Project: Irate

[1Kurgan1]

Ah the difference is I had to get a BIX in there and it looks like you have a MCR320. The 320 is only about half as thick as the BIX. A recommendation for a rad to put up front would be a PA.160. They fit perfect! And it is a very good rad (better then a PA 120.2 and close to a 120.3).

Yeah, no way a thicker rad would fit up top very well. I'm not sure any rad would fit up front with the 30mm thick stock fan, I could put 25mm's up there and fit one. But I'm just gonna drll the rivets and move the HDD cage back 1/2" inch. Wish they made a 200mm rad, could toss that up front, but in the future, most likely will be a PA160.1 up there, and then a 140.1 rad down below, and could still fit a 120 on the back. Another funny thing is, a 480mm rad would actually fit up top. Thats really an insane amount of rad in a mid tower.

Good choice on the motherboard josh, and i like the case too bad its not a full tower....but still nice

Yeah the GD-70 is ownage. I'm liking this midtower the more I look at it, was thinking HAF 932, but this is a bit more of a challenge, and once I got all this internal, it's just going to be much more cool as people don't take this route with mid towers. Also I'm not sure if there are any other internal WC looped 922's, I have searched high and low and found nothing but ap ic of a rad in one.

 

[qubit]

I recently got a HAF 922 and I really like it, so good choice there, buddy.

I don't mod my cases, but I have left both side panels off, because I'm always tinkering around inside, so it's more convenient this way.

Oh and I've finally been able to put my Raptor X on show - the only HD with a clear top, so you can see the platter and head assembly. I mounted it on the bottom rack and took out the two above it. As the PC sits on my desk, to my right, I get a great view of it. I'm just thinking about how to light it, to show it off best.

Thinking of it, I might do a very small mod. The HD light is on the top of the case, which means that I can't see it. I'm thinking of connecting the red LED on that big front fan to the HD activity output on the motherboard and see how it looks.

 

[1Kurgan1]

Today was a big day, I tackled every other rivet that I wanted to remove. All in all this case is now free of 32 rivets which all will be replaced by bolts/nuts so it will all be able to be taken apart very easy later on incase I get any other crazy ideas.

We'll start it off with the group shot, HDD cage out, mobo tray out, topless. (And yes that is my bottle for when I feel I need an easy snack, lol)

Here's another shot of the mobo tray out, will be nice to use bolts to put this back in, will be the only HAF 922 I know of with a removable mobo tray

And here's my idea on HDD Rack placement. Look how much space sits in front of the rack, would be awesome if they made a 200m rad for that front fan.

And if your thinking with the rack pushed back I won't be able to fit 10." cards, this is a massive midtower, about 12.5" of space with that rack moved back :O

The only thing I'm left wondering is if I should cut out 3 of the HDD bays. I want someplace to put my HDD's that still looks very good. If I cut out the bottom 3 trays I would be able to fit a 240mm rad in the bottom, and still have room for another rad off that front fan. If I leave the HDD rack I would still have room for a 140mm rad in the bottom and still have room for a rad behind the front fan.

Either one of those cooling solutions is enough for anything out there, so really going for what looks the best. If you got any ideas on a different way to mount the HDD's or some way to run it with my current setup, lets hear them!

**EDIT**
Also goign to start painting this next week, any tips here on sanding or anything else would be fantastic!

 

[EnergyFX]

How many bay devices are you planning on using? How many HDDs?

Consider maybe using HDD silencer kits to mount the HDDs in the upper bays. That way you could get rid of the HDD cage altogether and give you lots of room for a radiator and possibly other equipment if necessary.

 

[tonyd223]

good luck matey

 

[1Kurgan1]

How many bay devices are you planning on using? How many HDDs?

Consider maybe using HDD silencer kits to mount the HDDs in the upper bays. That way you could get rid of the HDD cage altogether and give you lots of room for a radiator and possibly other equipment if necessary.

I got 2 HDD's and a DVD-RW. But my 360mm Rad will take up the top 2 5.25" bays, DVD-RW takes 1, then I'm deciding if I should have a dual bay res that is right off the bottom of the Rad. If I do all that it only leaves me with 1 bay. And I would like room to at least add 1 more HDD.

So I'm really thinking keep the HDD Rack is my best bet. Just trying to decide if I should cut off a few spots or not. It would give me room for a rad, but would it look as good? I'm putting a good amount of time in and I really want this too look great and perform great.

 

[EnergyFX]

It's tough to make a hacked up hdd cage look nice... but it can be done.

Once upon a time I stumbled on a set of brackets that bolt onto a 120mm fan (or rad) and allow you to mount 2 or 3 hard drives. I tried googling it but I can't seem to find it. The brackets themselves would probably be easy enough to fab up.

Just bouncing ideas off you.

