A Positive Look at the Antec Nine Hundred (900) Case

[slamz]

So theres no use with those two holes they supply?

there's lots of use

[Fredthered]

Hi Guys
Just revisited the Forum, after a period of abscence, and doing a little catching up.
If I'm not already too late: Please, Please do NOT use MDF as backing/support when you're drilling, filing or anything !!!
I believe that the dust given off is carsigenic and we don't want to lose any members to Cancer, do we ?
Due to the thinness of the metal, by all means, use normal wood backing, whenever possible, but junk your MDF !

Thanks very much =>WiLL<=, DaIceMan and others, who are thinking about any of the mods I've done.
Looking at your fantastic cool cases, I can only say I feel highly honoured
When I originally posted, I didn't know how to insert a photo (only a link) so it made it very hard to find again.
I've now edited it, with them now included. (Now P.35 & 36).
If anyone wants step by step photos or more info, just give me a PM

All the best
Cheers for now
Fredthered

[SpazBoy357]

Fred is correct that MDF contains ingredients that are carcinogens, but only one that isn't contained in plain old wood.

See the MSDS for it here. (Open the PDF and look down to page 6.)

However, some very basic precautions can greatly reduce the dangers. A dust mask and good ventilation is all you need.

And how many things that we do would benefit from those precautions? Spray paint & primer, solder, sanding & using cutting disks, etc, etc, etc. All have the possibility of dust and/or vapors that are best avoided. Safety first!

[kraifect]

there's lots of use

Woah I never realized you did that with the two holes they cut.. I might do what you did tommrow that looks really clean..

[=>WiLL<=]

Woah I never realized you did that with the two holes they cut.. I might do what you did tommrow that looks really clean..

Looks new, but I would not say clean.

@Fredthered: good to see ya back.

[d_mon1]

Hi, this is my 1st post ever, but i've been watching this thread for a while now. I am saving up for a computer, it'll be my first build ever and i see lots of good ideas here.

The first time I saw the antec 900 case i knew i was going to use it as my build. But i don't have any tools to make holes on it so i wanted to ask, do you guys know of any places where i can pay them to do it for me?

The new ones come with two premade holes, but i think i'll need at least three more to make my case look clean. Any ideas?

[SpazBoy357]

Hi, this is my 1st post ever, but i've been watching this thread for a while now. I am saving up for a computer, it'll be my first build ever and i see lots of good ideas here.

The first time I saw the antec 900 case i knew i was going to use it as my build. But i don't have any tools to make holes on it so i wanted to ask, do you guys know of any places where i can pay them to do it for me?

The new ones come with two premade holes, but i think i'll need at least three more to make my case look clean. Any ideas?

First, to XS!

Second, if you don't know anyone with basic tools like a drill that could give you a hand, it would probably be cheaper to buy the tools than to pay someone to work on your case for you.

I don't see a location in your profile, but you can search the web for some basic tools and find them at a reasonable price.

You can get an electric drill for $50 and a sheet-metal nibbler for under $10. If you could find someone willing to do your mods for you, you would probably end up paying more than that. Those two tools should cover you through your first projects and you'll get a lot more satisfaction doing it yourself.

[Fredthered]

Hi
Yes, Welcome d_mon1
Some excellent advice there, from SpazBoy.
I would add.
Get yourself a scrap pc case, from your local junkyard, and wreak havoc on it.
With a small drill-bit and rat-tail file,, you can create more or less any size or shape of hole you wish, finishing it off with a Medium Half-round file.
First of all, scribe (scratch) your desired shape into the paint/bare metal of your case, then (with some scrap wood G-Clamped behind, as support) centre punch then drill a series of small holes (closely together) INSIDE your marked line. (allowing for half the diameter of the drill-bit + a 'midge's-****' for luck!).
Afterwards, join up your holes, using your rat-tail file, or (unlike me) if your rich prosperous and SKILLED a cutting wheel, mounted in a drill or 'dremel'.
(Don't forget the EYE PROTECTION ! ).
Before finally filing down to your line, with the medium file.
To get the idea, below, is my first attempt at my 900
(Which is why I'm recommending a scrap case, first ! ) :



Notice (at '11 o' clock') on the cut-out, the 'trauma' caused to the metal, as the drill 'bit' though ! caused by me being lazy, and using too large a drill-bit. Needless to say, I rapidly downsized !
(Fortunately the aperture needed to be larger than I first thought, and I was able to remove the damaged area. Phew !).
The final shape is just down to sweat and filework.
You can always do the same, but on a smaller scale, with a very small drill bit and set of 'modeller's' files :



Go on ! Have a go ! I KNOW you can do it.
Just take your time, and remember: You can always 'shave' a little more off, BUT, you can't put it back !!!

Cheers
Fredthered

[pustbunker]

there's lots of use

Agreed. Altough it looks better with some holes.

