New front panel design

[Alice in game]

Hi,

I am planing to make a custom front panel for my old case and I would like to have your opinion.

 

So the idea right now is to have 1 5.25 bay on top, then two 120mm fan with round dust filter (with the four fan screws visible) ans the power/reset button between the two fans.

Here are the thinks I am considering having on the front panel

• Bluray player (now I have a DVD in the 5.25 bay)
• USB (at least 1, but 2 would be better, usb 3.0 to make it a valid "long term" option).
• Audio jack ( I do not have a microphone, so I would only consider it for a 3.5mm 4 position connector, to get rid of the adapter on my desk)
• Card reader (Only really need SD format as only have SD and microSD cards, even in my PSP because I use a memorystick-microSD adapter, but I can live without it)

I cannot figure out how to put a maximum of it. Here are the idea I have, and the parts I found so far.

 

1. Put a Slim disk reader in a 5.25 enclosure.

That's simple and there is cables to fit the laptop connection of the drive to a desktop, and there is some 5.25 bay that can include it with more.

Possible parts

• Scythe Kama Panel 2 Multi Function Panel - lot of thing on it (even thing I don't need) and the fan control can be removed to put a slim optical drive, but USB 2.0 and card reader do not read SDXC. Too bad, no "modern" version of it.
• SYBA SY-MRA55005 Multipurpose 5.25" Bay Adapter - It have the optical slime drive slot, usb 3.0... and a HDD enclosure, that I will most likely not use.
• Startech SLIMCDFDCAGE - That might be a nice one, a bay that fit a slim optical drive and 3.5" bracket that could be use to fit the USB and other things... but it look like a discontinued product.
• DIGISTOR Combo kit - Like the previous one.
• A bay that can fit two slim optidcal drive, and use the second one to custom fit somehting (as slim drive sized addon are rare and does not offer much, like this)

2. Fit a second 5.25" bay

I think it could fit if I change the round dust filter to square ones (that would also hide the fan screw) and change the fan position. The first bay can hold the full size bluray and the second multi purpose panel. There is different option that would offer usb/card reader/audio jack.
But If I decide to go with a second bay, I could aslo put a Scythe kama bay amp in the second slot (and use option 1 for the other), yes I want new speakers, but maybe not big ones, plus I saw review saying there is higher chance of interference when installed in a case. 

 

3. Fit a 3.5" bay between the fan

I still have part of the bracket for a bay between the two fan, but it would require the fan to be moved and installed with the square dust filter. The other issue is that I would also need to relocate the switch, it could be done by drilling holes in the bay if there is place, or move them elsewhere... but that's harder to do than to say.

 

4. Use custom port

Could use some random camble and like this ans somehow fix it somewhere on the case, maube around the switch even if it might requiree the square ffust filter.

 

 

Round (with screw) or square dust filter would look better ?

Recommentdation on a 3.25" or 5.25" multifunction bay ?

 

I would like to have your opinion and maybe part suggestion on how to do it.

[Alice in game]

Yes I do on my google drive : https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6kdEiGCm-geaExoUjFydDNCMWs

 

There is a picture of my actual front panel (that is a temporary build, my goal is to laser cut the final one).

In the sketchup file, there is my actual setup, next to it a plan of the usable space. In black there is metal on the case, in pink it's the usable bay and in green the free space. On the righ are the dust filter sized to what http://www.demcifilter.com/ offer (they are inexpensive and magnetic, with magnet for non ferrous case available).

 

The case is a RAIDMAX SCORPIO 868 BLUE

 

[Alice in game]

Might have found an option with products in stock. The FREEDOMPMU-012, oh, yes, Amazon Japan is fine with me as I can get gift cards.

 

So the 3.5 bay option would be good. Now for a multifunction bay to fit in...

 

Found a Tendak PC-027 unit with 2 usb 3.0 and audio, and the Silverstone FP32-E with 4, usb 3.0... that's a lot.

So might go with something like one of those, will go for the one with best review or with the cheapest. The 4 ports are nice, but they are pretty close and usually you plus things like usb key in the front of the case, and if the key is a bit big, it's hard to fit two next to each other... and do I really need 4 usb port on the front pannel ?

Other suggestions ?

To finish it all, I can get a usb SD card reader for less than 10$ or continue to use my camera.