EggXpert

Sponsored By:

http://us.creative.com/

Hi all, my name is Nate.  My company CustomPCMAX is going to be collaborating with Bill Owen at MNPCTech on custom modded gaming PC.

The whole project is a work in progress, but here is what we have so far.

Overview:  Bill has received a pre-production NZXT Panzerbox case.  His is going to be handling the modding of the case.  NZXT was really cool in allowing him to get his hands on this before it is even in stores.  This will be the "first EVER modded NZXT Panzerbox".

Here is a pic of the case and a link to a video review:


The case is going to be modded in tribute to Wolfenstein since we both have fond memories of playing these games.  We figure it will be a fun project to work on together.

Bill just sent me some rough sketches that he and Brad (MNPCTech's painter) made for the paint job.  I think it is going to look very cool!



A window on the left side will have logo outline cut in the center and painted...probably smoked acrylic window (see concept pic 1).  The right side panel will have an airbrushed mural of one of the enemies with what looks to be nuclear powered gun, background is storm cloud filled dark sky and Messerschmidt flying over (see concept pic 2). The perforated mid section of the case will be painted German camouflage, with German cross painted over the front fan, and nuclear symbol from same enemy soldier painted over top fan.  Green light will eminate from the green LED fan and green cathodes.

So, you ask... "Nate, why are you involved in this project?"

I am going to be providing the "guts" to this system.  I run CustomPCMAX, a small Gaming PC Building company online.  Me and Bill realized that we work in the same area (Mpls, Mn), so Bill was gracious enough to let me install a PC in one of his custom modded cases.  This is very exciting for me, to say the least. 

Internal Components (confirmed):
NZXT Precise Power 1200 Watt Modular PSU

Creative Labs - PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Championship Series

AMD Phenom II x3 720 CPU

ATI Radeon 4890 GPU

Ultra 120 Extreme Revision A (AMD CPU Version)

Anyways, I think it would be cool, the Phenom will OC good (3.4-3.7 ghz average) and Radeon 4890 will be awesome. 


Future Things to See:
Video worklogs of the modding and installation.
Benchmarking, OCing, gaming... all the fun stuff!

Creative Labs is also providing me with one of their Vado video recorders.  I will be using that to record my video worklogs of the hardware installation.


Please let me know what you think! 

If you are "digging" this mod, give us a digg!

 

Updates:

Here you can see the fan being replaced.  The stock fan (190mm) that came with this preproduction model were very loud (something that NZXT is correcting).  Bill was able to fit a giant 250mm fan in it's place... even better!  It has a green LED, and it's very quiet, 19 dbA pushing out 105.2 CFM!

 

 

 

Here is another update:

Here is a better view of what the side panel is going to look like.

To avoid NZXT's "PSU in yo face!" visual feature,.. I'll be using smoked acrylic for the windows, and painting the PSU to help conceal it.

The window borders will have a weathered armor look, either 1/2" diameter carriage bolt heads epoxied onto the panel, or I'll attach the window with screws... my supplies on hand will dictate which effect I go with

 

ive tried to get this from newegg

i talked to jas0n but newegg usually dosent sponsor anyone 

ak11667:

ive tried to get this from newegg

i talked to jas0n but newegg usually dosent sponsor anyone 

 

this is correct, you would really have to be well known and show us what you got before newegg is gonna sponsor you.

Well, I don't have the full details yet, but I am going to be working with another local company (www.mnpctech.com) on a modded NZXT Panzerbox.  He has a pre-release of that case and after he mods the case I am going to be installing the system.

 If anyone wants further details, please email me at custompcmax@yahoo.com.

 This is a very serious project and will be very cool once it is done.  Bill at MNPCTECH is an amazing modder (check out his work).

 Here is a link to his blog and he just put a pre-mod video review of the case up.

http://www.casemodblog.com/?p=735

 

Or google "case mod blog" if you are afraid of links...

gotta love bill :)

mazy:

gotta love bill :)

Yes, Bill is the man.  I am pumped to see what he does to this case. 

http://themodbrothers.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=582

 Here is a worklog for thie project, if anyone was interested in it.  It is still in the initial stages, but it is coming together quite nicely.

I added some updates at the top. 

Here is another update:

Here is a better view of what the side panel is going to look like.

To avoid NZXT's "PSU in yo face!" visual feature,.. I'll be using smoked acrylic for the windows, and painting the PSU to help conceal it.

The window borders will have a weathered armor look, either 1/2" diameter carriage bolt heads epoxied onto the panel, or I'll attach the window with screws... my supplies on hand will dictate which effect I go with

Some cheapy kitchen drawer handles from Home Depot, I'm painting them, then installing them on the access panel for a more field type equipment look

 

 

Bolt heads were cut off with a hack saw and them attached with epoxy.

 

Here you can see the almost finished side panel.  The logo still needs to be painted on, the sketch is laid over where it will be.

