Newbie case mod - side panel

[mav2000]

Hi Guys,

As some of you may know, I have been having problems with high case temps for some time now. So I got myself a CPU cooler details of which are in another thread. This thread is totally for the case mod that I did today.

The main problem left after the CPU cooler was that I could not fit in a side fan. Now this caused my NB and SB chips to heat up a lot. For eg. my NB was running at 45 deg idle and a little mroe at load and the SB was running close to 35 deg normal and load. My CPU was running at 30-31 idle and 45 load.

Now I either had the choice of changing the case or doing some mods. Since you dont get anything for a second hand case today, I thought WTF lets just try this. So went out and got a new acrylic sheet, got it cut nicely in a laser cutter, and also got the 120 mm fan hole put in by laser. Then worked on cutting out the extra metal from one side of the caseand filing it down to as staright a line as I could. fixed the fan onto the acrylic with a little bit of industrial super glue (the kind which can burn you). and fixed the acrylic back to the case side. Some work is still pending like a repaint or stickering, depending on my mood tomorrow. So given below are the pics of a normal antibiotic and the new case mod.

Now the NB runs at around 37-38 degs the SB runs at 23-24 and the CPU runs at almost the same temps as before but with the cpu fan now running at 900-1100 rpm as compared to 1350-1430 rpm.

Now I need some help on the following:

I need to get the edges that I cut a bit more straight. I tried and tried with a file but this was the best I could do. Would you suggest a nice sticker job to make it look clean? Or would you rather a paint job, as some of the paint at the edges has got scratched. Secondly, I have stuck on the fan with industrial super glue, so what do I do for a fan guard. Do I stick that on as well. Have ordered a plastic fan guard and filter for it as of now. Anything else I can do to make it better?

 

[WhiteNoise]

I'd just make sure to file the edges down as best you can and then repaint the door. Good thing you ordered that fan guard and a filter is a good idea too. Other than that you seem to have done a good job. The question is; Are you happy with it?

That picture is a bit blurry and hard to see details but from what I can see it looks good.

 

[mav2000]

Well if you ask me taking into account that I have never done any of this before, I am pretty happy with the results. I would love to have done a cleaner job overall, but I think i've done the best I could for a first timer. Maybe a second one will come along sometime. I have attached a clearer snap in full resolution so that its easier to see the details. I got most of my calculations wrong, as you can see but am planning to make up for the misses by using some stickers. I think a nice electric blue stickering on the border of the acrylic will cover up most of the mistakes. What do you suggest?

 

[mav2000]

Finished

Finished the side panel mod. Was not able to find u channel moulding, so had to do without it. Also had to rework the acrylic so that I could get all the mesurements rite.

 

[evoted]

here are some stores that do have the "U channel" they are good stores.

http://www.petrastechshop.com/neruedtrmo.html

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=132&products_id=2830

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=132&products_id=1877

 

[mav2000]

Well I am in India, no way of getting it here....there is a derth of good fans and case modding supplie here, and we have to depend on imports from someone, which does not really help matters....as far as I can see, one of the best business oppurtunities here.

 

[fenurch]

Very nicely done, GJ

 

[ste2425]

i like the way uve cut slits into the side pannel to act as a fan guard verry cool man

 

[DrPepper]

Wow

 

[mav2000]

Thanks guys. The first acrulic sheet I made did not have the slits, and had to install a metal fan guard which kind of killed the look I was hoping for. So decided to work on a second panel, with the slits cut out. I have a 1 year old son, and never know what he is going to be doing next, so had to make sure it was safe. Also the metal fan guards here are not of very good quality and bend easily.

 

[ste2425]

how did u cut those slats coz they look to even and of good quality to have been done with a mini rotary tool there really good mate

 

[mav2000]

well the whole panel was laser cut, so that it can be really clean. Got it laser cut for around 3 dollars US. this included cutting it into the right size and then cutting out the slats and the actual design was mine done on corel.