PC Modding

Mark Gonzalez2 said:It looks like I’m not the only one who actually gives a damn about how his Mashina looks....

I couldn't just sit here by the sidelines without chiming in to show off my own progress. This is my second attempt at PC Modding, and let me tell you, it isn't quite finished yet. I still need to install some plexiglass—actually, I've decided to go with 3mm tempered glass; trust me, the advantages are worth it. I'm also hunting for specific blue LEDs to plug into the DVD and CD-ROM connectors, plus a blue neon tube... but I can't find them anywhere. It's frustrating. Living in a small town, it feels like I'm the only person around here who actually cares about this stuff.

Here are a few shots... let's see what you guys think.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/P1260011.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/P1260013.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/P1260018.jpg

For now, I've just scavenged an LED from a car lighter (you know, the ones that glow from the bottom).

Joseph Carter9 said:You’re telling me my case is nothing special—but what exactly is so unique about yours?
All you did was take some components, pull them out of a case, and wire them together—which, honestly, is pretty impressive.😬

Man, what an idiot...🙄
Is it really that hard to tell I was just messing with you? Or are you actually this dense?
Best,

Bryan Wood49 said:Man, what a total clown......🙄
Can't you tell I'm just messing with you, or what.......?
Later...

That’s exactly the kind of setup I’ve got right now 😁

I just salvaged an LED from an old car lighter—you know, those ones that glow from underneath.

I honestly have no clue what voltage they actually run on...
Hmm, I guess it might work if I pair it with the LEDs I already have sitting in some promotional car chargers lying around... hehehe 👍 If you have any bright ideas on how to wire them together, let me know...

Joseph Carter9 said:Check out this other http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...88/kuci014.jpg

I just noticed that "ZEX" badge on your rig...

Take a look at this...

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/P1260014.jpg

LOL 👍

Mark Gonzalez2 said:I have absolutely no clue what voltage they actually run on...!?
Hmmm—could be an option if I can get them to light up with LEDs. I’ve already got a few promotional plugs lying around... haha 👍 If you have any ideas on how to rig them together, let me know...

They could work on 9 volts—you just need to use a resistor to limit the current.

Here’s my latest project...
http://forum.pcekspert.com/showthread.php?t=43450

Specs: running an Intel Pentium III, 128MB RAM, and a 4.3GB hard drive...

Mark Gonzalez2 said:I just caught a glimpse of that "ZEX" branding on your rig...

Take a look at this...

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/P1260014.jpg

HAHA 👍

I’ve gone ahead and made some fresh modifications to the case.
I picked up some heat shrink tubing—you guys know what that is, right?—and used it to sleeve the main motherboard power cable. I also grabbed some thinner tubing to wrap up every single wire inside the chassis, from the PSU down to the HDD, just to clean things up. To top it off, I stripped that old "ZEX" sticker off the metal and had it engraved directly onto the glass instead (about 20x8cm). I didn't snap any photos yet since my camera isn't with me at the moment.

Quick question for Mark Gonzalez2: how did you pull off those SYC letters? I’m thinking about doing something similar on the side panel using some white adhesive decals.

Regarding the LEDs, I actually rigged mine using that super bright diode from the power button. I pointed it toward the wall (check out this shot http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...88/kuci010.jpg), and you can see that blue glow behind the case—that's the HDD activity indicator; it stays steady when idle and flashes when it's under load. Now I'm considering grabbing a purple diode and swapping it in for the PWR LED instead.

The wiring is incredibly straightforward. Just find the two wires (2) running from the motherboard to whichever LED you want to swap, snip them with some pliers, and solder them (though honestly, just crimping them together works fine), then aim it wherever you want.

One more thing—where did you pick up those thin little tubes you used to route the cables from the chassis to the motherboard? Those blue sleeves

Joseph Carter9 said:Quick question for Mark Gonzalez2, how did you manage to pull off those SYC letters? I'm actually thinking about doing something similar on the side panel using some white adhesive vinyl.

