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hyte
03-08-2009, 01:09 PM
Hi, I bought a cheap Dell SFF pc on ebay (£35, P4 2.4 ghz, 512 RAM, 40 gig hd gigabit lan, rage pro 128 graphics etc). It worked ok but i needed wireless so I put in a full height PCI wireless card and the stock case would longer close.

So I built a case out of what I had around, carboard boxes. I put the pc in a copier paper box and it was fine but flimsy, so for mk2 (seen here) I glued another layer of cardboard on the inside with PVA to make it durable.

http://i42.tinypic.com/vq7amx.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/24mgvgx.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/34g6lft.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/10qhzde.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/8yckzn.jpg

All the parts are either screwed on, attacked via garden wire or the hdds are just placed in.

I changed the graphics card to a £10 ati 9550 (very overclockable and dvi port) and use a usb dvd rw. It is connected to the tv via vga and onboard audio 3.5mm cable

I'm running win7 bu have tried many and use synegy to control it from my netbook on the sofa.

The cardboard provides good sound attenuation but the cpu has a loud fan at full tilt so i might change the design or add passive cpu and gpu cooling.

Planned improvements 1-2 gig of ram (expensive ddr1, has anyone got any cheap?) and a 1000 gig hard drive and if I go all out i'll add usb audio.

chaksq
03-08-2009, 02:17 PM
Cool stuff man! I love cardboard cases.

To be honest though why didn't you bother getting a half height wireless card? They are pretty cheap now.

hyte
03-08-2009, 04:00 PM
Good point, that would be the easiest option but I like a challenge and it gives me room for further changes and better sound attenuation.

It also another example of a cheap eco case.

chaksq
03-08-2009, 05:07 PM
I hear that! It is always more fun this way.

FuzzyPlushroom
03-08-2009, 08:21 PM
Very, very cool. I suppose I ought to show off my old cardboard case - even cruder than yours, with packing tape holding components to the floor of the box and baling wire holding one 3.5" drive cage inside another 5.25" one... this is actually pretty clean; I'm impressed! +rep

Check out these (http://www.core77.com/greenergadgets/ientry.php?projectid=32) two (http://www.core77.com/greenergadgets/ientry.php?projectid=35) purpose-built cardboard designs, too... neat stuff.

nevermind1534
03-08-2009, 08:29 PM
Very, very cool. I suppose I ought to show off my old cardboard case - even cruder than yours, with packing tape holding components to the floor of the box and baling wire holding one 3.5" drive cage inside another 5.25" one... this is actually pretty clean; I'm impressed! +rep

Check out these (http://www.core77.com/greenergadgets/ientry.php?projectid=32) two (http://www.core77.com/greenergadgets/ientry.php?projectid=35) purpose-built cardboard designs, too... neat stuff.

I like all the people saying that those would cause a fire. There was one guy who commented on the first one and said a spark from the computer is going to cause one.

hyte
03-08-2009, 10:45 PM
Nice designs, I've seen the first around a lot but i think because almost each piece needs a void removing it is more wasteful than it needs to be. By using a simple sheet design the second design and mine makes better use of cardboard, though I have not done this to be green as I had to discard (send to be recycled) the old case.

Fire is not a practical problem but http://www.stageservicesshop.com/shop/catalog/Fire_Check_Flame_Proof_Spray_075_ltr-p-16134.html would be a good idea if doing this on anything more than an individual level, after all the plastic has flame retardant in. I've used this stuff for scenery and its very good.

dak1b
03-10-2009, 10:52 PM
can u say fire hazard :p

nevermind1534
03-12-2009, 06:14 PM
can u say fire hazard :p

Not much of one. It would have to get way too hot. I leave my 900°+ soldering iron on a cardboard box to set it down for a minute, and still no fire.

Luke122
03-12-2009, 07:18 PM
I personally wouldnt leave it running unsupervised, but I cant really see it being dangerous. :)

akkuf117
04-27-2009, 03:53 PM
Well nice idea!

I am thinking of making a new one using a 15" lcd monitor box.
I am using intel 845GVSR motherboard(it's a small one) and other regular components.

Will post photos soon.

Twigsoffury
05-20-2009, 03:07 PM
I personally wouldnt leave it running unsupervised, but I cant really see it being dangerous. :)

sort of what i thought with no case fans and a cpu with no thermal shutdown?

hyte
05-20-2009, 07:02 PM
I've been running the computer for about 4 months now, the cpu fan vents outside (its the centrifugal, noisy type), as does the PSU fan so it gets warm but heat is never a problem, and I think the P4 has either thermal throttling or shutdown or both so its safeish.

It hasn't caused any problems apart from the noise and I had to re cut the DVI port as I got a new monitor. It has proved to be a solid and reliable box. I will upgrade the two old hard drives for a new 1Tb one as that will be cooler.

st8smn
07-09-2009, 08:28 PM
can i hear spray cans.. +respect

Eclecticos
07-09-2009, 11:44 PM
I would suggest installing some additional fans as a safety precaution.

inetcentral
07-14-2009, 02:08 AM
Nice designs, I've seen the first around a lot but i think because almost each piece needs a void removing it is more wasteful than it needs to be. By using a simple sheet design the second design and mine makes better use of cardboard, though I have not done this to be green as I had to discard (send to be recycled) the old case.

Fire is not a practical problem but http://www.stageservicesshop.com/shop/catalog/Fire_Check_Flame_Proof_Spray_075_ltr-p-16134.html would be a good idea if doing this on anything more than an individual level, after all the plastic has flame retardant in. I've used this stuff for scenery and its very good.

Hey thanks for this I think I might get a bottle of it if I can find it in Australia. I'm gonna go crazy with it.