Pfsense box

[fjdhdhcyfhf]

So Iv got pfsense firewall running on a matx board in the case https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/CHADPC0001/Deepcool-MicroTower-Black-with-USB-30-No-PSU

at the time I bought it, two years ago, it was the cheapest case and apparently is so fugly they Still have them in stock!

the only hardware in the box is a A4 & fm2 motherboard, psu, 2.5" ssd, one 120mm fan. AMD's 45W tdp setting works really well and the box is dead silent with the stock cooler. I might not need the 120mm fan as the psu is directly next to CPU and is an old one made from a time where this layout was normal, I.e. Made from a time when the psu was designed to help cool the case.

my plan is to:

1. assemble the case, then chop the case in half, I.e. The fugly front off up to the motherboard.

2 do something with the side panels; ugliest side panels I have ever seen!

what I need ideas on is how to cheaply cover up the front and replace the side panels.

im am not opposed to putting in some silly rgb strip and window but if I do something silly I will also need to leave room for a mini disco ball and fog machine.

[KazerTheKeen]

If you do cut off the front you will need some reinforcement for the front. Probably just a strip of right angle aluminum.

And you can probably just use a sheet of aluminum or acrylic for your front and side panels.  In terms of mounting the side panels you can either cut off and reuse the original mounts or use a thumb screw mounting solution. Same thing goes for the front panel which is going to be a bit more tricky. As you'll still want some io. You could also use wood for the front panel which would look very classy. 

[fjdhdhcyfhf]

5 hours ago, KazerTheKeen said:

If you do cut off the front you will need some reinforcement for the front. Probably just a strip of right angle aluminum.

And you can probably just use a sheet of aluminum or acrylic for your front and side panels.  In terms of mounting the side panels you can either cut off and reuse the original mounts or use a thumb screw mounting solution. Same thing goes for the front panel which is going to be a bit more tricky. As you'll still want some io. You could also use wood for the front panel which would look very classy. 

wood would be easier but I dont have any good quality wood worthy of being called classy, and if i did i would make the entire case out of wood. I once saw a nice custom case made entirely out of aluminum angle

[TubsAlwaysWins]

PfSense is lit