XFX 4890 Mod

[a8875624]

Hey,

So I was waiting for parts so I could install my brand new graphics card. I was really bored. I decided to take it apart, and I now have some ideas for modding its casing.

Card:

I'm thinking about colour changes and perhaps a nice cut in the casing somewhere.

Taken apart:

UPDATE 15/02/2010

I got the dremel out today.

The cut is really crap - needs a lot of sanding. Anyway- so I'm thinking frosted acrylic behind plus LEDs. Not sure how I'm gonna power the LEDs though - I'm not sure where the power sources are on the card - although would it be okay to draw from the PCI-e connectors?

 

[a8875624]

reserved

 

[a8875624]

=

 

[tinytomlogan]

Using the pcie's is theretically possible as the leds wont exactly need much power, and by modding the casing you will void any waranty so you have no worries there either. Otherwise if you want to play it safe some clever wiring could easily get a external power feed into it from a hiden molex.

 

[a8875624]

Hidden molex it is.

Or perhaps I could stick a couple of AA batteries in somewhere. Although that would mean chaning them occasionaly, and it would be on constantly - could get annoying?

 

[tinytomlogan]

batteries is a bad idea imho

 

[jeff4952]

If the TDP of the 4890 isin't close to maxing out the pci-e connectors. I Think coming off the PCI-E might work. just cut the wires an inch back off the connector and splicethem in. you can use the back 2 on one of the connectors and it will be well hidden behind the other pci-e connectors (if that makes sense)

 

[oc_masta]

solder the wires to the pci-e connector pins as you mentioned. pinouts all over the net for it.

could be easily undone aswell as the pins are quite big and spaced out.

or something that might be quite cool is wire it to the fan connector and watch it dim and lighten up with activity (heat).

may look very cool with red leds to make look its glowing hot

might aswell do a vmod and add pot while your at it

 

[a8875624]

sorry but what is pot? and vmods might be tricky since its a non-reference card

 

[oc_masta]

potentiometer, basically a variable resistor for your vmod.

dont worry about that then.

i would personally see what its like wired along with the fan and make your mind up.

you could always have teh fan on 100% to have it fully lit all the time if the noise doesnt bother.

 

[a8875624]

UPDATE: 27/02/2010

Hey so I've started the sanding, nearly done now (600grit or so), but I've run into a little problem with the 'window.'

Basically, the case isn't flat (note the curve where the fan goes)

So I have a hot air gun and some 3mm acrylic - will that do the job- I've never done a curved window before so any tips would be great.

 

[jeff4952]

its asking for a password. you need to chmod the directory of the picture

 

[a8875624]

at

 

[a8875624]

i hope you can see that?

 

[Freak]

Yeah, real small pic...

Can you edit out the link in the post above. The one that we cant see. Its asking for a pass every time this page gets loaded

 

[a8875624]

Yeah, real small pic...

Can you edit out the link in the post above. The one that we cant see. Its asking for a pass every time this page gets loaded

done. sorry about that.

if you click the one below, doesn't it link to a bigger size?