 

[MKmods]

I think mountian mods made them

 

[EnergyFX]

I think mountian mods made them

That is initially what I thought too. I checked their site but couldn't find them. Granted... I didn't exactly look thoroughly.

 

[MKmods]

is this it?
http://www.mountainmods.com/mountain-mods-m-10.html

 

[EnergyFX]

Yup, there they are. Useful idea if you ask me... as long as the fan is mounted well enough.

Nice search MK!

 

[1Kurgan1]

Awesome. seeing those, the HDD cage might have to leave, I'll make the decision tomorrow when I look at it a bit more, those are awesome! Only thing is I would have to mount them to the 120mm fans on the 240mm rad on the bottom so the HDD"s would be facing long ways up. But that actually would line them up with the 5.25" bays, so would look pretty good.

 

[Cold Storm]

Woot! something I can finally add to the project and not just say "subscribe"

I say, that the hdd rack from MM is a great thing! you can place them anywhere and everywhere! as long as you still can screw in the fans.

If you do want to go with the rack, and I say its a great bet, I have a black one from my MM case sitting around. I can ship it on Thursday if you want it.

 

[EnergyFX]

Awesome. seeing those, the HDD cage might have to leave, I'll make the decision tomorrow when I look at it a bit more, those are awesome! Only thing is I would have to mount them to the 120mm fans on the 240mm rad on the bottom so the HDD"s would be facing long ways up. But that actually would line them up with the 5.25" bays, so would look pretty good.

Don't forget to think outside the box! With those brackets you have more options than simply mounting to fans. Mounting holes are mounting holes... wherever they are... even if you end up making your own holes.

 

[Chicken Patty]

subscribed. Great job so far, those cooler master cases are amazing!!!

 

[1Kurgan1]

Woot! something I can finally add to the project and not just say "subscribe"

I say, that the hdd rack from MM is a great thing! you can place them anywhere and everywhere! as long as you still can screw in the fans.

If you do want to go with the rack, and I say its a great bet, I have a black one from my MM case sitting around. I can ship it on Thursday if you want it.

You have a rack from MM that mounts on fans or something else, either way send me a PM, I won't have money this week to buy anything though, my bank accounts tapped

Don't forget to think outside the box! With those brackets you have more options than simply mounting to fans. Mounting holes are mounting holes... wherever they are... even if you end up making your own holes.

Yeah I wish they showed some better pictures, I was trying to see how they mounted to the fans so I could see where else to put it.

subscribed. Great job so far, those cooler master cases are amazing!!!

Thanks, yeah I love my CM690, but needed something with more possibilities and didn't have the cash for a ful ltower, no big deal this should be much more cool, every fits full loops into a full tower, now it's mid tower time, just no fat rads

 

[DarkEgo]

Thanks, yeah I love my CM690, but needed something with more possibilities and didn't have the cash for a ful ltower, no big deal this should be much more cool, every fits full loops into a full tower, now it's mid tower time, just no fat rads

You can fit fat rads in there, I have a BIX360 and a PA.160 internally in mine (both with 38 mm fans). You just have to be creative. Always think outside the box.

 

[1Kurgan1]

You can fit fat rads in there, I have a BIX360 and a PA.160 internally in mine (both with 38 mm fans). You just have to be creative. Always think outside the box.

You managed get get the BIX inside it instead of selling it? Very nice, you should post a pic or 2. Only way I could think of doing it would be to cut out the right hand side 5.25" racking and mount the BIX on the right hand side more.

 

[MoonPig]

You can fit fat rads in there, I have a BIX360 and a PA.160 internally in mine (both with 38 mm fans). You just have to be creative. Always think outside the box.

To fit a rad inside, i think we're thinking inside the box

 

[EnergyFX]

To fit a rad inside, i think we're thinking inside the box

There's always one in the crowd :shadedshu

 

[1Kurgan1]

To fit a rad inside, i think we're thinking inside the box

There's always one in the crowd :shadedshu

I thought it was pretty funny

Either way, I'm cutting out the rest of the tabs on the top plastic piece right now, and thinking about cutting the hole in the top for the air to move through.

 

[1Kurgan1]

Looking at the case right now and wondering if anyone knows how to get off those 5.25" screwless drivebay holders? It looks like they slide out backwards, but I've put a decent amount of pressure on them that way and they didn't budget and I really don't want to break one.

 

[Mussels]

thread unlocked at OP's request (autolock due to old age)

 

[1Kurgan1]

Well it's been a few months now and I just havent had the cash to finish up the project so it's just been sitting. Recently I finally started priming some of the parts, and they look really good, I'm almost just thinking of leaving them primed. Here's a pic of the mobo tray compared to the outside of the cases factory paint. Let me know what you guys think, just leave it primed or toss on some flat black paint?

 

[Chicken Patty]

For some crazy ass reason I like how the tray looks better. Nice!