Project: SAPPHIRE

This is the last attempt at case modding for me, unless this goes well. This is going to be a longer one due to budget constraints.
The case to be modded is the CM 690.

This is what it did look like:



the parts are listed in my sig.

I have gone to water for my GPU's but I am going to be modding the case to house:

2X Hardware Labs GTS 240's
1X " " " 120
2X XSPC X20 GPU blocks
1X Koolance PMP-450S 12/24V
1X Koolance CPU-370S
Add to this a T-line RES

The Goal here is to rebuild the case and refresh it with a bit of inspired flair from case artist on here the OCN. I will also be hand painting a nose art girl in a SAPPHIRE flavor.



So what have I done so far. Given that this is my third attempt at modding, here goes.

The side panel modded for a build out for a pair of ThermalRight TY-140's, the best way to explain is this.

Yes its on a car but the process is the same, layered sheets of MDF board.



The panel so far:



The top hole is going to be meshed up.

Moving to the rear panel of the case, I will be meshing also.



The interior of the case got a work out also, I installed some cable grommets (Complements of Corsair, Thanks guys!). These are in the regular spots, one from the PSU and another for tubing.



Also in the shot you guys can see that I removed the back plane pillars and the rear mesh and tidied it up.

I am also working on a switch panel and having the fan controller back to back in the one 5.25" drive bay.

Switch panel (With "Clear CMOS" switch)



Also the power/reset and pump cut off switches will be capped with Dice...Ones with skulls and cross bones on them.
In the pic, I have removed all the top mesh too.

This is the internal fan controller:



Front



Top



I am working on the top plastics or lack there of.



The beginnings of the clean interior. This is being made with the excess mesh.

[IMG]Thanks for having a look guys, currently I am also working on moving the HDD's from the lower of the case to the drive bays..I think I have figured it out...Thanks cheap case...

Don't every one jump up and say something all at once.............

Anyway, I will keep this going for my own entertainment But an UPDATE guys

I have moved the location of where he HDD's will reside, thanks to a free old case and the 3.5" to 5.25" adapter that shipped stock with the case...They now will live in the optical bay...







That almost completes phase one....there is a couple of small things to finish aka: the switch panel and the top I/O panel.. the next big thing is going to be the build out for the TY-140 fans.

Thanks for viewing...
Edited by smash_mouth01 - 6/1/12 at 8:21pm

Another quick update.....this time with with the lights dimmed.

I was happy to find that with all the parts they just fit together like lego....

The fitment of the mesh and the fan controller, I was so stoked.





Thanks to those that took the time to have a look.

Yeah it took me by surprise because it's nothing that I had planned.......The trick that I am facing at the moment is that I have to build for hardware that I don't have yet...well in the way of liquid cooling..

But a bit more about the colour scheme.

The two side panels will be white. The usual chrome trim is going to be detailed to the same blue as the Sapphire logo.
The main bulk of the case will be black with the mobo tray,optical cage and the backplane will be white. Over the time of the mod I will be adding 3 temperature read outs one for GPU,CPU and ambient.

There will also be other additions as well.

The one thing that I am wrestling with is how to finish the I/O top panel. I am thinking of covering the cut that I made with sheet styrene and gluing that in with super glue. Then to fill the gaps with automotive light filler and shape it...

The original idea was to use the existing plastic top and cutting out the center parts leaving the side rails and the chrome detailing.

Not a huge update today guys.......

I have been working on the new Top I/O panel and re-shaping that.....The original idea didn't work......Damn...but this is a good save.....
Also I have been prepping parts for painting.....








Unfortunately, I had to put my rig back together because the lappy died....and this will slow down the some of the larger project .:-( But that doesn't stop me from doing other parts....But in short I have...

Cut out the main mobo tray holes..
Trimmed up existing ones..
Relocated the HDD's
Re-designed the nose art pic

Now working on :

Switch panel
Top I/O panel..
Sanding and painting preparation.


I am also thinking of another idea....That LED strip, more precisely the RGB strip.. I am thinking of running it in these channels under the mobo to radiate light from under the Mobo and being the RGB one it will fit nearly any theme that I may chose....



What do you guys think?

Once again thanks for having a gander........

Dude you are on...

I got the link to get like 14ft of the stuff for like cheap, but I didn't know about the waterproof stuff. Also does that waterproof tape come in the RGB ?

Love your rig name too.