custom case design (pics)

[ToddTheFrog]

I have a big passion for designing cases, although i have never actually had the spare cash to make one. Well now i do. I posted a while back about a prototype I made. I liked the design but it was just too huge. Here is a more compact version. For your viewing pleasure ...

VERSION 1.1

(added 120mm fan on side panel for a total of 2x120 input and 2x120mm output fans)

http://images.dr3vil.com/uploads/case_2.bmp

VERSION 1.0

http://images.dr3vil.com/uploads/case.bmp


Todd

Any Ideas?

[cornelious0_0]

Looks pretty tight.....I'd probly actually buy one. :cool:

No jokes, I like.

[Garage81]

might want to add a side panel fan,

1 intake and 2 outtakes might not be the best for airflow.

but layout looks good :D

[cornelious0_0]

Yeah, I'm thinkin' a 120mm intake over the center of the mobo would be a good idea. That way, the air will get pulled to the top/back of the case and spread out nicely.....as well as cooling your blazing hot memory directly and giving some fresh air to your NB. ;)

[ToddTheFrog]

I added the 120mm fan sucking air onto the ram and northbridge. I like that idea very much. Now I can just put a big fat heatsink on the northbridge (I'm trying to make this thing run SILENT ... i.e. 7 Volt Mod the fans)

Todd

PIC AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE IS UPDATED TO SHOW THE CHANGES

[cornelious0_0]

Originally posted by ToddTheFrog
I added the 120mm fan sucking air onto the ram and northbridge. I like that idea very much. Now I can just put a big fat heatsink on the northbridge (I'm trying to make this thing run SILENT ... i.e. 7 Volt Mod the fans)

Todd

PIC AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE IS UPDATED TO SHOW THE CHANGES

Or you could just use these (http://www.bigfootcomputers.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=1036&Category_Code=700.2) or these (http://www.bigfootcomputers.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=1035&Category_Code=700.2) for the 120mm's. There isn't really any need to 7v mod a 11dBA fan if you ask me. And 14dBA ain't to bad either.....especially for 58cfm. ;)

[Qtip42]

Do what most people dont do...........consider the wiring mess. Build something to hide the wires.

[cornelious0_0]

Originally posted by Qtip42
Do what most people dont do...........consider the wiring mess. Build something to hide the wires.

What you could do with the design is make some kind of "cover" to hide the PSU.....much like Lian-Li has at the top of their cases. Everything else looks decent enough for wiring.....it would take simply the same amount of skill as any other case. Nothing really changes with wiring in different case designs, you just have to be more creative. :cool:

[ToddTheFrog]

Originally posted by Qtip42
Do what most people dont do...........consider the wiring mess. Build something to hide the wires.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "build something" to hide the wires ... can u clarify?

Todd

[cornelious0_0]

Originally posted by ToddTheFrog
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "build something" to hide the wires ... can u clarify?

Todd

I think he means to design the case around having clean wiring, but what I'm saying is that you can accomplish clean wiring in ANY case so I wouldn't sacrifice your original plans to simply make it easier. I would recommend having some kind of "enclosure" or wall infront of/around the PSU though, as it would be the one area that WOULD be extremely difficult to keep tidy.

Here's (http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/xoxide_ll61_warrior/11.jpg) what I'm talking about with that "wall". It would take some adapting to make it work in your design, but I think it's something that would pay off.

[ToddTheFrog]

The case is going to be Acrylic but it is NOT going to be clear. I can't stand clear cases. I know that having a window in an acrylic case is crazy but thats what I'm going to do.

The case is going to be all black with the front "bezel" being mirror'd blue. The side of the case is going to the kind of acrylic that is black but when u turn a light on u can see through it.

I'm going to paint the inside of the side panel to make an edge so even with a light on you wont be able to see through the side of the panel. Its hard to explain but im pretty confident it's going to look good.

[cornelious0_0]

Originally posted by ToddTheFrog
The case is going to be Acrylic but it is NOT going to be clear. I can't stand clear cases. I know that having a window in an acrylic case is crazy but thats what I'm going to do.

The case is going to be all black with the front "bezel" being mirror'd blue. The side of the case is going to the kind of acrylic that is black but when u turn a light on u can see through it.

I'm going to paint the inside of the side panel to make an edge so even with a light on you wont be able to see through the side of the panel. Its hard to explain but im pretty confident it's going to look good.

I'm pretty sure I can see what you're talking about.

In this case I think sleeving EVERYTHING in the case a certain color would make it look good enough.

I can't wait to see this thing on its feet. :D

[M4d-K10wN]

Why so little fans? Build the entire case out of fans!!

[cornelious0_0]

Originally posted by M4d-K10wN
Why so little fans? Build the entire case out of fans!!

Riiiiiiiight. :rolleyes:

[ToddTheFrog]

LOL. I think that's already been done. :-)

[cornelious0_0]

Originally posted by ToddTheFrog
LOL. I think that's already been done. :-)

Yeah, I seem to remember seeing SOMETHING around here a little while ago to that degree.

Keep it original, keep it cool. ;) :cool:

[M4d-K10wN]

You aren't restricted to just the traditional fan placements, you know. You can place an intake fan at the bottom of the case (assuming it has some space between the table/floor and itself), and drill some holes in the PCI plugs, and screw on another fan there. I think you can buy some of those custom PCI hole plugs that have a "grill" pattern on them, so you can just screw on a fan there. Anyway, what i'm doing is :

92mm intake in front-bottom, 80mm intake bottom, 80mm intake PCI slots, 80mm blowing on the CPU 80mm blowing on the GPU (5 intake so far :)), One 120mm fan on top exhaust, and the power supply acts as another exhaust with two fans, although it's not needed. A 120mm can perform as well as about four 80mm fans, and that's without the help it gets from thermal convection.

If i find that the PSU screws up my carefully designed air flow, i will just flip the PSU upside down, and open it up to flip the fans too. That way, the fan in the back will be intake, and the fan on top will be exhaust. Then just cut a hole on top of the case for the exhaust fan from the modded PSU, (i would probably have to duct, or re-arrach the fan on the outside of the PSU, as there's a gap between the ceiling and the PSU). Anyway, at the end i have a PSU that has it's own Air Flow.

[cornelious0_0]

Interesting.....I might not ever try to put some of that into action but at least you're being creative and original. :p

[kuyaglen]

IMHO there are too many fans for a water cooling system.
I would use the radiator with the top exaust fan, eliminating
one more fan.

Or place the radiator at the intake fan so that your using the
outside cold air for the radiator, it would also result in using
less hose to deal with.

Thats my $0.02, anyways I'm sure its going to impress.

<insert> non homosexual pat on the butt</insert>