This is my project slated for AMD's display at ceBIT show in Hannover, Germany. 3/4/2008 - 3/9/2008. The case is a Thermaltake SwordM. I wanted to make something that reminded you of a space ship hull door. Reinforced Triangular Patterns with a rotary "airlock" latch. The shell I designed was milled from 1/2" aircraft aluminum on a 2 axis cnc mill. Everything is being chrome plated. I just posted a video segment of it's current progression on YouTube. Your comments are welcome!

I'm gonna have to take a pic of the final result when I'm at the CeBit Very nice case!

hey bill and all at mnpctech.. i been watchin this one closely.. and have been waiting impatiently for this next video and all others untill finished.. im lovin your projects.. and this ones comming up amazing so far.. u guys are a great inspiration to the modding industry.. keep up your good werk..

Is it even possible for you to make something that isn't awesome? I'd sell a kidney for a case like that but alas, ebay doesn't allow organ trafficking.

Edit: And just out of curiosity, how much does that case weigh? That beast looks like it could stop an AP round without moving an inch...

lol I will take

It can't be that heavy

Thanks dudes! I appreciate you following my work and will always try my best to offer good content in return.

It's been a pleasure to transform a seriously fugly factory case into timeless art. It's not as heavy as it looks, it's 6061 aircraft aluminum.

I've done a lot of aluminum polishing with an electric buffer and by hand. Until you've done your own polishing, I can only describe it as extremely tedious work. It numbs your brain, but not in a good way. Theres only a few Modders like myself that have been crazy enough to polish their own aluminum parts, sethnmalice and Paul from coolercases.co.uk. It takes a lot of patience! Last year I polished the 26" tall machined 6061 aircraft aluminum side panels and motherboard tray on this tower by hand. It took me 2.5 weeks of work, on/off otherwise the task drove me out of my mind. If you don't have the proper buffing equip, you can wetsand out any imperfections first before buffing out the finish. I don't have all the pro equip, so the problem with 6061 alum, is it can scratch real easy. Any speck of dirt caught under a sanding block will create havoc in the finish, just like wetsanding a paint finish. Of course, this did happen a few times and you started over. I vowed I'd never do this again and seek a professsional next time I wanted this type of finish. "Project Phenom" presented this challenge again so I made some phone calls and found AAA Metal Finishing.

Yesterday I picked up the first pieces from AAA. On a saturday no less! Since Mnpctech manufacturers their own line of machined aluminum parts, I've always wanted to learn about chrome, copper, and bronze platting. AAA's owner, Raul gave my son and I a tour of the facility. The building is city block long! He showed us the steps involved in plating metal parts. I noticed one of Raul's clients was BigDog Motorcycles I recognized their logo on handlebars and frame brackets in different stages throughout the building. Before any part can be plated, it must first be Bead blasted and then polished, otherwise you will see any surface imperfections in the final chrome coating. Raul was kind enough to allow me to record some of the steps with my camera. I plan share this footage in the next video update for this project


The first parts to return are the new top panel and factory front bezel trim from the Thermaltake SwordM Case. The factory finish on the bezel was originally anodized silver.

Very nice, very nice indeed. This is going to be one sweet looking unit and if I must I'll stand in line to get a glimpse of it in person. Happy Modding to ya.

You never know, it may just be here when you move to MN.

Onesy twosy pick-ups will go on for awhile. Raul must plate my parts in between his larger customer production runs.

You'll remember this panel as the new top from the video

Beautimus, just down right beautimus. Happy Modding to ya.

you know I've been watching the project phenom videos on youtube for a little while and that case on the first video lokked bad man. but on this one it's looking alot better, I can't wait to see the end result!

It was one fugly case...thats for sure

I'm picking up more chrome plated parts this saturday. I hope they have the side panels finished! I'd really like to get to the re-assembly of this case. Otherwise I should have a new update posted by this Friday. We're painting the SwordM's rear door with Alsa Corp Chrome FX and airbrushing circuit board trails over it that play off the recessed portions in the milled side panels.

Photos from tonight's painting session, House of Kolor's "Kosmic Krome" Paint.. It's freakin cool paint dudes, but not something a paint newbie should start out using. It's very fickle in how it's applied. No worries here tho, Brads behind the spray gun.

Brad did a fantastic job on that paint job. Thanks for sharing with us. Happy Modding to ya.

You betcha!!!

Heres the latest update on the rear door progress. The theme behind the Project Phenom's rear door design is futuristic.. Perhaps some strange type of space exploration equipment. Not neccessarily from Earth.

That is damn nice, just down right beautimus. Happy Modding to ya.

I wish I had the skill and the tools that you do...I don't think I'd ever leave the workshop!

Thanks guys!

More progress photos

OMG

That looks sooo good!

Thank you g1ng3r!

I'll be mounting Round Modders Mesh on the back side of the openings in the milled side panel doors.

The small steel plates were spot welded onto the mesh, these will serve as AMD badges.



These triangular pieces were spot welded together. They mount inside the large side vents

That is going to give the project a cool looking effect for sure. Happy Modding to ya.

