BOX (one day scratchbuild)

[chaksq]

Project: BOX

Ok I nearly forgot about this project. It was a random scratchbuild I did one boring evening a year or so ago. It started out when I was gutting an old computer case. The system is an old LPX style Pentium I board.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC01775.jpg



So rather than pile the parts somewhere I figured I'd find a box to put them all in.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC01776.jpg



As I started putting stuff in I realized this was the system fit almost perfectly with just a little tolerance in the box.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC01777.jpg


I started thinking. Why not set everything up inside of the box so I can actually use the system. I measured and cut access to the I/O panel of the mainboard.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC01778.jpg


I found some bolts to mount the motherboard in the case with.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC01782.jpg


I also made standoffs for a little clearance for the board.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC01786.jpg


I keep working on it for a while and mounted the motherboard riser card, PSU, and the various drives.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC01789.jpg


I found and installed all the components. Also added a half height network card and a optical drive. (The optical drive is supported internally by the network card)
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC01790.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC01791.jpg


The case is rather small so I felt it was imperative to have good cooling in addition to the 2 80mm case fans I decided to upgrade the CPU cooler to a heatsink/fan combo I had in my parts pile.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC01793.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC01794.jpg


As you can see from the top the fit is rather tight, I feel I have managed to find the perfect layout for the case.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC01796.jpg


The final result is a nice compact computer using standard components:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC01797.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC01799.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC01800.jpg


System specs:
-Motherboard: 1995 IBM NPX Form Factor
-Processor: Pentium I 166mhz
-RAM: 64mb
-Hard Disk: 1.5gb
-Floppy Drive: 1.44mb
-Optical Drive: 8x CD-ROM
-Network Card: 10/100 PCI
-OS: MS DOS
-Cooling: 2x 80mm Fan, Processor Heatsink/Fan

I have some more pictures of the system up and running somewhere. Any comments and questions are welcome and I'll do my best to answer.

[ownaginatious]

lol, nice case dude. Just don't get it wet :P. Is that computer actually fast enough to do anything?

[FuzzyPlushroom]

I love cardboard cases! That one's a lot better put together than mine, and probably roughly as quick.

Mine's a Power Mac 7600, 132 MHz/80MB RAM, similarly sized HDD.

http://classicplatforms.com/usrpix/Macdrives.jpg
http://classicplatforms.com/usrpix/Mac2.jpg

[.Maleficus.]

LOL! Cardboard boxes FTW!

I've got my old server in one right now. I didn't spend as much time on it as you did though. I just used the handle holes for wires :D. No cutting, no screws, just set it in and done.

[chaksq]

Yeah I put a decent amount of effort into the case. I've been debating on experimenting more with cardboard in future cases. I just remembered I have to temporarily relocate the components from another one of my cases. I think I'll make another cardboard case for it.

[Helix666]

Very creative. And good recycling skills there.
+rep. ;)

[Greco101]

Nice homemade round IDEs. I almost started cracking up when I clicked "BOX" and... it was literally a box. +rep

[chaksq]

BOX Version 2 is now complete! It has many more advancements over the original. The new features include:
-Modern micro tower style design
-Support for the ATX form factor
-Removable motherboard tray
-LCD temperature monitor
-Lighted case fan
-2x 5.25" drive bays
-HD drive cage

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC02532.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC02534.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC02535.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC02536.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC02538.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC02539.jpg
The removable motherboard tray:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC02540.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC02541.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p67/chaksq/Computer%20mods/BOX/DSC02542.jpg

The case was made using a Newegg box for the main case, and a Arizona Iced Tea box for the motherboard tray and HD cage.

System Specs:
-Motherboard: Dell Dimension XPS T500
-CPU: Intel Pentium III 500mhz
-GPU: nVidia Riva TNT2
-HD: 13gb
-Optical Drive: DVD
-Operating System: Windows XP, Mandrake 10

[Zephik]

THAT IS AWESOME! lol!

Ghetto Modding FTW!

+rep for making my already WONDERFUL day even better! :D

[Quakken]

Love it.

[Ap1thy]

haha so awesome, carboard is a very nice modding material, I used it to test the layout of a plexi case im making. instead of using plexi i used cardboard for the idea stage

[Raz1r]

I don't want to rain on your guys' parade, but this is such a fire hazard.

[billygoat333]

I don't want to rain on your guys' parade, but this is such a fire hazard.

what a great way to send off an old system with a big ball of fire! :D

awesome cardboard skills man, just awesome! :P

[dr.walrus]

That's ****ing brilliant. Look at the funny AT power switch! I haven't seen one of them for YEARS.

[b4i7]

i love the removable mobo tray! that is wonderful!

i so need to make me a box case

[cooldud02123]

dude a box lol just is so cool i would have never thought of doing that