Refinished my video server
 

I was getting pretty bored a few days ago, it was about the time I
started to build my latest computer.
I was in the middle of cleaning & dusting out my main video server and
TV Recorder. When I got the bug to do a few little modifications to it.
After all the temps inside were just a little too intolerable. The system
was newly rebuilt with an Athlon XP 1800+ and as I said the temps were
high; system airflow was at a near stand still since the case was really
designed for an old Pentium 133. The heat inside was running around
120F - 140F depending on when it was folding, Transcoding or serving
my videos.

Here is a quick shot of just before I started on the case, (the only pic
I have since I dismantled it before I did any photos of the case itself.
the outside panels are just a single shell like this one:

http://members.cox.net/lwcma2/video/video15.jpg

A quick pic of the insides; 5 Hard drives of 200GB or more & 1 SATA DVD ROM
(barely seen at the very top of the picture) all totaled the computer is
capable of storing nearly 900 video files of about 1.4GB in size. Thats
a lot of TV & movies!

http://members.cox.net/lwcma2/video/video11.jpg

So anyway, The first thing I did was to remove the front panel, and Empty
slot covers. There is also a vertical slide panel that covers all the drive
bays that needed removal.

http://members.cox.net/lwcma2/video/video10.jpg

Another shot of much the same thing:

http://members.cox.net/lwcma2/video/video09.jpg

To get greater ventilation I felt that this marked area was what needed removal
just under that place on the case is where I will be mounting a fan to draw a
little more air inside the case. I drew the lines using a little genuine ghetto
technology (old leftover coppercap & a stick! :D )

http://members.cox.net/lwcma2/video/video08.jpg

Using my Dremel, I cut away the vent hole for the fan. After seeing what I did,
I kind of liked how this was going to turn out. The next step was to fill in all
the holes used for the power and reset (and I think a Turbo switch) well, all
except one. I have no pictures of when I used bondo on those areas, I was going
to be late for work (again!) and had no time to take pictures.

http://members.cox.net/lwcma2/video/video07.jpg

after a lot of sanding and cleanup, I size a small piece of my favorite modding mesh
to fit the opening. Then Tacked it down temporarily with Hot Glue.

mesh being sized up...
http://members.cox.net/lwcma2/video/video14.jpg

after tacking with the glue...
http://members.cox.net/lwcma2/video/video12.jpg

a look from the front...
http://members.cox.net/lwcma2/video/video13.jpg

Finally I got the front panels and case painted. No pics of the case, after all
everyone has seen case panels painted as well as I have no bling on it anyway.
but final pictures will show it off a little.

starting to look good, and this was onlyt the first coat...
http://members.cox.net/lwcma2/video/video06.jpg

Finally a picture of the front panel after I finished painting. Here is a picture of the
front along with the slide cover & the two hold downs for the slider all painted the
way I wanted.

http://members.cox.net/lwcma2/video/video05.jpg

A last picture with the front panel completely finished and reassembled, as well as the
mesh being permanently hot glued in place. Looking good!

http://members.cox.net/lwcma2/video/video04.jpg

Now the comp is finished, and running again. Check out that shine! temperatures
inside are much better now, and the case looks much better as well

http://members.cox.net/lwcma2/video/video03.jpg

A first shot of the computer in its native environment, next to my TV, and with
the slider open. Still have to finish painting those slot covers, and to add
a DVD ROM in black, but I don't have to hurry at this time.

http://members.cox.net/lwcma2/video/video02.jpg

And this last picture is of the computer with the slider closed. looks good eh?

http://members.cox.net/lwcma2/video/video01.jpg


Now All that is really left to worry about here is how to build a dust filter.
The dogs keep stirring up stuff that gets inside so easy...

Its been lots of quickie fun with this one, but now back to the other projects.