Project Sleeper

[Ashpool]

Start Date: 8/02/04

Stage 1: Planning

JUST got my PC-71 today from UPS. In perfect condition, and it was a LOT lighter than I percieved it to be The build quality is absolutely astounding on this thing!

After wasting a good 10 minutes trying to get the side panels off (and making a lot of smudges ), I finally managed to peek inside, and it's the perfect amount of space for me. Not so tiny inside that I can't get to anything without taking anything out, but not so big that everything will be stretched out. Awesome.

However, the first thing that I noticed was that the stock fans (which I'm hoping to replace) are stuck to the case with snap rivets. Damnit. Gotta drill those out if I wanna get them out.

I ask: What are the CFM/Watt ratings for the stock fans inside? They're ADDA... Something.

First thing I'm gonna do with this thing, I'm drilling out the stock fan grills, no doubt about it. Even though they're a lot less severe as in Antec or other cases, I am IMMEDIATELY cutting those out. Maybe even the side vents in the lower back and bottom of the power supply cage? They look like they could get some gutting too. If I do end up chopping those lower back vents, I'm definitly stretching some hacked-up A/C filters on those, they look like serious debris/dust magnets if they were wide open.







I'm NOT going to paint this case. No way, no how. I hear that Anodization has a special coating over it that can make any paint start to bubble and crack after ~8 months. And it's too damn cool to begin with, it started the whole Sleeper idea I had behind it

So with fans (still sticking with aircooling!)...

Intake
Lower Front: 2x YS-Tech 80's (48.5CFM each, 97CFM Total)
Side: 2x YS-Tech 92's (66.3CFM each, 132.6CFM Total)
Total Intake: 229.6CFM (in a perfect world, of course )

Exhaust
Top Back: 2x Panaflo 12L 80's (24CFM each, 48CFM Total)
Top TOP Back: 2x Panaflo 12L 80's (24CFM each, 48CFM Total)
Top Blowhole: 2x YL-Tech 120's (64CFM each, 128CFM Total)
Total Exhaust: 224CFM

So it'll be ~6CFM extra intake, slight positive case pressure. Enough that it won't seriously screw everything up, but enough that it'll reduce dust in the nooks and crannies. I'm only keeping the side intakes just to even out the case pressure, if I were to take those out, all the intake duties would be left to the front intakes, and I don't think I'd want two LOUDASS fans doing all that work. Share the load, y'know?

Now, I'm not going to bother using the case for cooling down my hard drives, so I already yanked out the hard drive cage. It'll block a bit of intake flow, and I don't think I'd want warm air to already enter my case I'll instead have Vantec Vortexes cooling down my (what will be) two SATA drives - one 80GB, one 160GB, JBOD'd together as one virtual 240GB drive. In the future, I'll probably have an external 250GB drive to back those two up, very likely just an IDE/SATA drive stuck in an external enclosure.

To recap/add:
What I WILL be doing:
1) Taking out internal hard drive cage (using 5.25" bays for drive coolers)
2) Drilling out stock fan grills. We all know they're just there to piss us mod folks off
3) Wipe it down and wax this beauty. I know I can do that to it without the anodization screwing it up.

What I WON'T be doing:
1) Painting it. Nooooo way.
2) Lights. Gh3y to deh MAXX0RZ

Any suggestions? I want to get a project done RIGHT for once.

Edit: If anybody knows what "sleeper" means and what it has to do with this project, you will get a +1 to your post.

[XP1800]

Oh man Ash, it's beautiful. I can't wait til this is done! I plan on ditching all my LED fans and maybe even my Sunbeam for something low-key, just like what you're going for. I'm excited to see some updates.

I'm glad someone else here has the same taste in cases as me! This calls for celebration, check the Cooler's Guild Thread.

edit: Side intake? Where exactly do you plan on adding the holes?

[Ashpool]

Originally posted by XP1800
Oh man Ash, it's beautiful. I can't wait til this is done! I plan on ditching all my LED fans and maybe even my Sunbeam for something low-key, just like what you're going for. I'm excited to see some updates.

I'm glad someone else here as the same taste in cases as me!

edit: Side intake? Where exactly do you plan on adding the holes?

