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Ironcat
11-01-2007, 11:38 AM
I have seen acrylic cases for sale everywhere but never really checked them out...
I am now getting interested in the idea of a computer with as much acrylic as possible, so it will look invisible... I have looked on Google (a little) but am not finding my answers, so here are my questions...

1. Do acrylic cases come with acrylic mobo trays or do you need a metal plate with risers to put your mobo on? Is it possible to make an acrylic tray?
2. What sort of cooling / heat dissipation does acrylic offer on it's own? I don't think I am ready for watercooling yet, so I am looking at heatsinks and fans.
3. I have seen the new clear top raptor HDD but are there any with completely clear bodies?
4. Do they make clear acrylic floppies, cd roms, graphics or sound cards, etc?

I am trying to get as much of it transparent as possible, sorta the invisible computer sorta thing.

Airbozo
11-01-2007, 01:15 PM
Here is what I can help with, since I have looked at _some_ of the acrylic cases.

1. The ones I have seen with removable trays, the trays are metal. Otherwise the standoffs screw right into the plexi. I have made an acrylic mobo tray for my bubble gum mod and it is easy shmeasy (drill and tap). My only concern is with the over tightening of the standoffs. I am using brass standoffs and when I finally make it permanent I may hunt down some acrylic standoffs (tap plastics or make my own). I will then super glue them (or another less invasive glue), in place.

2. Acrylic is a good insulator, not a very good conductor of heat, so it would be worse than say an aluminum case.

3. I have not seen any full acrylic bodied HD's. I am pretty sure this is due mainly to tolerances and sturdiness. The metal is there to give the platters and heads a non-flexing base for reference.

4. I have only seen one clear top DVD drive. Not possible for pcb's since they are multi layered for different levels of traces and I am not sure they have a method for masking and etching acrylic with the necessary traces. It is a great idea though.