MGX1016

I want to make holes in the wall in the motherboard panel to help route some wires..

I also want to paint my SATA cables black and the whole inside of the case black or maybe some other styles of color...

I want to change a cover on my USB ports on my case to spring loaded

I have a MESH on my side panel. I want to help make it more see through, maybe inserting Acrylic with only a fan filter and such on the front 350MM fan.

I want to help improve my airflow with my 360**mm fan side and front 250.

Also my fan controller isn't able to to allow my front panel to close so I would want to somehow mount it on top of my case somehow..

Okay here are some pics..

http://www.ocia.net/articles/taganeldiablo/page2.shtml

What tools do I need? What do you guys recommend to use?

Any methods of cutting, I'm a total noob..

I also might get some WC if it can be somewhat cheap.. Like sub 200$ for a GTS / FX-62 and mount it outside my window like CD did.. What exactly do I need to do that?

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Firestorm252

well a power drill and a pair of tin snips for the cutting. if you already have a drill then the tin snips are like $15, can cut steel so a mobo tray isn't too much problem unless your case is a 1mm SECC (it'll cut but you'll have to really work to get through)
a rotary tool for small cuts or a cheap reciprocating saw is great for cuts. if you can afford to grab a new/used Dremel XPR then you can get attachments to do both.

as for getting the controller to the top, take some cheap angle-iron from the hardware store, some sheetmetal or 1/4" acrylic, and some bolts and epoxy. so fab-ing a custom mount wouldnt' be too technical. and a hole saw for the knobs.

the mesh can probably get taken out by cutting a few bolts or rivets (can't tell in the review pics). and just get a big sheet of 1/8" acrylic for a new window. i bought one of those cutting tools for it, but for 1/8" you really only need a good metal ruler and a utility knife. get one or two different colors of plexi and you'd get a nice effect going.

if you want to integrate a res and radiator into a case panel like CD did in one of his early FAQs, get 1/4" acrylic. the thinner stuff breaks a tad easy.
if you're hanging it out the back, then just grab an old 120mm fan and gut it to make a Radbox to hand the radiator off the back.

cheap w/c if you can stand "cheap" looking. grab a '77 Bonneville Heatercore and use JB Weld or solder on some barbs. some people say they're butt-ugly, but i like them . although for both a g80 GPU and a cpu getting a BIX360, MCR320, or PA120.3 would be best (although the PA120.3 is like $125-150 on its own )

well those are my random thoughts on it. sorry if it seems kinda disjunct, my trains of thought kinda involve three or four trying to run at once.

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MGX1016

+ rep thanks..

Hopefully someone can link to all the stuff I would need.. Assume I have nothing

The mesh can be removed via some screws and it's really simple. I want to leave it but I want to be able to see my insides a bit more.. I may get some sort of fan controller and something that can make my case brighter but so I can turn off that way it can really make things shine..

I gotta really plan this and draw some models.

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Dezixn

I just use a $30 or $40 Dremel for everything. Got it from Walmart.

I use the cut off discs for cutting holes *actually mine are squares but w/e lol!* and other stuff. It drills out rivets, cuts off stuff, and sands stuff. It gets the job done.

I think there is something you can buy for a Dremel so it can cut perfect circles, but I'm not sure what it is or how it works... Maybe someone else knows.

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Firestorm252

here's a few links (most are lowes, it remembers my location so availability may be different)
tin snips
~$15
dremel XPR
~$90
dremel XPR accessories page (tool adapters below)
cheaper dremel
~$70

** also note that any old rotary tool will work so long as it hits a good RPM and can take any 1/8" collet **

Acrylic/plexi (midway down)
$prices vary
Acrylic/plexi from TAP plastics
$prices vary

alot of the stuff i use, i found at the local hardware stores. big 1/8"-1/4" acrylic sheets, rubber molding and grommets, adhesives, dremel bits, tube clamps, shut-off valves, the list goes on.

here's the PC watercooling stuff:
radiators
Thermochill PA120.3
Swiftech MCR320
Black Ice Stealth 360
Black Ice Pro III
Primochill quad heatercore

pumps and blocks are kinda out of my knowledge range when it comes to specifics.
a D5 vario (MCP655) ought to handle just about any loop.
i guess i'd recommend the D-tek Fuzion CPU block. performs the best so far from what i'm reading.
i like core-only blocks so for the VGA a Swiftech MCW60

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Firestorm252

there is, but it's not for metal unless you get a specialized cutting bit.
i've had some decent results on 1/8" acrylic with the circle tool.

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MGX1016

I don't think I'll be replacing my Mesh, at the price it's not worth it and then somehow drilling a 360mm hole it a lot of work.. I may get a cheap old dremel I guess and then just cut into the motherboard tray and do some nice re-wireing.. Don't know what else to say.. That WC stuff really hits the pocket.. I may need to hold off on that until I get a full time job.. Meh okay thanks for everything!!

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