Cooler Master 840 ATCS Project

I've started the build for Cooler Master's media suite at 2010 CES. The D-9 concept was mine after seeing the movie.

I should know by first week of November what hardware CM will be sending me.




Conceptual drawing by E.E.L. Ambiense


Case Mods & Supplies used in this project by Mnpctech.com

Machined Aluminum Computer Case Feet Link



Acoustical Sound Proofing Sheets for your PC



Mnpctech is now stocking clear and colored sheets of cast acrylic for window mods

http://www.mnpctech.com/colored_ac [...] indow.html



This is the Honeycomb Modders Meshwe used.



PC Cable management clamps
http://www.mnpctech.com/CableClamp.html

The canvas for this PC build is the Cooler Master 840 ATCS



Adding window to Cooler master 840 ATCS


Using tape roll to make curved corner


Make first initial cut with your Dremel and cutting wheel, to allow use of Jigsaw and cut the window more efficiently



You have created slot, this allows using a Jigsaw w/ 18 TPI cutting blade
http://www.mnpctech.3dpixelnet.com [...] h.com7.jpg


http://www.mnpctech.3dpixelnet.com [...] h.com8.jpg

Using a Jigsaw is much quicker than using a Dremel to cut your window
http://www.mnpctech.3dpixelnet.com [...] h.com9.jpg

Upgrading the 840's stock 120mm exhaust fan to 140mm fan.

Cooler Master 840 ATCS rear 120mm exhaust


I'm holding up a 140mm Cooler Master fan over the stock 120mm grill. "Will it fit without anything obstructing it?"


The location of the 140mm fan resides along the crease on the back plate.


Making the initial cut with Rotary tool and reinforced cutting wheel before using Jigsaw


Using Jigsaw with 18 TPI metal cutting blade


Using rounded side hand file to clean up burrs along the edge of the cut.


140mm opening is cleaned up, next is drilling mounting holes for 140mm fan


vibration dampening fan grommets


Using a 1/4" size drill bit to make the mounting holes, this allows the fan grommets to fit.



Vibration dampening fan grommets installed.

We've cnc milled the "District 9" design in the Cooler Master 840 aluminum intake plate. The recessed center portion will be the CM case badge

Cooler Master's hardware list for their CES show display

1 x Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
1 x Intel Extreme Series DX48BT2 X48 Motherboard
1 x Silent Pro RS-600-AMBA-D3
1 x CM MITX Cooler 38mm tall (will be replaced with future V series cooler)
1 x Sapphire ATI Radeon 4870 512MB
1 x 4GB DDR3 Kingston 1600mhz memory kit
1 x WD 500GB HDD
1 x DVD drive

Silent Pro RS-600 Watt-AMBA-D3 PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817171036







Are you a fan of the Black Ribbon power cables?

I'm adding bullet holes to the case too, so I drilled holes in the 840's aluminum panel. I then used a tin snip and needle nose plier to cut and rip the 3/8" hole open

CM is planning to show their new V-series cooler, they wouldn't reveal the model to me. I may rig a Cat Food can as cpu cooler, just for joke when they open the case....lol Cooler Master only sent 1 hard drive, so no sense in keeping the HD bay!

Use 1/8" drill bit to remove HD bay

wow. Thats alot of work for a case mod. But very nice craftsmanship. I like

Thank you, you should wear safety glasses. I can't cover up the bullet holes..lol





I used the Dremel with a cutting wheel to emulate impact to the reinforcement panel.


Using Dremel with egraving bit to gouge the other bullet hole under the acrylic. A ventilation hole was added as well.


Round Modders Mesh used as the ventilation grill in the left side panel.


Scotch Weld DP-190 2 part epoxy is used to attach the Modders Mesh to the backside of the side panel

1/4" thick White acrylic sheet with District 9 sign will be the grill for 2x 200mm top fans

We cnc milled the grill, but If you have custom laser cutting needs, I suggest contacting http://www.vintagelaser.com

Here is some screen shots taken from the movie trailer on Youtube. I think it's important to have the prawn canister implemented into the case. If Cooler Master had requested watercooling, it would been fun to make a reservoir based on the canister, but the system will be air cooled. We have some 2" diameter solid rod on hand we could use to re-create something close to it. I have some ideas, but want to have it my hands first before I commit to them.

