Project: Wood + gPC guts

[Ethan Jay]

So I'm thinking about making a wood computer based around an Everex PC2500E (http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A4842001&cmp=OTC-fr00g13) FlexATX. I don't really have any more ideas as to the specs, but I have a basic (i.e. not finished) design.

I do have experience with woodworking. I've built a coffee table and a lamp, among other things; construction won't be an issue aside from the power button. I'm not sure how I'm going to do that yet.

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/7803/isoishcustompf3.png

What do you guys think? Any ideas?

[jdbnsn]

That's a beautiful model. I love wood cases so much it's nutty, I was working on one of my own and nearly finished it but moved before I could. I aw going to suggest either some black contrast or brushed metal to off set the wood but really, what you have there is pretty. I wished I had used higher quality for mine. That button is cool too. Good luck on the build!

[Zephik]

That looks great! I LOVE wood based mods, I really miss the one from Tale Gunner, you might want to check that one out, it might give you some ideas. Here is the Link (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6712&highlight=cherry+wood) to his worklog.

What are all of those little black things on top of the case by the way?

[Drum Thumper]

What are all of those little black things on top of the case by the way?

I'm guessing that the big cluster in the middle is one of those all in one card readers, the four on the corner are topside USB, and the two circular ones are headphone/mic inputs.

[Ethan Jay]

Thanks, y'all!


I'm guessing that the big cluster in the middle is one of those all in one card readers, the four on the corner are topside USB, and the two circular ones are headphone/mic inputs.

Right you are. The USB and audio ports are gonna be based on short internal cables like on the Humidor CL (http://slipperyskip.com/page2.html) (scroll down to about half the page), but I probably won't be able to isolate the ports on the card reader so I'm going to have either a chrome or satin finish on that.


I aw going to suggest either some black contrast or brushed metal to off set the wood

The mesh and power button surrounds are going to be chromed, the power button inlay is going to be chrome or satin, maybe frosted acrylic. The ports are going to be satin, probably.

[jdbnsn]

Ya know, if you do go with a rich and dark wood stain like the one in your pic, black textured looks fantastic as a conjugate. Trim, and such would look awesome with a dark black, maybe rubberized looking trim. And as for the button, chrome would be cool, but after looking at your picture I think white may be worth consideration, that looks sweet!

[Ethan Jay]

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8734/blackwhitecustomew8.png
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4237/birdseyecustompc1.png

[DZ469]

Just curious, what is the scale of that case? i keep looking at the power
button and thinking it's freaking huge, but i guess it depends on what size
the case is.

[Ethan Jay]

11x11x6 external, 10x10x5 internal.
http://sizeasy.com/page/size_comparison/9102

[The boy 4rm oz]

That looks fantastic mate, can't wait to see more.

[Ethan Jay]

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8814/brushedcustomzm8.png

[jdbnsn]

Yeah, I like the white button better. I think the mesh would look good black. Go to the Featured Worklog section and look at the Cherry Wood Water Cooled... and see how his dark stain blends beautifully with the back paint, it's a perfect match. But with the power button, it does look like it should stand off from the rest. If you did coat it with chome and paint the mesh black I think that would look fantastic.
Just out of curiosity, why did you decide to spread the inputs all over the top? It's not my design, but if it were I would probably put as many as I could on the back and then cluster what was left in a small area on one side or strategically placed on the face. Then you would widen those top vents especially if you plan to put watercooling rads in there. It would make for great ventilation. This is an exciting project, I can't wait to see you build it.

[The boy 4rm oz]

I like the white button best. Personally I think that the silver mesh will look batter than black, especially if it has large holes (not like AC Ryan MeshX). The silver will make it that little bit more unique.

[DeuceX]

I would definately go with the burl veneer over the quarter sawn in the first pic. It looks more distinguished.

[The boy 4rm oz]

Personally I like the veneer in the first pic best. Deuce is right though, the other veneer looks more distinguished.

