Just ordered new acrylic case

[jedimasterben]

This one:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811166006 (though Newegg has some pretty crappy pictures of it).

And then I ordered 7 blue LED Thermaltake Thunderblades, 5 80mm for the normal fan slots in the case, and 2 120mm that I'm gonna drill in the top.

I'm gonna flip the back & sides around for a BTXish style.

Those fans, combined with my 4870 (that has a blue LED) and my PSU that has green LEDs, this thing is gonna shine.

Anyone have any other ideas or suggestions for it? I'm up for all sorts of modding.

 

[JohnnyLucky]

Just remember everything, and I mean everything is going to be visible.

 

[Mousemonkey]

Get some 'snakeskin' sleeving if you can, great for keeping cabling tidy with very little effort.

 

[Guest]

Good luck with the build, would look at going with a "breating effect" with cold cathode lights, and google ways to keep it clean without scratching the case as acrylic scratches easily.


Lastly wiring would be key here so invest in some decent wiring tidies for the case

 

[The_Blood_Raven]

I did a build for someone once who wanted one of these (damn customers and their damn shopping). The build was an absolute BlTCH, especially since you need to build the case yourself. However it looks amazing with 12 3" cathodes and plenty of LED fans. The problem I found was stability, so I cut down 2 metal pipes and polished them to a near mirror finish and put them at the 2 corners of the case to keep it fully stable and it worked and looked great. A real pain of a mod, but I got into it.

 

[Mousemonkey]

I did a build for someone once who wanted one of these (damn customers and their damn shopping). The build was an absolute BlTCH, especially since you need to build the case yourself. However it looks amazing with 12 3" cathodes and plenty of LED fans. The problem I found was stability, so I cut down 2 metal pipes and polished them to a near mirror finish and put them at the 2 corners of the case to keep it fully stable and it worked and looked great. A real pain of a mod, but I got into it.

They are a joy to work on aren't they. :lol:

 

[ulysses35]

I like the idea... just dont like the idea oc all the cabling being visible. If It was me I would be tempted to black out the panel behind the mobo tray, that way you could hide some of the clutter.

I look forward to seeing the finished project

 

[Mousemonkey]

If It was me I would be tempted to black out the panel behind the mobo tray, that way you could hide some of the clutter.

That kind of defeats the object of the exercise.

 

[jedimasterben]

Just remember everything, and I mean everything is going to be visible.

I know, I've had the exact same case before, but I accidentally stripped the mounting holes for the motherboard (I tightened the screws a bit too tightly) and the motherboard started to fall.

Get some 'snakeskin' sleeving if you can, great for keeping cabling tidy with very little effort.
http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/2046/1000108sy.jpg
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1494/1000115o.jpg

My PSU has sleeved cables for the most part, and the ones that aren't sleeved are still VERY stiff, so they can be molded very easily.

That kind of defeats the object of the exercise.
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/4658/pict0074j.jpg

Since when did they start putting LED's on the back of motherboards??

Sorry I haven't replied sooner, I feel like a bad OP. I never received any emails about new posts in the thread, and today on my way home from work I was wondering why I hadn't had any replies, but sure enough!

I'm actually about to start. My friend doesn't get off work til 8:30 (EST), and he's got the dremel to cut the topside holes for the 120mm fans, so it won't be finished for a bit. I'll be sure to take some pictures (I wish my fiance's camera wasn't retarded, or else I'd be able to take good pictures. Wait, my sis is in town, and she's a pro photographer! Hi-yo!).

Wish me luck guys!

 

[Mousemonkey]

Since when did they start putting LED's on the back of motherboards??

It's an Abit IN9 32X-MAX Wi-Fi circa 2006/7 but the mobo it replaced, an Abit AN8 32X circa 2005/6 also had them.

 

[jedimasterben]

Nice! I've got an Asus P5N-D, but the only LED it has is the status of the board, green for good and red for bad.

I'm seriously thinking that I'll be able to light up my entire street at night with this thing!!

 

[jedimasterben]

Also, is it bad that when I first opened it up, I yelled "Where's my gloves, dammit!!"

