Hacksawing A Hole Into PC Case (Not Buying A New Case)

[Roasted Bunny]

So, my new PSU has a power on/off flip switch and it’s blocking it from going into the case.

It would be ideal if I can leave the motherboard in there, but I can remove it if needed.

[Arya]

What case, what PSU?

Generally speaking all ATX PSUs should work in literally any case. If you're having to literally hacksaw the case to make it work, there's something very wrong.

[Roasted Bunny]

Wolfie eredeti hozzászólása:

What case, what PSU?

Generally speaking all ATX PSUs should work in literally any case. If you're having to literally hacksaw the case to make it work, there's something very wrong.

Dell Optiplex GX280 small mini tower.

Corsair VS 550W

[Malygos]

Not that i would ever do it but if its the back of the case you could buy a cery smal metal hole saw and make a little hole to fit the switch in

[Arya]

Roasted Bunny eredeti hozzászólása:

Wolfie eredeti hozzászólása:

What case, what PSU?

Generally speaking all ATX PSUs should work in literally any case. If you're having to literally hacksaw the case to make it work, there's something very wrong.

Dell Optiplex GX280 small mini tower.

Corsair VS 550W

Optiplex cases aren't compatible with ATX PSUs. And because they have such limited cooling, you're better off buying a $10 gaming case and using that. Ultimately it'll save money - you'd spend the same or more on hacksaw blades.

jefedemuchanina eredeti hozzászólása:

Not that i would ever do it but if its the back of the case you could buy a cery smal metal hole saw and make a little hole to fit the switch in

A small holesaw would cost around $150. All to save an Optiplex case. Alternatively OP could buy virtually any case ever made for $100.

[Roasted Bunny]

Wolfie eredeti hozzászólása:

Roasted Bunny eredeti hozzászólása:

Dell Optiplex GX280 small mini tower.

Corsair VS 550W

Optiplex cases aren't compatible with ATX PSUs. And because they have such limited cooling, you're better off buying a $10 gaming case and using that. Ultimately it'll save money - you'd spend the same or more on hacksaw blades.

Why are they not compatible with ATX PSUs?

All it does is supply power.

[Malygos]

Wolfie eredeti hozzászólása:

jefedemuchanina eredeti hozzászólása:

Not that i would ever do it but if its the back of the case you could buy a cery smal metal hole saw and make a little hole to fit the switch in

A small holesaw would cost around $150. All to save an Optiplex case. Alternatively OP could buy virtually any case ever made for $100.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-1-1-4-in-Hole-Dozer-Hole-Saw-49-56-9613/202327746

Wot

[Arya]

jefedemuchanina eredeti hozzászólása:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-1-1-4-in-Hole-Dozer-Hole-Saw-49-56-9613/202327746

Wot

That's a cutting tip rather than the saw itself. You'd still need a very high-powered drill, or a small holesaw in order to use it. Muscle alone won't get you through sheet steel.

[Roasted Bunny]

Wolfie eredeti hozzászólása:

jefedemuchanina eredeti hozzászólása:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-1-1-4-in-Hole-Dozer-Hole-Saw-49-56-9613/202327746

Wot

That's a cutting tip rather than the saw itself. You'd still need a very high-powered drill, or a small holesaw in order to use it. Muscle alone won't get you through sheet steel.

I think I know someone who has one.

[Arya]

Roasted Bunny eredeti hozzászólása:

I think I know someone who has one.

Do they also have a Shop Vac?

When you cut through metal, you'll inevitably create fragments and shrapnel called Swarf. Generally speaking this stuff is electrically conductive, so you don't want it anywhere near electronics. At the very least you'd have to strip the case down, including removing the Motherboard and all other internal parts. And after cutting you'd have to clean it thoroughly with a Shop Vac and ideally a large magnet as well..

It would be quicker, easier and potentially even cheaper to buy a basic case. The case would also cool much better, and wouldn't have a massive rip-saw hole in the back.

[Malygos]

Wolfie eredeti hozzászólása:

jefedemuchanina eredeti hozzászólása:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-1-1-4-in-Hole-Dozer-Hole-Saw-49-56-9613/202327746

Wot

That's a cutting tip rather than the saw itself. You'd still need a very high-powered drill, or a small holesaw in order to use it. Muscle alone won't get you through sheet steel.

Most people have drills you can buy an impact drill for $99 which i have no clue why a man wouldnt have one in the first place that has any tools i use my drill to put anchors in conrcrete so its more than enough and those tips go on the end of the drill. You can buy a metal hole punch which id suggest even less for doing this if hes gonna do it might as well do it the right way

[Roasted Bunny]

Well, on the other end. Could I just remove flip switch off PSU instead? I’d just leave it as I

[Malygos]

Roasted Bunny eredeti hozzászólása:

Well, on the other end. Could I just remove flip switch off PSU instead? I’d just leave it as I

I would not do that if you arent gonna buy a new case drilling the whole is the easier option of those 2

[Omega]

Wolfie eredeti hozzászólása:

Roasted Bunny eredeti hozzászólása:

Dell Optiplex GX280 small mini tower.

Corsair VS 550W

Optiplex cases aren't compatible with ATX PSUs. And because they have such limited cooling, you're better off buying a $10 gaming case and using that. Ultimately it'll save money - you'd spend the same or more on hacksaw blades.

This one does use a normal ATX PSU. It's some ancient Pentium 4 machine which OP is playing around with. OP can link you some pictures if you want, or even the model of the current PSU.

[shanqs]

The Swiss army knife of power tools... Dremel Multi-Tool. It's the go to for all serious case modders and has a ton of other uses as well. Definitely worth the investment if you consider yourself handy. Otherwise if you don't care about how it looks, use a drill with a good bit and make a mess out of it.
Always remove all components when doing something like this and clean-up carefully afterwards.

https://shop.dremeleurope.com/gb/en/products/tools?SYSTEM=multi-tool-system

[Talby]

§hλŋqʂ eredeti hozzászólása:

The Swiss army knife of power tools... Dremel Multi-Tool. It's the go to for all serious case modders and has a ton of other uses as well. Definitely worth the investment if you consider yourself handy. Otherwise if you don't care about how it looks, use a drill with a good bit and make a mess out of it.
Always remove all components when doing something like this and clean-up carefully afterwards.

https://shop.dremeleurope.com/gb/en/products/tools?SYSTEM=multi-tool-system

+1 - Dremel for the fine / precision cuts, and a Rotozip for the big cuts. Best tools for the job.

Sure it easier to just get a new case and move parts to it, but there is a certain satisfaction to case mod to what you want to achieve in both engineering and artistic perspectives.