Regarding the LEDs, I just used that insanely bright diode from the power button and aimed it at the wall (check out image http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...88/kuci010.jpg). See that blue streak behind the case? That’s what happens when the HDD isn't busy, and it flashes whenever there's a load. Now I'm considering grabbing a purple diode and swapping it in for the PWR LED.

It's incredibly simple—just find the two wires running from the motherboard to the LED you want to swap, snip them with scissors, and solder them (though you don't even have to solder, just crimping them works), then point them wherever you feel like.

Also, where did you get those thin little tubes you ran through to connect the case cables to the motherboard (those blue ones)?

For the "SYC" lettering, I found some black adhesive vinyl at a local craft store... it was a bit thicker than standard paper... I printed the letters on regular white paper, stuck them to the back of the vinyl, and then carefully cut them out with scissors. It was a massive pain in the neck just for three letters, but it was worth it (as long as you have thick enough vinyl, everything else is easy).

Those blue tubes... haha... they're just ordinary blue straws... nothing fancy at all. 👍

Later!!

gentlelynx9 said:It can run on 9 volts, you just need to use a resistor to limit the current.

I'm definitely no electrical engineer... could someone point me in the right direction? Maybe a link or some kind of guide to help me figure this out?

THX!👍

placidcanyon2 said:Here’s my build...
http://forum.pcekspert.com/showthread.php?t=43450

The CPU is an Intel Pentium III, 128MB RAM, and a 4.3GB hard drive...

placidcanyon2, seriously—major props for this. You put in so much work... it isn't overly flashy, but it looks incredibly sleek...😁
Kudos to you...🙏
That bit about the hard drive is interesting too—I had no idea you could hang a drive from a rubber band—talk about thinking outside the box... great job...👍

Mark Gonzalez2 said:Look, I'm definitely not some expert electrical engineer... if anyone could point me toward a tutorial, a manual, or even just a decent link to help me wrap my head around this, I'd appreciate it.

THX!👍

So, did you actually end up doing anything about that issue?

Joseph Carter9 said:So, did you actually end up doing anything about that issue?

I just managed to gather some LEDs, but now I'm stuck because I need to drop the voltage from my HDD and CD-ROM power connectors—going from 12V down to LED levels—using resistors and all that other nonsense, but nothing is working. Does anyone actually know how to fix this? HELP!

Mark Gonzalez2 said:I'm no electronics expert—not even close—so I could use a hand here. Does anyone have a link or some kind of guide to help me out?

You're welcome.👍

Alright, let's do this.
There is voltage, and then there is current strength—don't confuse the two.

Voltage doesn't matter nearly as much as you think—as long as you wire it correctly. If you mess up the polarity, the LED isn't going to explode or burn out—it just won't work. Simple as that.

Current stability is absolutely critical—it’s non-negotiable.
If that LED is too powerful, it’s going to burn out—instantly. Simple as that.
That’s why you have to limit the current with a resistor—it's basic physics, really.
$i = u / r$ — go ahead and play around with that.
Current intensity—it’s all about the amperage.
Voltage—it’s a fundamental concept, yet people still manage to fumble the basics.
Resistance—it’s an absolute necessity.

99% of LEDs will run at 0.65 V

Thanks for the advice on the LEDs, guys... I'll have to figure out my next move...

Is it just me, or has this whole PC Modding thread completely died out? Is there really nobody left with anything interesting to show? 🙂

Here’s the first rig I ever put together—it breaks my heart a little to think about letting it go...

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/P1010098.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...o/untitled.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...photo/5472.jpg

Hey everyone..!! 👍

I've made quite a few modifications to the chassis,
swapped out the CPU cooler for a 90mm Corsair unit featuring UV diodes and three color-changing LEDs—plus I managed to make use of those little tubes :-), picked up a blue 90mm case fan from Best Buy, and used some spray paint to clean up all the cabling.
You can expect to see a photo in a couple of days!

Come on, people... post some photos already.

Found this decent link for some PC Modding inspiration, even if it's in German...

http://case-gallery.de

Check it out.