Yeah, I got tired of all the Cases wanting so badly being Riced Civics. So instead I went for a sleek Corvette look But I'm definitly not getting rid of the LED's on my future Sunbeam... I might even change the LEDs on the case to match it

I'm putting the side intakes right in the middle of the expansion cards, which would help out the Radeon a bit (VGA Silencer + BGA 'sinks, even if they won't help much). Dunno if I want to do one fan below or next to the other.

[SoSo09]

That is a smooth looking case. Are you going to take pictures during the project or just after youre done?

If youre taking them during the project, do so take MANY

[XP1800]

Ahh ok, then I won't feel bad about having my Sunbeam too Actually, I'll give you permission to stealth it just like I did. If it makes your project even more sleeper-ish, go for it.

You should get some excellent temps too:P

[GLScooby]

Awesome case, Ash. Can't wait for more progress pics.

Those 'rivets' are two-piece plastic thingies that just pull out. The round top you see just pulls straight out and a round insert is left that can be pushed out with little effort. Something like a small allen wrench does the trick nicely. Those ADDA fans are cheap-o.

I am getting better on airflow. Word of caution: anything that is an opening that is not plugged with a fan, should have some kind of filter or see-thru cover to make it 'air tight'. Easy dust entry points.

Good luck and keep the progress pics coming!

[San7a]

I can't wait to see some more PICS! Looks sweet.

[Derringer]

Does "Sleeper" imply it will be a silent computer?

[TAZTG]

Originally posted by Ashpool
I'm putting the side intakes right in the middle of the expansion cards, which would help out the Radeon a bit (VGA Silencer + BGA 'sinks, even if they won't help much). Dunno if I want to do one fan below or next to the other.

Two 92's pushing 66CFM each should do the job. I suppose some sweet arse fan grills, maybe black anodized to match the case. I know you are planning to stealth the drives. I think what Ash is going for is the The Simple Look. Sleeper on outside but whats under the hood is what matters. Keep the wiring tight and neat, add you fan filters . Keep the PICS coming.

Ash is starting the trend to ANTI-MOD for Modding. Less Is best. LOL

[OS-Wiz]

Built several systems into that case. I think you'll find you won't need any side panel fans as that case has excellent airflow/cooling design. If you run the four rear panel exhaust fans, all you'll need in the front panel is one intake fan; a low CFM fan in front of your HDs.

[XP1800]

Ok Ash I got tired of listening to the drone of my Crystal Orb so I just placed an order at SVC.com that I think you'll approve of

VGA Silencer
Panaflo's

Look's like I'll be adding another rear exaust too. I'm not even gonna run some intake fans, since I never have and probably never will, so I ordered 3 of the Pana's.

Keep the updates coming!

[Ashpool]

Update: 8/06/04

Originally posted by GLScooby
Those 'rivets' are two-piece plastic thingies that just pull out. The round top you see just pulls straight out and a round insert is left that can be pushed out with little effort. Something like a small allen wrench does the trick nicely. Those ADDA fans are cheap-o.

Thanks! I popped those things out without any trouble at all!

Although, I risked gouging my entire left hand trying to get one of those rivets from behind the front fans... Damn things are so close to the bottom of the hard drive cage that those rivets get lost easy. I ended up turning the case upside down and shaking them out!

For now, that's all I've got... I might drill out the fan grills tomorrow before work.

[Ashpool]

Update:

Drilled out the back fan mounts and lower back grill. Used my handy Scroll Saw and Dremel w/ Cutting Drill Bit



I also chopped out the bottom of the power supply mount, I tried it out on a spare Enermax I had lying around and it had a few beams blocking the fan. Not cool, I said! So then I got angry and ripped it out

I'll start hacking apart the side and top panel whenever I get my fans. Beats me when I'll buy those (but I know before September, I wanna get this done before I head off to JWU!)

[San7a]

Mmm... Dremmel.

Looking good! How come you cut out the lower, back-right grill though?

[Ashpool]

Originally posted by San7a
Mmm... Dremmel.

Looking good! How come you cut out the lower, back-right grill though?

Dunno... I just felt like it

But I suppose it could be an another means for air to come into the case if there's any negative pressure. Expect Filters to plug that up.