ZdMods - Project 720

[Meelobee]

 

Hello again!
 

Since I've finished Project 180 I've started a new build which I'd like to share with you

 

The victim this time is a Dell XPS 720. An all aluminum case (3mm) and in my opinion one of the best looking cases ever. I've spend quite some time looking for a good one, and about half a year ago one was offered on a Dutch marketplace and I've bought it The previous owner removed most of the hardware so it was just the case, perfect for my modding needs

 

 

 

 

Some of the remaining hardware, the cpu heatsink and some ducting

 

 

It's a big case, Project 180 fits inside it, the radiator is a EK-XT360

 

Without plastic front

 

First thing I did was strip the case. Went quite fast because the case doesn't have an internal chassis, it's just the front and back panel that hold the whole case together. So it was a matter of drilling out some rivets to take apart the entire case

 

Because Dell made the case as a BTX the orientation of the I/O panel is upside down and has to be replaced. On the left the original backside and the front on the right

 

I've replaced the front and back by 3mm aluminum panels and attached those to the original brackets on the top and bottom 

 

 

 

Up next, het openingmechanism on the sidepanels!

 

On the original case the left panel is fixed to the top and bottom and can't be opened. This is a problem because I want to be able to reach the backside of the mobotray, so it needs to be changed. 

On the right panel there is a big metal bracket with the opening mechanism on it, this makes the panel click into the top and midplate of the case. Because I'm not going keep the midplate that part of the opening mechanism isn't needed and can be removed from the right panel and I can use it for the left panel. (On the picture this part is already removed)

 

The metalbracket was glued to the panel with some sort of ubertape, almost impossible to remove, but using a heatgun and a putty knive I got it removed

 

I've cut the bracket into 2 pieces, the lower one already has an alu strip that will be used as the handle to open the panel

 

 

 

 

That's it for now

 

[Excon]

The only OEM case I have ever liked, subbed.

[legopc]

oh god i love these oem case mods  

[Fonzie Scheme]

This is going to be good! I can feel it.

[beefalo]

Really interested to see how this goes.  I have one of these cases at my parents house and would like to do a build in it myself.

[Exotath]

This is going to be epic can't wait!

[Meelobee]

 

Thanks guys

 

Allright, on with the show! Here's the first of 2 updates!

 

 

The bracket was cut in two and I've glued it back onto both sidepanels with epoxy

 

Glued an chairprofile (I suppose it's what you call it in English) to the bottom side of the left panel

 

The profile hooks on the original brackets on the bottom of the case

 

And now it looks like I'm back to where I started. The case looks stock again, except this one has sidepanels that both can be opened 

 

Up next, the front of the case! 

 

First I gutted the plastic front panel and removed all the unneeded parts

 

Then 8 pieces of U-profile (13x13mm od) where cut to size

 

The u-profiles were glued to a strip of alu with epoxy. There is a 6mm gap between each profile

 

Both ends of each profile are filed at an angle, so the profiles fit perfectly in the front

 

And this is how the whole assembly looks in the front. 2 Smaller pieces of u-profile that fill the gaps will be added on both sides

 

 

 

To finish the front I got some 10x10mm plexi rod

 

The plexi fits perfectly in the u-profiles

 

The plexi will be frosted and have leds in the top and bottom, but how exactly is in one of the next updates! 

 

Thanks for watching!

 

 

[Fonzie Scheme]

     

REALLY, THAT'S ALL YOU GOT DONE?

      ...COME ON!

[nickpc]

good job looks good

[CJPowell27]

You're teasing us with an unfinished build . I can't wait for this to be done

[Meelobee]

     

REALLY, THAT'S ALL YOU GOT DONE?

      ...COME ON!

Yup Mind you that I have a full time job and all modding is done by hand so it takes alot of time.

 

good job looks good

Thanks!

 

You're teasing us with an unfinished build . I can't wait for this to be done

Can't wait either, but this is how far it is atm.

 

Another update later today

[Meelobee]

 

On with the show!

 

Continued on the front. Added 2 shorter pieces to the rest of the U-Profiles to complete the front. All profiles are filed to size (Which was a pain in the ass job, as the corners are round and at an angle.)

 

 

 

 

On the top the alu profiles fit align perfectly to the plastic front.

 

On the bottom there are some small gaps between the alu and plastic, but this won't be visible in the end. The plexi bars in the profiles are cut short, so there is room for the leds

 

Made a logo for the front of the case. The 2 small bars above and below the text will be the same color as the plastic edge they align with. Giving the front 2 'sections' again.