The side window is the smoked acrylic. 

 

nic project, CM scout is might be ur beter target

misterdevil:

nic project, CM scout is might be ur beter target

Thanks for the feedback, though I am unsure what you mean by "CM scout".

Bill has has ties with CPU and CPU does sponsored builds for Newegg all the time (monthly I think). Are you just one of Bill's customers? Or are you just a computer builder like most people here?  

No, I am not Bill's customer.  I build gaming PCs for a living.  A couple of months ago, Bill and I realized we work in the same area (Mpls, MN).  Since then we have decided to get together and collaborate on a project.  Basically, this project marks the beginning of an affiliation.  He is modding the case, I am pimping out the hardware.  All of it (the modding and the hardware part) is going to be fully worklogged and video taped.

Waves "Hello" at everybody! 

I think misterdevil is refering to CM's new Scout case,

I wouldn't place in the Scout in same catagory.

Panzerbox comes with not only one, but two 190mm cooling fans. Removable motherboard tray. It also has brackets for mounting optional dual 120mm size radiator in the top. The entire mid section is perforated so heat dissipates out quickly. It will fit gpu cards up to 10.5″ long. It’s welded aluminum chassis is durable and light. It weighs only 13pds out of the box, so it's 1/4″ less than other cases in it’s class, I'm sure the Scout weighs twice as much, it's made from steel. The Panzerbox is a much better option for hauling your PC to lan partys. It’s 9.6″ wide ATX chassis will accommodate today’s monster size heat sinks.

 Back to our project, I promise this will be an awesome PC when it's finished, it will be worth your time tom periodically tune into this thread to watch it's progression

Thanks everybody!

Here is another little update:

 

While the panel is being painted, we're also going to paint the bullet computer case thumb screws to look authentic!, http://www.mnpctech.com/Bullet-Thumb-Screws.html

 

This will be another Insane Case Mod by Mnpctech.com

 Clear and color acrylic computer windows



Acoustical sound dampening sheets for computer cases

for the window, we used Scotch brand #4010 tape, for it's Super strength adhesion. Used for mounting windows in computer cases.

http://www.mnpctech.com/scotch_4010_tape_of_the_casemod_gods.html

I'll be using the new PC Cable management clamps
http://www.mnpctech.com/CableClamp.html

http://www.mnpctech.com/120mm_Custom_FanGrill.html

Honeycomb, Black Powder coat

 

Heres some more photos of the Bullet Computer Case Thumbscrews

I've met a lot of pc builder/enthusiasts who dreamed of owning their own Gaming PC Co. I would have loved to have been a part of AlienDell or VooPackard in their early days. Nate is the first local guy I've met who knows his stuff. I really want his start-up company CustomPCMAX to be successful. It's not going to happen overnight. It will take a long time to build a reputation for himself. Working on this project together is just one of the ways Nate is diversifying his skills. I hope we can work together on many more cool projects like this.

 

 

You can remove the top 190mm fan, install the 240 (2x 120mm) radiator bracket and just use 2x 120mm fans without radiator. Regarding the top perforated panel. The screen will be stamped in retail version with recessed vertical grooves, so it's reinforced and doesn't warp. It will remain perforated

NZXT came through again!



NZXT is sponsoring this build with a Precise Power 1200W Power Supply! Bring on the hardware!

Not much of an update, but me and Bill decided to pop open the NZXT PSU and see what makes it tick.




It is heavy, pack with power and has a 120mm cooling fan.  Should power whatever we get cooking in the machine.

Super strength adhesion. Used for mounting windows in computer cases.

http://www.mnpctech.com/scotch_4010_tape_of_the_casemod_gods.html

We may paint the PSU shell matte black to match the chassis. Speaking of paint, Brad Galvin started on the panel logo today

Scuffing the paint surface first, with red scotch brite pad, to promote adhesion


Applying Masking Film


Tracing logo template onto masking film with tranfser paper (art supply store)


Outline of the logo template transfered onto masking film


Using Excato Knife to cut out the logo

The first stage of paint will be marbelizing the logo, this will give the surface a cracked and weathered look

Apply sheet of "Saran Wrap" over clear base coat. Allow to sit for 1 minute before peeling off. You get a cracked effect, this  is refered to as a Marbelized effect, you can do it over paint too, it's especially cool with candy colors, it was first created by Jon Kosmoski in 60s, the wizard behind House of Kolor paints, fyi: his paint shop is 1 block from our studio.

Like anything else, it takes lots of practice. Brad has 16 yrs experience painting, so Aalways try it on a test piece first!

 

Wolfenstein logo after peeling off Saran Wrap

Heres a Close up, Candy Red paint in the letters, the panel still needs to be cleared

The Panzerbox's PSU location is odd. It's literally in your face when you open the case. Why leave a boring factory finish? Especially if you're like me and void warranties everyday. Our PSU is a blank canvas begging for something and I love the original Wolfenstein logo.