 

[The_Blood_Raven]

I found the invoice, I always keep these things, this is what I bought for the acrylic build:

6 of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16800888031&cm_re=cathode-_-00-888-031-_-Product

And 6 of the green ones

a set of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811994016

And 1 of each of these (different model, but the same general thing): http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8194/lit-174/Logisys_48_12V_LED_Light_Strip_-_Green_LDS48GN.html?tl=g6c77s126 and http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8193/lit-173/Logisys_48_12V_LED_Light_Strip_-_Blue_LDS48BL.html?tl=g6c77s126

 

[Mousemonkey]

Also, is it bad that when I first opened it up, I yelled "Where's my gloves, dammit!!"

No, it's worrying that "and felt mat?" was not included.

 

[jedimasterben]

I found the invoice, I always keep these things, this is what I bought for the acrylic build:

6 of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16800888031&cm_re=cathode-_-00-888-031-_-Product

And 6 of the green ones

a set of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811994016

And 1 of each of these (different model, but the same general thing): http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8194/lit-174/Logisys_48_12V_LED_Light_Strip_-_Green_LDS48GN.html?tl=g6c77s126 and http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8193/lit-173/Logisys_48_12V_LED_Light_Strip_-_Blue_LDS48BL.html?tl=g6c77s126

Whoa. That's more lighting than I'd card to look into!!

No, it's worrying that "and felt mat?" was not included.

I actually just used a patch of carpet in a spare bedroom. It's all soft and whatnot. Although the static was a bit much at times, I just grounded myself on the power supply's grounding cable.

 

[jedimasterben]

So I got it all put together! It took like 5 hours (because I'm WAY too OCD about all the wires being everywhere). I started around 9PM (I was waiting for a friend to get off work to see if he wanted to help, but turns out he couldn't make it), and finished at 1:53AM, which resulted in a stream of obscenities, as I had to be here at work at 7:45, so I had to be up at 6:30.

All in all, it wasn't difficult, just time consuming to make sure I was using the right screws (as there was around 16 different kinds to choose from) and got the panels on straight.

I took a bunch of pics during the build, however, only had my camera on my phone, the LG Dare. It's better than most all other cameras on phones, but it still doesn't hold a candle to a normal camera. Stupid sister and her not wanting to come over!

My kitten, Clyde, on her never ending quest to find a new source of cheezburgers.

Found the dammit gloves!

Here is where I realized that I couldn't use the top as the bottom to make room for two large 120mm fans, as the slots to hold the drive bays upright were keyed in only one way.

She really doesn't give up.

And at this point, even trying to distract her doesn't keep her away for more than a minute.

After I've ripped out the guts of the old case. Goodbye, Chakra, you were a good case, but nowhere near clear enough.

The rest of the parts. Note the two graphics cards, mousemonkey. And yes, that's two laptop hard drives. I use them for backup of game images and software and stuff.

Check out the shine on that butterfly!

This is when the time consumption really began: hiding as much of the cabling as possible!

All closed up.

A close up for you, mousemonkey.

And voila! All done!! Now to reroute the cabling on my desk so I can keep it on my left now, instead of my right.

Evelyn 3.5, in all her glory!


Now I just have to cut the hole in the top for the 120mm fan and get a front panel for USB / Audio and everything will be peachy!

Thanks for staying with me, everybody! I look forward to your feedback.

Edit: Those last few images are just showing up as links for me, even though I have the

 

[Mousemonkey]

Looking good and not a cracked or scratched panel in sight but that's only because you had Clyde helping.

 

[jedimasterben]

Looking good and not a cracked or scratched panel in sight but that's only because you had Clyde helping.

I wish that I had a normal camera so the pictures didn't turn out blurry, I tried to get some from when she was tasting the case. She gnawed on it for a good 5 minutes before I even caught on to what she was doing. Didn't scratch it or anything though. It must have REALLY tasted like a cheezburger.

 

[Mousemonkey]

:lol: Awww bless.

 

[The_Blood_Raven]

Whoa. That's more lighting than I'd card to look into!!

They were only 10 LED strips, but I couldn't find those. Also it worked pretty well, the point was to eliminate shadows in the case so that one could see it clearly even in sunlight, his computer desk was in front of a large window.

Love your case and love the Cat, she is very cute.

 

[jedimasterben]

They were only 10 LED strips, but I couldn't find those. Also it worked pretty well, the point was to eliminate shadows in the case so that one could see it clearly even in sunlight, his computer desk was in front of a large window.

