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Motherboard cover

MoYo
By MoYo
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When I get my new case (Fractal R4 with window) I want my motherboard to look as clean as possible so I am planning on making a motherboard cover for my asrock z77 extreme 4.

 

Is this possible?

 

maybe a sheet of alluminium with the proper cut outs?

 

also what kind of paint should I use?

 

I mainly want this because the extreme 4 has this brownish pcb wich will not match the rest of my build.

 

the result of the motherboard cover would hopefully look like in this clean build: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/8039-project-zoe/

current system:  i5 2500k @4.5ghz cooled by antec 620 - asrock z77 extreme 4 - 8gb corsair RAM - MSI Twin Frorz 7950 in crossfire - XFX 850w  - Fractal design R4 - samsung 840 120gb ssd - 500gb wd blue hdd - 1440p korean qnix monitor (love it!)

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ALuminium would probably short out the motherboard. Why not just get a sabertooth motherboard instead. 

XYPHER AMD FX8350 @ 4.6Ghz ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 AMD RADEON HD 7970 @ 1140Mhz 16GB Corsair VENGEANCE 1600Mhz OCZ VERTEX 3 240GB SSD Corsair H100i 1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA FRACTAL DESIGN DEFINE R4 CORSAIR K90 MADCATZ RAT 3 iiyama ProLite B2480HS 24"

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ALuminium would probably short out the motherboard. Why not just get a sabertooth motherboard instead. 

 

I actually think aluminium should be fine. Plus he already has his Z77 Extreme4 and forking out another $100+ for a new motherboard seems a bit extreme compared to a sheet of aluminium and a little labour, haha.

"And yet my mind is screaming, provoked in an icy sweat. It’s pleading and begging for a release, scraping the walls of a padded cell, pounding hopelessly at the floors that won’t even deliver the gift of pain."  - Why I Don't Dream Anymore

 

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I actually think aluminium should be fine. Plus he already has his Z77 Extreme4 and forking out another $100+ for a new motherboard seems a bit extreme compared to a sheet of aluminium and a little labour, haha.

I just think that the risks may end up outweighing the benefits. 

XYPHER AMD FX8350 @ 4.6Ghz ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 AMD RADEON HD 7970 @ 1140Mhz 16GB Corsair VENGEANCE 1600Mhz OCZ VERTEX 3 240GB SSD Corsair H100i 1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA FRACTAL DESIGN DEFINE R4 CORSAIR K90 MADCATZ RAT 3 iiyama ProLite B2480HS 24"

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I just think that the risks may end up outweighing the benefits. 

Okay then maybe no aluminium but what else could I use? I don't want to buy a new motherboard since I recently bought my z77 extreme 4.

current system:  i5 2500k @4.5ghz cooled by antec 620 - asrock z77 extreme 4 - 8gb corsair RAM - MSI Twin Frorz 7950 in crossfire - XFX 850w  - Fractal design R4 - samsung 840 120gb ssd - 500gb wd blue hdd - 1440p korean qnix monitor (love it!)

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Okay then maybe no aluminium but what else could I use? I don't want to buy a new motherboard since recently bought my z77 extreme 4.

I think that you could maybe use a piece of acrylic maybe blue if that is the main colour of your case maybe something else. 

XYPHER AMD FX8350 @ 4.6Ghz ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 AMD RADEON HD 7970 @ 1140Mhz 16GB Corsair VENGEANCE 1600Mhz OCZ VERTEX 3 240GB SSD Corsair H100i 1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA FRACTAL DESIGN DEFINE R4 CORSAIR K90 MADCATZ RAT 3 iiyama ProLite B2480HS 24"

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I think that you could maybe use a piece of acrylic maybe blue if that is the main colour of your case maybe something else.

The colour is going to be matte black. Is it possible to cut small holes for connectors and pci slots without the acrylic breaking or anything? I don't want to have a centimeter thick sheet of acrylic, prefferably 1 or 2mm  (3 mm max).

current system:  i5 2500k @4.5ghz cooled by antec 620 - asrock z77 extreme 4 - 8gb corsair RAM - MSI Twin Frorz 7950 in crossfire - XFX 850w  - Fractal design R4 - samsung 840 120gb ssd - 500gb wd blue hdd - 1440p korean qnix monitor (love it!)

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The colour is going to be matte black. Is it possible to cut small holes for connectors and pci slots without the acrylic breaking or anything? I don't want to have a centimeter thick sheet of acrylic, prefferably 1 or 2mm  (3 mm max).

ye you can easily get thin acrylic. If you use a drill with slow rpm you should be fine and you wont crack the aluminium.

XYPHER AMD FX8350 @ 4.6Ghz ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 AMD RADEON HD 7970 @ 1140Mhz 16GB Corsair VENGEANCE 1600Mhz OCZ VERTEX 3 240GB SSD Corsair H100i 1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA FRACTAL DESIGN DEFINE R4 CORSAIR K90 MADCATZ RAT 3 iiyama ProLite B2480HS 24"

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ye you can easily get thin acrylic. If you use a drill with slow rpm you should be fine and you wont crack the aluminium.

Thanks! But I where can I buy it? Been looking around but nothing suitable found yet.

current system:  i5 2500k @4.5ghz cooled by antec 620 - asrock z77 extreme 4 - 8gb corsair RAM - MSI Twin Frorz 7950 in crossfire - XFX 850w  - Fractal design R4 - samsung 840 120gb ssd - 500gb wd blue hdd - 1440p korean qnix monitor (love it!)

