Project: Beige Box

[Technochicken]

I got this old Pentium I system for free, and I am doctoring it up.

The original system:
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6392/p8020001.jpg

New HDD bracket and cable management holes:
I actually have a few more cut, but do not have pics at the moment

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/7592/p8060064.jpg

Side Panel:
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/8286/p8060062.jpg

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/5016/p8230007.jpg

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/9522/p9030028.jpg

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/8203/p9190094.jpg

Fan Grill:

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/2192/p8090070.jpg

Suggestions and constructive criticism would be great! Hope you like my progress so far. :)

[FuzzyPlushroom]

Oh, wow, this is very nice so far. I love the plant motif; considered something like it once, but never got as far as pulling it off... and I see you're constructing some real hard-drive bays in the good ol' poorly-designed Dell/Micron chassis, too.

Hm, I have a couple of those cases around. Maybe I should try my luck with one of 'em.

[chaksq]

Nice dude, this is the same chassis as my project XPS. Although it looks like it had a different front panel to start with.

[billygoat333]

lol that thing is awesome!

[Technochicken]

Here's a pic to give an idea of the cable management. It's not perfect, because the case was not designed for the motherboard in it, but it is still pretty good. Also, the HDD's in there are IDE, so I did not attach that, but the HDD's do have power cables attached to them.

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/1897/p9280122.jpg

[x88x]

Hmm, interesting. Are you gonna be upgrading the hardware at all or is it just a pure modding exercise? Maybe something 'green' to go with the plant theme?

[Technochicken]

Yeah, I've thought about that. It would be great to stick an ION board in there, but I will be transferring my current hardware into the case once I finish. By the time I finish I'm pretty sure I won't be using this POS 8500 gt anymore though.

[FuzzyPlushroom]

Are you sticking with the rear 80mm/front 120mm, or are you adding a top fan as well?

[Technochicken]

The exhaust is a 92mm, but yes, for now I am just using those two. Plus the 120 mm on my PSU, which acts as an exhaust. I am trying to keep this case very quiet.

[FuzzyPlushroom]

The exhaust is a 92mm

Correct, I am a forgetful idiot. I hung an 80mm there after losing the original fan.

You should be okay for something that's not a huge gaming rig.

[Technochicken]

Inside is painted!

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/8179/pa100225.jpg
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/9240/pa100223.jpg
http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/4467/pa100222.jpg

[Technochicken]

Here's the fan installed. I cut the insides out of an old cable from a tape recorder, and put it around the edge. I'm thinking I might not do any fan grill.
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/8168/pa100235.jpg
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5885/pa100231.jpg

Unlike most people I really like the color of the Noctua. The go perfectly with the theme of the mod.

[Technochicken]

I had a lot of free time today, so I did a sketchup model, and played around with some free rendering software. For some reason I could not render the model with the colors though.

Sketchup:
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/8963/caser.jpg

Renders:

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/7638/caserender.jpg
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/8046/caserenderlight.jpg
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/8137/greenrender.jpg
http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/68/render.jpg

[UnWantedSoldier]

+rep

Nice work, my first computer (that i owned) was in a dell case similar to that one, it was a P3 866. I like what you have so far and and the sketchups look awesome.

[Frenkie]

really cool design and colorscheme. :)

[Technochicken]

I've mounted the fan grill in the front:
l
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/6193/pa160237.jpg
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/9800/pa160239.jpg

I quite like how it turned out. Hopefully tomorrow or Sunday I will have time to finish sanding the wood, and put a clear coat over it.

[chaksq]

Nice dude, it turned out well. Definitely a unique look and well done. Do you still have the stock front panel?

[Technochicken]

Yeah. Actually, the new front panel is screwed over the old one, so it is really easy to replace and remove it. And you never see the old one, so it does not make any difference aesthetically.

[Technochicken]

Finally I've been able to get some more work done. I redid the hard drive bays, because I was unhappy with them, and clear-coated the front panel.

I made the hard drive cage out of an extra cage from the Power Mac G4 MDD I just got. They fit in just under the optical drive, os now there is plenty of space next to the motherboard for better airflow, or a massive GPU- if I can ever afford one.

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/7004/pb080338.jpg
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3177/pb080340.jpg
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/9144/pb080343.jpg
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/8455/pb080344.jpg
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/5647/pb080345.jpg
This area needs to be repainted:
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/6612/pb080346.jpg

Now for the front panel:

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2387/pb080347.jpg
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/2014/pb080348.jpg
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6914/pb080350.jpg

The polyurethane brought out the color of the darker wood. In the first two pics, I have not coated the CD cover, that's why it is so dull.

[Technochicken]

I've finally had some time and warm weather to work on this, so I've done a few coats of paint on the outside:
http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/6793/pc220086.jpg
http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/2065/pc220085.jpg
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/2056/pc220084m.jpg

[Luke122]

Looks great!

[x88x]

What's that I see poking through on the other side? I don't remember that before.... :)

[Technochicken]

Which part? I'm confused :?

[x88x]

Bottom-front, on the side opposite the giant window.

[Technochicken]

Oh. That is what is behind the leaf in this picture:
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/9522/p9030028.jpg

Originally the hole was going to be used for the hard drive cables, but I've move the drives now, so it really has no purpose.

[x88x]

Oooh, ok. That explains why I couldn't find it anywhere else.

[Technochicken]

I've actually made some progress! I am still waiting for some switches for my HTPC, so I had some time to work on this. I have hand painted the side panel, which, IMO, looks much less boring now.

Lots of choices for colors:
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8822/p2070247.jpg

Ready to go:
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9574/p2070248.jpg

Panel mostly done:
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/5812/p2070250.jpg

bottom corner:
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/1912/p2070251.jpg

I also did some of the top:
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/343/p2070256.jpg

Together:
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/8720/p2070257.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2576/p2070259.jpg
http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/4715/p2070260v.jpg
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3899/p2070264.jpg

Thanks for looking! I hope to have more soon.