The original Ultimedia PC was ripped apart and redone. I have added a more powerful CPU, Video Card, RAM, HDDs, and overall mods.


For those interested, I will start off first with the front bays which are filled with a NewQ 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Receiver and FM radio, a Coolermaster Aerogate II, a Coolermaster Muskeetter, a Stealthed DVD-RW drive, switchs for 2 of the 6 Cold cathodes used in this mod, and finally a 4" LCD Display often used in Automotive entertainment applications. Also visable is the side window I designed and cut, with the specially ordered 70% tint Plexi. "Evil Inside" most definately!


Ok, to the internals:
First, the original mod did not have wire management and that torqued me something awful so to clean it up I used chromed wire "loom" to bundle up the wires, black velvet to hide the screw holes and screws holding the bay drives in (not to mention, I added velvet to the bottom of the case to help keep the 'classy' look going), four blue cold cathodes (which are off in this picture), and chrome stripping to highlight the velvet.

New specs are MSI K7 Mobo, Athlon +3200XP @ 3GHz, 1 GB DDR 400, 80GB Primary and 200GB Secondry HDD, Radeon 9600xt, Soundblaster Audigy2, a specialty PCI TV tuner/AV Recorder card, and finally a 'Viperblu' 480Watt PSU.


Notice the 'Elite' Case badge? This was just a little joke between friends back in highschool that was given if you could hack into the school's database and change the System Admin's password, then make a directory for which you we would add wave files to replace the windows start sound on all the computers. (The admin had a wave file on the network that would say 'Welcome to (name) Highschool's Computer Lab', I changed it to a clip of Meg Ryan at the lobster dinner in the movie 'When Harry Met Sally'...great laughs where had when the first period typing class all logged in at the same time (which I was in!))

I have kept this badge and mounted it in each case I have owned which I use for MP3 or Multimedia storage. Also this pic shows a close up of the black velvet and chrome trim used.

Why this is called Project 'Ultimedia' is all the multimedia options available in this computer. The Audigy2, NewQ 5.1 receiver/FM radio, The coolermaster muskeetter, a 4" LCD moniter built-in to the front, 80GB of MP3's, DVD-RW, and a TV tuner all hooked up to a 5.1 Logitec speaker system. This is basicly my home entertainment system.



This view is to show how I have mounted 2 of the 4 Blue cathodes on this side of the case... One mounted on the bottom, one on each side, and one to the top of the case. When all of them are turned on, the reason for 70% tint on the window is evident. Sharp eyes will see the 60mm Xeon Processor fan I use for venting warm air out of the case. I used 2 UV cathodes on the other side to illuminate a specially ordered pane.


I wanted something new, and everyone seems to just barely do ANYTHING with this side of their case. So, I cut a LARGE window into this side. The Dragon window is from SunBrite, designed for their own plexi cases, but I was able to mod it for this application. It is uv reactive plexi, and for that, I have added two UV cathodes to this side of the case. The Black Velvet is used here again to accent the dragon and give a nice 'darkness' when the UVs are activated. I use two 80mm clear crystal fans to extract air away from the hardrives. They are also UV LED lit.


A shot showing all 4 cathodes in use in a bright 'daylight' setting. I used 70% tinted plexi not only for dimming down the light from 4 cathodes but also to dim down light entering the case from the outside. What this allows is the ability to see the cathodes' effect even in the daylight, but yet not be blinded in a dark enviorment by that excess light.


This shows you the working cathodes. Also not the 80mm fan used to cool the 3200xp. I have that lit with a dual UV light to bring out the Green fan. An 80mm to 60mm funnel converter is used to mount the fan.

Finally, a shot of my 4" LCD moniter. This serves as a secondary moniter, often as a 'mini TV' when the computer is in use. The front USB and audio jacks have been removed to install switchs for the LCD and cathodes.

I hoped you enjoyed view it as much as I had fun re-building it.

looks smooth! bit cramped tho...

True it is a bit cramped but the airflow is still good, and even though this case is originally light as a feather, the damn thing now weighs half a ton! I can't imagine what it would weigh if I used on of the 'civic' cases like this. http://pchertz.com/product_image.php?imageid=1494

(By ricer/civic case, I mean one a basic case like this that everyone and their sister has, throws one cathode, a lighted fan, a window making it one of 3 billion mods that are exactly the same...god I hate these cases)

imagine what it woudl weigh if you used my case... a YY cube.....

.... hernia

You makin' fun of my dropped civic with the neons and the type R sticka, yo? Werd, lets hit da streetz!


Seriously though.. mod that USB->PS2 Controller port into the front of the case somehow.. where the normal usb ports are, or something.

Quote: Originally Posted by TheOutcast You makin' fun of my dropped civic with the neons and the type R sticka, yo? Werd, lets hit da streetz! Seriously though.. mod that USB->PS2 Controller port into the front of the case somehow.. where the normal usb ports are, or something.

