moding my case

[QueBert]

I have no tools outside of a screwdriver, my case is semi messy, I did the best job *I* could do without tools and such. Seeing pictures of cases where all you see are wires coming out of the drives and nothing on the MB makes me want to do my system like that.

Anyone know of a shop in LA/OC/IE California that will do this for you? I don't have the patients to do this myself. So I thought about it and figured why not just get a new case and have them do it all - paint the inside black, re-wire and possibly go water cooling. I don't really want to send my whole PC FedEX to somebody, if I could take it to a shop in LA and maybe pick it up after a few days I'd be very happy. I know I can buy some tools and do it myself for cheap, but the last time I bought some tools I sleeved my PSU and did something wrong and the molex heads wouldn't stay on for jack. The PSU still worked, and once the cables were hooked up to my HDD/Optical they pretty much were firm, but needless to say I still screwed up the PSU pretty good.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: QueBert
I have no tools outside of a screwdriver, my case is semi messy, I did the best job *I* could do without tools and such. Seeing pictures of cases where all you see are wires coming out of the drives and nothing on the MB makes me want to do my system like that.

Anyone know of a shop in LA/OC/IE California that will do this for you? I don't have the patients to do this myself. So I thought about it and figured why not just get a new case and have them do it all - paint the inside black, re-wire and possibly go water cooling. I don't really want to send my whole PC FedEX to somebody, if I could take it to a shop in LA and maybe pick it up after a few days I'd be very happy. I know I can buy some tools and do it myself for cheap, but the last time I bought some tools I sleeved my PSU and did something wrong and the molex heads wouldn't stay on for jack. The PSU still worked, and once the cables were hooked up to my HDD/Optical they pretty much were firm, but needless to say I still screwed up the PSU pretty good.

There are VERY few places that do custom mods to cases for people. I do it locally along with PC builds and the VERY rare water cooling set-up. I could do case mods via fedex or even full builds with sound dampening/wiring/custom air cooling but, no water cooling. What case do you have now? What case would you be considering buying? What all would you be wanting done to it?

 

[QueBert]

I have a Coolermaster Ammo, forget the exact model name, not a bad case but it's kind of small for if I want to water cool. I was looking at the Cosmos & Stacker right now, both performance pc sells with a window installed on the panel. I'd be water cooling and hiding all the wires. I could do the basic sh!t myself, but I want to get that super clean look a Murder Box and that's probably more work than I could do without dedicating months to the project

Basically I have to pick out a final case and figure out the water setup I want to use, I have a good PSU, am still deciding if I want to get a new MB though. Would be pointless to get ti done if I'm going to swap out MB in a few months. Buying a Murder Box is out of the question but I'm sure I could find some uber moder who could take what I got and turn it into something for a decent price.

 

[CurseTheSky]

If you have a couple of hours of free time each day, you CAN do it yourself. It WILL be a pain, it WILL be time-consuming and aggrivating, but it can also be a relief after a long day. Once you get part way into the project, it just takes a bit of creativity and spare time.

If you're going strictly for looks, stay with straight lines and 90 degree angles as much as possible (if you water cool, though, beware of the performance loss). Buy some stick-on zip tie holders, zip ties, round IDE cable (if needed), matching SATA cables, etc. If your PSU is modular and / or has sleeved cables, half the work is already done for you.

 

[QueBert]

performance is only important to a degree, I do OC, but right now on air with the stock cooling and hit about the limit with the MB I have. Any water setup would be fine for me, I want to go more for looks, something clean and elegant. The Murder Box's look good, I know a lot of people say they suck cooling wise but the appearance is awesome. I know you say if I put a few hours a day in I could do it myself, but I have a ummm neatness problem I could install h20 and any components with no sweat but to get the wires behind my MB and have everything look perfect. I'm not sure I could ever produce anything near what the Murderbox type fools do.

Maybe I should give it a shot and see, my PSU is modular and has the flex cables (good for routing/hiding) getting matching SATA cables would be simple. Only problem is this is my only PC and if it ends up being a month long process I will be sad without my PC. You have kind of inspired me to give it a shot. Maybe I can track down an old P2 beater PC that will fit my email/atot needs.

 

[PCTC2]

I'm setting on a 1-3 month long endevor to mod a Antec P190 for watercooling (a couple hours a day, plus a few weeks waiting for paychecks from my more stable jobs). I have have a little experience modding but not like any of the guys at XS. This will be my second WC system but first that is for myself and is going to be for looks and performance. I, like Derwen, build computers as part of my living, but I would like to venture into WC.

But back from that tangent to what I was going to say. If it takes a month, you won't be without your PC. 1) Buy a really crappy $40 case. It'll only be for a month. or 2) Just drill some motherboard standoffs into something and make sure its grounded. Leave a caseless computer on your desk. I'll be running on a $50 motherboard tray while running my computer while I build my case.

Give it a shot. It'll be good experience. Good luck on whatever you decide.

 

[QueBert]

thanks for the vote of confidence, I've decided I don't know exactly what I want to do yet. I have decided on a Silverstone case I saw today I liked TJ01? forget the model #, any ways it's like $300 bucks which is crazy expensive hehe so my mod job is on hold for now. I'll save up my money and do it myself, and hopefully I can create something similar to a Murderbox. I really like the look of those suckers and that Silverstone case they use is very nice.


Who knows maybe once I get started I will be decent at it and can finish it in a few extra long weekends.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: QueBert
thanks for the vote of confidence, I've decided I don't know exactly what I want to do yet. I have decided on a Silverstone case I saw today I liked TJ01? forget the model #, any ways it's like $300 bucks which is crazy expensive hehe so my mod job is on hold for now. I'll save up my money and do it myself, and hopefully I can create something similar to a Murderbox. I really like the look of those suckers and that Silverstone case they use is very nice.


Who knows maybe once I get started I will be decent at it and can finish it in a few extra long weekends.

Thats a MAJOR key, you need to have a pretty clear cut vision of what you're aiming for and have to set yourself a budget and don't let yourself get off track. It's too easy to get distracted and start changing ideas half way through and it'll just never end. I've got like 3 projects I've been working on for more than a year.

 

[Boyo]

You can pretty much do this yourself......take your time, think and plan where you want the cables and wires to go and try and route them the best you can to keep them out of the sitelines.....especially if you get a window......it may only take a day....

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: Boyo
You can pretty much do this yourself......take your time, think and plan where you want the cables and wires to go and try and route them the best you can to keep them out of the sitelines.....especially if you get a window......it may only take a day....

A day??? a day? lol if I can create sometime like the XG dudes do in a day I'm going to start my own modding business. My realistic expectations is 30-40 with results that will make me happy until I see some l33t jackass on here post pictures of his recent mod that makes mine look crummy.

I have pretty much decided against water cooling, I tend to transport my PC around a few times a month to various peoples houses and WC ain't cut out for that.

Air is cheaper and easier so I have made my project 1/2 as difficult with this choice alone.

anyone have experince moving around a WC'ed pc? I'm imagining it can be done depending on the setup, I just wonder what would be the degree of difficulty.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Don't compare your stuff against others. I've buit 100% custom from scratch plexiglass cases. I've taken old server FULL tower chasis and crammed an SLI set-up in it after chroming the entire chasis and painting the panels, then building a new custom front pannel and going back in six months and fitting a double loop tripple radiator water cooling system in it. I've pulled a powersupply apart and made on of the first modular power-supplies 5 or so years ago. Do what you like and what makes you happy and don't worry about everybody else.