Midnight Blue ... First Mod Ever ... (56k BEWARE!)

[CorporalStorm]

Before you laugh at me understand this is the first attempt ever at cutting up a case or do anything out of the norm. I was a lil hesitate to do anything since I just bought the case. Literally I sat and stared at it for a good hour before I grew "balls" to actually do something.

I will explain each picture as it's shown down the list. This is completed and no more work is scheduled for now.

everything pulled out of the case ...

the new 7900 gt ko sc that I got from the stepup program

used a sharpie to trace where I would cut out using the rotary tool. 80mm front

same thing in the rear for the 120mm fan

this is my makeshift work area.. i know, state of the art! LOL

front is cut and sanded. it's not a perfect circle but pretty darn good with a cutting wheel

same as the rear.. not too shabby

sleeved the fan cables. heatshrink is a PITA

started priming the aluminum pieces

first coat of blue metallic paint

second coat, its starting to look real good

closeup on the 3rd coat

it looks like that color changing paint at different angles.. weird, but in person its solid blue

marked up for cutting out. the squares are underneath the mobo to hide most of the wiring

cut out done.. not exactly straight but im not complaining

lol clever.. i used vacuum hose from auto store that you use on windshield washer motors. cut it in half and used metal super glue to stick it.. worked like a charm.

all 3 cutouts rubberized

cleaning the case up. its not exactly as clean as i hoped, was afraid to put too many wires under the mobo for fear something would shred. from what i did theres no restriction, ive kept everything clear of the airflow channels.

view of the front area

just a random shot after putting the front plate on. it looks strange, maybe its the flash. it looks like there is dust on it but there is none. then again metallic paint looks funny when shot with a camera. have to see it in person to see how nice it looks.

another shot for the heck of it.. not bad..

just taken without a flash.. i dont like the fact you can see the rear 120mm LED fan back there.. im rigging up something to mount a 120 in the bottom 3 slots for another instake fan.

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I'm overall pleased with the turn out. I believe with some more practice I can come up with better results.. This was the first time and I was a bit nervous to make errors. So next time I can go a bit further and test myself

What do ya'll think?

 

[filthysanchez]

put window trim around the holes you cut, that stuff in there now looks wierd.

 

[BinarySynapse]

looks good. I have the same case and the first thing I did was take that ugly centurion logo off the front. It's stuck on the side of my fridge now

 

[Geo Fry]

put window trim around the holes you cut, that stuff in there now looks wierd.

yea but you cant see it with the mobo installed, plus it seems like it will do the job

I know what you mean about cutting into your case for the first time... but don't worry, confidence builds quickly after you mod something. Oh and go to a hardware store and pick up a few metal files if you plan on cutting anything else... they are wonderful. What I do is draw myself a line and cut a little before it and just file up to the line. Takes more time but the end result is way more gratifying.

Looks good for a first mod... any other plans other than a second intake?

 

[lozaning]

looks good. i still havent cut anyhting on my case so your doing better then me
in regards to the wiring while you can se some of the wires it doesnt look like a shity rats nest. i think the sleving as much as a pita that is helped alot there

 

[mrweasel]

looks nice, but seriously, what is that freaky looking kid thing in the background in the last pic?

That thing is gonna give me nightmares

 

[BinarySynapse]

looks nice, but seriously, what is that freaky looking kid thing in the background in the last pic?

That thing is gonna give me nightmares

Looks like a porcelan (SP?) doll standing on a glass table.

 

[CorporalStorm]

looks nice, but seriously, what is that freaky looking kid thing in the background in the last pic?

That thing is gonna give me nightmares

LOL! Yeah its a doll.. My mom's a doll freak.. She has about oh.. 40 dolls in her formal living room, I think total antique value she has about $20,000.00 in dolls.. She has some dolls that are old as heck!