ROG Carbon Fiber Mod

[mattpc]

Hello Fellow modders,

 

 

After months of working away from home and from my family i am back onto the mod scene.

 

While i was under ground most of the time i had one project on my mind.

 

Ever since i first seen the Fractal Design Arc Mini case i have always wanted to mod one out.

 

My goal is to have a Water cooled but Matx case that can still support High End Gaming but also be able to Render my work projects for clients.

 

The theme is Republic Of Gaming in Carbon Fiber Style.

 

 

So lets get things under away with the help from my first sponsor for this mod i would like to say a big thanks to

 

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/4917/indexww.jpg

 

 

This project would not be happening if it was not for the great support and also well built cases they produce.

 

 

The unboxing of the case.

 

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/619/sany0019y.jpg

 

 

 

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9569/sany0018n.jpg

 

 

 

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/8562/sany0020s.jpg

 

 

 

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/8043/sany0021g.jpg

 

 

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/9355/sany0022b.jpg

 

 

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/4885/sany0023da.jpg

 

 

Hmm where is my screw driver.

 

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/308/sany0025w.jpg[/url

 

A look inside of the case and a box of goodies.

 

 

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/1335/sany0026do.jpg

 

 

I am going to do away with all the hard drive cages to house a 240 radiator at the front of the case.

 

 

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/9135/sany0027d.jpg

 

 

Took the top hard drive cage out with just a screw driver.

 

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8616/sany0029s.jpg

 

 

Now just the bottom one to take out.

 

 

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6424/sany0030hr.jpg

 

 

I have to drill out two rivets here.

 

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/7225/sany0031e.jpg

 

 

Done.

 

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/7483/sany0032ug.jpg

 

4 more rivets to drill out this is under the hard drive cage.

 

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1725/sany0033sz.jpg

 

 

All done :thumb:

 

 

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/2736/sany0034nt.jpg

 

 

That's better.

 

 

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5826/sany0035cq.jpg

 

One empty space for the radiator to be mounted in the front.

 

 

That is all for now will get some work done on this front of the case in the next few days.

[wytnyt]

nice so far but where do the drives go?theres only 1 5.25 to use

perhaps a couple ssd's? in one 5.25?

[mattpc]

I will be modding out the 5.25 as well to fit just a fan controller and temp gauge i amm going to build a ssd mount inside the case stay tuned.

[stratosrally]

I love that about SSDs - so small, no vibrations, next to no heat - mount them anywhere!

 

I mounted mine vertically on the hidden side of my 5.25 bays - can't even tell I've got one except by the performance...

[mattpc]

Yeah its nice when they are hidden away stay tuned guys i will be getting some more work done of the front of the case to mount the Xspc 240 rad where the hdd drive bays were and fit brackets to the case.

[mattpc]

I finally found some more time to mod out this beast of a case.

 

 

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/6233/sany0020h.jpg

 

I am using a 120mm Xspc radiator bracket and a Xspc EX240 Rad.

 

 

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/3403/sany0024w.jpg

 

I quickly assembled the rad, bracket and fan to get a idea of how much room i got under the 5.25 bays.

 

 

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/3441/sany0025t.jpg

 

I soon worked out that the rad is too tall for to be underneath the 5.25 drive bays i am going to have to remove them.

 

 

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/738/sany0026m.jpg

 

I am going to drill out all the rivets to get these drive bays out.

 

 

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1315/sany0027db.jpg

 

Right side panel has to come off.

 

 

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/519/sany0028c.jpg

 

These have to go as well.

 

 

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3072/sany0029cj.jpg

 

Front panel is removed to locate the rest of the pop rivets.

 

 

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2785/sany0030cr.jpg

 

One side drilled out.

 

 

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/6139/sany0031x.jpg

 

Two sides down front to go>

 

 

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/9982/sany0032b.jpg

 

I found some more on the motherboard tray drill these out.

 

 

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/6052/sany0033k.jpg

 

Did the front no drive bays no more i got something in mind for this area.

 

 

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/4311/sany0034y.jpg

 

Just working out where to mount the rad mount.

 

 

http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/9136/sany0035p.jpg

 

I then also thought to leave the front panel alone so i can mount two fans to the rad and two to the front panel.

 

 

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/913/sany0036v.jpg

 

I drilled some house in the bottom of the case for the rad mount.

 

 

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/9595/sany0037u.jpg

 

I then mounted the Xspc rad mount to the case.

