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xmastree
03-23-2006, 08:17 AM
Ok, so I've got hold of this (http://www.geocities.com/xmastree_ph/386/) old case. It's a Compaq deskpro 386/25 and I'm going to install a hotrod motherboard etc. in there. The question is, should I keep externally simple, looking like an original 386, or should I pimp it out with windows in the top, neon etc.?

The front keyboard socket is staying, that's one thing I'm sure of.

So guys, what's it to be? Cast your votes now. 8)

Ideas for pimping it would be welcome too.

UK-Blade
03-23-2006, 10:30 AM
Really the first question I gotta ask is this,

Do you like the way it looks?

Personally, when I looked at it I had to step back and say

"DANG, thats U-G-L-E-E-E-E." :D

But do you like it?
If you don't like it, then you gotta go pimp it.
If you like the way it looks, why not do a combination of both.

Pimp it, but do it stealthily, eg. leave the front of the 5 1/4 inch floppy, but why not hack out the rear and stick a slot loading DVD, to come through the opening....

Make some windows outta that Mirror acrylic AC Ryan sell, that is a mirror when the lights are off, but see through when there on.

That way you've have,

Lights Off - old 386
Lights On - Modern Pimpage

Think about it..

and remember, what ever you do, PICTURES!!! :)

legoman786
03-23-2006, 11:05 AM
Was I the only one to vote for stealth? >.<

ColModish
03-23-2006, 11:25 AM
why dont you giv it a pimping stealthy look

DaveW
03-23-2006, 11:45 AM
I say you stealth it for when it's turned off. But when you turn it on, i think that magic should happen. ;)

-Dave

XcOM
03-23-2006, 12:31 PM
i think you should stealth it, then when some oe comes round, you can say, "Hay, look at my UBAR over clocked 386 with 4MB ram playing Half Life 2, or maybe some doom 3, Wait a min, let me load Windows XP first!"

public_eyesore
03-23-2006, 01:06 PM
^^^exactly try taking that puppy to a lan

R/C Pilot
03-23-2006, 04:21 PM
I would say If you like to go to lan's stealth. It would be awsome to see the look on peoples faces.

legoman786
03-23-2006, 04:53 PM
I just had an idea!!! Get some of those 1-way windows and etch on the inside, then light it up to reveal your computer and whatever you etched on it!! But please do keep the outside as stock as possible, so that this mod could have the best effect of all...

xmastree
03-24-2006, 06:56 AM
I just had an idea!!! Get some of those 1-way windows and etch on the inside,I thought the 1 way windows are silvered on the inside, so etching would spoil that...

Hmm, there's not much I can do if I don't cut a window in the top. But that won't look original, even if it's one way. Still, it's gonna have to be that way I guess. Tinted so you can't see in there until it's turned on. Then... ;)

Custom
03-24-2006, 03:25 PM
What would be good if you had a perspex(Plexi Glass) front so you can see into the case from the front and you can still mount the CD/DVD drive aswell!

Rankenphile
03-24-2006, 06:50 PM
Dude, you gotta modify that giant floppy drive to work as a slot-loading DVD drive. That would be hilarious.

DaveW
03-24-2006, 07:25 PM
Dude, you gotta modify that giant floppy drive to work as a slot-loading DVD drive. That would be hilarious.

Oh yes, this must be done! Retro-tech is the way forward for mankind! Throw off your sleek moded cases, get out the old ZX speccy, and give your Athlon 64's a new home!

Old school's coming back for more! Yee-haw!

-Dave

legoman786
03-24-2006, 10:05 PM
Hey!! I got an old-school renovation case mod idea also! It's somewhere in the Idea Zone forum... :/

I just need some $$$. If only my dad would let me get a job.

