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Project:
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ClearPC - Acrylic Mid-Tower Server Project |
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Author:
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Hi-TEK
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Date:
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September 8th, 2001
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Introduction:
The case modding community is a fickle bunch - we tend to put our poor systems through the torture rack now and then,
whether its for performance, cooling or aesthetics. Depending on who you speak too, people tend to be on one side of
the fence or right down the middle when it comes to their personal systems. My home network consists mainly of 4
workstations and one server. My server has been happily running my network since 1999, housed in a beautiful Antec
1030sx case. The server is running older pre-dated hardware compared to today's standards but does handle the job
extremely well. When Tweakbox.com become a Canadian distributor for the ClearPC case, a light bulb went off in my head.
What a great idea for a new case mod, and this is what this article will cover.
As with all my previous articles I always set out a list of objectives and here they are in no particular order:
- Controlled cooling using the 4 switch baybus (7v/off/12v) connected to 2 x 120mm Panaflo high speed fans
(side-intake) and (top-exhaust) 2 x 80mm Sunon high speed fans (front-intake, rear exhaust).
- Aesthetics: 1 x 10" Red Neon kit & a Atomic Windows Appliqué
- Crystalfontz 632 16x2 LCD serial unit
- Atomic Laser Grills (2 x 120mm and 2 x 80mm)
- Self rounded cables with black split loom
- Blue LEDs (1200 MCD, 3.5v) with chrome holders to replace the stock leds
- 2 x momentary switches to replace the stock switches
NOTE: Proper precautions should be taken when attempting your own case mod project and as with all warnings,
you are responsible for your own actions.
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ClearPC - Key Specifications/Special Features:
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| ClearPC ATX Mid Tower Case: Manufactured by ClearPC.ca |
| 3/16" Cast Clear Lucite |
| Case Dimensions: 18 3/8" x 8 11/16" x 16 13/16" (D,W,H) |
| Drive Bays: 4 x 5.25", 4 x 3.5" (4 x CDROM, 3 x HDD, 1 x FDD) |
| Fan Accomodation: 1 x 80MM fan receptacle located in front |
| Form Factors: Flex-ATX style, ATX, Full Size. |
| No PSU included |
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System Specifications:
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| ABIT BH6 Motherboard |
| Pentium III 700EB w/Thermaltake Golden ORB Fan |
| 256MB of Ram (PC-100) |
| 2 x 15GB Maxtor DiamondMax Hard Drives |
| ATI Expert 98 AGP |
| D-Link 530TX NIC |
| Creative 52X CDROM |
| SB Live Value sound card |
| Panasonic 1.44MB FDD |
| Antec 300W PSU |
| Onstream ADR 30GB Tape Backup unit |
| Windows 2000 Server with SP2 |
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Tools and Material Used:
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| Makita 10mm (3/8") drill model#6410 |
| Mastercraft saw mandrel (1 1/4" to 6") |
| 25 piece H.S.S drillbit set |
| Dremel Multipro 5 w/50 accessories |
| Solder gun w/lead free hi-tech electronic rosin core solder |
| Lenox Bi-metal Hole saws 3-1/8" 80mm |
| Milwaukee Super Tough Bi-metal 4/6" 120mm |
| Marr UV Black cable ties |
| Clear wire split loom |
| Black wire split loom |
| Safety googles |
| MG Computing Products super compressed dust buster |
| PCMods 4 Switch Baybus Kit |
| Atomic Laser Fan Grills |
| 10" Red Neon Light kit |
| 2 x Panaflo 120mm high speed fans with filters |
| 2 x Sunon 80mm high speed fans with filters |
| Black heat shrink tubing |
| Black and red 22AWG wiring |
| Thermaltake Golden Orb Fan |
| Crystalfontz 632 16x2 LCD Serial unit |
| 2 x LED Chrome Holders |
| 1 SPST mini switch |
| 2 x High intensity Blue LEDs 3.6v @ 2000 MCD |
| 2 x momentary switches |
| 1 x Atomic Windows Appliqué |
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ClearPC original packaging
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ClearPC opened package
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I received a review unit from Tweakbox and took the package down to my office and started my evaluation
of the case design. The box that the ClearPC case ships in is slightly larger than your standard case
packaging and with good reason. Upon opening up the package I noticed that the case itself is surrounded
by 8 styrofoam corner blocks. These blocks are situated in such a way as to provide 3" of space all
around the box as well as to help keep the case from moving around. To top it off the case is also
wrapped in a plastic protective bag. It was obvious that the ClearPC staff decided on an excellent way
to protect your case investment.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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Inside the box was also an assortment of accessories, which included the following:
- Case Components: 1 x Fan Finger Guard, 1 x 3mm Red LED, 1x 3mm Green Led, Momentary Switch (+ Switch Wiring), 3-bay clear cover.
- Screws: Floppy Disk Drive (x4 pieces), Hard Disk Drive (x4 pieces), CDROM Drive (x4 pieces), Power Supply (x4 pieces), Front Bezel,
Side Panel (x8 pieces, screws), Front Bezel, Side Panel (x8 pieces, cap nuts), and Main Board (x9 pieces) with Nuts.
- Standoffs: Main Board (9 pieces), HDD, FDD (8 pieces) and Case Feet (4 pieces).
My first impressions once the case was finally out of the box were very positive
- the case itself is one very well built unit.
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