? about modding the Lanboy

[RedWolf]

I've been trying to find a nice small case to replace my current case. One of the things I really like about the case is the NewQ Gold. I really like the sound display on the lcd panel. I really like the Lanboy but with the cover, I would never see the display on the newq. I'm wondering if anyone has done (or has ideas on how to do) a mod on the lanboy to show an lcd through the plastic door. I think a small window would work but I'm a bit worried about getting a nice looking cut on the plastic. I really don't want to mess the aesthetics of the case up by having a sloppy looking window on there.

Anyway, if anyone has any ideas, I'm open to suggestions. Also wondering what other mods people have done to their lanboy.

 

[smahoney]

Nice rig pic's - Akira is pretty cute.

Since you are an old hand with the Dremel why not just build a guide plate to cut the hole. If you had a silver face or could color match the face plate of the NewQ I would say cut out the entire opening and mount it forward flush with the door.

 

[RedWolf]

Thanks for the suggestions. Could you explain the guide plate more? I'm not quite sure what you mean.

I'm not comfortable enough with cutting that much out of the door just yet. I think I would start with just the lcd area. I'm just not sure how to get the most accurate markings onto the door. I also think that a curved glass piece would distort the view the least but that would probably be difficult to work with.

Thanks for the compliments on the dog. I'll just say she's shown in her best light on the web site. (although she's a great dog most of the time and pretty much always kind of cute)

 

[Zap]

How about the same case without the door over the drive bays? The Chenming ATX-301 case (bought mine at Newegg.com) is the same chassis as the LanBoy, just with a different front (minus door), in different colors, without the carrying straps and available without power supply or with a non-Antec power supply.

Read a review/comparison here

 

[RedWolf]

I did look at the 301 and the x-sonic. I also read your comparison (which was excellent). I like the looks of the lanboy better overall. Really, the only thing about the lanboy is the display on my newq won't show without modding. I have really thought about the x-sonic but the price is close enough to the lanboy that I'd choose the lanboy as I think the ps is a little better and I like the front bezel on the lanboy better.

I gave up the search for a 'perfect' case. For me, that would be a case the size of the lanboy but with the full aluminum front face like a lian-li. Basically, a combination of the lian-li pc 50 and the lanboy. I haven't yet decided between the black x-sonic, black pc-50/52, and the lanboy, yet.

 

[Bluefront]

How about mounting your NewQ in an external drive box......such as I did with my DigitalDoc5, sitting on top my Antec2600.

External box

 

[smahoney]

A guide plate would be a template made of wood or metal that would be clamped to the door. The dremel would cut out the material exposed by the guide plate. Similar to how you would use a router.

The Lanboy is still a pretty good value with the included PS. I went a little overboard on my own rig