[Ethan Jay]

Yeah, I like the white button better. I think the mesh would look good black. Go to the Featured Worklog section and look at the Cherry Wood Water Cooled... and see how his dark stain blends beautifully with the back paint, it's a perfect match. But with the power button, it does look like it should stand off from the rest. If you did coat it with chome and paint the mesh black I think that would look fantastic.
Interesting thought, but I think (at least for this project) that it looks better with chrome.

Just out of curiosity, why did you decide to spread the inputs all over the top? It's not my design, but if it were I would probably put as many as I could on the back and then cluster what was left in a small area on one side or strategically placed on the face. Then you would widen those top vents especially if you plan to put watercooling rads in there. It would make for great ventilation. This is an exciting project, I can't wait to see you build it.
The power, ethernet, VGA, serial, etc. ports will be on the back along with a couple of USBs (for semi-permanent things like printers, input devices, and maybe a mini-b cable). The top ports are for things like flash drives that don't stay in for very long, so they don't make me have to give it a reacharound and deal with all the cables in back. They're spread out so things don't get bunched up and I have to move stray cables out of the way to get to a port. I can probably get a better layout for them, though... might just leave the audio ports in back and get an Ultra MD3 (http://www.ultraproducts.com/product_details.php?cPath=20&pPath=665&productID=665).

This is a low-power (under 100W), low-heat design; it'll be passively cooled other than the CPU fan, and I might even replace that with a fancy heatsink. It's going to be a "family" computer, so that means it's mostly just going to do backup duty and taxes since we all have laptops. I might widen the vents, but for now I don't want to mess with the render right now since the grille model was a real pain to make.

I'm excited too, but I have a bunch of stuff to do for school so I won't be able to start building the case for another month or so.

[Ethan Jay]

I would definately go with the burl veneer over the quarter sawn in the first pic. It looks more distinguished.

I'm probably not going to give the case a veneer... it'd be around $350 for a good one (and $100 for a cheap one). That's around twice the cost of everything else put together.

If you care, the texture I'm using right now is bird's eye maple.

[Ethan Jay]

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/5547/redoakcustomkd6.png
I think that looks pretty good, wood-wise. That's red oak, which is most likely what I'll be building this out of.

[Zephik]

That is very nice looking, I like that the best so far for sure.

[jdbnsn]

Well whatever configuration you go with on the colors, I don't think you can really go too wrong. This is a beautifully simple and elegant design and the colors sem to me like they would work fine in just about and mix. As for the red oak, I absolutely agree. It's nice and heavy, durable, dense enough to hold smaller screws, has terrific grain, and stains beautifully. That is what I used on part of my wood case eons ago (which I never finished). Another thought I had for the ports is that you could build a base for it consisting of a simple, and short (~1-1.5") square frame that the unit rests on. But if you made the perimeter smaller to that it is drawn underneath the edges about 2" in would give the box a floating type of look from a downward angle. Then you could build all of your posts in the base-frame and they would be nearly invisible.
You've certainly generated alot of interest for just having a model posted, as you can see you will definately have an audience when you are ready to build. Looking forward to it!

-Jon

[The boy 4rm oz]

Last sketch looks the best. Thumbs up.

[Ethan Jay]

Moved the grilles a bit and added a table to give the chrome something to reflect.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2125/2186144058_a1df253757_o.png

Figured I should set up a Flickr album for all this... http://flickr.com/photos/14138818@N03/sets/72157603689606636/

[Ethan Jay]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2400/2186599048_e32670e26b_o.png

That's an Ultra MD3 card reader / USB hub / fan controller on the front.

[The boy 4rm oz]

You should so make the table to go with the PC. In my opinion though, lose the card reader from the front, to me it looks like a quickly added after thought. I still think mount everything on the top of the case and keep the whole thing perfectly symmetrical.

[Liquid_Scope_99]

that looks really nice man , I would like to start the wood case iwant to build one day cant wait too see the worklog on this one if nothing happens to my internet again lol good luck .

