Project car boot
- Thread starter G-Dubs
- Start date
didn't really start out with a plan as such, i just kinda picked up the case as it had a mobo and cpu in it and was too good to pass up. I did want to improve my modding skills as i had previously only worked with antec skeletons which are diferrent to say the least (also easier)
if i keep it i'll probably use it as a mule or as a nas/downloader
I might put it on MM or if someone makes me a sensible offer it might not even get that far
if i keep it i'll probably use it as a mule or as a nas/downloader
I might put it on MM or if someone makes me a sensible offer it might not even get that far
The wiring up is taking quite a while, as i've got quite a bit of "custom" stuff goung on and not a lot of places to hide stuff.. I could just lob it all together but having come this far wanted to finish it off nice.
Hopefully not too hot tomorrow so I can crack on.
Hopefully not too hot tomorrow so I can crack on.
Bit of work tonight as it cooled down and I could work without the risk of sweating dripping all over the mobo (not good)
Rear fan in (but yet to sort wiring)
Rear PCI panel (feel an urge to paint the chrome of the cards back panels)
Rear fan in (but yet to sort wiring)
Rear PCI panel (feel an urge to paint the chrome of the cards back panels)
actually did try but couldn't get it out without really chopping apart the PSU
Guess I should just burn the lot now!!!!
I powered itall up right at the start o the whole thread to see if it actually worked and when it posted thefirst thing itsad was "overcloch failed" so probably had a healthy oc on it. As i've now got some decent cooling on it I mighthavea bit of a play.
Thanks for your comments Gunslinger. Very much appreciated.
Well I've finally finished!!!!!
A bit of a recap on the project...
The original case.
Checking the hardware works
Front removed
Couple of the inside
Chop the front out
All strpped down and ready to build up.
New front panel
Front panel attached and base coat applied
Top coat going on
Some piccys of the finished build to follow
Well I've finally finished!!!!!
A bit of a recap on the project...
The original case.
Checking the hardware works
Front removed
Couple of the inside
Chop the front out
All strpped down and ready to build up.
New front panel
Front panel attached and base coat applied
Top coat going on
Some piccys of the finished build to follow
As promised, the finished article.
A big thank you to all who have supported this build log, in particular Tealc and Waynio who have been of great help to me along the way.
I've really enjoyed this build and I hope it shows you don't need a huge budget or lots of skills to mod. Remember this is the first conventional case I have ever modded, I have no metal working skills, I have no electronics skills, and I have only basic painting skills. All the help you need is available on these forums
Go on, have a go, you know you want to....
From this...
To this...
A big thank you to all who have supported this build log, in particular Tealc and Waynio who have been of great help to me along the way.
I've really enjoyed this build and I hope it shows you don't need a huge budget or lots of skills to mod. Remember this is the first conventional case I have ever modded, I have no metal working skills, I have no electronics skills, and I have only basic painting skills. All the help you need is available on these forums
Go on, have a go, you know you want to....
From this...
To this...
I have to be honest I have a love hate relationship with cable management.
The main reason it took 2 weekends to finish this off was that I just couldn't get my head round where all the wires were going to go. Remember no cable management holes or cut outs here. Just a bit of space would have been nice.
The non modular PSU didn't make things any easier either!!!
Once I'd worked out which order the wiring needed to be attached in it was then just a matter of sitting down and getting on with it.
Wish I'd taken a few pics of it when it was half way through. It really was a vipers nest. Obviously the wires are hidden away. might take a few piccys of where they're all stashed but then that would spoil the effect.
Cost wise I do intend to sit down and work it all out.
I've used a lot of recycled parts (carboot, stuff I had lying around) and a few new parts (fan controller, 1TB HDD drive) which I added to enhance the build so may well do a breakdown showing both sets of costs.
The main reason it took 2 weekends to finish this off was that I just couldn't get my head round where all the wires were going to go. Remember no cable management holes or cut outs here. Just a bit of space would have been nice.
The non modular PSU didn't make things any easier either!!!
Once I'd worked out which order the wiring needed to be attached in it was then just a matter of sitting down and getting on with it.
Wish I'd taken a few pics of it when it was half way through. It really was a vipers nest. Obviously the wires are hidden away. might take a few piccys of where they're all stashed but then that would spoil the effect.
Cost wise I do intend to sit down and work it all out.
I've used a lot of recycled parts (carboot, stuff I had lying around) and a few new parts (fan controller, 1TB HDD drive) which I added to enhance the build so may well do a breakdown showing both sets of costs.
