Compucase 6a19 black or dark grey?

Enclosures and acoustic damping to help quiet them.

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CyRuS
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Compucase 6a19 black or dark grey?

Post by CyRuS » Sat Oct 23, 2004 7:59 am

Thinking of buying this case but is it black or a dark grey,

looks more dark grey here

http://www.xcase.co.uk/acatalog/Compucase_6A19_.html

anyone got pics of there own?

mshan
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Post by mshan » Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:41 am


Katana Man
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Post by Katana Man » Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:27 am

Click on my signature link for more pics.

mshan
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Post by mshan » Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:17 pm

Hi Katana Man:

Nice case!

How easy is it to do that Modder's Mesh modified front bezel mod?

And do you find that such an unrestrictive front bezel let's out more noise than an Antec SLK3700AMB?

mshan
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Post by mshan » Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:21 pm

re. Fortron PSU FSP350-60PN

"This thing is so quiet, you can just barely hear it. It has a single 120mm fan which starts at 12V for a second, then drops its voltage to somewhere in the 3V-5V range. I thought I might put a Panaflo or Papst in it, but there is no need."

Do you still find this to be true after a year of use?
Last edited by mshan on Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Katana Man
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Post by Katana Man » Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:22 pm

It's not hard at all. Click here for more pictures on other projects that I've done this technique with.

And yes, that PSU is still just as good as day one. I've bought many more since.
Last edited by Katana Man on Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

mshan
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Post by mshan » Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:27 pm

Can I ask what tools you used to cut the front bezel so cleanly and without cracking it?

And no desire to replace the PSU fan with an undervolted Globe 120? If so, do you think it is because you've got such superb air flow that the fan doesn't ramp up / become audible?
Last edited by mshan on Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Katana Man
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Post by Katana Man » Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:29 pm

I used a dremmel with a thin cutting disk. I simply drew a straight line, then used the dremmel to cut. Afterwards, I use a knife or file to clean up the edges. I also found that a hot glue gun works faster than GOOP to attach the mesh to the inside.

mshan
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Post by mshan » Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:31 pm

I don't have a dremel.

Do you think I could achieve the same thing with a X-acto knife and metal ruler?

Katana Man
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Post by Katana Man » Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:36 pm

It would take a LONG time if with a X-acto knife. The plastic has some really thick spots in certain areas. Using a X-acto knife would require a lot of downforce which might break the plastic, whereas a cutting disk does not.

mshan
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Post by mshan » Sat Oct 23, 2004 12:39 pm

One last question, if I may:

I get the impression that the case color is a charcoal black, but than many photos seem to wash that out because of the flash.

How black is the case (I have an Antec Sonata) and how easy is it to match black drives to this case?

Katana Man
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Post by Katana Man » Sat Oct 23, 2004 2:58 pm

I don't have the Sonata, but it's pretty dark. I've never had any trouble matching it. If anything is off, it's pretty slight.
Image

mshan
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Post by mshan » Sat Oct 23, 2004 3:10 pm

Thanks for your insights!

:)

Blooz
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Post by Blooz » Sat Oct 23, 2004 7:32 pm

I'm also the owner of a Compucase A19, and the color is definitely black. It's more like a powdercoat finish than paintlike, so don't expect a glossy "Sonata" type finish!

I've done many of the mods Katanaman did to his case, and I think this case is one of the best bargains going! Although I haven't installed soundproofing, my system runs very quiet.

bomba
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Post by bomba » Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:44 pm

I also purchased this case from coolcases. I bought LH & RH Wiss tin snips per crisspy's sticky thread and used em to cut out the front bezel and front & rear fan grilles. Mesh material used for the "modders mesh" bezel mod was a section of gutter leaf guard purchased at Home Depot. I also used hot melt glue as well to secure the mesh. The tin snips worked perfectly on the plastic bezel with only minor touchup w/ sandpaper required. I modded my Sonata bezel w/ a Dremel and can say the tin snips are cleaner & faster. Oh and the case is most definitely black and imo much nicer than the Sonata.

mshan
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Post by mshan » Sun Oct 24, 2004 2:45 pm

Hi bomba:

Any stability problems with your L1A modded FSP300-60PN?

Also, do you think a power supply with a rear 80mm or bottom 120 mm power supply fan is better in terms of power supply temp, case temp, case air flow, and overall noise levels in your Antec Sonata?

bomba
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Post by bomba » Sun Oct 24, 2004 3:56 pm

mshan wrote:Hi bomba:

Any stability problems with your L1A modded FSP300-60PN?

Also, do you think a power supply with a rear 80mm or bottom 120 mm power supply fan is better in terms of power supply temp, case temp, case air flow, and overall noise levels in your Antec Sonata?
My Fortrons are not FSP300-60PN's, they're FSP300-60PFN; active PFC, 300 watts, single 80mm fan. No stability problems. I actually bought (2) of these PSU's and they are quite good. The second is in my LX-6A19. My mods included grille & intake vent cutting to decrease airflow impedance, swapping the stock fans for soft EAR mounted Panaflo L1A's and after being not completely satisfied with the noise level, pulling the thermistor off the heatsink by several millimeters. The modded Fortron PSU's are now very quiet and do not run hot. I haven't created any PSU intake ducts or air channels either. As I've never owned a 120mm fanned PSU, I can't say how my modded Fortrons compare. I can say they are both quieter and cooler than my M1A modded TP380S. BTW, if you haven't already purchased a case and are not afraid of some cutting or drilling, I heartily recommend the coolcases LX-6A19 and the Antec 3700AMB over the Sonata. Airflow is much better and I like the standard grommeted HDD cage better than the sideways Sonata cage which impedes intake and routes air away from the drives.

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