S340 Modding. First Mod, too.

[Rtwhit]

1. This is my first post on these forums. (Yay!)

2. I'm also on pcpartpicker. (Same name)

3. https://pcpartpicker.com/b/LHtJ7P

4. I want to mod my s340.

I was thinking about cutting some shapes into the front panel, unscrewing the metal from the plastic, putting a thin cloth material in between and screwing it back together. I was thinking this could help improve airflow a bit and just look better. Also, I wanted to paint my pci covers and the tips of some thumbscrews.

I already know I should:

1. Measure multiple times and make sure it's right

2. Put masking tape or something over the surface I'm cutting.

3. Have a sketch of the front panel.

4. Sand what I'm painting.

The reason I came here is because I want to know if there is anything else I should know before doing this. Help would be appreciated for my first mod on my first build.

[W-L]

-SNIP-

 

Welcome to the Fourms!

 

Sounds like a good start, a quick tip when cutting say with a dremel or any tool be sure to cut away from your final line and afterwards use a file to file the material until you meet the line to get perfectly straight cuts or even curves. 

 

If your interested I have a write up here on a bunch of different things from General Painting and techniques to diagrams on here:

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/407754-modding-faq-common-mods/

[watts300]

4. I want to mod my s340.

I was thinking about cutting some shapes into the front panel, unscrewing the metal from the plastic, putting a thin cloth material in between and screwing it back together. I was thinking this could help improve airflow a bit

It's not necessary for the sake of airflow.  I have an S340 and I did a little experiment to see. 

I recorded before I stressed the GPU. But it also peaked at 70C.