How to: DIY Modded Computer Case

I was bored and decided to make a modded computer case. I did all of this by myself with the help from a few people for cutting the case and plexiglass. I hope this helps anyone wanting to mod their computer, but are a little skeptical. This is my first instructable so please comment and tell me how I did. I am only 15 so it may not look professional.

Needed materials:

Plexiglass - about 8 bucks (Local hardware store)
Screws $1.00 (Local hardware store)
Jigsaw (You can buy one online if you don't have one)
Drill (I had one)
Electrical Tape (pretty cheap at target)
Cold Cathodes, Lazer LEDs, and a LED Fan - with tax and shipping, $19.97 (www.jab-tech.com)
A computer hopefully and some hard work and time. :D

Thanks for checking it out and I hope you enjoy.

Step 1: Start making the window...

The First thing you need to do is measure the case and find a good size for the window. Then decide how big you want it to be, I chose 10 x 9 in. for my window. I went to my local Ace Hardware store and got a piece of plexiglass cut right there for me.

Comments

[jadowyn]

Thanks, this was the simplest tutorial I could find on the subject.

[eomonkeyboi24]

Your welcome! I'm glad this old tut can still be of use to fellow diy'ers. :) Got any pictures of the build?

[kve23]

What are the specifications of that computer?

[woodstockbirdy]

Why did you put a mack sticker on a pc? Really?

[skatermatt]

nice mod man small bit of advsie tidy those cables up and that will look sweet will keep your temps down aswell

[Madrias357]

Gotta give kudos, that's one way to make an old Systemax Venture look nice (yeah, I know the case, I had one once), and at one point, had done similar to mine (I used a crapton of blue LED's and fans, but that was how I was back then). Didn't have as big a window, though.

[kyismaster]

My God, why do you need soo much cathodes, i mean, it looks like your computer came from silent hill or is on fire, or turning into molten steel.

[AustinDrago]

Hello. I was wondering why you have two disk drives?

[manzi]

for a variety of reasons.

mine's for speedier media backup and cd/dvd burning & cloning.

in my old rig i had a CDRW/DVDR and a DVDRW. cds and dvds have different burn speeds. so i burn cds with the cdrws and dvds with the dvdrw. i experienced less burn fails this way. considering the hardware is almost 10 years old. newer models have no problems with speeds.

[dzyubin]

I am thrilled to do this to my old Sony Desktop. So I will be starting very soon and I will most likely post some pictures thanks for a great Tut.

[eomonkeyboi24]

Thanks for the compliment. I hope all goes well with your project. I can't wait to see what others can do.

[dzyubin]

I have a question today i have started my project and first thing was to clean all the nasty dust from my computer. How can I cut a window in my metal cover up sheet, is it possible for me to use a dremmel? I don't wanna buy a jigsaw just for this project. Thanks -Dzyubin-

[eomonkeyboi24]

you could try a dremel. im sure it would work. just be carefull about the blades breaking.

[zack247]

running over the cutout a couple tmes is better than trying to cut through all at once

[Kasm279]

Ubuntu is nice, but Kubuntu is better!

[Arbitror]

I have to go with openSUSE!

[guthix0009]

 yes openSuse FTW haha

[M8R-9kie08]

Even better, use the alternate install CD of ubuntu and build everything from scratch. =D

[spasysheep]

If you want to do that, at least do it properly and install Gentoo

[Kasm279]

Yeah, but i much prefer the GUI install of Kubuntu/Ubuntu/Xubuntu...

[Arbitror]

Actually, I agree with you.

[apr1694]

i have the same light rods but in blue which looks good with silver

[Mavamaarten]

NICE :D there is only 1 thing I would do if that was my PC... Please re-arrange your cables ! It looks very messy... Still a very nice mod ! If I had a dremel, I'd mod my PC just like you did, but with blue lights xD

[FagnerFS]

Pretty good project! Your computer looks cool now, mine also gonna looks cool.

[jishua9]

lol i have an ubunto and apple stickers on my computer

[it_dont_work]

nice build and idea. the only let down is your horrible cable routing job :P its a jungle in there. clean it up abit and it'd look awsome...and your pc would run alot cooler with some air flow

[abadfart]

are you running Ubuntu or just have the sticker

[deadkiba]

Uhhh thats a sexy computer.

[tigerdog330]

dude thats beast

[dzyubin]

what other tools you think i could use?

[eomonkeyboi24]

um a good sheet cutter. thats easy to cut.

[robots199]

I have a Dell Dimenmsion 4550 and the side of the case is impossible to make a window in. Help please!

[markmc99]

Dell motherboards and components are proprietary and you will have a tough time putting them in a different case.

[robots199]

Never heard that before. Hmmm forget that. Thanks

[acaz93]

You may want to do what i did , I made a Big hole (1 inch) and with tin snips and a nibbler , cut all around were you want a windows , by this method I achieved to install a case fan into an HP pavillion PC , (belive , The metal of that case is really, REALLY though!)

