CattleRustler

This is my first time computer modding. I think it came out ok, theres a few minor things that need tweaking but its functionally complete. All comments are welcome

"way before" - This is when I first built the machine, and before any cable management whatsoever.


"before" - This is cable management using whats available in the case without any mods. Not too bad but it can be better.


a better picture of "before"


I used blue painters tape to protect the mobo pan in the areas that will be cut. After that, I marked out the cuts in pencil


Moved the case down to my new garage/workshop


the most important tool of all...


Sorry for the blurry pic (this cam sucks) - Since I didnt fully remove the chasis from the case I spent some time using cardboard and painters tape to protect the nooks and crannies from being invaded by dust and metal shavings


Let the cutting begin! I used drill bits for metal to make rounded ends, then I will use the Dremel to connect the holes and form the openings. In hindsight a small holesaw would have worked better for these cuts. At the time the smallest hole saw I had was 7/16 which was too big. I have since gotten a smaller hole saw to add to the collection (I ended up enlarging these two openings later)


Dremel action on the back of the mobo pan, connecting the drill holes to form the openings. Even caught some sparks in the photo There was actually more of a shower of sparks but the camera didnt catch it as well as the eye. Always wear goggles when cutting or grinding with power tools


the rough cuts from the back of the pan. The two cuts on the lower right are larger now than in this photo. Youll see that towards the finish of this log


from the back, after some deburring with the Dremel sanding drums


the finish cuts from the front. the two on the lower right end up getting enlarged the next day since I didnt like them after a test-fit.


again sorry for the blur - the enlarged cuts I spoke of...


using the c-channel from mnpctech for the first time I realized that it doesnt do well in tight radius curves. I tried crazy glue but that didnt go too well so I went to the "notched method", but even still, I needed to support the c-channel on all sides with electrical tape. Luckily this is from the back and is not visible


C-channel around the openings, not too bad from the front. Same issue with the 7/16 round opening for the atx-4 pin, had to support it with tape. this will be nicely hidden by the mobo


5.25 drive cage and atx 24 pin openings


lower right side openings


atx 4-pin opening (if youre wondering what that black wire is, its to power the mobo back-plate. the back plate text lights up with LED, basically letting you read and see the ports in the dark (asus maximus extereme mobo))


about to lay in the mobo when I realized I can add some tape support on the front as well. It will be hidden by the mobo as you will see


mobo reinstalled, and oooh, whats that? I do believe a TRUE has made a guest appearance!! +rep for anyone who can describe the fan mod I had to do in order to mount that fan on the TRUE


upright glamour shot, aint she purty? :P


Cosmos back door is notorious for not closing nicely (sound damping foam), it was bad with stock case cable mang., now with modded cm (even more behind the pan) it got even worse. Last night I had to slam it closed and use a piece of tape to keep it shut - haha. I remove the foam to see if it would improve and it did I have it this way for now until I decide what to do with it. I may use this to learn how to paint


Finished shot 1


Finished shot 2


some things still incomplete are the pci-e cable, the front pane sound cable, the back door, and the wires showing behind stock slots. both the pci-e cable and the sound cable have hardwired extensions that are p*ssing me off. in the case of the pci-e cable, it has another connector to feed another card in SLI, instead of using a separate cable. The front panel sound cable supports a few formats, each with daisy-chained connectors on the same cable. I am using the intel hd connection to the xfi extreme gamer which has the correct head for it, so the others I temporarily hid by straightening it out and doubling back up the wire, and wrapping it in electrical tape. I did this same temp hack on the pci-e power cable.

As for the wires showing thru the stock slot in the case, I have a few ideas for this, most likely Ill get some of that plastic hose stuff, with the slit in it, and use a piece to encase those wires and sort of hide them from view.

As for the back panel door itself, I will most likely sand down the inner square section where they used two-sided tape to hold the foam, and prime it, and paint it black I think that would look ok and I have never painted before so that would be a good (harmless) first painting experience.

hope you liked my first mod
thanks for reading

-CR

EDIT:
After some additional tweaking

Finished shot 3


Finished shot 4

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slngsht

I had to do the same thing to the wires on my front panel audio connectors. that thing was the sloppiest thing I've ever seen. Yours looks much cleaner of a wrap-job though. Very nice overall!

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Lemondrips

Nice Job i still need to do my antec 900 .

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CattleRustler

thanks

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Pap3r

That looks really good! Huge difference with before and after pics. You way want to see if you can get rubber grommets, as opposed to using that electrical tape. It looks very clean, you must get fantastic airflow now! And if you don't, you now have the knowledge of how to add more fans etc in your case

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wastedtime

Nice work.. Did you try heating up the C-channel ? It becomes really flexible when heated . you can use a heat gun. It will be cleaner than notching it up.

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ljapilot

It looks very nice!! I have a Cosmos and if you just cut certain areas of the foam out the panel will go back on easier. I had the same problem myself.

Good job though

phospholipid

very nicely done sir!

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ENTERPRISE

Wow. Very nicely done. Inexpensive aswel.

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CattleRustler

thanks everyone!

I have a heat gun but I didnt try that method on this go, but someone else mentioned it in another thread I posted about the c-channel problem - so thanks for the suggestion. I have learned from this.

As far as the foam, Yeah for now its fully removed since it came right out easily (they definitely didnt use 3M #4010 :P ) I want to paint the inside square portion of the back door so Im gonna try that.

I geuss the airflow is better now but I know I need a better cfm intake fan since right now the case is exhausting more than it can take in, I just dont know which 120 would be good yet quiet - I guess Ill sort that out soon.

I have cleaned it up a bit more now: replaced the pci-e power cable with an 8-6 instead of the taped up dual 6, and I clipped off the extra ac97 connector from the audio cable (only using intelHD connector) so I was able to remove that tape as well. Looks much cleaner. I also found a wire loom in a drawer that I used to sorta hide the wires that you can see in the stock opening, so its a bit better now. When I paint the back panel it will be done.

Ill snap a new pic now and post it
thanks for the comments, much appreciated

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