Project - She'll do mate

[dpelto]

hi everyone

thought i'd pop my forum cherry with a project log, ive been lurking the forums for the past couple of months and i thought it was about time to share my humble offering.

im currently in the process of saving up for a new 2500k build and to distract me from pushing the buy button i found an old lian li pc-50 that needed some tlc.

here's the state i found the case in

My plans for this refurbishment are
- white case
- side window
- uv & purple lights
- relocate the psu

so over the past couple of weeks i've
- de riveted the case
- cut a side window
- sanded it all down
- primed it all
- painted it all white

you'll see why i've called the project "she'll do mate" after the shocking job i've done cutting out the side window

PRIMED

MY MAKESHIFT PAINTBOOTH

 

[dpelto]

here's the parts all painted white

now im at the stage where im not happy with the side windows edges so im going to look to invest in a dremel to sort that out as well as use it to cut the perspex

im also looking for advice as to what PSU i should get and where i should relocate it to?

 

[dpelto]

thats what i was thinking, ive bought the kettle lead extension and was thinking about mounting it down the bottom so i can use the front fan to push the heat out as well as drill some more holes in the bottom of the case for the psu air intake.

does anyone have any suggestions as to what psu i should be looking to buy, im thinking modular since the case has no cable management.

price range £50-80.

although nothing is set in stone im looking to buy in the near future
- i2500k
- asrock z68 extreme 4 gen 3
- XFX ATI Radeon HD 6870 Black Edition
- 60gig SSD

 

[dpelto]

quick update spent most of today trying to sleeve the various cables, i came to the conclusion that i am crap at it but she'll do.

my new toy

some fans and uv lights

front of the case with the black bezel's in

 

[dpelto]

Yeah I'm not looking forward to cable management, got some ideas but until I get the psu in, hopefully it shall arrive today, I've got no idea If it's going to work.

 

[dpelto]

quick update

i had a second attempt at the window using the new dremel, its so much easier. the windows not perfect but she'll do. i also played around with the light im looking to use in the case purple & UV. just need to put the u channel around the window and then fix the perspex to the side panel.

hopefully the psu i ordered on sunday will arrive today. its showing that it will be delivered between 14:33 and 15:33 fingers crossed. then i can start looking at installing it in the front of the case as for cable management i was thinking about running the psu cables up behind the drive bays and fasten them there then buy some white extension cables and run them out from behind the drive bays to the various areas.

 

[dpelto]

thanks for the comments, to be honest this is the first time ive ever attempted modding a case and i knew i wouldnt get it right first go so its more of a learning experience then a work of perfection. plus i know that if i keep trying to make it perfect ill eventually screw up it somehow.

 

[dpelto]

small progress update

still to do:
- fabricate plate for psu hole to hold 1 or 2 fans
- tidy up the fan hole in the side panel
- get the powerlead for the psu modified
- attempt cable management on the psu ready for the extension cables
- ordered new black power & reset switches, so will need to install them when they arrive from america

 

[dpelto]

had a play around with the idea ive got for the cable management, its going to involve a lot of these

and then something like this, possibly with some black split room around it to tidy it up.

and heres how it will look from the back

 

[dpelto]

very minor update

i picked up some split loom the other day and had a little play around with it.

quite happy with the outcome just needs to be sorted out for the final build.

im currently waiting on some parts to arrive
- lian li optical drive cover
- lian li black power & reset button
- 20mm & 80mm hole saw
- black perspex
- dust filters

once they arrive i should hopefully have the case sorted out ready for its new components

 

[dpelto]

Got a few photos to share of the very nearly finished product, just got a few minor things to complete once all the components are purchased.

 

[dpelto]

thanks its going to be interesting to see how it turns out onces everythings in but hopefully we'll find out after this weekend. ive finally hit the purchase button and all the components and last little bits shall be here by saturday.

 

[dpelto]

i think its safe to say that i may have been bitten by the modding bug.

had a package waiting for me when i got home yesterday

now before i go putting all the new components into the case ive been toying with the idea of sectioning off the front part of the case as a way to hide all the cables and power supply. ive had a quick play in paint.net and come up with 3 options

OPTION 1

install a vertical piece of perspex with holes cut in it for the various cables to go through
to section of the case

OPTION 2

install a false bottom and have the cables hidden under it.

OPTION 3

to do both option 1 and option 2

OPTION 4

continue with previous plan to hide all cables behind the drive bay


sorry for the shocking attempt but you get the idea, just looking for peoples opinions on whether this is a good idea? will it have any negative effect on temperatures/airflow?

 

[dpelto]

Lian li pc-50, found it worse for wear in the server room at work

 

[dpelto]

The build is finally finished......for now.

A few last minute mods

 

[dpelto]

thanks mate the white case does look good but you got to make sure you handle it with clean hands. ive forever been cleaning it during the build.