[Ethan Jay]

You should so make the table to go with the PC. In my opinion though, lose the card reader from the front, to me it looks like a quickly added after thought. I still think mount everything on the top of the case and keep the whole thing perfectly symmetrical.
I'm liking the asymmetry. Does it still look bad?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2238/2186986806_8ae8cbae99_o.png

Oh, and who says I didn't make it?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2332/2186173209_3f0cb43509_o.jpg

[Zephik]

The new design with the hub in the front looks okay at best compared to the old design. I still like the first design much more though, maybe because its a little more original I guess. I tried forgetting the first layout you had, that did make this new layout look better. I think your pretty much good to go with either layout.

The new layout gave me a crazy thought while looking at it though. I wonder how it would look if you centered the media hub center/front and place the power switch center/top? or maybe raise the media hub a bit more and place the power switch right under it? So many choices for such a small and fairly simple mod. lol

........
The more I look at the new layout you have, with the hub and switch on the front of the case, the more I like it. Kind of grows on ya after awhile of looking at it...

Like I said though, it will look good no matter which layout/design you go with. So its really all up to you and what you like best, its YOUR mod after all. :)

[Ethan Jay]

Flush ports, anyone?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2083/2187095626_b53c6b3329_o.png

[Ethan Jay]

I'm using this for my card reader / USB hub / etc. so I can't rearrange the ports and I don't have too many places to mount it.

http://www.ultraproducts.com/images/item_details_images/ULT40123/ULT40123_call_out.jpg

[The boy 4rm oz]

Flushed looks much better. Personally I still like the idea of the huge power button being centered in the front. The flush ports make it look more "natural". Have you ever thought of doing a strip of mesh at the bottom of the front panel?

[calumc]

If I were you I'd set the card reader thing back and have a hinged timber cover to go over it while not in use.
I'm really liking the whole design though! +rep

[Ethan Jay]

Flushed looks much better. Personally I still like the idea of the huge power button being centered in the front. The flush ports make it look more "natural". Have you ever thought of doing a strip of mesh at the bottom of the front panel?

I like the big center button too, but with the MD3 taking up so much space this seems to work better.

Once I put the latest pic up I thought of the front mesh too.

[Ethan Jay]

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9629/frontmeshmediumsg1.png
Updated the grilles for better reflection effects, too.

[The boy 4rm oz]

The mesh looks good I think. If you want to center the button you could mount the card reader where the mesh is .

[Ethan Jay]

If I were you I'd set the card reader thing back and have a hinged timber cover to go over it while not in use.
I'm really liking the whole design though! +rep
If the card reader isn't there, it throws the balance off. Thanks for the rep!

[Ethan Jay]

I knew something was wrong here!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2189060469_a9f9d82f7e_o.png

[The boy 4rm oz]

Oh the CD Drive lol. That fills up the front perfectly now. Will you stealth it? I think brushed aluminium with a blue power light mod would look good. Also will the center of that power switch light up blue to match the card reader?

[Ethan Jay]

Oh the CD Drive lol. That fills up the front perfectly now. Will you stealth it? I think brushed aluminium with a blue power light mod would look good. Also will the center of that power switch light up blue to match the card reader?
No, I'm not going to stealth it. I'm planning on doing it like the picture (chrome eject button and tray cover, wood bezel). The center of the power switch is going to be chrome also, so it can't light up. I'm thinking I don't need a power indicator since the LCD on the card reader will serve that purpose too.

[Ethan Jay]

Updated the display table to match. I might just make that too. I'd have somewhere to put the power brick and I could turn it into a cable organizer.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2296/2189662897_1f439e185d_o.png

[Liquid_Scope_99]

good idea with power brick and making table . good luck

[Ethan Jay]

The table is now officially part of the design!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/2190774076_00b65a17d5_o.png

[The boy 4rm oz]

That final design looks great, your idea has come a long way. Is the case on rubber feet or are you going to make your own to match the theme? I think silver points would look great with the other chrome you are using.

[Ethan Jay]

It's got a cantilevered wood bottom, like jdbnsn posted (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?p=165800).

What case are you talking about?

[Ethan Jay]

Subwoofer! And a backdrop!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2057/2191724396_9edb61a4de_o.png

[The boy 4rm oz]

What case are you talking about?

I mean the one in the pictures.

