My first case mod - The Cube

[amirchen]

This is the progress log of my case mod.
My current computer case looks like this:

The problem is that i have an AMD processor and it heats up.
The CPU fan is very small and makes a lot of noise. i could buy a new CPU fan but i wanted to make a new case to solve the noise and the heating problems with zero cost.
My goal is to build a cube case which looks (from the front) like this:

The top part (above the cpu) is a 120mm fan -->

(as shown in this picture)
The other fan (80mm) will insert cool air to the bottom part (and the PSU fan will take the hot air out).
This is a picture of all the computer parts i have:

 

[amirchen]

The next step is to build a frame that will hold the MB and the 120mm fan above the cpu.
then i will add a cone to direct the air from the fan to the cpu.
at one end the opening will be a 120mm square and at the other end it will be 60mm square.

updates to come.

 

[amirchen]

I have decided to find first the source of the noise from the computer.
I have replaced the 60mm CPU fan with a 120mm fan and added a cone
To direct the air flow straight to the cooling fin's.
That helped a little, but there was another noise, it came from one of the HD.
The 40GB HD was making a lot of noise, so I have decided to remove it.
Now, the computer, even though it is wide open, is very quiet.

this is a picture of the code is made to test the new fan:

 

[Mr_And3rsson]

hmmz...

 

[NickS]

Generic PSU's make me cry.

 

[Elleric]

HEY! i had that PSU :-p

(i turned on my media center one morning to see a poof of white smoke coming out of the PSU area... which is why i *had* that PSU)

but more on topic, if you are going to do a full custom case, take some time to do a *full* lay out in a 3d modeler like Google's Sketch up. it will save you a ton of hassle and time down the road.

edit: wait, looking at that last pic, do you not have any cpu fan on there? just the heat sink and the 120mm fan some 12 inches away?

 

[amirchen]

insted of a 3D scatch i made a 3D model of all the computer parts and played with the possible layout of it.
i don`t have a cpu fan in there just the 120mm fan , and for now it`s very far but at the end it will be closer.
the cpu temp. is the same as it was before (even when the fan is very far) but the noise level is very very low.

 

[amirchen]

now , that i know that i`m going to use another fan to cool down the cpu , insted the one that was mounted on the heat-sink, i know that i can mount it in 2 ways:
1. the fan will be mounted on the top of the case and the airflow will be direct down.
2. the fan will be mounted on the back of the case and the airflow will be in an angle.

here is a drawing:
(the left one is 2 and the right one is 1)

which do you think is best?
(the second method came to me after opening a new IBM desktop).

 

[Elleric]

Either way will work fine, but you will need a second 120 mm fan somewere to exhaust the hot air or you will end up with high pressure inside your case and then no air will flow in at all. Based on that,. i like the idea of top intake and rear vent, but thats just me.

Also, keep in mind that you will need airflow across the rest of the mother board, your north/south bridge and your video card will get very hot if they are cooking in their own hot air for long periods of time.

I would still use a CPU fan... you can probbaly get a stock, or even middle range one for cheap from the sale section of this forum, I guess the set up you have there would work, but you are braver then me to try it

-El

 

[amirchen]

I have decided to replace the 120mm fan with a 80mm fan.
as shown in this pictures of the new fan with the new cone:

and from above:

as shown in the second picture the fan is in the middle of the cone for lower noise.
the temperature is the same with a 120mm fan and with the 80 mm fan.
i think i will stay with the 80mm fan.

 

[amirchen]

This is the frame for the new case:

at the bottom layer i will place the PSU , HD and DVD.
at the middle layer i`m going to place the MB.
and at the top layer i`m going to place a fan above the heat sink .
also , at the top layer , i`m going to place a 4 port USB hub and a card reader.

 

[amirchen]

It`s time to start the assembley.
first , add spacers for the MB:

second thing is the fit the mother board on to the middle layer.
for now , the PSU , DVD and HD are just sitting there on the bottom layer.
since the PSU is taking more space then i thought i will open it and reshape it to take lawer space than now.

the last thing for now is the CPU fan.

the next thing is to add acone to direct the air from the fan to the heatsink.

P.S:
the white plexiglass is for now. i had it and at the end i will buy a thicker plexiglass and replace the current one.

 

[Exavior]

whats the plan for the sides?

 

[amirchen]

After the entire frame is completed and wokrking well i`m going to build a box that will slip over the entire frame and will be the external case.

For now , i have made some chamges to the CPU fan:

and also took out the psu from his box:

this way it takes less space and i could lower the middle layer.

also placed a CardReader , 4USB 1 hub and 2 USB 2 ports on the bottom of the top layer:

next: a frame for the DVD and HD.
replacing the PSU fan with a better one (this one makes a lot of noise).
fixing the wires.
and , the last thing , build a cover case.

 

[amirchen]

The PSU fan was a bad one so i replaced it with another one

also added adgustable legs for the entire frame:

and arranged the wireing:

 

[drizzt81]

You win the 'interesting Ghetto mod" aware.
I am impressed with your ingenuity.

