The Project - Breathing new life into an older case

FairDoos said:
Are you planning on changing the buttons? In my opinion those buttons are Ew. xD
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Don't know as yet.. Putting off machining the front panel until last. The plastic is an ABS or PVC type stuff and is a bit difficult to machine. Plus the switches are actually mounted on the silver piece. So to make it work I have to find a button that would cover the area of the oval button and fit the post on the switch. Will have to look in the parts box for some buttons I took of a couple other old cases and see what I can do..
 
Diagram of the targeted airflow. The top fan has not been decided yet. I have a couple of pics of approximate position and sizes for the top exhaust fan. I was going after using a 120mm for the top but I might have to settle for a 90mm. The case itself is billed as a mid tower but it seems a little on the small side comparatively. Space planning is going to be a little on the tight side with the top fan.

airflow.jpg
 
project

I love watching projects like this! I wish I could do one too now, but I cant be doing that stuff in the dorm. Oh well, next year.

Have you thought about keeping the 3.5 slot? I know plenty of people who still need that drive.

Or you could convert it into a really cool cup holder (lol)

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Front cover

Would it be possible to Dremel out the floppy opening so you could install a internal card reader. and it still be centered on the cover?
 
^ It'd be possible but it would need some bondo work, the card reader has a flat front cover, the front bezel is curved.

BTW, looking nice OP!
 
Looks good...:D

Keep it going, I have to see this.


****EDIT****

Is it just me or is there enough room for a 120mm fan in the front?
 
bluecity said:
Would it be possible to Dremel out the floppy opening so you could install a internal card reader. and it still be centered on the cover?
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Wouldn't be centered no matter what I did. 3.5 mounts are off center from the 5.25 bays and without shifting the sheet metal to center the box there would be no way. Better bet would be to put a multi-function card reader/controller in one of the 5.25 bays.

Ramomar said:
^ It'd be possible but it would need some bondo work, the card reader has a flat front cover, the front bezel is curved.

BTW, looking nice OP!
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I could machine it out and provide a flat mount (though off centered). Worst problem, aside from making sure I had adhesives that would bond it all together, would be a look similar to this on a Dell I have in the shop:

dell.jpg


Going to try and keep the smooth curved lines of the bezel. Best I can hope for so far is to construct a curved piece that I can bond in there and make the lower front smooth. Since that part of the bezel if I do that will get painted, filling seam lines isn't too difficult. Or to just leave it alone and retain the functional floppy. Have plenty of faceless drives so even though it might be dated tech wise at least it would work and not be an open hole.
 
ScOuT said:
Looks good...:D

Keep it going, I have to see this.


****EDIT****

Is it just me or is there enough room for a 120mm fan in the front?
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Under the face plate yes.. would have to cut some additional porting in the lower bezel to get air to it though.
 
After cutting. The holes will get backed with 3/16" honey combed aluminum mesh. (didn't get a chance to cut the mesh this evening)

This was on the chassis so I could get perspective on the position of the cut outs.

case039.jpg
case040.jpg

case041.jpg


Despite the optical illusion above, the cut outs are square and even.

case042.jpg
case043.jpg

case044.jpg


May have to use a split vinyl bead to cover the dimpling in the sheet metal. A gloss finish on the panel may make those visible. If I use a matt finish I can probably hide those without too much trouble.
 
This is excellent work. Very similar to what I'd done with my present box, a 1998 generic case with 2007 parts. Opened-up plastic grillework, cut out fan holes, etc. but still that crappy beige. I figured that anyone breaking into my house would see an old POS computer and not bother with it:D All the external panels are removeable plastic(!), so maybe painting would be an easy option next summer.

Well done so far!
 
OvenMaster said:
This is excellent work. Very similar to what I'd done with my present box, a 1998 generic case with 2007 parts. Opened-up plastic grillework, cut out fan holes, etc. but still that crappy beige. I figured that anyone breaking into my house would see an old POS computer and not bother with it:D All the external panels are removeable plastic(!), so maybe painting would be an easy option next summer.

Well done so far!
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Thank you :)

This is the first one that I have ever seriously taken the time to modify the case itself beyond putting an extra fan in a stock case. Since I'm doing this one as a multi-media rig I wanted it to look a little different. Most home and business stuff I do repairs on is pretty stock/boring.
 
Where the 80mm is on the front of your case change that to a 120mm

Get a hole cutter 120mm size obviously or close enough then just add the holes for the screws make sure you add an air filter infront of it though to stop the dust or anything getting into your computer :good:

Good Luck with your mod :)
 
FairDoos said:
Where the 80mm is on the front of your case change that to a 120mm

Get a hole cutter 120mm size obviously or close enough then just add the holes for the screws make sure you add an air filter infront of it though to stop the dust or anything getting into your computer :good:

Good Luck with your mod :)
Click to expand...

Actually that was the original idea. However when I did all the measurements I found that I didn't have enough space to put a 120 there. It would have interfered with the drive bay. As it is the case is surprisingly smaller than it looks.. just barely above a mini-tower in size.
 
update

I love what you were doing with that case. But I haven't seen you posting anything lately, any updates for us on the "creation"?
 
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