First time modding...

[Pete1989]

I've built a few PCs before but this is the first time I've modded a case, cables etc.

I'm going to be using hardware I have at the moment until Haswell makes its appearance. So here is what I already had:

Intel i5 2500K
Gigabyte mItx
8GB Kinston Ram
Add to that a new Prodigy and a Seasonic X650, plus other bits in the next few weeks.

I started by removing the piece of metal that was stopping the large modular power supply from fitting properly. I only have a hacksaw (no dremel yet) so I did the best I could. Lined the cut with rubber C channel and it looks pretty good.



Then I marked how long I wanted the 4 pin cpu power cable. De-pinned the connects and got cutting, stripping and crimping new pins on. I'm using MDPC sleeve and shrink in white. It's far from perfect but for a first try its not too bad.



One thing that I would change next time is to start completely from fresh with new white cables. I started wrapping the cables in yellow tape but that just got tedious so I gave up. The effort that it took to do what I did though I might as well have started from scratch using white cables. Also did the 24pin a little too short, it will make it hard at the end to get it really tidy.

I'm going to use 2 strips of Alchemy blue LEDS as lighting and have a button on the rear as a switch for them. (I'm going to be watching films on it so dont always want the lights on). For this I drilled a 16mm hole in the back.


Now I'm waiting for the LEDs, switch and Corsair AF120s to arrive before going any further. Dont hate too much, it is my first attempt!!

 

[Pete1989]

Not bad at all so far, hacksaw has done a good job, them dremels can be a right pain and are tedious to work with for sure.
I wouldn't use tape on the wires as they look really bulky now, I'd rather buy the Bitfenix pre braided cables extensions, it actually works out as cheap as braiding the wires yourself, you could use them and really shorten your modular cables at the psu end.

That would be an option, but it would mean having to hide a lot of cable.
This is the 24pin, with ssd for size comparison. These are without the tape around them.

 

[Pete1989]

Made some advancements, got everything installed, mb, hdds. The wiring looks pretty good, not too bad for the effort it took.
Going to get a H220 next month I think, and a GPU when I need one.

Then installed the Dimastech switch

and eventually managed to wire it up to 2x15cm alchemy blue led strips. Wiring got a bit dodgy as I had ran out of proper connectors but its all safe and secure now.
Hard to get a decent pic, this is what I've got;


Managed to route the cables very nicely for the LED strips, down a rolled tube at the side

Next I have 2x AF120s, quiet editions. Disassembled quite easily, just a bit of force, pressing from behind and the blades just popped off.
Think I'm just going to spray the blades white and use the blue ring with them.


Job for the weekend, spray the blades. Then it's all finished till I have a bit more disposable income - which might be a while with car insurance and gf's birthday coming up!
Thanks