 

 

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6964/sany0038fv.jpg

 

I was glad when the radiator fitted to where i wanted it too.

 

 

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/6042/sany0039p.jpg

 

Front view of the radiator mounted to the case.

 

 

 

That is all for today.

[mattpc]

At last took me around 3 days to do this with working and of setting up Xmas lights.

 

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/6099/sany0045.jpg

 

Right side panel in black carbon fiber.

 

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/5461/sany0044f.jpg

 

Another shoot of the right side panel.

 

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/6395/sany0043e.jpg

 

Front panel done as well took me around a hour to do this one.

 

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/5772/sany0042i.jpg

 

Top panel just need to get the rest of the air bubbles out.

 

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/1060/sany0041t.jpg

 

Panels on the case in the sun light.

 

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/6402/sany0040b.jpg

 

Front view of the case i actually love the style of the case i think the carbon fiber vinyl makes it more appealing.

 

 

Well this is all i got left in the black carbon fiber but i still got plenty of red carbon fiber left i will take photos of me doing the film as soon as i find.

 

 

My order list at the moment is more black carbon fiber.

[wytnyt]

i like the carbon fiber build,its different and rugged looking.

[Ikuorai]

Actual carbon fibre, or wrapped?

[joejoe69]

Beautiful!! Keep it coming.

 

Ikuorai - Looks like both.

[mattpc]

Hey guys i did a bit of more carbon fiber film except in red this time.

 

I ordered another Xspc Ex240 rad, Two Corsair Fans and a Lamptron Fan controller.

 

 

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/4927/sany0076u.jpg

 

Black hmm.

 

 

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/179/sany0081e.jpg

 

Now red : )

 

 

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/5399/sany0070q.jpg

 

A nice look fan i reckon.

 

 

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/2817/sany0083d.jpg

 

I used the red carbon fiber on the fans center and then cut out the Corsair logo and put back over the top of the carbon fiber.

 

 

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/8039/sany0084c.jpg

 

Did both fans and mounted the rad at the top of the case to show how it will look and of course to come up with more ideas where else i should put some carbon fiber on.

 

 

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/5341/sany0064j.jpg

 

This has to go i had a idea to put some clear acrylic here after the inside of the case has been powder coated red i will do more on this area.

 

 

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/4116/sany0069ma.jpg

 

The pci bracket is gone just has to grind down the tabs.

 

 

 

That is it for now i'm still waiting on some sheet metal to arrive, Black Carbon fiber film and a Asus Republic of gaming Gene Z68 to come.

[rea1high]

.......... double post

[rea1high]

i've been planning to make a 650D out of actual carbon fibre, with a few mods here and there from standard.

if i ever get the money together i'll post it up here.

seeing this may have spurred me on

[mattpc]

I decided to use some 3mm cast acrylic for some mods to be done inside the case.

 

 

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/8086/sany0093u.jpg

 

Cut these pieces out with a jigsaw.

 

 

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/2791/sany0094o.jpg

 

Here is the left side piece.

 

 

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5787/sany0095a.jpg

 

Bottom piece.

 

 

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/8329/sany0096v.jpg

 

Left side piece to be mounted on the motherboard tray.

 

 

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/3182/sany0097u.jpg

 

Right side piece in.

 

 

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/4014/sany0098k.jpg

 

Bottom piece needs to be fitted flush.

 

 

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/1557/sany0099h.jpg

 

I finally got it all in properly with just chocks of wood and a bit of tape.

 

 

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5066/sany0100b.jpg

 

Front view this is how i am going to mount my fan controller.

 

 

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/704/sany0101p.jpg

 

Looks good except i am going to do away with the red carbon fiber film on the fan controller.

 

 

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/5643/sany0102jk.jpg

 

Looks better i was thinking maybe use black carbon fiber film.

 

 

I will be ordering more acrylic and also some modders mesh to finish off inside the case also i want to mount the acrylic properly inside the case some brackets etc.

 

I will be using carbon fiber film for the acrylic after i have filed and sanded down the acrylic panels.

 

 

I am hoping to order my acrylic and mesh this week.

 

 

I will be doing more to the inside of the case during the week with the mounting brackets.

 

 

Thanks for viewing.

[wytnyt]

i like it,post lots o' pics as im sure others will be interested in this build

[mattpc]

Thanks for the great feedback its always good to have support makes me want to do more and more.