Pictorial guide/worklog of modifications to 'HTPC', GAM's Home Theatre PC; Making a cheap, simple case better - Page 13

By Greig Mackenzie

Measure, Slice and Dice - Back Panel

Now to the back panel. Well there really isn't much exposed/accessible surface here is there? Note that I've reattached the I/O panel section. This had to be removed again as it must be fitted after the back panel is fitted to the bottom panel.

Well, I couldn't help myself, a couple of complimentary strips of insulation type foam off a roll (you can buy this stuff in various densities at your bigger hardware stores, like Bunnings, by the metre).

Measure, Slice and Dice - Bottom Panel

I didn't want to attach the motherboard tray yet, so I held in place while getting dimensions and then cut the sheet and stuck it down. Note that I have deliberately cut this into two sections as I need to get a little tricky beneath the drive cage attachment points. Note the two slot sections with their backing sheet in place to allow access to the drive cage rivet holes.

Slight 'in place' trimming job required.

NOTE: I haven't bothered with foam on the side panels yet as I am not yet sure how things will change. I don't have plans for a window but you never know. With it all black inside, it looks so nice.

Case feet (stock)

For the time being I'm sticking with the standard case feet. I'll look into something sexier soon. I've seen nice, turned aluminium, audio equipment feet at Jaycar (Australian electronics chain) before.

To keep it clean, I decided to punch holes through the foam on the bottom panel. I selected the biggest punch that would fit into the existing holes, placed a block of wood beneath and gave it whack.

If you haven't seen how these feet work before... when you push the peg into the hole, four little prongs are expanded (on the other side of the mounting surface) holding the foot in place.

Reassembly - Drive Cage

With the noise dampening job done, it is time to move on to reassembly. First the drive cage to the bottom panel.

Oops, I missed! ;-)

 

Reassembly - Rear Panel

Recall that I had the I/O panel section attached and then had to disassemble it again. Here you can see why. The I/O panel section has a bottom lip that affixes above the bottom panel, while the back panel has a lip that affixes on underneath the bottom panel. So, I affixed the back panel to the bottom panel first and then the I/O section to the back panel.

Unfortunately I didn't look closely enough at this fixing and had to remove the overlapping foam sheet.

 

Back panel assembled.

 

Motherboard tray assembled.

Front panel assembled.

NOTE: Unlike the rest of the interior, the front of front panel is actually painted satin black instead of matt black as I ran out of matt black paint and didn't have time to get more.