OK, so I just got it all together and I need some work on cable management.
But honestly, I am very surprised I can get all the wires in and still have it looking decent.

Those are some OCZ *extenders" for HDD and GPU thst I used on the NEC DVD and HDD.
Basically tucked the wires underneath the HDD while I await shipment of the 6" SATA cables.

Looks a little "clunky" in the upper right hand quadrant but I have a couple of ideas.

So no laughin' as it's still a work in progress.
(It really does look awesome in person)\













A big chunk of "Ultra Flat Black" came off the DVD.
I'll be painting tomorrow.
May be a little too buzzed to work on the window tonight

system info

looks great :nod:

Your wiring looks pretty damn good right now, Carl, if ya ask me!

That flat black interior looks nice!

Thanks dudes, that means a lot.
I think if you looked hard at the wiring, you'd probably agree I did what I could with what I had.

The cable that connects HDD LED, RESET, and PWR SWITCH to mobo is at least 3 inches short for proper cable management.
USB cable about the same amount.
(In fact, all the cables should be longer.)

There is no easy way to hide cables with this case.

But I can live with this while I try to figure out the window panel.

Maybe you could make a Channel Cover to hide the wires and still have proper manage ment....Not sure how or where you could get one made but I am sure you could figure it out...?

the dr's right, you could get one of those strips that's designed to go around the baseboards of a room, with the pull off front cover, and paint it with your ultra flat black... stick it right next to the MB and cut the proper holes for cables to come out the side. should be able to get a long one to cut to size at any 'home depot' type store...

Looking good Carl. Makes me want to mod some more, but I'm still to busy trying to get sh*t done so I can go back to watercooling...

Keep 'em coming man!

Been a busy couple of weeks with work.

Spent a lot of time on cable management without using the hidden side (right).
Virtually impossible to do with this PSU, 2 Matrix Orbital displays, 3 HDDs.
(Man I wish I had a Corsair 620 to put in here, someone give me a link to any hot deals on it)

I really like the case but the re-build has been tough.
Started having issues with the NEC ND-3550A (I've used like 6 of them and never had ANY issues).
Just wasn't reading and writing like it should.
It's been flashed to the Liggy and Dee 1Y3 firmware for a year and been just awesome.
Just stopped reading anything yesterday.

Swapped out the black version with the silver version from rig #2 and of course it worked perfectly with the silver one.
I realized immediately that somehow the paint had gotten into the device. (fug)
I would have sworn that I covered every single hole to make sure it didn't happen.
But as I opened the drive I saw some tiny flecks of "Ultra-Flat Black" paint.
Very tiny, but something must have gotten in and clouded the lens (or it just died after two years which I doubt)
Gonna be a long project to try and clean this. Doesn't even seem worth it.
So I'm looking at a SONY NEC Optiarc AD-7170 (and I'll use the link so DIY-street gets a few scheckles)

With the rubber "U"/"C" channel molding on it doesn't look like the AC Ryan Mirror2 is going to work.
Just not enough room to use 3M 4010 tape to secure it to the side panel.

Here is the side taped and ready to cut



AC Ryan two-way mirror panel and checking dimensions



Now if I add the rubber molding I just don't see how I can use the 3M 4010 tape to secure it on the sides.



options I see are:
1) forgetting about the rubber molding
2) securing the sides of the AC Ryan panel in a different manner
3) cutting a slightly narrower window in the "solid" panel (Side panels on the Antec 900 are reversible).
(You can order a new "solid" side panel from Antec for $13.95 USD plus shipping)
4) Forget about the AC Ryan mirror 2 and go get a standard piece of plexi
5) Try superglue between rubber molding and AC Ryan mirror2 (probably kill the side panel, Mirror2 and rubber molding in the process)
All of the above seem like valid approaches to the problem, just not sure which way to go.
Using the standard window is NOT an option (I'm stubborn)

Dang, I though I had this all planned perfectly.

(And I still need to extend all the leads from the top I/O panel)

Any ideas or thoughts let me know.

Yes, I realize you were expecting more of a success story but hopefully it may prevent someone else from making similar mistakes.

There is one more option for you. You can get some of that rubber molding that has slots on both sides, and then has a locking strip on the inside. You might even be able to make the window larger then, because with this kind of molding, the window needs to be small than the opening.