[robots199]

HMMMM.. That is a good idea... goes out to buy a new pair of tin snips

[acaz93]

Yo may also want the nibbler , since cutting with tin snips leaves sharp edges

[eomonkeyboi24]

What is the material made out of? A dremel should work with most cases. Note that my case is made out of steel. At least I think it is. It was pretty tough to cut.

[robots199]

Yeah I is steel but the side does not come off. It is a clamshell case. Google it. Thanks

[eomonkeyboi24]

My best bet would be to buy a cheap case and replace it. Sorry if I'm not much help. I don't really know what else to say. Good luck.

[robots199]

Where can you get a cheap case. Please point 1 out

[theg00ber]

Geeks.com. They have a load of cases, some with PSU's. A couple even have huge case fans and/or 11 bays!

[abadfart]

newegg

[eomonkeyboi24]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=32&name=Computer-Cases

That site has some pretty cheap (as in 45 dollar) cases. Hope this helps, I bought my computer from them and they have excellent service.

[FuzzyBearGeek]

xoxide.com has a ton more. Starting at 32.99 many more cheap places. Just search around. So much info out there. google computer case. You'll find plenty of places. I got a nice case for 24 bux shipped just by digging around on the net.

[conrad2468]

real life storm trooper meets animated storm trooper!!!!

[eomonkeyboi24]

LoL nice, I need to make more instructables...I haven't since summer.

[djr6789]

great i'ble! only problem is when i painted my floppy drive paint didnt stick please help

[eomonkeyboi24]

I just used duct tape to cover it up. Sorry u probably would been to sand it and such to paint it.

[djr6789]

o well ill just use duct tape thanks for the reply

[eomonkeyboi24]

NP man(or woman)! I'd be happy to help with any other questions if they come up. :)

[equinox55]

Hey man you should dye or spray paint that floppy drive cover, then your smoking

[awang8]

I think you mean the floppy drive.

[awang8]

Oh oops I thought you said card reader. Sorry.

[equinox55]

lol no problem

[bob_shaftenkluger]

Not bad. A couple of ideas-- On the floppy drive, use black duct tape to cover it, paint never seems to stick for me. Black nail varnish on the button wont wear out easily. Swapping the led's for red ones to match your ccls would also look good. Overall though, a lot nicer than anything I made at ur age!

[Yerboogieman]

Maybe too think of coats thats the problem i had with paint not sticking.

[Derin]

try krylon fusion,never tried it tho

[eomonkeyboi24]

Thanks man! Yea, I was thinking of swapping all the leds for red ones too, I first need to get a window casing before I do much else. Yea I never thought of using duct tape for the floppy drive. Thanks for the idea!

[Yerboogieman]

i got the same stuff you did $16.11

[crazycommanche=US=]

hey cool mod overall but since u have done that i would say that u need to sleeve all ur cables looking kinda messy there but overall its cool

[crazycommanche=US=]

i have recently gotten 15 inch dual blue colds for my case al well as a 120 blue led fan its pretty sweet lookin it lights up my whole room

[eomonkeyboi24]

Thanks, yea I should do something about that, but I havent had much time to work on things since school started.

[thermoelectric]

What type of card reader is that?

[eomonkeyboi24]

It came with the computer.

[thermoelectric]

O, Darn

[robots199]

Did anyone notice that he has a Ubuntu sticker on a Vista PC, note the small stock sticker

[eomonkeyboi24]

Yea I do, what's wrong with that though? :)

[nicknack171]

that looks exacty like my pc..... is it a powerspec from microcenter?

[eomonkeyboi24]

No it's a Systemax Venture I believe. hehe

[nicknack171]

soz here

[eomonkeyboi24]

weird?!?! i guess its just the same case

[nicknack171]

heres a pic of mine i thin kthey look oddly similar

[Rockerx]

GO LINUX!!!...even though I use windows...But it does a good job on an old imac g3 ppc! I like the case:)

[eomonkeyboi24]

Yeaq right now I use windows, but that's only because I flushed my Linux Partition to try mac osx for pc. Didn't work out so well, I'll be on linux hopefully sometime this year, I'm so lazy hehe.

[Rockerx]

i use windows only because my games only work on it and run slow in linux if i didn't have them i'd be on linux in a heartbeat

[ironsmiter]

Linux no excuse for being without linux :-)

What did you use to treat the edge of the cut? just paint? rubber hosing? plastic trim?

[eomonkeyboi24]

Right now i just used electrical tape, but im going to get some rubber hosing soon to finish it up, i had a limited budget.

[mrbob1000]

yay linux! sweet mod. i would do that to my pc but i have no lexan.

[eomonkeyboi24]

You don't need lexan to use for the window mate, I just used plexiglass for it.