Omnipotentclown
10-06-2006, 10:39 PM
Being strapped for cash as students tend to be I thought Id try out an idea before investing.
This project is based around pfSense and ipcop. It is going to be a portable firewall/switch for LAN parties and home use. The overall goal is portability, reliability and silence while combining a gamers case with something more ellegant if possible.
Hardware
AMD 754 3400+
Gigabyte Mobo
512 OCZ Value RAM
40gig IDE HDD
Low Profile Intel Gigabit Ethernet
5 Port Netgear Gigabit Switch
Possibly some WIFI
My plan is to use this case
http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/11-127-076-02.JPG
and cut out a chunk of the top for a frosted plexi window. By frosted I mean sanded like on the HP Mega Res3 I believe.
On the underside 7-11" green coldcathode light tubes would be mounted. EDIT: Now that I think about it, leds placed in drilled out holes in the sides of the plexi would save space and be cheaper. Id take the housing off of the inverter boxs (or whatever they are called) and mount them next to the cathodes to make removing the panel easier. Excuse the quality MS Paint handywork...
http://i12.tinypic.com/4g8q5xx.jpg
I could also make a full window and find space for the inverters on second thought, but the partial window seems less stock to me.
I chose this case for its ugliness and price (~$35.00 shipped). The front bezel would be removed and a frosted plexi one would be put in its place. pfSense and ipcop dont need a CD-ROM or floppy drive once they are installed, so Im deciding between turning them into extra hdd space, control panels/switchs, just taking them out entirely for extra space and airflow.
On each end of the case would be a 80mm fan for cross airflow. 80 is only a guess. 90 or 92 would be better in my opinion but Ill have to see.
The 754 3400+ will be cooled with a Scythe Ninja. There will be no fan as there shouldnt be a need for one. I dont mind underclocking the processor if need be. 2400mhz is insane overkill as it is (400 is recommended, but why go buy something new when this is lying around?). The case is rather slim so I think that the Ninja will need to protrude through the top, probably through the plexi. I think a simple 1/4-1/2" gap around it will look ok, but suggestions on implementation please.
Next is the switch. It seems that taking it out of its protective shell is the most appropriate way to handle this. Once its out it will be mounted in the back of the case about the mobo I/O slot.
http://i12.tinypic.com/2j14s9z.jpg
My problem is how to mount it? Suspend it from the top panel, the back panel, the bottom or some combo???
Another problem is which model. The home version has the power plug in the back, whereas the pro version has the rj-45s in the front and the power in the back. My question is how to go about the powersource. Just connect it to the back with everything else, using the home model, or inside and somehow slice the wall plug into the powersupply (keeping in mind its 170W limitation)
Next comes the bottom. It is meant to be a horizontal pc, but some of its uses may require it to be verticle. So Im thinking that the bottom should be frost plexied to match the theme. Possibly with a sheet metal border to make it match the 'top'. Also to keep with the theme there could be thin cutouts along the sides for frosted plexi. That could make the fans look odd however.
Around every peice of plexi would be the green cathodes of course. They could either be switchable all together or by side.
Lastly is color scheme. Im a fan of black pcs for that sexy strealthy look. I also want the inside to be painted. A combo of flat and gloss black could look nice, but Im having trouble deciding on where to put them. Flat outside with gloss inside, visa versa? Both same? All flat/gloss and then opposite fan grills?
Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
Keep in mind this will be my first mod!
This project is based around pfSense and ipcop. It is going to be a portable firewall/switch for LAN parties and home use. The overall goal is portability, reliability and silence while combining a gamers case with something more ellegant if possible.
Hardware
AMD 754 3400+
Gigabyte Mobo
512 OCZ Value RAM
40gig IDE HDD
Low Profile Intel Gigabit Ethernet
5 Port Netgear Gigabit Switch
Possibly some WIFI
My plan is to use this case
http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/11-127-076-02.JPG
and cut out a chunk of the top for a frosted plexi window. By frosted I mean sanded like on the HP Mega Res3 I believe.
On the underside 7-11" green coldcathode light tubes would be mounted. EDIT: Now that I think about it, leds placed in drilled out holes in the sides of the plexi would save space and be cheaper. Id take the housing off of the inverter boxs (or whatever they are called) and mount them next to the cathodes to make removing the panel easier. Excuse the quality MS Paint handywork...
http://i12.tinypic.com/4g8q5xx.jpg
I could also make a full window and find space for the inverters on second thought, but the partial window seems less stock to me.
I chose this case for its ugliness and price (~$35.00 shipped). The front bezel would be removed and a frosted plexi one would be put in its place. pfSense and ipcop dont need a CD-ROM or floppy drive once they are installed, so Im deciding between turning them into extra hdd space, control panels/switchs, just taking them out entirely for extra space and airflow.
On each end of the case would be a 80mm fan for cross airflow. 80 is only a guess. 90 or 92 would be better in my opinion but Ill have to see.
The 754 3400+ will be cooled with a Scythe Ninja. There will be no fan as there shouldnt be a need for one. I dont mind underclocking the processor if need be. 2400mhz is insane overkill as it is (400 is recommended, but why go buy something new when this is lying around?). The case is rather slim so I think that the Ninja will need to protrude through the top, probably through the plexi. I think a simple 1/4-1/2" gap around it will look ok, but suggestions on implementation please.
Next is the switch. It seems that taking it out of its protective shell is the most appropriate way to handle this. Once its out it will be mounted in the back of the case about the mobo I/O slot.
http://i12.tinypic.com/2j14s9z.jpg
My problem is how to mount it? Suspend it from the top panel, the back panel, the bottom or some combo???
Another problem is which model. The home version has the power plug in the back, whereas the pro version has the rj-45s in the front and the power in the back. My question is how to go about the powersource. Just connect it to the back with everything else, using the home model, or inside and somehow slice the wall plug into the powersupply (keeping in mind its 170W limitation)
Next comes the bottom. It is meant to be a horizontal pc, but some of its uses may require it to be verticle. So Im thinking that the bottom should be frost plexied to match the theme. Possibly with a sheet metal border to make it match the 'top'. Also to keep with the theme there could be thin cutouts along the sides for frosted plexi. That could make the fans look odd however.
Around every peice of plexi would be the green cathodes of course. They could either be switchable all together or by side.
Lastly is color scheme. Im a fan of black pcs for that sexy strealthy look. I also want the inside to be painted. A combo of flat and gloss black could look nice, but Im having trouble deciding on where to put them. Flat outside with gloss inside, visa versa? Both same? All flat/gloss and then opposite fan grills?
Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
Keep in mind this will be my first mod!