Re-using my almost 14 years old pc case (Thermaltake Armor mod)

[GeekLlama]

Sooo.... After many year, I decided to build up a new computer, but wanted to re-use my old case: the huge and heavy Thermaltake Armor VA8000BWS. I just thought it would be a cool project.

 

Here is a picture of it when I got it in May of 2006 (ft. floppy disks):

• Pentium D 950 (I don't know why I didn't go AMD...and the Core 2 Duo was launched 2 months later...)
• 2gb of DDR2 667mhz
• Radeon X1900XT

I upgraded the video card (to a Geforce 8800GT) and the ram (to 4gb) over the years, but the computer was unused since 2012, when the CPU fan broke.

 

So, in september I made a list the parts I wanted with a budget of around 1000$ canadian dollars:

• Ryzen 2600
• RTX 2060
• 16gb of ram

I spare the details, because it's about the mod and not the build.

 

I assembled the system without any mods:

 

The black parts already helped.

 

The next step was to get an AIO, because I like the look. I got the Corsair H100i Pro because it was the best deal when I was looking for it, but I ended up to sell it to a friend of mine shortly after (switching to NZXT). I mounted the AIO on the back of the hard disk cage I already had, the case having so much available space I was able to macgyver something and fix it.

 

 

Cable management is always an issue, the cases back in those days didn't offer any good solution. I ended up mounting the rad in a push-pull config and hiding the cables mostly behind it.

 

After that, I wanted to vertically mount the video card. I guess it would have been cheaper to buy the riser cable + vertical bracket combo on amazon... But I wanted to buy a Dremmel, sooo... I went to the mechanic shop next door and ask for a piece of metal I could use.

 

 

All that to... undo everything, remove the rivet and put the case to parts. It's painting time!

 

 

 

I put everything back together and I think it makes a big difference it the look.

 

 

I hooked up the Kraken X52, added some RGB light strips (of course) and voila! I think it looks pretty good considering that the case is over 13 years old.. I might tweak the cable management again, I just didn't have enough zip ties.

 

 

A comparison:

 

 

Any ideas where I could go next? What do you think I could have done better?

 

PS

I know, it's sad that it sit on the ground like that... I just don't have any place else I might rise it a but the thing is huge and is already pretty close to the desk.

 

PPS

Yes, I kept the floppy disk reader (although it's unplugged because... floppy disk in 2019)

[MartinKweh]

wow. but why does it feel.... empty?

 

it looks cool though.

[Bombastinator]

33 minutes ago, GeekLlama said:

Sooo.... After many year, I decided to build up a new computer, but wanted to re-use my old case: the huge and heavy Thermaltake Armor VA8000BWS. I just thought it would be a cool project.

 

Here is a picture of it when I got it in May of 2006 (ft. floppy disks):

• Pentium D 950 (I don't know why I didn't go AMD...and the Core 2 Duo was launched 2 months later...)
• 2gb of DDR2 667mhz
• Radeon X1900XT

I upgraded the video card (to a Geforce 8800GT) and the ram (to 4gb) over the years, but the computer was unused since 2012, when the CPU fan broke.

 

So, in september I made a list the parts I wanted with a budget of around 1000$ canadian dollars:

• Ryzen 2600
• RTX 2060
• 16gb of ram

I spare the details, because it's about the mod and not the build.

 

I assembled the system without any mods:

 

The black parts already helped.

 

The next step was to get an AIO, because I like the look. I got the Corsair H100i Pro because it was the best deal when I was looking for it, but I ended up to sell it to a friend of mine shortly after (switching to NZXT). I mounted the AIO on the back of the hard disk cage I already had, the case having so much available space I was able to macgyver something and fix it.

 

 

Cable management is always an issue, the cases back in those days didn't offer any good solution. I ended up mounting the rad in a push-pull config and hiding the cables mostly behind it.

 

After that, I wanted to vertically mount the video card. I guess it would have been cheaper to buy the riser cable + vertical bracket combo on amazon... But I wanted to buy a Dremmel, sooo... I went to the mechanic shop next door and ask for a piece of metal I could use.

 

 

All that to... undo everything, remove the rivet and put the case to parts. It's painting time!

 

 

 

I put everything back together and I think it makes a big difference it the look.

 

 

I hooked up the Kraken X52, added some RGB light strips (of course) and voila! I think it looks pretty good considering that the case is over 13 years old.. I might tweak the cable management again, I just didn't have enough zip ties.

 

 

A comparison:

 

 

Any ideas where I could go next? What do you think I could have done better?

 

PS

I know, it's sad that it sit on the ground like that... I just don't have any place else I might rise it a but the thing is huge and is already pretty close to the desk.

 

PPS

Yes, I kept the floppy disk reader (although it's unplugged because... floppy disk in 2019)

There’s an argument that real men put 5 1/4” floppies in their optical bays.  I understand they can even be adapted to USB and function. It’s money and work to no purpose though.

[rcmaehl]

Looking good! I should probably mod my Antec 1200 at some point.

[Vishera]

24 minutes ago, Martin2132 said:

wow. but why does it feel.... empty?

 

it looks cool though.

It feels empty because there is a lot of empty space in the case. (especially in the area around the graphics card)

[Vishera]

Just now, Caroline said:

Wait a second.

 

What happened to the Corsair AIO?

OP sold it:

1 hour ago, GeekLlama said:

I got the Corsair H100i Pro because it was the best deal when I was looking for it, but I ended up to sell it to a friend of mine shortly after

 

[GeekLlama]

On 11/26/2019 at 8:14 PM, Bombastinator said:

There’s an argument that real men put 5 1/4” floppies in their optical bays.  I understand they can even be adapted to USB and function. It’s money and work to no purpose though.

I should try to make it work honestly, but the cables are pretty ketchup and mustard, so I don't know

 

On 11/26/2019 at 8:09 PM, Martin2132 said:

wow. but why does it feel.... empty?

 

it looks cool though.

As Vishera said, it's really a big case. Without any parts, it weights around 16kg. With everything inside it must be over 20kg. It's yuge and heavy.

 

On 11/26/2019 at 9:02 PM, Caroline said:

Wait a second.

 

What happened to the Corsair AIO?

I sold it to get the NZXT one because it's prettier

[Bombastinator]

29 minutes ago, GeekLlama said:

I should try to make it work honestly, but the cables are pretty ketchup and mustard, so I don't know

Well played. “That’s idiotic” would also have been an acceptable response

Edited November 28, 2019 by Bombastinator