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Thanks! But I where can I buy it? Been looking around but nothing suitable found yet.

I am not sure really just do some research for acrylic sellers in antwerp or the surrounding area.

XYPHER AMD FX8350 @ 4.6Ghz ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 AMD RADEON HD 7970 @ 1140Mhz 16GB Corsair VENGEANCE 1600Mhz OCZ VERTEX 3 240GB SSD Corsair H100i 1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA FRACTAL DESIGN DEFINE R4 CORSAIR K90 MADCATZ RAT 3 iiyama ProLite B2480HS 24"

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Yeah I will. If somebody knows a web store where they sell acrylic I would love to know.

current system:  i5 2500k @4.5ghz cooled by antec 620 - asrock z77 extreme 4 - 8gb corsair RAM - MSI Twin Frorz 7950 in crossfire - XFX 850w  - Fractal design R4 - samsung 840 120gb ssd - 500gb wd blue hdd - 1440p korean qnix monitor (love it!)

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Thanks I completely forgot about ebay :p What kind of paint should I use? I want it in matte black but acrylic is always glossy.

current system:  i5 2500k @4.5ghz cooled by antec 620 - asrock z77 extreme 4 - 8gb corsair RAM - MSI Twin Frorz 7950 in crossfire - XFX 850w  - Fractal design R4 - samsung 840 120gb ssd - 500gb wd blue hdd - 1440p korean qnix monitor (love it!)

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Plasti dip looks cool and matte :p  and you can peel it off if you don't like it :D

i5 4670k - MSI GTX 770 gaming - Fractal design define R4 (windowed) - MSI Z87-G45 gaming - be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 2 - Corsair vengeance 8 gb (lp) - WB black 1tb - 256GB SSD - Corsair TX 750M - Ducky Shine 3

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Thanks for all the help guys! Looks like the paint (plastic dip) is going to be more expensive then the acrylic :p

current system:  i5 2500k @4.5ghz cooled by antec 620 - asrock z77 extreme 4 - 8gb corsair RAM - MSI Twin Frorz 7950 in crossfire - XFX 850w  - Fractal design R4 - samsung 840 120gb ssd - 500gb wd blue hdd - 1440p korean qnix monitor (love it!)

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you could buy a cheap motherboard that has a similar pcb set up and vacuum form some plastic over it, you'll have to find a company that has a vacuum former though.

PC Builder, Engineer... BACON    Project Cobalt: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/38058-project-cobalt-copper-piping-laser-etching-and-more/#entry489258

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you could buy a cheap motherboard that has a similar pcb set up and vacuum form some plastic over it, you'll have to find a company that has a vacuum former though.

would be very cool but also very difficult.

current system:  i5 2500k @4.5ghz cooled by antec 620 - asrock z77 extreme 4 - 8gb corsair RAM - MSI Twin Frorz 7950 in crossfire - XFX 850w  - Fractal design R4 - samsung 840 120gb ssd - 500gb wd blue hdd - 1440p korean qnix monitor (love it!)

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make the cover from Plexi, done it for my HTPC cause I could, hehe

Yeah I'm going with plexi (acrylic). How did you cut it? I think I'm going to use a jigsaw with high tpi (teeth per inch).

current system:  i5 2500k @4.5ghz cooled by antec 620 - asrock z77 extreme 4 - 8gb corsair RAM - MSI Twin Frorz 7950 in crossfire - XFX 850w  - Fractal design R4 - samsung 840 120gb ssd - 500gb wd blue hdd - 1440p korean qnix monitor (love it!)

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You could also use sheets of styrene to cover pretty much anything you want.

Thanks but I think I'm going with acrylic :)

current system:  i5 2500k @4.5ghz cooled by antec 620 - asrock z77 extreme 4 - 8gb corsair RAM - MSI Twin Frorz 7950 in crossfire - XFX 850w  - Fractal design R4 - samsung 840 120gb ssd - 500gb wd blue hdd - 1440p korean qnix monitor (love it!)

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acrylic can get heavy and can retain heat longer. But it's your choice.

I plan on making the motherboard cover when I buy a fractal define R4 this summer, 2 140mm fans in the front will make sure the acrylic doesn't get too hot. My cpu is cooled by an AIO watercooler so there isn't a big hot air cooler near the acrylic. The weight won't be a problem either as it will only be 2mm thick and mounted on standoffs. Any high end air cooler is much heavier so I'll be good.

current system:  i5 2500k @4.5ghz cooled by antec 620 - asrock z77 extreme 4 - 8gb corsair RAM - MSI Twin Frorz 7950 in crossfire - XFX 850w  - Fractal design R4 - samsung 840 120gb ssd - 500gb wd blue hdd - 1440p korean qnix monitor (love it!)

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I used aluminum on my cover for my GD-55, no issues.

I have a drill press & table saw, so shit was easy..

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I used aluminum on my cover for my GD-55, no issues.

I have a drill press & table saw, so shit was easy..

I would love to use aluminium for the cover but I don't want to damage or short out my motherboard, or is this just a rumour?

current system:  i5 2500k @4.5ghz cooled by antec 620 - asrock z77 extreme 4 - 8gb corsair RAM - MSI Twin Frorz 7950 in crossfire - XFX 850w  - Fractal design R4 - samsung 840 120gb ssd - 500gb wd blue hdd - 1440p korean qnix monitor (love it!)

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