That molding with the lock strip sucks, I bought one of those kits from frozencpu.com. The locking strip is a pain in the ass, and the cut has to be spot on. Even if you do end up managing the right cut, it's still very painstaking to do and leaves you with a pretty much half-assed flimsy window mod.

I would just buy the solid panel for 14 bucks and start from scratch.

No guts no glory I guess
I'm cutting the biatch NOW!

:nod: mod on :nod:

Window cut and side molding applied.
Looks good (But this was the easy part)



Here is the reverse side with the Mirror2 panel.
There is NO overhang at all.



The Mirror 2 doesn't weight much at all.
I was going to use 3M 4010 between side panel and Mirror2 (clear, up to 2 pounds, and designed for interior use and no-porous surfaces).

Gonna run out and get some 3M 4311 (grey, up to 5 pounds, exterior and porous surfaces) and use it to "sandwich" the Mirror2 to the side panel.
May hold better as I know the rubber molding will be "pushing up".

It should like this except a mirror.



Thanks for getting me all worked up Steve. LOL
(I'm like a 12 year old, if you tell me I can't do something I'll find a way to do it just to piz you off)
And thanks for the support rado! Dang right, mod on!

Should look like this when I am done.



I can see (just a little) with all the sunshine behind me.
Hopefully It will be "ohsofrigginkewl" at night.
(If not I guess I'll be adding some CCFLs in the future.)

EDIT:
Good News. The temps have dropped at Idle with the side panel on. w00tala

The mirror panel looks awesome; Great idea for a custom project would be a case with the exterior made entirely out of mirror-panel (something I'd consider doing for a commissioned build).

If I had 1/10th of your skills working with plexi I'd give it a go.

This stuff is very thin (half the thickness of normal plexi).
Wouldn't be an easy chore for an oldfaht like me.

The thickness wouldn't be a big issue as long as it's just a skin mounted to a supporting structure. The big problem is that it's currently only available in 400x300 panels; if they had it in 480x480 (or bigger) one could make a nice cube case.


Can't wait to see the lighting inside your case.

Lil teaser here. Grabbed a 15" logisys blue CCFL out of the soundx98 stash box.
I'd want the CCFLs hidden of course so I need to go with dual 12" to clear the rear fan.
How is the light output on the AC Ryan CCFL they sent you?
Are they much brighter than other CCFLs?

I know the pic is crap but it does look very, very good to me in person.
Pretty dang hard to shoot a mirror without getting reflections.





and a short .mov link http://premium1.uploadit.org/soundx98//P1010475.MOV

Not looking forward to hassling with more cable management but I think this is gonna be worth all the pain.
I'll try for a decent night shot later

The red overburst CCFLs really put out a lot of light; so I'm sure the green and blue would too. The UVs don't produce much visible light but the do make the stuff glow.

You might even want to consider sleeving some of your wiring. I've still got an extra kit of sleeving that I may sell and also some stuff on bulk rolls (they sent some 30m rolls of 3mm and 6mm sleeving and a 30m roll of 9mm heatshrink since I needed a lot of them.

My face is getting red from holding my breath waiting here, Carl!

That's gonna look very cool when it's done....and yer temps are awesome!

nice mod carl. I also liked your logysis case (the server one... im still working on mine)

You do some neat quick work.

Thanks blooz1.
The last thing we need to be doing at our age is holding our breath

Danke sparkyFTWmeister. (Yeah the $19.95 case mod was one of my favorites)
Wasn't very quick with this one though.

Sun is down and it's night now.
But I'm not camera savvy enough to get a good shot with this mirror.
LOL, great shot of the blinds off the window.
I can see the entire inside now and it's very sexy (Yeah baby)
Really kewl effect.





I think I can hide the 2nd CCFL near the HDDs but I'll be taking some stuff apart again to get it to fit.

Since the SkyHawk 620 PSU is moular (6 pin molex like a vid card), I'm thinking it will be easier to make custom cables then sleeve existing ones.

And one of the oldfaht his badself

Man, everthing was looking good until that last pic!

Looking good

Why not custom wire and then sleeve that It's what I did

haha I was thinking the same.


The finished product (of the case) looks awesome. (if it is finished)

Holy crap, that looks good man. I like that mirror idea, might have to use that sometime.

LOL, pretty good line bubbaxm2
SparkyFTW, I want my fan back that I gave you
(I think I am older than you two AND uncledavid218 combined, smartaz young whippersnappers)

The 3M 4011 tape worked great. The Mirror2 is going nowhere.
I absolutely love the "big" window.