You know...that's a good idea. I think I would have to mount it in the rear somewhere though because that front area wouldn't have enough clearance between the LCD and the base of the case for that USB->PS2 Controller Converter.

For those of you wondering what the heck we are talking about; I have a device that allows me to plug any PS one or PS2 controller into it. That device then plugs into your USB port and viola, you can use your favorite Playstation controllers with your favorite PC games. Works with every game I have tried. Even works for those dance pads for Stepmania/Dance Dance Revolution.

Can you tell me where you go the lcd, how you hooked it up, and how much it was? Im curious as to how you got it to work like that.

Partsexpress.com has 'em - that's where he got it.

As far as the install goes, you have to custom fabricate a mounting plate to hold the LCD in place (that's what I had to do in this case). It's also not completely square (the corners are shaved off)

Also, you have to solder on a molex connector (it runs on 12V) and route a video cable from the back of your video card (composite only - you may need a S-video to composite adapter) to the LCD through the case.

So - basically - fabricate a mounting bracket/plate, solder on power connector & plug in, then route signal cable to the video card.

The LCD will then be a 2nd monitor in Windows.

Now that I think about it....the installation of this LCD was detailed in American Modder . . . if you remember where it was...
David

Well I must say its a nice case, the only thing I would suggest is to clean up the wires a little.

Nice mod! Especially nice job on fabricating the housing for the LCD.

Hmm... PartsExpress looks to be out of the 4"; all I saw was a 6" for $158 + shipping. Guyrollz, you may also want to check out http://www.tundraelectronics.com for budget LCD's. At $85 (shipped) for a 5.6" LCD (or $110 for a 7"), they aren't exactly giving them away, but they won't break the bank either. Might be able to find one on eBay for cheap, too.

Thanks...fabricating the housing took the longest...Test fit, reshape, repeat until it fits perfectly.

But...the results were worth it.

David

How long is that S-Vid wire btw? Looks like 1 foot on their site?

It's about a foot....just long enough to go from the front of the case to the back through a PCI slot cover and connect to the composite video out on the card...a longer case might present a problem...but composite video extension cables are readily available.

Also, I had to cut the front of the case interior (where the intake fan normally goes) out so the back of the LCD wouldn't make contact with the interior of the case and short out.

IMHO, the LCD itself was made kinda crapily...not a very compact package...I'm sure the technology will get better and cheaper as things progress.

I wanna put a 5-6" LCD in the drive bay sometime.

David

Quote: Originally Posted by Bschott New specs are MSI K7 Mobo, Athlon +3200XP @ 3GHz,

3ghz on AIR! F@#K ME! thats the best air OC ive ever seen!!!!!!!

Love the case especially the LCD! sweet job

thats pretty wicked, i like it a lot. ive wanted to mount to put togather an lcd for mine too... but mount to one of those swinging desk lamp arms, i just havnt figured out how exactly to run the wire as a monitor cable or rca cable (both plug in the back right into the card)

Quote: Originally Posted by dgroth It's about a foot....just long enough to go from the front of the case to the back through a PCI slot cover and connect to the composite video out on the card...a longer case might present a problem...but composite video extension cables are readily available. Also, I had to cut the front of the case interior (where the intake fan normally goes) out so the back of the LCD wouldn't make contact with the interior of the case and short out. IMHO, the LCD itself was made kinda crapily...not a very compact package...I'm sure the technology will get better and cheaper as things progress. I wanna put a 5-6" LCD in the drive bay sometime. David

Actually,

I did the cutting to the case interior to get the lcd to fit (dave was still working on getting the LCD to mount to the front bezel at the time )

As for a 5" or 6" LCD, I don't think that will happen here. I don't have the room below, and also, I do not want to lose 3-4 of my 5 1/4" bays to the lcd. Maybe on Dragula..(infact I know a 6" will be done there) but not on this case...it's pretty much done.

that 80mm fan is SCREAMING bloody murder but it works. Sits at about 60 Celc. with minimal load though

Quote: Originally Posted by Bschott Actually, I did the cutting to the case interior to get the lcd to fit (dave was still working on getting the LCD to mount to the front bezel at the time ) As for a 5" or 6" LCD, I don't think that will happen here. I don't have the room below, and also, I do not want to lose 3-4 of my 5 1/4" bays to the lcd. Maybe on Dragula..(infact I know a 6" will be done there) but not on this case...it's pretty much done.

Oh...that's right....I remember now...I just had to trim a bit after you had cut the hole...you did the actual cutting...Sorry..

Anyway...it was an ass load of work...Glad everyone likes it.

David

Dave kicks ass when it comes to metal work though. There isnt another person I would trust to work with me on my case.

Helps when he is my best friend