Blue PC Project Log 02 - 17th May 2006 First off, I apologise about the lack of updates, I am alive, and the project is too... [img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/02/DSC01709.JPG[/img] ^ First things first, I removed the 3 1/2" drive bays by cutting off the rivet heads with my Power Devil and then tapping them out with a hammer. I'm not 100% sure how I will mount the Hard-drive, but considering there will only be the one, it seems a waste of metal to have the drive bays sitting there. So they went. [img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/02/DSC01710.JPG[/img] ^ A couple of years ago, I hacked out the rear fan mesh, as it was obstructing the airflow. I covered up this mess with insulating tape. Not good. So I took a cutting disc to it and cleaned it up. I didn't take a picture of it, so look out for the cleaner holes in future updates. [img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/02/DSC01711.JPG[/img] ^ I wanted to remove the top of the case for painting later on. So I cut off and tapped out 6 rivets (3 at the front, 3 at the rear) to remove it. Unforunately it was then that I realised there are about 30 holding it together down the sides too. So the lid will remain on - afterall, the chassis is getting a bit flimsy now, especially as it's thin aluminium. [img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/02/DSC01712.JPG[/img] ^ As the case has been sitting in the roof for a good few months, it needed a clean. So I popped it in the bath and gave it a soak to remove the dust and metal shavings. [img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/02/DSC01713.JPG[/img] ^ Here's a close-up of the front, minus the lower drive cages. I have test fitted the front beading, mainly to give an idea of what it will look like. I'm thinking it wont be needed once I have a fascia on the front... [img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/02/DSC01714.JPG[/img] ^ The rear beading test fitted too. [img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/02/DSC01715.JPG[/img] ^ Here's a close-up of the next area to be worked on. As this rig will be purely for gaming and CPU intensive stuff, I wont be needing any extra PCI slots. Probably a sound card in the near future, but not much else. So that's a lot of wasted space at the rear of the case. So I chopped and bent off the dividers, ready for cutting next time. It will receive the beading treatment too. [img]http://dump.slickhouse.com/lazlow/pc/blue/02/DSC01716.JPG[/img] ^ Lastly, here's the main reason the drive cages were removed. I don't want to purchase a 3 1/2" controller, so am re-using the 5 1/4" that I have lying around. Without a drive cage, mounting should be easier. Though as I'm typing this, I've just realised there's absolutely no reason why I can't enlarge the 3 1/2" hole now... --- Next in line, is to neaten the PCI slot area. It will provide extra air for the GPU and could fit another 80mm fan if needed. Though I want to keep it nice and quiet. I'll also be de-soldering the fan controller's molex, replacing it with some long wires. If anyone can suggest some specs for this rig I'll greatly appreciate it... I already have the 2gb PC3200 Elixir RAM lying around, along with the 7800gt. Athlon 64 X2 3800 939? AM2? Or the [url=http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=112785]Pentium 805 Dual Core[/url]?