That is nice looking work!

Hey, you got the PlanetAMD64 logo on there, where's the OCC logo?

Good stuff there, can't wait to see it at CeBit!

yeah I went by your website and saw your modders store and coukld not help but buy a few things! nothing big but just a few things to neaten up my case a little I like the store and the site in general.

Thank you for the awesome comments guys!!!



Thank you! I caught that and shipped it yesterday! We appreciate your business Phil!

Ok, heres the first of many doses of chrome goodness as I go through my progress photos from yesterday...

This is the mock airfoil/heatsink piece for the top panel.









The AMD 120mm 3/16" thick plated aircraft aluminum fan grills

Oh my, that is sweet! Mighty fine work and I'm loving it. Thanks for sharing with us. Happy Modding to ya.

nice, /drool

I love designing pc cases, but I dont have the tools to do the job, thats why I come on OCC and admire work like this. GJ!

Thank you guys!

I wayyy underestimated the time that would be involved in the assemble of the case yesterday. Started late at 4pm and had to call it quits at midnight.. I forgot that all of thread holes in the chrome plated parts had to be re-taped. That along with missing odd-ball screws (4/40 x 1/2") among others, were misplaced or lost. Spent an hour at the local hardware store searching for fasteners.. In any case, heres some of the Bling that awaits assembly

What you're looking at in these pics, flawless chrome plating on the corner of AGP Vent, The left side access panel pieced together temporarily... Note, like the top panel in my last update, the recessed portions of the panel will offset with matte black vinyl. We didn't have time to paint, so the next best solution was matte black vinyl..The mesh will be painted Matte Black, to help offset the chrome, add depth to the reinforced features. Even with all of the Black bakground, this will be the most "Blinged-Out" computer evar.

Below, you're looking at the assembly of the left AGP vent, 120mm Aerocool fan sandwiched inside, but this fan will ultimately be replaced with Zalman w/ green leds I'm still waiting to arrive..

My oh my, this is so sweet. Hope it's still in the shop when I get to MN. I would love to see this unit in person. If I get lucky I'll make sure to bring some sun glasses. lol Happy Modding to ya.

That's looking cool!

Machined and Chrome plated "AMD logo" Side Rotary access panel handle


As I mentioned earlier, I wanted you to see the chrome plated bezel I/O port and zalman aluminum face plate up close.

I think fueler has some serious competition.

Great mod so far, can't wait to see the finished product.

Thanks dudes!

AMD is shipping a 30" panel (crossfire ready) to meet up with the system at CeBIT.

Goodies arrive! compliments of AMD yesterday.

Phenom 2.6


2GB PC2-8000 memory


2x 3870 HD X2 ATI Radeon




1x 3870 weighs in at 2-1/4pds!


Gigabyte MA790FX


Gigabyte MA790FX

Sorry for the long interlude since my last update.

My wife's family is in the middle of a crysis that started Tuesday. I've been comforting her through this, so getting online wasn't a priority over the last few days.

I emailed my AMD contact this morning to see if it's not too late to ship this over to CeBit on Monday. I have no idea if he reads his company email on the weekends. It would miss CeBit's opening days, but maybe make it time for the peek weekend crowd.

I haven't had a chance to take decent pics. Bare with me through this situation, it will be worth the wait!

btw; Phenom 9900 kicks serious .!

Be sure to post when it's shipped out, I need to know when to check the AMD booth

Dude, that is an amazing mod. Great work. And that is some amazing hardware in there, too! Those 3870 x2's are huge!!!

The case is finished! My goal was to present something original with a Sci-Fi theme that oozed hi-tech. I also wanted a hint of something Biomechanical without the gore element.

The swordM's best asset is that you can't always distinguish the front from the back. You find yourself walking around it to study everything.








My favorite angle.. subtle biomechanical cues in the rear door





AMD Phenom 9900, 2.6 GHz
2x 3870 HD Radeons

That looks incredible dude!

When will you ship it? You think it'll make Friday at the CeBit?

That is one sweet looking rig man.

WOW!!!

That is great. Fueler does have some competition. If I have followed this thread correctly, you fabricated the whole thing?

Indeed, it is custom made! AMD wants it at the World Cyber Games now, which is great because that allows me to flex the system a bit before it leaves

Thanks for all of your great feedback too!

2x 3870s up close

That is one sweet computer! Be sure to play at least one game on it before it goes!

WOW, it's beautimus, just down right beautimus. Happy Modding to ya.

Ahh crap, so that means it won't be at the CeBit? Still a sweet mod, when compared to the case they had on display at the Thermaltake booth, this one is a LOT cooler! I'll post pics later!

AMD is sending me 3Dmark's suite today, we're loading Crysis tonight, I also got a new 27" Dell flat panel for testing.

I took this photo wed night of the system after reformating the HD. Pictured with Razer's Lachesis Mouse, Lycosa KB and iZ3D 22" LCD.

Note to self, move the system somewhere else for better pics.

Absolutely amazing mod!

Love it! amazing, do you get to keep the keyboard and mouse?