Very cool!

Started on the paint last night, White and Orange segments





The "Pumpkin" Orange color was done first. The perimeter of the " exploded hole" will be airbrushed with a burned surface effect

ur a master of the lathe

I've had this .5" x 25" flexible conduit lying around, I've always wanted to use it for routing cables. It fits the industrial theme. I've also got .25" i.d. flexible conduit.

I agree, and have used it Johnny. I'm working on a HR GIGER biomechanical theme PC and used it on the bezel,



Here is the Prawn canister from the movie.


My canister will be lit with a 4" UV cold cathode, mounted on the inside wall of the back cover.





Once it's painted and the window is darkened a bit, it should look eerie.


canister back cover


for canister window, I'm going to bend a piece of clear 1/8" thick case acrylic with a heat gun, but more on that later!
http://www.mnpctech.com/acrylic_co [...] dows1.html

I'm still looking for sponsorship of MB / CPU for that build.

I made the canister's window today. Using a heat gun to bend the Lexan.


Forming the arc in window by pressing heated piece on the Aluminum rod. It's HOT!

That canister looks sick! Btw, where did you get that Aluminum block for the canister?

MM, just took a look at the case mod store, would you guys happen to have any radiator fan grills for 420 rads?

Looks amazing !

Very nice job. Love it

Now THAT'S just skill and balls. A small mistake could have ruined a lot of work....

Anyways, thanks for the link, but there's only 4 or 5 grills for the 4x120 rads and non of them are exactly what I wanted. Looks like I gotta make on my self....

RUSTED GPU!







Watch E.E.L. Embiense demonstrate how to use the Sophisticated Finishes products for adding a rust effect to your Mods.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26Ud9T-doAc

AW GEE! I liked the pretty colors and now you go and grunge everything!

Quick question, according to copyright,etc laws can you actually use all these logos,etc from the film on a project like this?

Anyways, great work, but I personally don't like that "rust" color?

I wanted to direct the cooler air entering the front of the case to the cpu cooler. The 5.25 bay covers were removed to highlight the canister movie prop we made. It dawned on me that a fan duct could be mounted to a 120mm fan by modifying a 120mm round mesh fan grill. In the past, I would mold the fan duct into the front bezel with body filler, but this method is much easier and more versatile.

This method can be combined with 4.5" flexible tubing to isolate cool airflow. Imagine one end of the tube attached to a 120mm cooling fan in front of your case.
The 4.5" Flexible tubing can be found at Mcmaster, http://www.mcmaster.com/#duct-hose/=4zltce or you can "try" the "Heating & Cooling" department at hardware or home improvement stores like Home Depot or Lowes.

Supplies & Tools:
120mm Modder's Mesh Round fan grill, http://www.mnpctech.com/120mm_Custom_FanGrill.html
4.5" fan duct, http://www.mnpctech.com/FanDuct.html
4, #10 x 5/8" fan screws, http://www.mnpctech.com/thumbscrew.html">#10 x 5/8" fan screws</a>
120mm cooling fan.
Paint pen or pencil.
Tin snips.
Wire cutter.

120mm Modder's Mesh Round fan grill, http://www.mnpctech.com/120mm_Custom_FanGrill.html


4.5" fan duct, http://www.mnpctech.com/FanDuct.html




Using a paint pen to trace the duct onto the round mesh grill.


a small wire cutter and Tin snips used to cut the 4.5" opening in the 120mm Modder's Mesh Round fan grill


You'll need to use the small wire cutter first, to make the initial cut before you can use the Tin Snips to cut the 4.5" hole.


Using Tin ship to cut the round mesh grill.


The result of you cutting should look like this.




120mm cooling fan. This fan has enclosed corners, you will need longer fan screws if you're mounting the fan onto something like a cpu cooler.


4, http://www.mnpctech.com/thumbscrew.html, #10 x 5/8" fan screws</a>
http://www.mnpctech.3dpixelnet.com [...] _cpu9b.jpg

http://www.mnpctech.3dpixelnet.com [...] _cpu9c.jpg

http://www.mnpctech.3dpixelnet.com [...] _cpu9d.jpg

Love it!

Did you consider using the patina finish kit from Sophisticated Finishes in addition to their rust finish kit?