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Xappy

Xappy

Xappy

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Joined
18 Jul 2009
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344
Location
The North
Hi guys!
Well I've decided that my next pc will be in a new case modded by myself! I've never done any major modding myself but I've built about a dozen pcs so I figure it's about time to start going for something more complicated and figured I'd share a buildlog. :)
So, here's my current setup:
DSCF4937.JPG

Ugh.
Horrible case I bought off ebay several years ago and thought looked good at the time. The only mods to it include porting the vents around the rear fans and colouring the floppy drive in black with a sharpie. :D
I must be able to improve on that.. right?

So, here I begin.
DSCF4923.JPG

I've decided to start with the Antec 300 not only because it's a very good case in its price bracket but also because it's understated and simple therefore allowing me to put my own spin on how I want it to work and look.
DSCF4927.JPG

.. and here she is unmodded straight out of the box.

I'm using Akasa "Quiet fan" white LED fans - very pretty fans with white blades and clear outside. Very quiet. The Scythe Kaze Maru will be going in the side; I much prefer the shape of the Kaze Maru's round frame to the square ones in normal 140mm fan.
DSCF4926.JPG

Nowhere had a Kaze Master or Kaze Master Ace fan controller in stock in black that I could find so I wound up ordering in a Kaze Server, which is similar in looks to the Master Ace but has the added bonus of fully automatic and semi automatic modes, which I intend to put to good use.
Oh, and that's a white LED vandal-resistant button I intend to replace the 300's power switch with.

So now work begins on stripping down the 300 ready to be sliced. :D
 
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Sounds good.

You should really get the internals painted/powder coated black and get a side window put in.

That would look great against the white LED fans. ;)
 
the scheme I'm going for is black and white, so I'm currently planning on painting the internals white. :)

edit.. either white or some sections black, some white.
 
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Update:

So here's how far I've managed to strip the Antec 300 down so far:
DSCF4933.JPG

Off came the front panel, out came the fans, the switches, the front panel connectors and the fan holders.
DSCF4930.JPG

Unfortunately I had to snap the switch holders to get the power and reset switches to come out (there probably was a better way but I don't actually need them anyway because I'm replacing both). Thankfully the front panel connectors are all very helpfully in one single piece which screws off easily.

The power and reset switches will be at the top of the case; I'm remounting the front panel stuff at the bottom of the case where the Antec logo currently is.

More when I've begun dremelling. :)
 
Okay

Started the dremelling today!
Marked up the window dimensions and then decided to make it a bit bigger, then began the cuttage: :D
DSCF4938.JPG

DSCF4941.JPG

Note, I am aware that my cutting isn't that great:
DSCF4942.JPG

I had planned on that which is why I didn't cut to the pencil lines; I will be filing it down neatly.
Even so it doesn't look too bad with the trimming added:
DSCF4945.JPG


I've also abused the plastic front piece which is ready for my own custom frontpiece. Rest assured I will be filling in any imperfections, sanding it smooth and painting it so the roughness you see now should go away.
DSCF4947.JPG

I've also sprayed the backplates and fan holders with primer but seeing as it's grey primer it's hard to see any difference in photos.

Edit oops helps if I upload the photos I link to doesn't it??
 
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Wahey 300 mods! Lookin forward to see how this one turns out since I should be getting a 300 shortly :)

Especially want to see what the white LEDs look like, I had planned to do the same thing.
 
I thought you would get the CNC machine for that.

Anyway still interested in how it will turn out. Sounds like a good colour scheme. ;)
 
Yes them ones are designed to come off easily. Most fans are more directly attached to the motor so you can't pull them off without pulling off something else.

I don't know any other fans that can do this but this is a feature on the products website.
 
Awesome, thanks PaulyD!
Just tested it out with one of the tricools (likely to be replaced due to how awkward it'd be connecting it to a fan controller) and it works perfectly. :)
 
Glad it worked :)

it's something I haven't tried myself but good to know it works for other fans as well, i know Clone had only done it on Yates
 
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Here's the first lot of painted stuff - the fan cages from the front of the case and the backplaes. The finish irl looks much better than in this pic..
DSCF4950.JPG
 
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