Swapping from one case to another....

BringTheRain

BringTheRain

BringTheRain

Soldato
Joined
3 Jan 2009
Posts
5,593
Location
Bedfordshire
Hi there.

Don't know if this is the right section or not but here goes.

I want to swap my system from one case to another. They are the same case,except for the color.

I have very very very basic pc knowledge. My question is how hard is this to do and should i attempt it?

I just have air cooling,couple of hd's and couple of optical drives...then your normal pc stuff lol
 
can you not just change the case panels over? Most will be just screwed together, some may require drilling out the rivets and re-riveting.

10min job compared to 30 - 1hr depending on computer building skills.
 
Just take it slow so you don't damage any hardware and you should be fine.
Take a digital photo of the pc with the side off if you think you'll might forget where all the bits go. That said you can't really plug anything in the wrong socket.

Don't do it when your tired, and if possable clear a large space to do it. Most people here use either a Table top or the floor.

Having a small box or tray to store all the screws is also a help I find.

Some cases it's best to install the psu first, other it really doesn't matter, have fun and check ever connection twice.
 
Thanks for all the replies.

Good call on the digital photos. I could even take some video footage as well i guess.

Ill print out the photos BEFORE i take the pc apart lol.

Its a thermaltake Armour case the full one (super tower) That would be sweet if i could swap panels :D

If i never come on line because i have blown my pc up, i have really enjoyed the site:o
 
My tip would be to stick a label on each cable as you unplug it and write a number on it. Take a photo before and after you remove that cable and make a note of the photo filename on the camera, such that cable 1 = photo 1. If worst comes worst you can review the photo on the cameras screen. Make your labels with some folded masking tape.
 
Well if you think about he doesnt really need to take out the ram. Only thing is graphics card and any other pci cards. Along with hard drive and dvd drive.

Best thing to do would be to take your time, dont rush into anything. lay both cases down and simply take out the power supply and unplug all cables (good ideas above - labels and photos). Then put the power supply into the new case. Then take out any hard drives and dvd drives and unplug their cables - put these to one side. Then take out the graphics card / any expansion cards and put those to one side - best to put them on a anti static mat or bag. Make sure that the new case is ready for the motherboard - simply locate where the screws are in the old one and screw in the motherboard stand offs on the new one in the same holes. Then unscrew the motherboard from the old case and carefully lift it out and place in line with the stand offs/screw holes in the new case and screw it in. Then put your graphics card/pci cards back in and screw them in (you may have to punch out the pci slot covers on the new case) and then screw the cards into place. Then add hard drives and any dvd drives and just screw them in - so basically the reverse of what you did to take them out. then connect up all the power lines from the power supply to the neccesary hardware (this is where the photos would come in handy). And then all the data cables for hdd/dvd. Finally in your motherboard manual/case manual should be able to work out where the usb cables go and the power led/switch etc cables go into.

I know that was long but the most important thing is planning, think about what your doing and where its going to go.

As with regards to static electricity, theres no harm getting your self a anti static mat or wrist strap which can be had for peanuts. Though i just earth the case, ie plug in the psu, touch the metal of the case and away i go.
 
Thankyou very much for all the replies. Im gonna get a anti static strap from ebay. Im looking forward to it now. I may even do a build thread lol.

Its a major thing for me you see. :)
 
LOL @ the fan comment, i had the side panel off and my missus was looking at the blue fan. For some reason she pointed at it and touched the fan. Talk about scream hahaha, bless her
 
Take the Huge fan out.. result :)
Or leave it in and enjoy the cooling at lower noise compared to a smaller one :)
 
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