Refinished my video server

Ghettocomp · 08-21-2005, 04:00 AM

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:

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!

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.

Another shot of much the same thing:

Ghettocomp · 08-21-2005, 04:01 AM

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!

)

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.

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...

after tacking with the glue...

a look from the front...

Ghettocomp · 08-21-2005, 04:02 AM

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...

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.

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

Ghettocomp · 08-21-2005, 04:02 AM

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

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.

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

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.

08-21-2005, 04:00 AM	#1
Ghettocomp Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell, or as some call it: Real Life. Posts: 10	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: 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! 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. Another shot of much the same thing: __________________ :shrug: Ok?, so where's Coffie Mode

08-21-2005, 04:01 AM	#2
Ghettocomp Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell, or as some call it: Real Life. Posts: 10	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! ) 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. 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... after tacking with the glue... a look from the front... __________________ :shrug: Ok?, so where's Coffie Mode

08-21-2005, 04:02 AM	#3
Ghettocomp Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell, or as some call it: Real Life. Posts: 10	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... 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. A last picture with the front panel completely finished and reassembled, as well as the mesh being permanently hot glued in place. Looking good! __________________ :shrug: Ok?, so where's Coffie Mode

08-21-2005, 04:02 AM	#4
Ghettocomp Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell, or as some call it: Real Life. Posts: 10	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 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. And this last picture is of the computer with the slider closed. looks good eh? 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. __________________ :shrug: Ok?, so where's Coffie Mode

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