On this information, we’ll present you methods to transfer your motherboard tray to a special place in your case. There are valuable few modular instances accessible that mean you can transfer key elements reminiscent of motherboards. Drastically altering your case’s inner format may sound like a nightmare, nevertheless it’s really nothing a Dremel, rivet gun, and a few hours of modding can’t deal with.
In return, you’ll be capable of construct a gaming PC precisely as you need it. You can acquire plenty of area to deal with followers and radiators if you wish to water cool your PC, whereas getting elevated clearance for different elements. You’ll be able to even invert your motherboard tray to additional profit your particular format. In our instance, we’re utilizing a Cooler Grasp NR200P case because the take a look at topic.
1. Resolve on targets
Begin by deciding precisely the place and why you need to transfer your motherboard – specializing in one or two elements will help to get probably the most out of the outcome. Right here we need to shift it to the center of the case, switching to a sandwich-style format, whereas additionally shifting it right down to make room for a radiator.
2. Take away fixtures and fittings
It’s necessary to take away any elements that don’t make up the structural a part of the case, as these can forestall you from eradicating different sections, or they will merely get in the best way. Take away each half you may, however pay attention to the components you’ll want to exchange afterward.
3. Take away cables
As there might be plenty of mud and steel shards flying round, it is advisable to take away all cables, reminiscent of these for the ability and entrance panel ports. This manner you gained’t must waste time cleansing (or repairing) them later.
4. Set up ultimate elements
For those who’re tweaking your case to make room for brand spanking new elements reminiscent of radiators, place these components into the case the place potential so you may work out in case your endeavors will work. Right here we wish to have the ability to place a radiator within the roof in addition to the bottom of the case.
5. Take a look at-fit motherboard
The motherboard’s location might be key, so it is advisable to work out the place it wants to sit down. In our instance, there’s sufficient area to reside between the radiators, which we’ve checked by test-fitting the motherboard between them.
6. Work out new IO panel location
Work out the place your motherboard’s IO panel might be situated, as it will dictate the place of the motherboard tray. Use a marker pen to set out the place you want the motherboard IO panel cutout to be situated.
7. Drill out rivets
Most instances are held collectively utilizing rivets, which you’ll have to drill out with the intention to take away the motherboard tray. Use a 3mm drill bit, as that is the most typical rivet measurement utilized in instances.
8. Examine case elements are unfastened
As soon as the motherboard tray’s rivets are eliminated, dislodge the tray at one finish to ensure it’s unfastened. It’s straightforward to overlook a rivet or a securing screw, so if it doesn’t come free simply, test once more.
9. Take away motherboard tray
The motherboard tray must be faraway from the case, so you may alter its place and alter the remainder of the case as mandatory. At this level, you additionally want to consider the place to safe it utilizing rivets later.
10. Use security goggles
Earlier than you begin reducing, placed on a pair of security goggles. Chopping disks and steel shards can fly off when utilizing energy instruments so be sure you put on them, even for brief jobs.
11. Reduce out IO panel
Use a rotary instrument reminiscent of a Dremel and reducing disc to fastidiously minimize out the IO panel space. You’ll have to take away a piece with a minimum of 8mm of body encompass with the intention to reattach the panel to the tray. Alternatively, you may go away it in place and minimize a brand new gap, blanking off the outdated one with aluminum sheet.
12. Take away IO panel
All instances are totally different, however we’ve gone with the cut-out methodology, eradicating the outdated IO panel space so we will re-rivet it again onto the motherboard tray.
13. Vacuum mud
The reducing course of will generate lots of mud, so use a vacuum cleaner as you’re employed, with the intention to maintain your work space clear and tidy.
14. Use the precise rivets
To rivet sections again collectively, you’ll want to make use of the proper measurement rivets. The thick head of the rivet passes by means of the opening, and this part is the precise width of the rivet. Most instances use 3mm rivets however use a ruler to test the diameter of the holes.
15. Insert rivet into gun
The tail of the rivet is inserted into the rivet gun as proven, so the top pokes out. You then insert the top into the case gap, squeeze the gun’s deal with two or thrice and this compresses the top and pulls off the tail.
16. Rivet sections again collectively
Do that with any sections it is advisable to re-attach collectively. Right here we have to reattach the motherboard tray to the IO space we simply minimize out, so we will then safe each components to the case of their new place.
17. Take a look at-fit motherboard
With that finished, test if the motherboard sits accurately on the tray and IO panel opening. For those who’re rotating and flipping the tray round, it’s straightforward to make errors, nevertheless it’s simpler to treatment them now than if you’ve used a dozen rivets to reassemble the case.
18. Mark up for reducing
We’re reducing a brand new gap for our motherboard’s IO panel, and to do that we inserted the brand new motherboard tray and IO panel space into the case to make use of as a template to mark up the required opening.
19. Reduce IO panel opening
Now go forward and use your rotary reducing instrument to take away the part required, once more donning your security goggles. Deal with reducing straight strains, as it will imply the IO panel part will line up correctly.
20. Reduce away flanges
If there are any steel ridges or flanges in the best way of the motherboard tray, you need to use the reducing instrument to take away them, or alternatively a steel file. We encountered these on one finish of the case, which prevented the far finish of the tray from sitting flush with the entrance panel.
21. Create help plate
You should use aluminum and metal sheet to shut off any gaps and supply further help for any cut-out sections. Right here we’re utilizing 3mm-thick, 10mm-wide metal profile to sit down over the again panel to help the motherboard tray. Reduce it to size utilizing a hacksaw or rotary reducing instrument, so it stretches from prime to backside.
22. Drill help plate
Metal is greatest used right here because it’s stiffer than aluminum. Line it up with any current holes, or drill new ones by means of the plate and into the rear of the case and motherboard tray. Use a 3mm drill bit right here, so you need to use 3mm rivets.
23. Spray paint help plate
As soon as the help plate’s modifications are finished, you may spray it so it matches the colour of your case. Don’t fear about spending an excessive amount of time making ready the plate. Simply place the plate on a spare cardboard sheet and spray both sides, permitting both sides to dry for an hour earlier than you deal with it.
24. File edges
Use a steel file to clean minimize areas on the panels, with the intention to take away sharp edges or shards. If any seen areas stick out, you may spray paint them so that they don’t present. Smaller sections may be hidden utilizing a everlasting marker, or by spraying paint right into a pool on a bit of cardboard and portray it onto the panel with a small brush.
25. Rivet plate in place
Now match the help plate to the motherboard tray. If the rivets gained’t move by means of the steel sheets, use a barely bigger drill bit, for instance 3.2mm for a 3mm rivet, as this will typically make all of the distinction.
26. Rivet motherboard tray and IO opening
Now add rivets to the remainder of the motherboard tray. We’ve added two on the rear and two on the entrance, securing it to the entrance and rear panels utilizing the identical course of as earlier than, drilling 3mm holes in each surfaces after which utilizing rivets.
27. Set up your {hardware}
All being effectively, your {hardware} can now be put in, however not earlier than a ultimate clear and vacuum. We’ve opened up the case to permit two 240mm radiators to be put in and likewise created a sandwich format to make the graphics card and motherboard each seen by means of the facet panels.
All that’s left so that you can do now’s set up your elements in your new case configuration. In the meantime, if you wish to take the above mod additional, you can paint your PC case utilizing our full tutorial.
