Need ideas

[garlicbreath]

I need some ideas.
I have a complete P4 setup and want to make a case that will sit on-near-around my entertainment center and act as an MP3-media player for the family and guests.

What I want: something different, small, and as far from a computer case as you can get. I do not want crazy neon, LED's, noisy fans, liquid cooling, etc.

I will be using an external USB setup for the dvd drive so I really only need a setup for the mobo, cards, and PS.

I do have a full garage, welder, torch, etc so if you can dream it, I can make it!

[crenn]

Dimensions would help, also, give me a few words of what you want to think of the case.

[garlicbreath]

The MB is 9.5x9.5 and it needs about 5.5 height clearance for the pci cards.
As for words, I have very diverse taste, but lean towards the abstract more than theme specific.

[Cool1Net6]

You said: "sit on-near-around my entertainment center"

I see: A metal case, close to the size of an amplifier, OR a black box...

Idea 1: Get an amplifier case, gut that, and mod that to hold all of your pc components. You can measure the mobo holes, drill and thread the mounting points, maybe replace the rear piece with another sheet of metal that has the appropriate openings and whatnot for the ports, etc.

Idea 2: Get lots of plexiglass. Get some automotive tinting film that lets around 20% of light through, and get black spraypaint. Assemble the peices of plexi into a rectangular enclosure thats roughly the size of an amplifier, allowing enough room to hold whatever you want inside. Paint the INSIDE of the case black, tint the FRONT with the automotive tint, and place a negative LCD screen behind the FRONT panel. What you get is a custom enclosure that is a 100% black box when off, then has a LCD screen with 'floating' text when turned on. Hiding IR ports behind the front plexiglass is also possible.

Idea 2 is missing some refinement, but I hope you get the general idea. If you need links that help out with idea 2, I can provide them.

Hope this helps.

-Cool-