Project H-R Server Case

Stratus

Stratus

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Dec 10, 2003
Messages
1,566
I have a short suspense to finish this mod on a Mountainmods Twice7 case so this log is going to go very quickly over the next three to four weeks. This is a theme case based on my hardware site called Hardware-Review.net.

Here's the parts list I've put together on this case. I'd like to also thank Silverstone, Logisys, Mountainmods.com, and Antec for their support and sponsorship on this project.

PARTS LIST

Hardware
Mobo: ASUS A8N-SLI Premium
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3700 939
RAM: OCZ 2GB Gold XTC PC-3200
Vid card: BFG 7800GTX OC
PSU: Logisys PS550AC 550W acrylic PSU or Antec HE550 modular PSU (haven't decided yet if I want to go for cool looks or better performance)
Optical drive: Lite-On dual layer DVD burner (black, but will be stealthed)

Other parts

T7S.gif

Case: Mountainmods Twice7

4PCAST.gif

Case Wheels: Casters 4pack from Mountainmods

1.jpg

Windows: Custom etched windows from Mountainmods

Billethandlethm.jpg

Handles: Pro-line billet handles from MNPCTech http://www.mnpctech.com/MnpctechBillethandle.html

FP52.jpg

FP54.jpg

Front panel devices: Silverstone FP52 or FP54 (haven't decided)

Fans: Three Tri-cool blue LED 120mm fans from Antec, Two blue LED 80mm fans from Coolermaster

grill2.gif

Fan Grills: Bell's custom H-R grills (2x80mm, 3x120mm)

I'm still working on this list, but here's a short run down of what I'm going to do with the case:

1. Get custom paint from Kikboxes.com (Black Chrome)
2. Annodize all thumbscrews, fan grills, case handles, power and reset buttons, and metal on casters a shiny chrome.
3. Cut side panels for custom etched windows (DONE)
4. Drill holes for handles and wheels (DONE)

There's more I need to do, but I'll update this log when I get everything finalized. =)

Please give me some inputs on this and what suggestions you have for the case. I am considering watercooling, but I dont have the dough to pay for what I want yet. That will probably be added later.
 
Here's one more update before I head to bed.

1.jpg

Here's a good shot of my custom etched windows

2.jpg

This is the top panel tapped up and measured to drill the holes for the case handles.

3.jpg

Tapped and measured to dremel out the side windows.

4.jpg

Tapped and measured to drill the holes for the casters.

5.jpg

Completed drilling holes for casters.

6.jpg

This shows how I measured the windows, but also has a square piece I'm cutting out that will be painted and cut in thirds to make panels to stealth my optical drives.

7.jpg

Completed cutting out windows and stealth drive panel

8.jpg

Shot of completed holes for casters

That's it for now. Tomorrow I need to file and smooth all my cuts and get everything send to Kikboxes.com to be painted. I can't wait to see it all painted and put together. Later. =)
 
I like it! Those are some big old holes to do with the dremel...how long did it take you to get through it and how many cutting disks did you have to use?

What is the diameter of your window holes?
 
KikBox said:
I like it! Those are some big old holes to do with the dremel...how long did it take you to get through it and how many cutting disks did you have to use?

What is the diameter of your window holes?
Click to expand...

The holes are 10 3/4" in diameter. They didn't take took long and I used 2.5 fiberglass cutting wheels. The cuts are also pretty smooth so filing and sanding shouldn't take very long. I'm looking to get the entire thing shipped out tonight to you for paint. *crossing fingers*
 
Well, good luck, I will be waiting and as soon as it shows up we will get started. The Powder Coat should take 3-5 days but I will try to push it along since you are in a hurry. :D
 
KikBox said:
Well, good luck, I will be waiting and as soon as it shows up we will get started. The Powder Coat should take 3-5 days but I will try to push it along since you are in a hurry. :D
Click to expand...

Not in too much of a hurry now. I shipped the case out yesterday, but I forgot to send you the optical bay drive. No worries though. I'm going to be waiting for the custom fan grills at least two weeks now so take your time on the paint. =)
 
UPDATE: Due to inavailability, I had to change the paint color to Charcoal Metallic. It still should look awesome though. =)
 
Here's a small update for ya. The powder coating on the chassis and side panels was completed last Friday and its now getting a little airbrushing today and tomorrow. The paint isn't complete yet because I had to wait for these custom grills below.

I shipped Kikboxes.com the following parts to paint the same color as the case:

- DVD burner cover
- PSU cover and back panel
- power and reset buttons
- activity LED covers

grills.jpg
 
I received the case back from Kikboxes.com and everything looks awesome. Now I need to sleeve all the wiring, mount the etched windows, stealth all the front panel devices, mount wheels, install LCD, and install the hardware. Everything should be completed by this weekend. I'll keep you posted and take photos along the way. :D
 
Hey all, didn't do much work tonight on the case, but here's a few pics for you anyways. :D

1.jpg

Wired up the 5" LCD I got from Bellerphon at Gruntville.com. Pretty sweet eh?

2.jpg

Another quick pic of the entire LCD assembly

3.jpg

I took apart my fingerprint reader and this is what it looks like in the dark on my glass desk

4.jpg

Check out where I mounted the reader! It looks great under my MNPCTech handles (don't they look awesome powder coated?)

5.jpg

Here's the same shot without the flash so you can see the powder coat shine and the red glow from the fingerprint reader.

6.jpg

Both MNPCTech handles mounted to the top panel. Very sweet.

7.jpg

Last, but not least, here's a close-up of one of the handles

Tomorrow I should get everything put together, including the etched windows installed. Won't have the entire thing done until I get the fan grills back from getting powder coated, but I should have them by Friday.
 
