xaser III mod

[Zairs]

As no one seems to like my case in its current view (including me) i'm going to have a go at case modding as well as building my first pc
the case in question is the thermaltake xaser III
i'm after your ideas to get the ball rolling

ideas i have
cut out the design on the side and mesh it
mesh the whole of the side
maybe remove the strip of red and silver off the front and mesh it
spay any mesh with etching primer and spray a colour (not sure what)

 

[SupermotoMX]

cut out the spikey inprint on the side and mesh it?

at the rear, might be able to squeeze 1x 120mm fan in there? with some modding

swap the red plastic with red mesh

remove that silly thing ontop and replace with a 120mm

 

[Cookeh]

That is one fugly case.
There's so much wrong with it I wouldnt know where to start.
Good luck with this one

 

[G-Dubs]

A few questions first please

Is there a door on the front, if so a few pics with it open would be good.

Have you the facilities to spray paint?

What do the array of buttons etc at the top of the case do and can you do without them?

I have quite a few ideas for you but the answers to the above will affect what you can do.

So here goes

Paint the entire thing Matt black. This is quite a major undertaking as you will need to take a lot of it apart but it can be done easily without the need to de rivet. maybe pick a different colour for the red bit or perhaps replace with perspex and light from within the case.

Lose the controller thing at the top and add a fan controller to the area behind the door (if that's what it is. I figure it must be as where else is your DVD drive etc.

Perhaps a window rather than mesh in the side. mesh is nice but getting a little "old" now (although i'm actually still a big fan of it myself). Also a side of mesh won't do your through case air flow much good.

Lose the duct on the top and replace if necessary (does it actually have a function) with a more sleek fan filter.

Paint inside of case Matt black also.

Basically this case needs toning down a bit as opposed to jazzing up.

If you've seen my builds you'll know I'm a big believer in taking something "iffy" and turning it into something a lot less "iffy". Whether it be and Antec Skeleton case (hardly the most popular case in the world, an old HP case, or a bread bin of a Thermaltake Mozart.

What you're doing is what modding is all about. anyone can take a brand new case and fill it with shiny bits, and there's nothing wrong with that at all, but this is grass roots modding here.

Have fun and Mod on!!!

 

[Harvey616]

+1

 

[Zairs]

heres some more pics

the front doors are metal
the bit on top is plastic and has a couple of usbs and a fan
ive taken the front bits of metal off, i quite like it when it has just the red anodised plates on. gives it a nice smooth finish and works with the brushed silver

i have access to spray facilitys and i also have exsperiance in doing up and moddifing car (bodykits, spray jobs and that kind of thing)

if i remove the fan and temp display its gonna leave a mess, i'll see how bad later.
i like the idea of putting a large fan on top as an exhaust?
the main parts that will need lots doing is the internals i saw someones pic of there inside and there was no wiring visible, this is something i'd like to achive.
I was also wondring about water cooling, would this mean i could lose the fans?

 

[G-Dubs]

Lots of potential here, ake your time to think through what you're going to do. I agree with your thoughts above re the case with just the red bit.

what ever you do I think you need to change those 80mm fans for somw 120s though

 

[Zairs]

what do you think of water cooling, is there an idiots guide somewhere
i hink i added more to my last post before you replyed

 

[Zairs]

just had a look at some of the older threads and i'm not sure that water cooled is the best way forward of me think i need to get a bit more info on everything. i want to over-clock but i dont want to push it too hard. i was also thinking about stripping everything out and possibily putting in a false side so all the cables could be hidden, would there be enough room to do this?

 

[Tealc]

Would be so much better if you embedded those image links into your posts using the tag. For me anyway, especially when browsing with my iPod touch :)

Check the right hand side and see what clearance you have between motherboard tray and right door. A few slots cut into the tray could allow you to route cables like we have on modern cases. Failing that maybe a few aluminium channels could be fabricated to run the cables. A box could be fabricated to hide the cables sprouting from the PSU, something like on the HAF X.

Agree with Dubs on the fans. 120mm + is the way to go and some of those fan mounts just look nasty.

I do hope you can turn this rather nasty case into something truly great.

If you need any help with LED lighting let me know, I'm your man.

 

[Zairs]

they are large and didn't think people would like it much

 

[Tealc]

Oh I think 1024 x 768 images are fine. I post them all the time.

It just makes it easier to refer to a previously posted image when discussing things is all.

 

[G-Dubs]

Would be so much better if you embedded those image links into your posts using the tag. For me anyway, especially when browsing with my iPod touch :)

If you need any help with LED lighting let me know, I'm your man.[/QUOTE]

[quote="Tealc, post: 17928359"]Oh I think 1024 x 768 images are fine. I post them all the time.

It just makes it easier to refer to a previously posted image when discussing things is all.[/QUOTE]

I agree with Tealc on both counts.

Images would be great

And yes he is the man!

 

[Zairs]

changed the links to images
will definately be using lighting for it so i'll keep you in mind when i decide what i need.
anyone had any ideas or feedback on mine

 

[King Damager]

Jesus G-Dubs... now I know what you mean when you asked for suggestions for the Mozart, how comprehensive ideas you wanted!

