Likely Pitfalls

[Olen]

Hi All,

I'm an utter n00b at modding (as the depressing biege box under my desk testifies) and thought I'd have a go.

I've just bought a nice (if rather outdated) Tyan dual cpu motherboard, partly because I want a server for keeping my files rather than having multiple copies etc... but mainly because it would be fun to have.

To cut to the point not many cases support extended ATX mobos and those that do tend to be expensive and singularly ugly, so I wandered about building the case from scratch myself. How feasable is this? I know lots of people do it but I lack experience modding any case let alone building one.

What pitfalls will I stumble into and what is likely to be the hardest parts?

I do have a fair range of tools and fair experience and ability using them but I thought I'd ask before I started. I plan to use sheet steel and perspex on a steel frame.

Thanks.

[Eclecticos]

Contouring new pieces can be tedious, you get it right. . Sand it an extra time and you end up with some flaking off. So you have to redo it. Get a Heat Gun! Drys it right up.

Cutting Side panels with a Jigsaw. I had to get on top of my desk and stand on it to get it to stay still . .even with c-clamps holding it down. If your planning to do a case window I'd suggest aluminum.

Thats about it for the hard stuff. The easy stuff like wiring, and adding Lights, and Mesh is what makes it fun IMO.

As far as building one from scratch, You will have to do allot of exact measurements.
For the Drives, Mobo Mounting, PSU Supports, Ect. .

Welcome to TBCS!

[si-skyline]

electicos could you possibly use a differant font colour from grey.. its hard to read,

i think grounding is important.. a good recommendation is to look at the completed worklogs and work in process to see what the others do.

if that seems too much i would say (and the best route imo) goto the ebay and find a server case or a big case on the cheap. thats what i did.

yeah sure it can look ugly but then thats the point, you can then get to modding alot :D

hope that helped

[B1Gtime]

electicos could you possibly use a differant font colour from grey.. its hard to read

"Highlight it"




I like the idea of building your own Computer case, it brings out your own creativity.

You should buy a Cheap Computer case and savage some parts from there. Take the stuff you need.
Motherboard tray, etc....

[Olen]

Its an eATX mobo so the tray would be different - I'll salvage the side of another case which is ridged and drill it *very* accuritely then put in the props. The homemade mobo tray can then be bolted to the case side. This and the mount bar for expansion slots will be the hardest bits.

My current design (in breif) is to have a steel box with the side perspex and the top perspex with a second bit above and about 5" between them in which I will grow cacti. It should be different anyway.

But I probably will pilage the drive bays out of an old computer... unless i decide they're too ugly.

Anyway I'll take pjotos as it progresses but don't expect anything soon as I haven't got the designs finalised.