Here's another quick update for you all. It contains tons of pics so 56K beware. =)

1.jpg

Back panel with unpainted I/O plate

2.jpg

Wheels installed

3.jpg

Inside of back panel with I/O plate

4.jpg

Mobo tray shot

5.jpg

full view of airbrushed logo

6.jpg

close-up of airbrushed logo

7.jpg

extreme close-up of airbrushed logo

8.jpg

front panel shot with airbrushed logo and optical drive cage installed

9.jpg

right side of case with optical drive bay cage and hard drive cage installed

10.jpg

another shot of right side of case

11.jpg

great shot of motherboard tray with standoffs installed

12.jpg

close-up of caster wheel installed

13.jpg

nice shot of top panel with MNPCTech handles

14.jpg

another shot of top panel

15.jpg

close-up of custom annodized thumb screws (I used 37 of these guys in this case)

16.jpg

mounting window with mounting tape

17.jpg

completed mounting window

18.jpg

installed window on side panel

19.jpg

left side panel with etched window installed

20.jpg

another shot of the left side panel

21.jpg

left side panel and some of front panel

22.jpg

nice shot of front and left panels in sunlight

23.jpg

same description as above photo

24.jpg

close-up of front panel in sunlight

25.jpg

back and right panel shot in sunlight

This weekend I'm going to install the LCD, front drive bays, power and reset buttons, and all the hardware. I'm not sure if I'll have time for cable management and sleeving, but we'll see. Please let comments and suggestions. I haven't had much feedback on this case and I like to hear what you guys think. Thanks!
 
Stratus said:
Here's another quick update for you all. It contains tons of pics so 56K beware. =)

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/1.jpg
Back panel with unpainted I/O plate

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/2.jpg
Wheels installed

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/3.jpg
Inside of back panel with I/O plate

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/4.jpg
Mobo tray shot

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/5.jpg
full view of airbrushed logo

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/6.jpg
close-up of airbrushed logo

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/7.jpg
extreme close-up of airbrushed logo

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/8.jpg
front panel shot with airbrushed logo and optical drive cage installed

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/9.jpg
right side of case with optical drive bay cage and hard drive cage installed

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/10.jpg
another shot of right side of case

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/11.jpg
great shot of motherboard tray with standoffs installed

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/12.jpg
close-up of caster wheel installed

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/13.jpg
nice shot of top panel with MNPCTech handles

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/14.jpg
another shot of top panel

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/15.jpg
close-up of custom annodized thumb screws (I used 37 of these guys in this case)

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/16.jpg
mounting window with mounting tape

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/17.jpg
completed mounting window

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/18.jpg
installed window on side panel

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/19.jpg
left side panel with etched window installed

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/20.jpg
another shot of the left side panel

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/21.jpg
left side panel and some of front panel

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/22.jpg
nice shot of front and left panels in sunlight

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/23.jpg
same description as above photo

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/24.jpg
close-up of front panel in sunlight

http://www.hardware-review.net/mod/day3/25.jpg
back and right panel shot in sunlight

This weekend I'm going to install the LCD, front drive bays, power and reset buttons, and all the hardware. I'm not sure if I'll have time for cable management and sleeving, but we'll see. Please let comments and suggestions. I haven't had much feedback on this case and I like to hear what you guys think. Thanks!
Click to expand...


Kick ass job mate, keep up the good work. :)
 
KikBox said:
Where are you mounting the LCD?
Click to expand...

I'm thinking of mounting it on the top panel between the handles because its going to be sitting on the floor and it will be easier to view it from my chair. I was also thinking of putting it under my DVD burner, but it will take up two bays.
 
Hey all, here's another small update. I got alot of work done on the wiring this weekend as well as the LCD mod. I'm actually creating an LCD console for the top of the case. I was originally going to just install the LCD directly on the top of the case, but a couple friends talked me out of it. Should have good pics of that today or tomorrow.

I also got my fan grills back from powder coating last night so I installed them. I was disappointed because my 80mm ones didn't fit. But, I talked with Bell this morning and we are going to send him an updated design that he can run through his magic machine again.

I'm also going to stealth the front panel drives when I get some time. Time is running down though because I'm having a few hiccups to deal with. I'm still scheduled to leave to Florida on June 1 so I really need to complete this mod by this weekend.

2.jpg

Here's what the powder coated fan grills look like. I kinda wish I had them done in a different color or I might even polish them to a mirror finish.

1.jpg

Close-up shot of the fan grills.
 
Very nice,

Can those handles support the hole case? Does the top panel bend at all?

I would have left the grills silver with a black or blue metal grill behind it, but thats just me! Great work!
 
Noni said:
Very nice,

Can those handles support the hole case? Does the top panel bend at all?

I would have left the grills silver with a black or blue metal grill behind it, but thats just me! Great work!
Click to expand...

The handles definitely can support the weight of the case and don't bend. I completely agreea bout the grills too. They need to stand out more for sure.
 
Sorry I haven't posted any new updates yet. I'm still waiting for the pics I took last weekend of the LCD console. I should have this project finished this weekend.
 
I've always wondered about the inside of these cases, can you take a picture of the insides when you can? How much room is in the HDD rack provided?
 
GodSpeed said:
I've always wondered about the inside of these cases, can you take a picture of the insides when you can? How much room is in the HDD rack provided?
Click to expand...

I took some pics earlier in the worklog if you'd like to see them. There's a good amount of room though. The HDD rack can handle around 5 HDs, but the ones on the bottom get real close to the power supply cables.
 
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