Dell Dimension 2300 project, first time mod.

Part 1:

Ok this will be my first case mod. It probably won't be too "special", but it hopefully will accomplish my needs. I have a Dell 2300 pc that I will be doing several things to.
1. I want 2 80mm fans in the back panel, currently it has 1 90mm.
2. I want to move the 90mm fan to the front for intake.
3. I will have to move the hd to mount the front fan.
4. I will replace the floppy with the hard drive, probably have to make new mount holes.
5. Replace floppy in back panel of computer(only place it fits), who uses it more than 1x a year anyway?

Sounds simple, but might be harder than it looks on a dell. I may also add a side panel fan. If I'd do this, any help on how to cut the case so I don't have to repaint, or is a repaint necessary?

Pics hopefully later to come.

Ok, as you can see, the green guard has to go, and the hd is in the way of the fan for the front. I also have an antec psu installed(everyone says dells are proprietary).


EDIT: Since my pics stopped working, I will reload the pics here in the first post, it will be easier to see that way too. They are clickable thumnails, linked to 640x480 pics.
They probably aren't in chronological order anymore.
















Hope they work now.

Originally Posted by Silversierra

1. I want 2 80mm fans in the rear

Hahahaha, is it me or does that sound really dirty?

It's you.

Originally Posted by KrakenGuy

Hahahaha, is it me or does that sound really dirty?

bing bong

Originally Posted by Zero82z

It's you.

Hello, gentlemen.

Can't wait to see how this turns out.

Ok, update. I got the back panel fans in.


They push a lot of air. They're antec trispeed fans.
They fit in well, I wasn't sure before I started. Too bad they aren't led fans, that'd be cool.
I gained respect for serious dremelers today. It's harder than it looks, and I only cut 2 80mm fan holes.

Now I need some grills for the fans.

One suggestion: Mount the HDD cage to the floor of the case. This would allow you to mount an intake fan at the front where the HDDs sit now. The easiest way to do this would be to drill mounting holes in the cage and the floor and then fasten them together with rivets. For the front fan you could cut and mount a "wind-tunnel" or make a grill with some modder's mesh.

Good work on the fans in the back.

Have fun.

Originally Posted by Silversierra

I may also add a side panel fan. If I'd do this, any help on how to cut the case so I don't have to repaint, or is a repaint necessary?

if you cover the area you are cutting with masking tape (wider the better) and give it a wide margin for error, you might be able to get away with not having to repaint it. You'd have the best results with a hole saw though.

Originally Posted by Captain Colonoscopy

One suggestion: Mount the HDD cage to the floor of the case. This would allow you to mount an intake fan at the front where the HDDs sit now. The easiest way to do this would be to drill mounting holes in the cage and the floor and then fasten them together with rivets. For the front fan you could cut and mount a "wind-tunnel" or make a grill with some modder's mesh.

Good work on the fans in the back.

Have fun.

I was just thinking the same thing and was going to ask about mounting the hd on the bottom of the case. It doesn't look too hard, and I can keep the floppy in place. Does the hd need airflow under it? If so I'll need some kind of spacer to keep it off the floor.

What do you mean by wind tunnel? I was just thinking of mounting the fan to the metal in the front of the case and either leaving the current holes, or cutting it all the way out like I did for the back. I wasn't planning to mod the front panel, for fear of making a horrible mistake and having to look at it all the time. It pulls a lot of air through now(and I don't have the front or side fans yet), it almost whistles going through.

I have the 90mm black fan and the 80mm blue led fan, which should I put where? I could put the 90 in the front and the 80 on the side panel, or the 80 in the front and the 90 in the side. Where would led light look best? On the side panel, or glowing out the front air intake?

Do they make metal cutting hole saws? I've seen wood holesaws. It seems a 3", or 75mm holesaw would be perfect. Man, I need better drill bits, mine are cheap and extremely dull, which makes drilling take forever.

I don't think I'll get fan grills 'till later, I can't find any in stores, so I'll order from the 'egg sometime.

Originally Posted by Silversierra

I gained respect for serious dremelers today. It's harder than it looks, and I only cut 2 80mm fan holes.

Fan Holes are one of the harder things to deal with cutting... and in the long run Jigsaws work really well for the larger cuts Looking good man! Glad you got rid of that ugly green thing

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Ok, I decided to floor mount the hd. I took it out, analyzed the vertical mount and figured it would work on the floor ok. It already had several vent holes, so no drilling on the mount. I drilled four holes in the bottom of the case and ran 4 machine screws through the holes and mounted the hd mount. I then cut off the excess screw length(the case didn't sit level). Then, I realized the 6" hd cable it had was too short, so I exchanged it with my new computers(in sig) hd cable which is much longer. I also made a special screw that functions as a latch to hold the hd in. I couldn't get screws to the back of the hd mount, so I made my screw latch(sort of like a ball detent).






I also put my blue led fan in the front to test it(2nd pic,just 1 screw to test). I wanted to check if my volt mod actually worked(it did). It's now running on 7v and is quiet, much better.

I forgot to mention, this is part 1, part 2 will be me replacing the mobo with one with agp, adding an agp card, a cpu cooler, install fan grilles, maybe get antec cobra cables, and oc'ing it hopefully.

So, I have the back panel fans done, and the hd moved. The floppy doesn't need moved anymore, so what's left is installing the front fan, and intstalling a side panel fan(if I do this.) If I do a side panel fan I may have to paint. Hopefully I can find a 3" metal cutting hole saw, that would be great. Lowes or home depot, should have it, I guess.

Originally Posted by Silversierra

Do they make metal cutting hole saws? I've seen wood holesaws. It seems a 3", or 75mm holesaw would be perfect. Man, I need better drill bits, mine are cheap and extremely dull, which makes drilling take forever.

Yep, they're called bi-metal

Hole-saws are a great tool to use
As you mod more, you find your toolbox slowly getting filled up with specialty tools to make the job easier

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deleted, I cant read

Originally Posted by Silversierra

I forgot to mention, this is part 1, part 2 will be me replacing the mobo with one with agp, adding an agp card, a cpu cooler, install fan grilles, maybe get antec cobra cables, and oc'ing it hopefully.

Read the thread DR

EDIT: wow didnt realize there was no AGP on there.. had to go back and look.. was thinking but wait.. im sure it has one...

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Originally Posted by DR_K13

are you going to put a new HSF on it? or at least a Fan? that Dell shroud was there for a reason.

Eventually I will. For now I'm hoping I have enough total airflow to keep it cool that I don't need a shroud. This is one reason I want to install a side panel fan aimed at the cpu. I turned it on, and it actually still works! I had the side panel off, and put my deskfan by it and turned it on to be safe. I slowed it down, and it was still cool, and then turned it off, and closed the case to check the temp. Mbm 5 says 45-50C idle, so it's safe, but not cool. It always did run at about 45C before though, so not much change. I'll replace the heatsink when I replace the mobo.

damn it , why do I always do that.

Originally Posted by Silversierra

Eventually I will. For now I'm hoping I have enough total airflow to keep it cool that I don't need a shroud. This is one reason I want to install a side panel fan aimed at the cpu. I turned it on, and it actually still works! I had the side panel off, and put my deskfan by it and turned it on to be safe. I slowed it down, and it was still cool, and then turned it off, and closed the case to check the temp. Mbm 5 says 45-50C idle, so it's safe, but not cool. It always did run at about 45C before though, so not much change. I'll replace the heatsink when I replace the mobo.

Good idea, are you going to use a Duct?