[Ethan Jay]

I mean the one in the pictures.
It's not a casemod, it's 100% original. :D

[The boy 4rm oz]

I know it's original lol, I was just wondering if it was going to sit directly on the table or is it going to have small feet to raise it up a bit. I have read the post by jdbnsn and I understand what you are doing now. I made a base like that on the coffee table I made for a school project. I just haven't heard them being referred to as a "cantilevered wood bottom" before.

EDIT: I only referred to it as "the case" because that's what it is lol, or will be when your done making it.

[Ethan Jay]

I know it's original lol, I was just wondering if it was going to sit directly on the table or is it going to have small feet to raise it up a bit. I have read the post by jdbnsn and I understand what you are doing now. I made a base like that on the coffee table I made for a school project. I just haven't heard them being referred to as a "cantilevered wood bottom" before.

EDIT: I only referred to it as "the case" because that's what it is lol, or will be when your done making it.

Oh, okay. I thought I was unclear. And I honestly can't think of anything to call it besides a cantilevered something.

[Ethan Jay]

I'm pretty sure this is the final design. What do y'all think?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2151/2195909627_a3bd4c4ea4_o.png

[chaksq]

Very nice, That card reader definitely has to be flushed with a wood front. If the case were a little wider I would put the card reader on the bottom next to the CD Drive recessed and with a common front to look like the mesh strip on the side except maybe just a strip of chromed metal with holes cut for the card reader and CD drawer.

Kinda Like


_____________________________
| ___ |
| / \ |
| | (|) | |
| \___/ |
| _______________________ |
| |== -- [ ]| ========= | |
| '-----------'-----------' |
|_____________________________|
I hope you get the idea of my ASCII drawing.

[Zephik]

That looks pretty good. The only thing I don't like, which is just a personal thing, is the optical drive. I would of placed it under the media hub, but that is just me. What is important is that you like it. If you like it, then we like it. But we'll like it more because even if we do differ here and there on design, it still looks sweet as hell.

Also, I would of used a slot optical drive. The kind like in your car, where you just slide the cd in. I LOVE those. But again, thats just me. I still can't figure out why we are still using optical drives that use trays. Meh.

Just thought of something else I would of liked. I would of liked to see the media hub covered with a lil wooden door so it was hidden. I would of especially liked to see the optical right below the media and have lil hidden wood doors on both of them. The entire case is so clean and simple, my mind can't help but try and make it more clean looking. But, that is just me.

Anyways, looks good! Can't wait to see this in the works in progress section!

[The boy 4rm oz]

Final design looks great, now onto production.

[Ethan Jay]

That looks pretty good. The only thing I don't like, which is just a personal thing, is the optical drive. I would of placed it under the media hub, but that is just me. What is important is that you like it. If you like it, then we like it. But we'll like it more because even if we do differ here and there on design, it still looks sweet as hell.

Also, I would of used a slot optical drive. The kind like in your car, where you just slide the cd in. I LOVE those. But again, thats just me. I still can't figure out why we are still using optical drives that use trays. Meh.

Just thought of something else I would of liked. I would of liked to see the media hub covered with a lil wooden door so it was hidden. I would of especially liked to see the optical right below the media and have lil hidden wood doors on both of them. The entire case is so clean and simple, my mind can't help but try and make it more clean looking. But, that is just me.

Anyways, looks good! Can't wait to see this in the works in progress section!

I didn't like the optical drive right in the middle, so I redid the layout. (See pic)
A slot-load drive would be nice, but they're not as fast and they're a lot more expensive. This is a pretty low-budget project; I'm only going to spend around $125 on it. I have a lot of spare parts, hehe. If I find someone to buy the computer I'll put new parts in of course.
I don't like the idea of a panel covering anything. I like things to have form based on function, i.e. I don't like incorporating things that try to make it look less like a computer. If I was doing a stealth project, that'd be different of course.

[Ethan Jay]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2023/2197574379_79d7357527_o.png

[The boy 4rm oz]

I agree, slot based drives are expensive, as cool as they may be. That card reader would look better uncovered anyway, you can see the LCD and there is no seem you have to try and hide from the cover.