OJX

Never modded before but want to mod my Antec Sonata III
I would want to

• paint the inside black, same with the PSU
• put 2 x120 mm fans on top for exhaust
• put 1 x120 mm on the bottom for intake (possibly elevate the case on hockey pucks or something)
• cut a hole in front through the hard drive holders (I only need 1 HD) and let 1 x120 mm fan serve as a better intake
• POSSIBLY, add a side window on the case

1. Now, is there anything wrong with my plan, what would you do better?
2. Any guides on where to get started with doing these kinds of things? I found this guide, seems to be pretty good
3. What supplies do I need? Where can I get them in Canada? (I am a student on a pretty tight budget)


Assume I have 0 knowledge of how to mod. All the help would be generously rewarded.

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carl25

what kind of tools do you have to start with ?

kpo6969

I have the same case and applaud your creativity.
I don't know about the feasibility of some of your ideas but some photos may give you some imput from others:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/492/1

The only things I did with mine was to add a second 120mm fan mounted on the front of the HD cage and a 80mm in the back rear of my case between my 8800GT and X-Fi sound card.

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OJX

Whats your ambient?
How are your CPU temps?
Do you think this case has fair airflow?

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OJX

Bare minimum, I'll see if my dad has a dremel, but I dont think so
Now I'm thinking of possibly scrapping the "cutting through hard drive cages" idea, and possibly mounting a fan on the side panel I am going to create.

I'll make a diagram today

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gimrie

I have a Sonata (1st gen) and after upgrading to an 8800 GS, my temps went way up. The card, in the forth slot from the bottom, was not allowing fresh air to circulate in the bottom of my case. I added an 80mm intake fan to the front panel to lower my temps. Here's how.

1) Removed the front panel.
2) Trimmed the interior ducting on front panel using tin snips (removed ducting completely). Filed the edges smooth.
3) Held the fan in it's mounting spot and traced the outline of the fan area and mounting holes onto the drive rails. Trimmed the outside rail for the third drive bay (small circular notch, top of fan), forth drive bay (removed approx 3/4 of the rail, middle of fan), and the area below the bottom drive bay (small circular notch, bottom of fan). I used a jigsaw, then filed the edges smooth to remove any burrs. Drilled two holes in the area below the bottom drive bay (by small circular notch). Mounted the 80mm fan using the bottom two fan fasteners.
4) Added an intake air duct to the front bezel. Drilled a pilot hole then used a hole saw drill bit to cut a circular hole in the front bezel. Filed the edges smooth. Glued wire mesh to interior of bezel to restrict access through hole. I used a large mesh that is sold as rain gutter covering at home depot.
5) Enlarged the air duct opening at the bottom of the bezel. Drilled 2 holes in the bottom of the bezel that corresponded to the corners of the new opening. Used a hacksaw blade to enlarge the opening. Filed the edges smooth.
6) Reattached the front panel and snapped in the modified bezel.

The hole saw drill bit made a neat looking circular hole. No need to cover the edges with beading. Without the two modifications to the front bezel, the fan could not pull in enough room temparature air to make a difference.

My GPU temps at idle dropped from 51.8 to 43.5. WOW! Total cost: $7.99 for the 80mm fan. All the tools and other materials (mesh and glue) were on hand in my garage.

I did lose the front filter, but I don't have a dust problem so I should be ok. Also, most of the air being pulled into the case was entering elsewhere, the filter was still clean after four years! With this mod, all the drive bays are still functional, although using the bottom two would restrict airflow from the new 80mm fan (third bay just in front of very top of fan, so would probably be ok). My case now has a 120mm blue tri-cool fan in the stock rear position (on med), a 120mm blue tri-cool fan in in the stock position in back of the hard drive cage (on med), and an 80mm blue tri-cool fan mounted in the front of the hard drive cage under the front bezel (on med). The computer is still relatively quiet. The only noticable change to the case is the circular air duct on the front bezel, and the hole is so neat, it looks like it came that way. My cooling mod is now complete!

kpo6969

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f.../707Temp36.jpg
-additional 120mm Tri-cool mounted on HD cage
-80mm exhaust fan mounted in rear of case
-OCZ Vendetta 2 cooler w/E8400 @ 3.6

gimrie

For clarification, the hole saw drill bit is the same thing you use to drill holes in doors for locksets. Makes a perfectly round hole. Here's a link to a similar hole saw.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...3+90401+524423

They come in all sizes, the one I used drilled a hole approximately the size of a doorknob. Just make sure you drill a pilot hole first, and be patient, you want cut the plastic, not melt it.

LaoFX

heres what i did to mines






i should really put that stock cooler on the card huh? direct airflow?

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kpo6969

What I did with mine is add 2x80mm fans
-1 under the 120mm that's mounted on the HD cage
-1
I moved my X-Fi to the bottom slot and zip-tied the other between the X-Fi and my gpu,
exhausting out the back
Your cooler is fine, I have a VF900 on my 8800GT

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