 

[tom61]

Certainly an interesting mod.

 

[indokyne]

wow. masking tape.

i'm thinking all this coulda been avoided by just buying a new HSF...

more power to you tho.

 

[Silentbob343]

everyone has to start somewhere.....

 

[amirchen]

wow. masking tape.

i'm thinking all this coulda been avoided by just buying a new HSF...

more power to you tho.

a lot of thing you see right now are temp. including the masking tape.
when every thing works well the temp thing will be handled.

 

[darknite]

just jumpin in, i like the idea and want to see where your gonna take it.
Gonna paint anything to match?

 

[amirchen]

just jumpin in, i like the idea and want to see where your gonna take it.
Gonna paint anything to match?

Yes.
I was thinking of black color.
build a case with small holes (like in the G5 case) and holes in the front for the DVD and the USB ports , and in the back for all the cables.
paint it black and also the 3 layers (so the white won`t show).
haven`t decided yet if i want to add lights inside the case. what do you think?

 

[amirchen]

After seeing that the frame was unstable i have decided to build a new frame.

here are some pictures:
The complete frame:

the cpu fan:

the front USB:

the PSU fan:

the new rails for the DVD and the HD

the case is not finished.
after i will satisfied with the frame i am going to take it apart , clean it up and paint it black.
then i am going to build a plexiglass box that will fit over the frame with holes in the right places.
and ofcourse fix all the wires.

 

[amirchen]

P.S.
if any one have any ideas for the outher box please post them .
10x

 

[Solarfall]

some transparent acrylic whould look sweet, and you could cut holes to fit 3 or 5 120mm fans.

 

[Arcygenical]

One way mirror and White Cathodes. Do it.

PS, the frame is 100% better than those screws lol.

Just dont... you know... trip and grab that open PSU to support yourself. Jesus, I hope you dont have any pets or anything lol.

 

[m0s3s27]

Looks great. Heatshrink from a psu sleeving kit would help clean up that bundle of wires.

 

[amirchen]

One way mirror and White Cathodes. Do it.

PS, the frame is 100% better than those screws lol.

Just dont... you know... trip and grab that open PSU to support yourself. Jesus, I hope you dont have any pets or anything lol.

the PSU is going to get a net-box of it`s own so the cooling would be efective with a low speed fan and be safe.

 

[amirchen]

The new changes:

first added a 120mm fan in the front of the frame:


moved the dvd a little to the front of the frame and removed the plastic front:


replaced the screws holding the frame with rivets and the brown plastic that held the MB plexiglass with metal corners (causing the MB plexi to sit lower)


since the MB is lower then i had to add a cone to the CPU fan (this one is temp for now - i want to get a dead 80mm fan and use it for another layer in the fan tube)


whats left in the todo list?
1. fix the holding of the main power plug.
2.build a net box for the PSU
3 add a switch or a potensiometer to the 120mm fan (not always need to run it and it makes a lot of noise).
4 move the eject button of the DVD to the top or the back of the case (what do you think is better?)
5 start working on the outter cover
6 paint it all black and maybe add some lights

 

[amirchen]

testing some colors for the case:


the old PSU case:

 

[amirchen]

Started working on the cover of the frame.
i`m using this as a template for the front , top and back panels:

This is the front panel so far:

in the right bottom corner you can see the opening for the DVD-Burner.
you can also see that some parts already have holes in it and the other part is just the
marking for now.

 

[amirchen]

Some changes in the design.
Insted of large number of small holes in the front of the case i have decided to go with big holes for the fans:

As you can see i have a 120mm fan (to drive air across the mother board specially in the cpu and memory sticks area).

A 80mm fan to drive air across the open PSU.

And a slot for the DVD.

All the holes need some sanding to smooth them up and add a grid/net for safety (after all i have a 15 month old kid in the house and she already stuck her finger in the 120mm fan).

At the top i have a 80mm fan for the CPU:

Also will get a grid/net for safety.
and the front USB ports

and the power switch

you can notice that there is a maskingtape holding the panels.
this is for testing to see that the CPU temp wont rise too much.
The next steps are:
1. fit all the panles (including the top one that is not in the pictures) and glue them all togather to form a box.
2. sand all the panels to get a smooth box
3. add grids/nets to the fans holes.
4. paint it all (black or nickle)

 

[lozaning]

what did you use to make the frame. i ahve been looking to make a silimar case for a while and this may finally get me off my ass to do it

 

[amirchen]

what did you use to make the frame. i ahve been looking to make a silimar case for a while and this may finally get me off my ass to do it

I just got a L shape aluminuim in the local DIY shop.
very cheep and easy to use.

 

[zombeh]

get some fan grillz bro

 

[amirchen]

get some fan grillz bro

On the way

 

[amirchen]

The new fan grils

also on top

the USB ports and the power button (will be replaced)

color testing on the right side panel

over all look