Cooler Master was having their annual case mod contest, and I wanted to compete. I had two Mystique 631 cases sitting here, so I came up with a design that would incorporate both cases. I had always wanted to build an HTPC style case, and this would be the perfect opportunity.
Keeping costs to a minimum, I recycled as much of the two cases as possible, cutting pieces from the existing brushed aluminum panels. In fact the only materials I purchased were the blue plexi and the aluminum flat bar used for the side fins.
This being an HTPC, I wanted all the multimedia ports up front and easily accessible. The I/O panel was relocated, and a card reader/iPod dock was added behind the blue accent piece.
I made a cover for the power supply from one of the wavy doors, and, using only a jig saw and a dremel, I cut the mystique logo out of the side along with custom lettering and mystique mesh.
All the wiring was hidden through chrome tubing and silicon blue hose. The cables appear only at the point of connection to the motherboard.
The hard drive cage was rebuilt using the two former cages, with a 120mm fan in the middle which draws air in and through the cages before entering into the main part of the case. Tiered wavy elements finish off the cage assembly and add to the overall wavy theme.
The Mystique’s signature wavy doors were retained, but reconfigured in a barn door style front opening. Twin slot loading DVD drives are hidden away, and are precisely aligned with the doors’ slots so the disc can be inserted and ejected without opening them.
The case now serves me well in my entertainment center, recording and playing back HD content in Tivo-like fashion!

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