Project: Blow the Roof Off (antec 900)

[hotsuma]

My, first worklog\serious mod

Figure since i have finished stalker i need something to do till crysis comes out

Relatively simple mod planned:
1) Blow the roof off a antec 900 only thing that i dont like about the case, get rid of that stupid fan on the top etc (some may like it, just not me). and replace with a clear acrylic - case will be see through top and side panel.
2) fully paint the case , colour still undecided, have been playing with doing the inside a different colour to the outside (looks like im going one colour atm)
3) Dremel holes in the mainboard tray, do a good wiring job etc
4) Stencil a few logo's onto the system after the base colour has gone down.
5) Keep the system simple\minimalist
6) do the power buttons/led's custom (as they went with the roof) and add a hidden usb key in the system just for rediboost vista thingey


shows the part i am removing
and on the side a few colour ideas im playing with

===OLD SYSTEM===



================

Hardware will stay basically the same/ adding some ram, new disks and a gts or gtx


roof comes off


before i destroy the case hehe


Bit of nibbler action


time to clean up, thanks for the forum's ideas on how to clean it up with a file


file time


more file time, sigh


close to how im going to leave the top

i was going to put the clear acrylic on the top of the case, but there is a channel in the inside of the top/roof panel for it to be screwed inside
im going to use the 6 original screw holes to secure the clear acrylic on the inside of the case

Update: over the weekend i have cut all the holes in the mainboard tray and lastnight i drilled all the rivets out.
I will add pics tomorrow, all that is left now is bit of cleaning up the holes sanding all the parts priming and painting

ohh and lots of wiring

colour ideas etc welcome

[kizza2153]

Looking good mate. For the colour scheme, I would go red and black if you want it to stand out or just black if don't want people standing around it at your next lan.

[spikes]

are you taking off the plastic housing that holds the fan, can/peanut holder, front IO ports off.

If you, this will look terrific I reckon
Antec 900's are ugly with them on

[hotsuma]

that is correct the top pannel/io port fan housing i got the case intending to take it off , nice case ugly top part hehe

[Zzapped]

Originally Posted by hotsuma

and add a hidden usb key in the system just for rediboost vista thingey [/B]

Damned good idea, Im in the middle of building up my system using the Antec 900 and thats what Im going to add

Cheers

Z

[hotsuma]

Took some pics of what i did on the weekend
sorry these are low quality, ill reload some of them after the weekend



still some smoothing to be done, not too bad though about how i wanted . when everything is done ill chuck some u-channel in or something



Just to give a idea with the board in there



This is from a old case i think ill use it for the front usb etc, may put it in the side panel so usb plugs in the side of the case.


The old, usb IO panel, doubt ill use it but would be easier to put in a side panel

the ugly crap, i may harvest the IO bracket from this , cut it out if i decide to use the original IO panel (the one above)


This shows the gap where i am putting the clear acrylic\laminate


what goes where


Hehe lots of dead rivits (i should try and return the case like this hehe), and you can see the sneaky power buttons i may use if i decide to totally hide the power\reset button

anyone know if i can cut a motherboard usb cable and soldier it to a usb stick, i assume i can but how do i figure out what wire goes where?

[Zzapped]

Originally Posted by hotsuma

anyone know if i can cut a motherboard usb cable and soldier it to a usb stick, i assume i can but how do i figure out what wire goes where?

Shouldnt be too hard to figure out, there are only 4 wires, I might sacrifice an old usb backplate tonight to get the pinouts for the wires

Cheers

Z

[zaim]

if colour is still undecided.... here is how my old 900 looks with a black chasis.. just so you got a fair idea





rest of the photos

[Turorit]

Lookin' good so far mate!

http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml << USB pinout if thats what you're after..

Cheers, Turorit

[hotsuma]

Originally Posted by Turorit

Lookin' good so far mate!

http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml << USB pinout if thats what you're after..

Cheers, Turorit

woot, thanks my hat goes off to you my man thats just what i needed
really thanks i had a look on google and in the forum that is a big help

Originally Posted by zaim

if colour is still undecided.... here is how my old 900 looks with a black chasis.. just so you got a fair idea

You know i always like using flat black, but im going to use a loud color for this case. I like the idea of using a loud color and then not going over the top so the case still looks minimalist

[zaim]

Originally Posted by hotsuma

You know i always like using flat black, but im going to use a loud color for this case. I like the idea of using a loud color and then not going over the top so the case still looks minimalist

i wouldn't go for a flat black... not for a mod you want to endeavor

just showing how it WOULD look if you were to, heh

[Milne]

Do this to the side window, replace that horrible mesh/plastic crap. heres what mine looks like

[Kaine[zof]]

that mesh on the window is plastic? oh damn. I'm considering selling my P180 and getting one of these, would make my watercooling adventures a might easier i imagine. Looks like a nice case to mod too. GL Hotsuma, i'll be keeping an eye on the thread ;D

[zaim]

Originally Posted by Kaine[zof]

that mesh on the window is plastic? oh damn. I'm considering selling my P180 and getting one of these, would make my watercooling adventures a might easier i imagine. Looks like a nice case to mod too. GL Hotsuma, i'll be keeping an eye on the thread ;D

the 900 is kinda tight when it comes to a watercooling adventure..

if you only run 1~2 hdd's.. then i guess you'll have the room to store the pumps and reservoir etc.. but when i had my 5 hdd's in there, i suffered from lack of space with my previous water setup and had to mount the radiator to the side of my case lol. was cool tho

[hotsuma]

Originally Posted by Milne

Do this to the side window, replace that horrible mesh/plastic crap. heres what mine looks like

looks nice like that, i dont have a jigsaw to do a funny shape like that atm ill see if a friend can cut it for me hehe thanks