[Project] Sleek (Antec 900 restoration) - Overclock.net

seven9st surfer · 07-03-09

When I first got my Antec 900 about 2 years ago, I did a bit of cable routing mod along with lining it with sound-dampening mats. I guess it turned out ok, but I was never really completely happy with it. Well, yesterday, my PSU blew up, so I figured now that I have to take the whole rig apart and I'll be without a PSU for the weekend anyways, might as well redo the entire case! Here's the things I want to do:

1 - Take out the mats and spray the entire thing with Plasti-Dip
2 - Re-do the side window to a style more like the Corsair D800, just really clean-looking
3 - Cut a hole in the bottom for the PSU fan, so its pointed through the bottom of the case
4 - Make sure all the wires are as hidden as humanly possible
5 - Make a false bottom to hide the PSU and all extra power cords

The reason for the name "The Sleekness" is that hopefully when I'm done with the window, it'll look really, uh, sleek... I just really like the look of the Corsair D800, but can't afford the $300 price tag. I'll just have to settle for a somewhat more stylish 900, I guess

I've already started, and have the whole case apart. I've also already started getting the matting off, which is a huuuuuge pain in the a$$. When I post the pics, you'll see why.

My biggest fears in this are that I'll completely destroy the side window area and I'll screw up the paint job on the inside. Time will tell. Anyways, just wanted to get the post up while I'm taking a lunch break (it's 105 degrees here right now, and I was about to pass out in the garage lol). Lemmie know if yall have any comments/suggestions! And I'll have pics up in a few hours probably.

EDIT:
Table of Contents

1. Disassembly and cleaning the inside
2. Cleaning the side panel
3. How should I cut the window?
4. Case and accessories Plasti-Dipped!
5. Decided on design for window
6. PSU and false bottom installed, cables 90% routed

seven9st surfer · 07-03-09

As promised, here's the pics of what I've done so far:

First off, what I have to start with. Notice the sound-dampening material collecting dust like it's its job

And with the door on

Other side of the door

The wire-hiding

And all of its dust

The 8800GTS's dust

And the 7800GT's dust

And the winner is... The intake fan in front of the HDDs. Awesome

Everything taken out

Even more dust

And more...

The glue from the sheets made a mess...

A big mess...

Notice I made the 2 holes near the center into one big hole. It was nigh impossible to get the 24-pin power cord back through, so I'm not about to go through that again when there's a paint job involved.

It kinda comes off with mineral spirits and a rag. I thought this would take forever...

Until I remembered I had an old plastic putty knife that wouldn't scratch the metal! Just pour on the mineral spirits, let it soak for a minute, and it comes off like butter. Really gross, old butter.

Really happy with the progress

And done with that!

This is what's left. Hungry?

Now for the PSU hole. I measured out for the 140mm fan on the Corsair 750TX, and since I don't have a 4 1/2" hole saw (biggest I have is a 3 1/2"), I used the cutting discs and my dremmel. I'm pretty happy with the result. And about all the marks, I like to measure once, draw twice, mesure again, pick up the tool to start cutting, measure again at the last seacond, draw again, then cut. That's how I roll.

It was at this time, the afternoon sun started coming in the garage and it was about 110 degrees, so I gotta call it quits for today. And tomorrow I have watch (I'm in the Navy) from 8am to 8pm (on freakin 4th of July!) so there probably won't be any updates tomorrow. Sunday, I'm gonna get the rest of that glue off the door, cut my new window out, and put in the acrylic. Also, I'm going to spray the insides with Plasti-Dip, so hopefully it'll be ready to handle when my PSU gets here, and the whole thing can be put back together. So, let me know what you think!

seven9st surfer · 07-03-09

Ok, the sun went down, and I could get back out in the garage for a few minutes before it was too dark. Got the side panel ready to be cut:

This goes a lot faster now that I know the best way to do it

Nice and clean

All taped up

And my tentative pattern drawn on

I'm gonna need some help deciding the final pattern for the window. Also, while I was waiting, I used the compressor and cleaned every last speck of dust from all my fans, HDD racks and components. They're ready to go back in. More to come in 2 days!

seven9st surfer · 07-03-09

Got some more work done today. I'm still torn on what to do about the window, I'm leaning towards buying a blank panel and cutting my own, but that $20 more...

So today I wanted to get my painting done. First comes my least favorite part of painting. Masking. I didn't worry about the black part on top, it's going to be covered with the fan attachment anyways.

After a few coats:

And the finished product, after about 4 coats or so. I got a weird stippled effect where the mobo goes and by the PSU. Not sure what caused it, maybe the surface wasn't completely clean. Oh well, the tiny beads of dried paint seem to rub off, so I'm sure I can get it looking good after it's completely dry. Also, the only part I screwed up is painfully obvious in this picture. Dried, the Plasti-Dip is very rubbery, and when I went to take off the masking tape, part of it ripped. Good thing that part will be covered up by the HDD racks.

I also did the HDD bays, PCI slot covers, the inside of the right panel, and the silver thing that the mobo back ports fit into. This case is gonna be black. you can see what a huge difference the painting makes on the HDD bays.

So that's it for right now. I'm going to let all that stuff dry overnight, so when my shiny, new PSU gets here tomorrow, I can put it all back together.

Peace11uehman · 07-03-09

with all that cleaning work, you should go ahead and paint the case, except for the black parts!

ZealotKi11er · 07-03-09

Nice work so far. May i ask why do u have a 7800GT in there?

seven9st surfer · 07-03-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peace11uehman

with all that cleaning work, you should go ahead and paint the case, except for the black parts!

I really want to, but like I said, it's unbearably hot right now. Maybe around sunset...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZealotKi11er

Nice work so far. May i ask why do u have a 7800GT in there?

Thanks, and it's in there because I run 3 monitors, so I need the extra card for the DVI slot. Check out the link in my sig for the triple-monitor build I did a few months ago if you're interested.

ryanlusk · 07-03-09

That is some gunky crap !
Nice work !

seven9st surfer · 07-03-09

Work log updated, and I need yalls help. Should I go with the symmetrical design like I already have, hastily highlighted in MS paint?

Or something more similar to the D800, like this?

I think either way, I'm just showing more of the HDD rack, but still, I'd like the shape to "sleek". Please tell me which one yall like better.

Or should I spend the $14 at the Antec store, and cut my own design, my own size, without having to work around the existing window?

Rick Arter · 07-03-09

Looks great so far cant wait to see more progress on this mod.

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[Project] Sleek (Antec 900 restoration)

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