Outside is done and I'll tackle more on the inside after my road trip next week.

What type/brand window molding did you use on that? I like the looks of that alot better than the stuff that I got from frozencpu.

well I did get it at frozen cpu
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/3035/mol...ow_Molding.html

Guess I will have to try that next time. I got the big stuff that just comes with most of their window kits. What a PITA!

Watchin' some football with some buds.
They are lovin the new case.
Does look pretty good doesn't it?
Matrix Orbitals readin the memory.



Ordered the A.C. Ryan 12" "Overbright" Dual CCFLs from Frozen CPU a minute ago

That is a fine job my friend, you should feel proud of that.

That's Overburst :tooth:

Look very nice

hehehe, just a little excited about the new case
Thanks dudes!

Looks great Carl. I had seen a special case built for Sapphire (IIRC) for a show. The guy used all mirrored plexi for it and some blue and while CCFLs. It was a two layer case like the Sunbeam UFO Cube case I reviewed over at TPU. I think they had blue on the bottom and white on the top. Couldn't see anything inside until they turned the lights on for the case.

That molding you used looks kinda thick - you might hit up Bill Owen. Last I checked MNPCTech had some thinner stuff that might work better for you. I actually have several feet of it laying around - if you need some pics or more info on it LMK and I'll hook you up, bud

Finished product looks outstanding, Carl! Great job!

I was lookin' at that pic of the final product and I had a funny thought. Here you are with your case sittin' on your desk, and where's the front USB ports? On the top of the case.

Now both of the cases I use that sit on the floor - where's the front USB ports? On the bottom of the front bezel! Just Murphy's Law, but funny how that turns out!

BTW- You people should check out "U" channel moulding at McMaster-Carr! Last time I bought some there I paid less than $.20/foot as opposed to what Frozen charges. (Bless their lil' hearts, they have an awesome collection of stuff, but their prices tend to be steep!)

Yup, that's an excellent choice t_ski
I really like the "U" channel that MNPCTech sells.
Very pliable and thin.
I used it on the $9.95 Case Mod and it worked great!





I was around 6 inches short of the "U" channel I have on hand to do the window.
Bill was out of stock but I am very happy with it so far.

You know you start one of these threads and your fellow members start giving you ideas that make sense.
(Catkicker and Blooz1 were nudgin' me to give the AcrylMirror2 a try, so I did)
Still have plenty of tweaking to do (radodrill bustin' my onions)
I really appreciate all the input from you guys.

Hehe; and it's Acrylpanel Mirror2 :tooth: LOL

Good work; didn't mean to be bustin' your onions.

I do like the way it turned out and the 2-way mirror is awesome

Well, I'm in the same "boat" yer in, soundx - I live in an apartment, so any serious modding is out of the question! So, I guess I have to get my modding urges worked out by watchin' other people in worklogs!

So who gets the $9.95 case now? Or - is that a good reason for another build? HAR!

"Acrylpanel Mirror 2"
Just flows off the tip of your tongue, doesn't it radodrill

Heck, I'll dump over $60 with A.C. Ryan just because of their support of your project.
Seem like real nice folks even if their product names are a tad lengthy

Blooz, you know someone that would want a used $9.95 G5 rip-off case?

I looked at that case when I was looking to buy, I would rather just get a REAL case (even though they weigh ALOT). I think that would be cool But I like what you did with that one.

Yeah some of their names are a bit awkward; but their support has been phenomenal

soundx, I am interested in that fake G5 case, been eying that for a while actually, LOL. PM me with details, bro.

Between soundx98 and radodrill casing modding, I’m feeling like I need to drown my sorrows with a new case. My last case mod was two CM Mystics and really didn’t turn out like I imagined, more of an eye sore. Nothing like the work you guys have done.

soundx98 - Very impressed with the sweet looking black Antec 900 case.

Yeah, watching someone else do the mods makes you want to do some yourself. I just love my Lian Li though, and I'm still on the fence about putting in a window on it. I wish Performance PC's would sell a pre-modded window for it so I could just pop that one on and keep my old one for more resale value.

Steve, I am on the road in Chicago this week, but I'll PM you this weekend when I get back with some photos etc.

mknwatt thank you very much for the nice compliment
But there is whole world of difference between radodrill's case and mine.
Doing a case in plexi is uber difficult.

That and mine is built from scratch while soundx98 is modding an existing case.

Another fine job Carl.

Cool, thanks dude.