Cheers pipelough.
having problems getting it to post at present. either that or it's posting and i'm just not getting a picture. All worked ok when taken apart but that was a fair few months ago so may well have either not got a connection right or somethings funamentaly borket.
lights come on fans run, HDD spins up, but monitor not registering input. attached buzzer doesnot beep but then it didn't when it worked ok.
CPU has not been out, ram has not been out. GPU has been out, but is one of the only new parts in the build.
Not too worried as I did it for the case really, (the hardware as you know is what came in the case at £5 from the carboot) but would have been nice if it worked. I'm sure it'll all come good, and it's not as if you don't tget this sort of thing with new hardware.
Suggestions on a postcard....
having problems getting it to post at present. either that or it's posting and i'm just not getting a picture. All worked ok when taken apart but that was a fair few months ago so may well have either not got a connection right or somethings funamentaly borket.
lights come on fans run, HDD spins up, but monitor not registering input. attached buzzer doesnot beep but then it didn't when it worked ok.
CPU has not been out, ram has not been out. GPU has been out, but is one of the only new parts in the build.
Not too worried as I did it for the case really, (the hardware as you know is what came in the case at £5 from the carboot) but would have been nice if it worked. I'm sure it'll all come good, and it's not as if you don't tget this sort of thing with new hardware.
Suggestions on a postcard....
Sorry can't say due to forum rules but i'm sure if you googled it you'd find it.
failing that e-mail in trust
Have managed to souce a second hand mobo from the MM.
Actually a mobo,cpu and RAM bundle. (AMD set up).
couldn't find the mobo I wanted for the intel at a good price but figure I'll hang onto the othe CPU and keep my eyes open for an intel board and can always use it in another build.
Got a few days off so if it gets here quickish I should get it all in and working.
Actually a mobo,cpu and RAM bundle. (AMD set up).
couldn't find the mobo I wanted for the intel at a good price but figure I'll hang onto the othe CPU and keep my eyes open for an intel board and can always use it in another build.
Got a few days off so if it gets here quickish I should get it all in and working.
Cheers matey
the build was never really about the components inside, for me it was about learning to mod and seeing what I could do without spending a fortune. That I had a working PC at the end of it was a bonus, and it is more than a bit tempting to stick an i7 set up in here as i'm pretty sure the cooling is up to a decent overclock.
Might stick it on MM in a few weeks time and move onto something else.
It's a bit of a desired taste though as maybe orange isn't to everyones taste
the build was never really about the components inside, for me it was about learning to mod and seeing what I could do without spending a fortune. That I had a working PC at the end of it was a bonus, and it is more than a bit tempting to stick an i7 set up in here as i'm pretty sure the cooling is up to a decent overclock.
Might stick it on MM in a few weeks time and move onto something else.
It's a bit of a desired taste though as maybe orange isn't to everyones taste
As you've waited so patiently i'll see if I can sort something tonight. Phones charging at the mo though. I did take a few a while back bt they lokked a bit...well...crap to be honest.
Problem with camera phones is they don't work well in the dark (unlike me of course who does some of his best work with the lights out).
Problem with camera phones is they don't work well in the dark (unlike me of course who does some of his best work with the lights out).
The dark and poor disco lighting have more than a few fog beasts to answer for.
OK had a go at a few shots. They are pretty crap though, and in some the camera makes the light look red not the rich orange it is.
I did say they were crap!!
OK had a go at a few shots. They are pretty crap though, and in some the camera makes the light look red not the rich orange it is.
I did say they were crap!!
Never got round to putting the ccfls in. couldnt find a good spot where they didnt make things look untidy.
i might have another go though as they will probably make it look loads better lightwise.
although the camera is crap the actual effect i get on the desk is a nice deep orange glow which lights up the whole of the inside
i might have another go though as they will probably make it look loads better lightwise.
although the camera is crap the actual effect i get on the desk is a nice deep orange glow which lights up the whole of the inside
cheers sk3lph
really delightrd to have it featured if im honest. although i havent actually seen it yet as my issue has yet to arrive.
a big thank you to pcformat and to all of you guys that have supported me withthis build.
Just got my issue!!!! Just sat and grinned at the pages for a while. First time i've had that sort of exposure and delighted with the article.
Another big thank you to all who have followed and supported me in this build. It was very much a learning exercise for me, and the support from all you fellow forumites (real word honestly) was fantastic.
Future projects wise I have a few ideas, although right now i'm completing a project that will see my Beloved Antec Skeleton watercooled.
Another big thank you to all who have followed and supported me in this build. It was very much a learning exercise for me, and the support from all you fellow forumites (real word honestly) was fantastic.
Future projects wise I have a few ideas, although right now i'm completing a project that will see my Beloved Antec Skeleton watercooled.