Love your case and love the Cat, she is very cute.

Oh, ok, that makes sense. I just thought that he wanted to get rid of all the other lights in the room.


My friend found her and her 4 siblings in a box outside a doctor's office. The people didn't even have the decency to take them to the shelter so they'd at least be out of the rain. I really hate people sometimes. Although I'm kinda glad they did, as now we have her, and all of her siblings have homes too.

 

[mattidallama]

So I got it all put together! It took like 5 hours (because I'm WAY too OCD about all the wires being everywhere). I started around 9PM (I was waiting for a friend to get off work to see if he wanted to help, but turns out he couldn't make it), and finished at 1:53AM, which resulted in a stream of obscenities, as I had to be here at work at 7:45, so I had to be up at 6:30.

All in all, it wasn't difficult, just time consuming to make sure I was using the right screws (as there was around 16 different kinds to choose from) and got the panels on straight.

I took a bunch of pics during the build, however, only had my camera on my phone, the LG Dare. It's better than most all other cameras on phones, but it still doesn't hold a candle to a normal camera. Stupid sister and her not wanting to come over!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/jedimasterben/0917091915.jpg

My kitten, Clyde, on her never ending quest to find a new source of cheezburgers.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/jedimasterben/0917092112.jpg

Found the dammit gloves!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/jedimasterben/0917092143.jpg

Here is where I realized that I couldn't use the top as the bottom to make room for two large 120mm fans, as the slots to hold the drive bays upright were keyed in only one way.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/jedimasterben/0917092222.jpg

She really doesn't give up.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/jedimasterben/0917092229a.jpg

And at this point, even trying to distract her doesn't keep her away for more than a minute.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/jedimasterben/0917092239.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/jedimasterben/0917092302.jpg

After I've ripped out the guts of the old case. Goodbye, Chakra, you were a good case, but nowhere near clear enough.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/jedimasterben/0917092302a.jpg

The rest of the parts. Note the two graphics cards, mousemonkey. And yes, that's two laptop hard drives. I use them for backup of game images and software and stuff.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/jedimasterben/0918090008.jpg

Check out the shine on that butterfly!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/jedimasterben/0918090008a.jpg

This is when the time consumption really began: hiding as much of the cabling as possible!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/jedimasterben/0918090102.jpg

All closed up.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/jedimasterben/0918090102a.jpg

A close up for you, mousemonkey.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/jedimasterben/0918090120.jpg

And voila! All done!! Now to reroute the cabling on my desk so I can keep it on my left now, instead of my right.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/jedimasterben/0918090714.jpg

Evelyn 3.5, in all her glory!


Now I just have to cut the hole in the top for the 120mm fan and get a front panel for USB / Audio and everything will be peachy!

Thanks for staying with me, everybody! I look forward to your feedback.

Edit: Those last few images are just showing up as links for me, even though I have the code in there. Oh well.[/quotemsg]
i was game to help but sammi was not a fan of me goin that late

 

[mattidallama]

btw the case looks awesome and im going to have to get me one with lots of blue leds all over it

 

[jedimasterben]

i was game to help but sammi was not a fan of me goin that late

Typical. What are we gonna do with our girls?


Well, the only things I want to do with it now are drill some holes in the acrylic (with mattidallama's help, as I've never actually used one before) for some bigger fans, then get fan grills for each one, and buy a front panel USB/FPaudio/Firewire/SD card reader, and I'll be peachy.

What would you guys here think about me changing out the two side fans and cutting holes for 120mm fans instead of 80mm, in addition to making another hole on the top front for another exhaust?

After having both graphics cards in there last night, the 4870 was absurdly hot (like 78C idle), but immediately taking out the 8800, it dropped to 45C idle.

Then, upon stressing my CPU, it hit 100C and shut down. O.O However, like in the other case, I put a 120mm fan blowing on it towards the exhaust fan and it dropped to 45C idle and 68C load. I think that maybe if I had a 120 in that slot instead of the 80, then I could take out the 120 that's just sitting in there. But, then again, it would be pretty much blowing on the top fin, and not blowing air through all of the fins. :/

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Mousemonkey]

I have all five of my case fans set as exhausts with one of the 5 1/2 drive bay panels removed, the thinking being to get as much heat out as possible and let the cool air find it's own way in.