Omega
03-26-2006, 01:50 AM
stealth it. and go with the 5.25' floppy DVD drive thing.

you would scare so manyt people. plus, WC it if you can =D

DONT FORGET PICS.

xmastree
03-26-2006, 02:30 AM
DONT FORGET PICS.Pics? Well here's a starter... Those disk tray mounts, drying in the sun after I washed them:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/dampers.jpg

As for the theme, I'm thinking military. Two big handles on the top, camouflage style paint, windows cut to fit in with the camo, and so I can hide wires between them. Green internal lighting. No vents on the top (too easy for stuff to fall in).

But that could all change. I agree about the slot loading DVD, that has to be done.

xmastree
03-26-2006, 03:31 AM
More pics. Linked this time.
Trying an old motherboard in it (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/fitting.jpg).
Not surprisingly, the mountings don't line up. Well, one does, at the top left in the pic. The others will have to go. There's room for two 80mm exhaust fans there. The back panel will need cutting to clear the connectors too.
The drive cage mounts (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/dampers2.jpg) get in the way though, so I'll have to cut one of them.
Two more pics of that drive (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/drivecage.jpg) cage (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/drivecage2.jpg)

More Ideas. There are four 5.25 bays. There are no power or reset buttons. I have one of these (http://www.frontx.com/detail1b.jpg) (highly recommended) in the computer about to be replaced by my last retro project. I can fit a couple of butons into two of the small blanks, then the usb and DV sockets too. the 5.25 floppy will become a DVD slot, and the 3.5 will probably become a card reader. All black, of course.

xmastree
03-30-2006, 04:25 AM
Ok, the votes so far are 11/13 in favour of pimping it. But the general consensus seems to be that it ought to be stealth until it's turned on.
So, the front will be simple, the top will have tinted windows, and the inside will be where all the bling happens.
I really want to use that drive cage, but it will interfere with the fitting of the motherboard, and there's not much provision for 3.5" drives in there either. I have a few old cases lying around so I might be able to use bits from them and fabricate something.
I'm in a quandry. I'm so impressed with that cage that I would love to use it, but I can't without cutting it, which would spoil the effect.

xmastree
03-30-2006, 05:14 AM
It's more complicated actually. The drives are mounted on slides, and held in place with one screw. Basically, the cage is 6.1" wide, but all CDs etc are 5.7". The gap is taken up by 0.2" thick slabs of aluminium, one screwed to each side of the drive. This then enables it to slide into the cage.
I tested a CDROM in there, and it fits perfectly.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/cdleft.jpg
I only have two pairs of these, one from the each floppy drive. The other two bays didn't need them, one had a blanking plate and the other had a 3.5 disk carrier, which although it fits a modern drive, it seems to hold it too high.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f341/chrispollard/386/disk.jpg

Both of these fit in without the adaptors.

So, If I'm going to occupy all four bays, i need to make some adaptors or modify the blanking plate and 3.5" carrier, and I also need to hack into the cage to clear the motherboard.

Alternatively I could rip apart a couple of old cases and use the drive cages from them.

That sounds like a better option.

Seems like this is turning into a worklog, so I ought to clean it up and do it properly.

Kramne
03-30-2006, 08:51 AM
HAHA so cool! i like the "dirty look". You should make it sound as an original aswell! :D

sega01
03-30-2006, 09:40 AM
between those 2 options i would definately stealth it. that would be the sweetest lan box if it looked un touched. i really like the 5.25 floppy drive as a stealth dvd drive idea, very retro.

but if i were you, i would keep the 386, stick linux on it - and then pimp it.

good luck!

xmastree
03-30-2006, 10:04 AM
but if i were you, i would keep the 386, stick linux on it - and then pimp it.Oh it'll get linux alright. But I can't run the 386 as there's no power supply, and it's not a standard one. Have you seen the size of that hole?

xmastree
03-31-2006, 11:11 AM
Well, I'm not planning to keep the front panel nicotine coloured. It's too yucky. The panels, drives etc will be black. The frame, I'm not sure yet.

Anyway, I've mave a new thread in the worklog forum, here (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?p=24505), so watch that for updates.