But yeah, I'd say some kind of perspex instead of the mesh, I think it'll certainly add to the lighting effects later - whatever you choose..

Definitely in need of a spray down. If you want to be subtle/sublime do like a matt black, if perhaps want to do more of a look at me, something gloss - I think a dark green might look good - don't see many cases in dark green though so not too sure xD

As for the thing at the top, whatever it is, maybe mod it so it could fit one of the higher end fan controllers in? One with a screen or something, they can look really quite nice.... however some people would probably advise you to fill it in, and put the controller behind the door...

But yeah, personally I'd say, maybe a Dark Green paint (forest green kind of colour) but make sure it's a gloss, and maybe white lighting? - White lighting is really nice for lighting up the inside, drawing attention to the actual components you have

This would be a bit out there, but personally I think it could work out nicely

kd

 

[G-Dubs]

Pics are much better now thank you.

Re water cooling, hard to tell how much room you have in the case. what sort of set up were you thinking of?

Personally i'd go for a highairflow type design with 2 x 120 fans at front and 2 at the rear.

If you have any cash i'd invest in a modular PSU as it's going to make cable management easier, although itis possible to get the clean look with a non modular PSU.

Re the side panel idea for cutting out designand meshing. My personal taste would befor a window, but thi is your mod and if you like your idea you go for it.

 

[Zairs]

Jesus G-Dubs... now I know what you mean when you asked for suggestions for the Mozart, how comprehensive ideas you wanted!

But yeah, I'd say some kind of perspex instead of the mesh, I think it'll certainly add to the lighting effects later - whatever you choose..

Definitely in need of a spray down. If you want to be subtle/sublime do like a matt black, if perhaps want to do more of a look at me, something gloss - I think a dark green might look good - don't see many cases in dark green though so not too sure xD

As for the thing at the top, whatever it is, maybe mod it so it could fit one of the higher end fan controllers in? One with a screen or something, they can look really quite nice.... however some people would probably advise you to fill it in, and put the controller behind the door...

But yeah, personally I'd say, maybe a Dark Green paint (forest green kind of colour) but make sure it's a gloss, and maybe white lighting? - White lighting is really nice for lighting up the inside, drawing attention to the actual components you have

This would be a bit out there, but personally I think it could work out nicely

kd

could probably find some british racing green, but green really dont do it for me, the brushed alu looks good. seems to of grown on me now i've removed the bodged front
i was thinking about a clear red perspex for the cut out to match the red at the front?

 

[Zairs]

Pics are much better now thank you.

Re water cooling, hard to tell how much room you have in the case. what sort of set up were you thinking of?

Personally i'd go for a highairflow type design with 2 x 120 fans at front and 2 at the rear.

If you have any cash i'd invest in a modular PSU as it's going to make cable management easier, although itis possible to get the clean look with a non modular PSU.

Re the side panel idea for cutting out designand meshing. My personal taste would befor a window, but thi is your mod and if you like your idea you go for it.

i know the previous owner water cooled it, but i think i'm over complicating thing for the sake of it and money is definitly a factor.
what should i do about about the fan at the top?
i do want to change the psu, but funds are far too tight at the mo, i think i'll just have to tidy them up for mow.
as i said on my last thread i think cutting out the shape on the side and using red perspex would look good lit up.
would it be worth moving the psu to the bottom like with new cases?
i was also thinking of some red strip light under the base so it glows( has feet to lift it off the ground)

 

[G-Dubs]

i know the previous owner water cooled it, but i think i'm over complicating thing for the sake of it and money is definitly a factor.

I'd agree, stick with air this time round. There's always the next project.

what should i do about about the fan at the top?

I'd go with the suggestions above as options.

i do want to change the psu, but funds are far too tight at the mo, i think i'll just have to tidy them up for mow.

Should still look fine, but i'd say it's essential that you braid them and hide what you can

Example of case with zero cable management but hardly a cable to be seen (took a while though). you've just got to keep it all nice and tidy with wires routed or "loomed" together












as i said on my last thread i think cutting out the shape on the side and using red perspex would look good lit up.

As i said, go for it, it's your mod


would it be worth moving the psu to the bottom like with new cases?

Think that might prove dificult if not imposible as the mobo tray would then need re locating. You could paint the PSU though either to make it blend in (black) or make it stand out (red)


i was also thinking of some red strip light under the base so it glows( has feet to lift it off the ground)

Sounds good, think about how you're going to route the wiring and where you're going to put the inverters and switches etc though.

 

[Zairs]

i've stripped everything out of the case, so i can start fresh, i'm now wondering about spraying it black as all the fan controllers are that colour and then using uv lights and I also have some very special car paint that would work well. How many builds go down the uv path.
Or I could do the case skyliine purple and my special paint on the plates and use uv?
i can easily fit 120mm fans in the back, though i would struggle to add more holes as the ones that are already there are square. so i would have to leave them as they are or cut out a large section.
the front fans will fit with a bit of work
there is a false wall already in the case which i might be able to hide all the cabling behind and just drill out where they come out, though i would have to work out where everything needs to go
i also need to do something with the top, any ideas?
i'll give it all a wash down soon too