I prefer the flat black interior. Painting in the winter sux.. even in CA. Stinks up the house moving the parts inside to dry. This damn camera picks up flaws that you don't see with the naked eye.

sLomax - There are custom holes for the HDDs. You can see the 1 1/4" hole in the side views (final build wound up with 3 on the right and 1 on the left side bays, bottom right is for the HDDs). I also had to file an opening big enough to slip a molex connector through on the HDD cage itself. I used a hand file for this. File the opening where the molex passes through the side:



mbrocketry - sweet PS mod! All - theraputic isn't it I gotta quit reading this thread and getting new ideas to try and finish installing M$, yuk (XP, Vista, and Linux partitions).


Build 2 was pretty simple. Add a modular PS and 3rd HDD. The 1st mod was to accomodate the 120mm PS fan on the bottom (added taller case feet in build 4). Time to cut a 5" hole (I should say wear a hole through, the hole saw I used was not for metal):



Next up install the 3rd HDD and modify the SATA modular power cable with 90˚ connectors:



Here is what the side wiring and interior look like now:



Build 2 finished shots:




I'll combine build 3 & 4 into one post next.

Build 3 is changing to a slot loading DVDRW. Build 4 adds taller blue feet for airflow to the PS, a blue CCFL, lots more blue fans and a blue backlit kyb. OW|Mommy, my wife and kids like the blue so I went a lil nuts. The Abit IN9 32X-MAX is backlit with blue leds all over the back of the mobo.. looks cool!





-Sailrabbit