The 840 to 928 Project

[oldman]

Background/Disclaimer: This is my first in the PC area. Actually, this also is my first blog (and it took me some time to know how to do what I am just doing). In my time, I loved working with cars (the old beetle, 55-57 Chevy and Porsche 928 were my all-time favorites) and doing house remodelling (we moved a lot). Although my name tag "oldman" does reflect a physical reality, I think that I still have some skills left to attempt this. Budget is very limited as well as working time. To get an idea of the competition, I have looked-up the first 4 competitors blogs that appeared in the list when I logged in. WOW times 4! So here is my disclaimer: Don't expect my work to be like that (I just hope not to embarrass myself); bear with my photo skill (or lack of it); at the end, I will just be happy to be called a "competitor".

Idea/concept: The project entails modifying CM’s great 840 in a relatively straightforward way using mostly CM parts. When I first saw the 840, it somehow reminded me of an old black 928 Porsche I had seen, both 840 and 928 were love at first sight. Both were sober looking, unique, classics of their own right, powerful, with plenty of inside space and both, sadly, are no longer built. The goal is, in part, to achieve improved cooling, access, mobility/carrying as well as making it as self-contained as possible by including storage for accessories, mouse, built-in speakers, etc. And, in part, to achieve a pleasant look and functionality that is reminiscent of the 928 (if you have never seen one, look-up that beast). As such, the modified case will have wheels, windows, liquid cooled “engine†(just like the 928), pop-up speakers (to recall the pop-up headlights), lift-up top (hood), ATB factor, built in handle, repositioned IO panel and whatever else I can come-up with and do by the deadline.

Work-in-progress report: OK, enough talk. Let's see If I can get some photos to post.

Work-in-progress: OK, now I know how to post the photos but it seems that there's a 20 maximum! Crap, I will need to edit out some of the pictures as I go along with the changes. Will leave these for now. (9-18-12)

[oldman]

I am using the Post A Reply feature to see if this is the way to continue reporting on my project and add new photos (that shows you my level of expertise on forum matters). Let's see if it works.

Work-in progress report #2: The bottom filters in the 840: one filter could be removed without removing the left side panel but, the one for the PSU cannot. I decided to place that filter outside. Fastest way to do it in my opinion, not weakening the case strength and perhaps adding to it, was to use a piece of 3/8" aluminum channel that I had laying around. I used a single length of channel by bending 2 corners at 90 degrees; you will need to cut small triangles to accomplish the bending.

[oldman]

It did work! Now I know how to keep reporting and adding photos to the project--perhaps it is the wrong way to do it but it seems to be working for me.

Work-in-progress report #3: The 840 lacks wheels so let's get it rolling. I found that, aesthetically (at least to my eyes), 2" diameter wheels were best. I got them from IKEA. You only need to drill one hole per wheel if you use the holes that come for the stands. I also needed to use a spacer for each wheel in order to clear the PSU removable filter.They were cut off from a 1/4" aluminum piece.

[oldman]

Work-in-progress report #4: The ATB factor. I have always wondered if the original concept design for the CM 840 included an ATX/ATB conversion feature and that such feature did not make it to production because adding another set of rails and another support column exceeded the cost/labor budget allocated to the project (and perhaps push the price of the product beyond what they considered reasonable). Of course, from what I have read, it may have been that there was no need for ATB as computer components were made to run cooler. Still, I undertook the conversion to ATB and frankly, I have not seen any improvement in the 840 cooling as an ATB. However, in my opinion, there was an improvement in looks (I like it with the video cards facing this way) and in cable management. Also, my wife changed the furniture layout so that this PC is now to the left of my work desk so when I roll it out I prefer to see the side with the components showing through the window. Did I say window? Yes, there will be a window. Anyway, here is how I did it.

I could not get another set of rails, which would have been ideal, so I had to shift the existing rails to the opposite side. Also, I needed an aluminum flat piece, aluminum angular (L-shaped) piece and aluminum rivets from the local hardware store to make the front support column for the rails.

[oldman]

Work-in-progress report #5: Adding windows. Although CM had an optional left panel side with a window, I found it somewhat lacking to my taste. I did like the window treatment of the CM Storm Scout and the fact that you can add 2 fans if you so wish. These panels were easy to get from the CM store. And so, the Storm Scout panels were cannibalized. In view of the auto theme of my project, I used a Mobo with "turbo" feature. In turn, this made it "necessary" to get a "Turbo" emblem from the local automotive shop. For the 928 logo, I went for some silver markers that sell at craft stores.

[oldman]

Work-in-progress report #6: Modifying door panels. Since I wanted to use the thumb screws for both the door panels and the MoBo tay, the door panels need to be modified. You need to remove a rounded part of the door pulls, where the pulls conflict with the thumb screws of the tray. Of course, if you keep the regular flat screws, no need for this extra work. I just wanted the ability to remove the tray without a screwdriver.

[oldman]

Work-in-progress report #7: Reversible HD cage. It is the convention for ATX factor cases to have the HD cage either facing forward or to the left. In the CM 840, it faces to the left. Since we are converting it to ATB, we need it to face right. However, I want it to be easily reversible from ATX to ATB and vice versa. If I had been able to get an extra set of rails for the MoBo tray, I would have made the flipping of the tray from one factor to another without much work. It would have been my ideal concept of a case where the user flips from one factor to another as they see fit.

For the HD cage to become a revolving cage, we will need a round furniture slider, some metal washers and rivets, all from, you guessed it, the local hardware store.

Keep in mind two things, the cage will need to to shortened for it to revolve or spin in place and there is a bracket at the front bottom of the case that strenghtens the area (remember this case is mostly aluminum). This bracket is installed from the inside of the case where the HD cage is. The cage will need to clear it in order to spin. Now look at the photos.

[MonsterMawd]

I look forward to seeing how you do this mod. The 840 is one of my all time fav CM cases.

[frozensnail]

I look forward to seeing how you do this mod. The 840 is one of my all time fav CM cases.

without doubt the 840 design & being all aluminium is just great to work with

[oldman]

Note: to those who have posted comments, thank you.

Work-in-progress report #8: Adding a rear handle. We added wheels to the CM 840 to allow easy moving inside the home but, what if you are taking it somewhere else? Like another friend's house/garage to play and, of course, you need to take your keyboard and mouse, too! I always felt that the 840 was difficult to lift so we are solving this by adding a front and a rear handle strong enough to safely allow the lifting. Let's start with the rear handle and, at the same time, create a storage area inside the case for keyboard and mouse (I guess storing a monitor is out of the question for now but, at least, we do have built-in speakers).

We will need an extra I/O panel with its housing (from the CM Store) and a cooling rack for cookies/bread/etc. from the local WalMart store (my wife would not let me use hers). The thickness of the housing will make it necessary to modify the left and right case panels as you will see. You can do something else but I wanted to use as much CM stuff as possible and keep waste to minimum.