First Case Build Log

[ferrari12508]

Shortened Version, will include link to whole thread with more detailed pics if anyone is wishing to see exact details. Only 20 pics allowed in one thread and I didnt reserve any posts.

On my first (and only so far) computer build, I bought the case. I have done some light weight modding in the past ranging from Adding fans and blowholes down to cutting side panels to put in acrylic windows. Well now I am going to the heavy duty mod, I am building a computer case. I plan on building a few cases, with each one getting better as I go along. Right now the case I am making is going to be a 14"x14"x3" case with hot galvanized flash aluminum sheet metal that is 10 gauge with 1/8" SECC Steel supports. I choose the Aluminum, because besides copper, aluminum is used a lot in computers for its high thermal conductivity. I chose the SECC Steel supports because while the aluminum has a better thermal conductivity rating, it is heavier, more malleable and just could not be used efficiently without another substance helping it. The case will have enough room for the 9.5"x9.5" motherboard, A DVD drive to be placed above the RAM and part of the motherboard, while I will be buying a special PSU that is extremely small for this build. Right now the only problem about this build is that I am not sure that the 3" width will be a reality because the cooler on the CPU is higher than 3". It stands at 2.5" without the fan on it, but I will not have passive cooling on my CPU, that is unacceptable. I will be finding some 40MM Fans and putting them on the side of the CPU heatsink to blow cool air across it. My main concern for this build is the lack of cooling that is going to be in place and the accessibility to the inner components. I have not decided how I will be making the accessible yet, but I think I will be making a hinged door on one of the sides. On a normal case build it would be easy to make a removable panel, but seeing as my case will be extremely small, it will be more difficult as my frame will be taking up most of the edges. The system components will obviously not be high end as I am trying to make this a micro and silent PC, and who has every heard of a small and quiet race car?

Components
CPU - 2.0GHz Celeron
RAM - 1 DIMM of 512MB DDR400
HD - 20GB DeskStar
INWIN 300W Lower Profile PSU
Some old motherboard
DVD Burner

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Quick shot of the components and how they are set up now.

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Shot of the side with one of the steel supports attached.

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the tool of champions

I will upload pictures in this post as they become available and as I gain the ability to send them to my server. For some reason verizon cut off my access to sending picture of video messages which is one of the reasons I got an EnV2, so I could send texts and pictures.

Update Jan 15: Dremel is out of commission, I cannot figure out what is wrong with it, but luckily, Dremel(the company) is so confident in their tools and customer service, they back every tool they sell with a 5 year warranty for free. This is an amazing thing since it's a $50 tool, yet some other tools I own, such as a $2000 table saw came with a 1 year warranty for $100...

[KYA]

Sounds like a neat project/learning experience. I look forward to updates/pictures.

[gbertoli3]

I'm not that knowledgeable with IT; so what is a DIMM? But I do know that 512 MB is slow, so why did you pick 512?

[KYA]

DIMM basically means slot.

There's different types depending on desktop/laptop, etc... it describes the bus.

[gbertoli3]

Oh OK

[ferrari12508]

Also, just because it's 512MB doesn't mean it's slow, it just means there isn't much there to share between programs. I am just using what I have laying around my room. I am actually upgrading my current RAM, because while there is 2GBs of it, it isnt as fast as I would like it to be, so I am upgrading to 8GBs in 4 DIMMS which essentially is 4 2GBs sticks.

[KYA]

What is that satellite dish looking thingy? Is that part of your heatsink?

[ferrari12508]

That would be crazy, but that is actually a directional Wifi Dish. Unlike a standard PCI adapter which wont work for where my router is hooked up, I get great speeds with the dish, and also I can choose from a list of other wifi networks. Most of the time I have a choice of 7 or 8, which is nice.

[AJ32]

Nice bottle of mon... I mean nice computer there, looks pretty compact so far!

If that wifi dish was part of your heatsink, that would be pretty interesting! Although it does very much so look like part of the heatsink in the pic you posted!

[ferrari12508]

you like my money jar?

I am need of new eye protection, because I have some goggles my dad never used and they do not fit too well. I was working for about 20 minutes and had to stop 3 times because of steel in my eye.

[AJ32]

haha! 


really? Who did you get steel in your eye?

[ferrari12508]

Well the dremel is a rotary drill, and i guess I should get a picture with the sparks flying. It shoots little pieces when they come off of the metal. I got new eye protection though, nice glasses. I was going to get a welder's mask, but I couldn't try one on, so I didnt know what my range of vision would be. I wanted one for the more full coverage but the windows for your eyes seemed really small.

[AJ32]

Ah, I see, didn't really think as far as you were dremeling anything!

You can't see anything through a welder's mask unless you use one of those new very expensive ones or you are welding something!

[Ambercroft]

Get metal workers glasses. They have lenses / shields that go back on the arms.

If you can afford it get glass not the cheep plastic ones. The plastic ones last me

less than a month, the glass ones I have were originally my grandfathers, passed to my dad...


Wear protection, it's worth it!

That said, how come I only get metal in my eyes when I wear glasses? 

 

[ferrari12508]

it seems to be the case that the metal shoots when im wearing glasses. I am upset now, because my noise reducing head phones snapped on top and using a dremel to grind metal pieces makes a very high pitched whine, so since I fixed my dremel, which needed to be rewired, I also need new headphones, I think it's a sign since so many things are breaking/not working.

[ferrari12508]

Finally was able to get a pair of noise reducing headphones, so the project will continue!