 

 

And I've cut the hole for the 3 radfans in the front (360 rad) 

 

 

 

In the case without the front

 

And with front

 

 

 

Thanks for watching! :dremel:

 

 

[Fonzie Scheme]

I was most definitely joking! the build is looking great and your making excellent progress. I can't wait to see this rig lit up!

[Old Man Snail]

Makes me want to buy a 720 or 710 case and do this myself! Can't wait for more updates

[Meelobee]

I was most definitely joking! the build is looking great and your making excellent progress. I can't wait to see this rig lit up!

 

I know you were, but there is some truth in it, I'm really not the fastest modder.. Can't wait to continue either, hopefully I can spend time on the case tomorrow

[Xerpocalypse]

Wow.

In truth, I've always thought that dell case looks amazing. You've made it look even better with the mods, and more functional!

[Meelobee]

 

Been a while since the last update (I should patent that phrase!) but I've continued working on the case in the meantime

I'd planned some time to take pictures of the progress yesterday, but both my camera and my camera skills let me down. Out of 60+ pics not a single one was decent enough to show in the logs. Either the colortemp is all messed up (way too orange) or the pic is just too dark to see the details.. Problem is I don't have a decent space to photograph my build, I have a small computer room with terrible lightning for taking photo's. Tips and tricks for better photo's are very welcome (

 

So for now a small update with the progress, pictures are taken with an iPad, sorry for that..

 

The acrylic strips in the front of the case will be lit with UV leds, in the 4th strip from the left the led is visible

 

With power it looks like this, in reality the whole strip is lit like the bottom half, pink/purple. The camera makes it look alot more blue than it really is.

 

 

Continuing on the internals of the case, first made a small Sketchup to see the idea before building it

 

So I ordered 6 plates of aluminium (493x210x3mm) and started to cut and file it. First plate I finished was the midplate

 

After that I started on the rest of the plates, made a drawing in Sketchup, converted it to Layer and made 1on1 stencils on stickersheets. (May thanks to Waynio for explaining this to me!) 

 

 

 

Cutting

 

Alot of filing

 

And done!

 

I finished 4 of 6 plates, for the other 2 I need a mobo to get the correct measurements so the plates won't touch the hardware

 

 

 

And I've been playing around with Sketchup a bit

 

 

Comments are welcome

 

 

[Witt]

Absolutely stunning! :wub:  Keep it coming.

[J4M35]

this is amazing  can't wait to see more updates 

[Meelobee]

 

Thanks guys

 

so yeah about time for an update! 

 

First up, the reservoir I'm going to use, a big fat Aqualis 880ml Gotit 2nd hand, but it looks brand new

 

The box is a bit damaged

 

But the reservoir is in perfect condition and looks awesome

 

 

From Coolermaster Benelux I got a set of white Jetflo 120 fans, 7 in total, thanks Ruben, you rock! :rock:

 

 

 

The sticker on the fanhub was replaced by a custom ZdMods logo made by plakjesuf

 

Then the midplates, the part that was most time consuming so far. Did quite alot of filing to get all the plates to the right size. The 2 plates on top need some additional work so I can fit the mobo and mobotray, but thats for later. The plates are connected with countersunk sleevenuts with a brass 20mm tube around them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To support the midplates I cut a couple of 20x20mm alu corners  and attached them to the front and back of the case

 

 

 

 

 

 

And one last pic with the front

[C1Rob]

Looking great! Have seen the first few posts on a few forums including tweakers

 

Goed bezig! (Nice work)

[DieselWeasel]

wow, this will be beautiful

[Meelobee]

Looking great! Have seen the first few posts on a few forums including tweakers

 

Goed bezig! (Nice work)

Thanks Rob (Wie ben je op Tweakers?)

 

wow, this will be beautiful

Thanks DieselWeasel, I hope so

[Meelobee]

 

Update time!

 

Made a mobotray from a 3mm aluminium plate (32x49cm) and installed the standoffs for the mobo. Decided not to use a rear i/o bracket, but instead installed the i/o panel right into the backside of the case;

 

 

 

 

I've cut almost half of the mobotray away to get a more open feel/look

 

 

 

The mobotray is held in place by small aluminium corners, on this picture the first two are done

 

And here the third is done too (The small corner on the top right)

 

Installed some parts to get an idea of the look, hmm not too bad at all  B)

 

The 5h plate is measured and filed so it wraps around the mobo

 

Hard to see, but the double bottom is also installed, under the white plate on the bottom there is 15mm space to hide cables

 

That's it for now..

[Almercenary]

Its different from most other builds, but I like it.  Quite a lot. Looking great