Give me ideas to mod this case!

[iranintoavan]

I am getting a new computer that I am self building, but I want to make the best out of this old HP that I have until then. Plus, It will be good pratice. But, I need some ideas!!! What can I do to this small ugly case!

Go here for pics:
http://www.geocities.com/iranintoavan/comp1

[Hickman]

I wouldn't do anything to it. Try to sell it for whatever you can get out of it after you get your new case. You can buy a new case with pretty much anything you want in it whether it be a side/top fan or a window and don't need to practice. I've tried modding a case and found it is not that simple. I'm just telling you this because it will save you a lot of time and expense. The tools like a holesaw cost money which could be put into buying a good case that doesn't require modding.

[iranintoavan]

Well, I was only thinking easy stuff like painting and maybe a few led lights and stuff, I wasnt planing to put money into it.

[davidw]

Welcome to XPC!
Well, I have to agree with Hickman
If you do decide to keep it, which I would advise not to :D,
... well, on second thought, it would cost more to try to fix that case up (modding it and all) then it would be to get a new one (cheap).

You would have to get sandpaper or something of the like (and a sander unless you wanted to do it by hand) at a minimum of $2-3 for a small package. Paint will run you (2 cans at favorite color) $2 each at Wally-world. Then Primer (since it's metal) at $3 a can and Clear Coat (at $2 a can - 1 maybe 2 cans depending on how glossy you like it). So far, you've spent $2 going to the store and back and $12 on materials. You're pretty much stuck with the front of the case with the HP design. For window, if you wanted one, would run around $10 and the cutter (between $12 for a small powerless hand tool to $25 for a recommened dremel tool).
So far we're between $22 and $37. Plus the time and effort to put into this and BELIEVE ME, from experience, unless you had all perfect conditions, it would take more than 1 day to do this. I've worked on cases that took a week to do. So, you got to think about it. Is it really worth it to try to do the job yourself? Or would you rather pay a couple dollars more, get what you want and just sit back and relax until it comes in. :D
I'd choose option number 2 myself (sit back and relax).

[davidw]

Originally posted by iranintoavan
I was only thinking easy stuff like painting and maybe a few led lights and stuff When it comes to case modding, its not as easy as it sounds. By the way, lights and stuff are extra.

[iranintoavan]

Yeah, but I have almost all that stuff, I was just thinking it would be a fun day project, I have paint, a dremel, sander, everything. I have about every tool you could imagine.

[davidw]

Well, since you have all that stuff, I can see how you can mod the case, but not the front cover. That's gonna be a toughy.

[iranintoavan]

Yeah, I was basically just thinking paint, (i have paint) and taking the dremel and cuting a design in the side and puting plexiglass behind it and maybe but an extra led fan, and cleaning up those wires

[iranintoavan]

Also, what kinda paint should you use? I was looking at some chrome-illusion auto touch-up paint would that work?

[Mntsnow]

That paint should work just fine. Just make sure you prep your surfaces :)

One thing that I would do to that case is put a blowhole in it to increase the cooling of that case :)

[Cowboybooter]

The HP logo may be disguised behind some XPC Case Badges!

:D

Bob

[Mntsnow]

Ohhh Very good idea CBB ;)

[mholtum]

MntSnow ~ Where can I get XPC case badges?

[Cowboybooter]

Here (http://www.xtremepccentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1458) is a good place to start with!

:)

Bob

[Shyguy]

You could do what i tried one time drill out & cut a hole in the top & mount a 120mm Antec fan in it, sure its almost as loud as a vacuum cleaner ( I wasn't smart enough to actually cut out a large whole for it, I just drilled a dozen or so 1/8" holes for air flow) but boy could that thing move air, then again it might have had something to do with the fact I had a few other fans running in it too (CPU fan & chipset fan, 2 GPU fans Front & Back of card, PCI slot fan, 1 Front mount fan, 3 in a 5-1/4" bay fan setup, fan in power supply, 2 rear mount fans, plus the 120mm), YEAH I KNOW, IT SOUNDS INSANE, well actually if you heard it you probably would go insane. & here's the funny part I never OC'ed the dumb thing, talk about insane, I just did it to make it sound cool & powerful, like everyone who put import racing mufflers on their stock geo's & such!!!

Seriously though, If you definetly have the money for your new case go wild with this one, but if not get what you can with this case & use it for a case with some pre-built modding in it already, mainly the hard to do stuff, you can do the easy stuff on your own like the lights & things.