Case Modding Idea Question (s)

[PCHobbiest]

Hello everyone!

I am building a custom rig soon, and not to far down the road I plan to get all the components to build a custom Liquid loop, plus some eye candy.
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefxlr2ti - I'm going to get two of those cases. One will hold all my main components + Eye candy. The second will hold most of the Liquid set up, mainly the Rads and reservoir ( it will have it's own PSU ).

My question is, can I replace the side panel on the main tower with full plexiglass? I'm assuming I would need to make screw holes which I'm fine with.

Second question. Paint the inside with UV reactive paint? yes/no

Thanks in advance!

PCHobbiest

 

[dma0991]

I think its pointless in having two of such cases in that arrangement, unless you have/need a bucket load of radiator space. To make it as you've suggested would mean that you have unnecessarily long lengths of tubing stretching from both cases. It doesn't require a lot of power that it needs its own PSU.

Its better to get a larger case that has all the watercooling options you need, such as the Corsair 900D, Silverstone TJ07 or if you still prefer to keep the watercooling separate, CM HAF Stacker 935. Besides, the watercooling parts IS the eye candy. It would be a shame if you couldn't somehow cram everything in one case, unless you need more radiators than the case could handle.

 

[PCHobbiest]

I did originally plan to get the Corsair 900D, it's a sleek case. The only thing I'm worried is that with all the rads either making the inside look clustered or if I put them on the outside I loose the sleekness of the case. I could give it a go with your recommendation and see how it looks. I do plan to add LED's inside, not to many.

With the 900D would it be possible - feasible - to remove the side panel and replace it with plexi glass? Probably put some type of low profile hinges so I can open it up?

This would be the first time modding a case.
PCHobbiest

 

[dma0991]

I don't see how a place where it would be perfect for a radiator be cluttered. Is it better to leave it empty and create a void there just so it does not look cluttered?

Why would you want to replace a side panel that is perfectly made for the case and 80% of it is already a transparent window?

 

[Billb2]

Have you seen the Mountain Mods cases?

http://www.mountainmods.com/computer-cases-c-21.html

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Just to be fair on this issue and the OP's question, there are several ways to replace the sidepanel with plexiglass or Lexan. You would either mod the existing side-panel and fit a clear plastic window to a hole that you cut, or build an entire case-side-panel out of plastic. This latter approach is the least practical.

My choice would be Lexan, which you can get at Home Depot. Simply cutting a hole in the side-panel is a better idea. You can cut away as much as you want, leaving the frame of the panel with the tabs and slides that still fit the case.

Frozen CPU has a rubber grommet you can buy, with instructions on cutting the Lexan (leave about 0.25" gap between the outside edge of the plastic and inside edge of the remaining case-panel.) Or, you could use something like pop-rivets to fit the Lexan and panel-frame together.

You'll need a Dremel and several cutting wheels to cut the side-panel. The Lexan you can score with the knife you can buy for $5 to that purpose.

If you want to SHAPE the Lexan -- for instance, to mimic a part of the side-panel which extrudes or bulges as part of the design, you could simply lay the Lexan on the un-modded panel and blast it with a $35 heat-gun until the Lexan conforms to the metal shape. then mod the case-side-panel, cut the Lexan and finish the project.

 

[z1ggy]

The 900D is freaking HUGE dude. You can fit FIVE rads in there and it won't be cluttered. And by side panel, do you mean what most people call the "basement" of that case? If so, it's already perforated I think and with good lighting in there, you'll be able to see in no problem.

Also, a big NO to the UV paint IMO. Get UV reactive tubing (not UV liquid) and UV fans if you want that look. Get some UV LED strips or a few UV cathodes to light them up. If you painted the entire inside of your case w UV paint, I think that would look a bit too much, but again it's my opinion.

 

[Z15CAM]

One of the most famous Cases for Enthusiasts Mods was as the Betfenix Shinobi.

Fractal pretty well designed the complete case with their Midi ARC II which would adapt to about anything with minimal Mods. Corsair eat your heart out.

I run an ARC II with a Corsair H110 on top to cool an i7 2700k @ 4.8Ghz and a Coolgate 280x60x140mm rad in Push/Pull Noctuas totaling 7 x's 140mm PMW fans harboring 2 x's 290X's in X-Fire under water OC's at 1180 x 1500 Mhz with dual Pumps and the system is compact and fits amazingly well and Super Quiet under 36C.

There are amazing products on the market today and they work if you can match the numbers.

I run an XFX 1050W BEFX Black Edition PSU (An 850W will do it you don't OC or Water Cool X-Fire Hawaii but great for water cooling a single Hawaii).

I can't see issues with your Fractal R3 other ensuring your top rad doesn't interfere with the MB with a little 5.25" Bay Cutting (Doesn't mean you don't loose space for your Optic Drive) plus mounting a 280X60x140 rad in Push/Pull in the front and still run a Big PSU plus an SSD and 3HDD's in the case.