This was mine with use of the 2 holes:





Finally got around to cutting some holes to flip the PSU. So after, it looks like this:



So if you want to do it right you gotta get a drill


Also did a side panel 'mod'. Someone in this thread mentioned he used a clipboard to create a black triangle for the side panel (thanks for the tip!!) and I did the same. Looks pretty nice if you ask me, and it silences the case a bit too.



And with the lights on:

[sailrabbit]

Hi, this is my 1st post ever, but i've been watching this thread for a while now. I am saving up for a computer, it'll be my first build ever and i see lots of good ideas here.

The first time I saw the antec 900 case i knew i was going to use it as my build. But i don't have any tools to make holes on it so i wanted to ask, do you guys know of any places where i can pay them to do it for me?

The new ones come with two premade holes, but i think i'll need at least three more to make my case look clean. Any ideas?

If you don't have a cordless drill.. get one. Get a good one as you will wind up using it a lot.

The easiest method for smaller holes is a step drill: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=96275

You will pay a fraction for tools what a custom build would cost.

[SpazBoy357]

@d_mon1 - Fredthered gives good advice. Eye protection is absolutely required when working with metal. And a good recommendation to practice on a junk case. I went dumpster diving behind a few of the local PC repair shops and found an antique Compaq that was prime for some hacking and slashing. Probably saved me from having to replace a side panel or two (or more).

Sailrabbit also gives a great tip about using the step drills. One way to make cable management slots is to drill two holes and then connect them with a nibbler, saw, or Dremel.

Definitely, do this yourself, the satisfaction is worth more than you could ever spend on tools. Remember a few things:

1) Safety first. Eye & hearing protection. Good ventilation. Dust mask. Good lighting.
2) Measure twice, cut once. Like Fredthered says, "You can always cut off more, you can't put it back."
3) Take your time.
4) Realize that you will get frustrated at some time. Working mad is almost a guaranteed way to screw up something, take a step back and breathe.

[Maxw]

My advice would be similar to what everyone's given, but the tools I'm happiest with is my Dremel, it's a brilliant piece of kit and I'd recommend it for anyone! The other is my cordless drill, it's very useful I do use my normal drill for somethings but the cordless is the one I use the most. They were worth the money and it feels good when you can look back and see what you've done, it makes the case yours rather than someone elses creation.

As everyone has said, wear eye protection! Try not to scratch them as it gets annoying and that's when you take them off and get a piece of metal in your eye.

[Fredthered]

4) Realize that you will get frustrated at some time. Working mad is almost a guaranteed way to screw up something, take a step back and breathe.

+1 Have a ciggy, or cup of coffee.
' Speak ' to it ! (they like that).

Cheers
Fredthered

[slamz]

Agreed. Altough it looks better with some holes.

oh yeah, i know. whick is why i'll be cutting it up next time i take it apart

[kraifect]

Ok so so far i've put the 24pin power connector into the premade holes and the two (4 pin or 8 pin I forget ) wires through the holes that connect to the graphics card.
I still need to buy a 8pin extension cord for my power thing whatever its called :P the wires to short.
My question is though where do you guys put your molex connectors? Since I have 4 fans ( one at back, one at top, and two in front ) as someone els said it looks like a giant lego but where els can I put it to hide it? And remember I also have cold cathode lights which hook up to molex connectors also so they have to fit in there to.

[slamz]

i put mine next the where the drive bays are, as the gap between that and the case side is bigger

[kraifect]

The back fans reached all the way to the front?

[HuffPCair]

Here are some pictures of mine. I am getting a bigger power supply soon with longer cables so I can do better cable management so don't hate to much on it. lol Plus I am still new at it.
Also been looking to get into water cooling.
My setup is a Q6600 with Tuniq cooler
4 GB RAM
500W soon to be 800W probably
9800GTX+ that I just started to overclock a little.

And sorry these were taken on my webcam cause I dont have a very good camera and cant find it lol

[kraifect]

Seems like the 900 thread is dead for some time...

[ericsuhh]

Seems like the 900 thread is dead for some time...

A Positive Look at the Antec Twelve Thousand (1200) Case

[seismicshift]

Still Nine Hundred (900) for me. 1200 way too big to place on top of my desk.

[ScottAllyn]

I meant to post these when I first signed up to the forums... and then forgot.





A few shots of the parts immediately after I sprayed the case:

http://www.scottallyn.com/images/Antec900/1.jpg
http://www.scottallyn.com/images/Antec900/2.jpg
http://www.scottallyn.com/images/Antec900/3.jpg
http://www.scottallyn.com/images/Antec900/4.jpg

That MSI board bit the dust shortly after I took these photos and has been replaced with an EVGA board, but it looks pretty much the same on the inside. I'll be retiring this setup in a couple of months - 'already got my Mountain Mods case. w00!

[PakaPaka]

Who are you ?

[HuffPCair]

Hahahahahaha that is awesome I would of never even noticed that.

[ScottAllyn]

I was having a bad hair day when I took those photos...

It's actually a reflection of this little fella:

http://www.scottallyn.com/images/Ant...0-Outside1.jpg