Framed - 4PC Test System

Here's something I've wanted to do for a long time. I'm working on a 4 PC system test machine. I will be putting 4 complete computer systems in one case. There will be a complete AMD XP and X2 dual core system, also there will be a complete P4 and Intel Core Duo system. Each will have their own Hard Drive, PSU and power button. They will all be able to use one LCD mounted on top. I will just need to adjust the plugs on the back and boot up the system I want to use. Obviously no normal case can hold this many parts so I will be using an organizer I recently bought.
Here's kinda what it'll look like

First I have to cut these off:

There will be a lot of plexi. Cathodes are for later.

So begins the fun!

That was easy

And they're off!

Then comes the plexi fitting.

There's one side. I attached it with rivets.

I'll wait to attach the other side till later. I first need to mount the components on plexi "drawers" and slide them in. At the end I will attach the other side panel with screws.

I found this old topper to my Mother-Bored PC to help with my intake.

I slid it into the bottom and since cold air settles on the bottom it'll be a primo place to have air sucked up and in.

I'm using the Athlon 64 X2 BE-2300 which runs at 1.9GHz and uses only 45 Watts and not the normal 65 watts. The motherboard is AM2 and AM2+ compatible.

I don't have the dual Core Intel system yet.

For AMD single core, I think I have the 2800+, but I'll have to check

The Intel single core will be a Pentium 4 running at 1.7GHz

All the computers will have their own power supplies, DVD drives, hard drives (Windows XP Pro) and 1 Gig of memory. As of now I will be using onboard video and sound, but that might change later. On Monday or Tuesday I'm going to Lowes to have the real thick plexi cut out for me for each of the landings.

Alright, the Intel dual core will be a plain jane E2140. That's all I actually need anyway.

Here's a rough idea of the front.

So here's the plexi and my how I'll cut it tonight.

I'll use which ever works. I'm waiting for the other mobo's to arrive.

Here's the RAM for the dual core mobo's, 2 sticks, 1GB each

And the RAM for the single core Mobo's, 2 sticks for each, 1GB total

I have lots of drives available

And lots of PSU's

So it took a good half hour, but I got it all cut out. The blue is the plastic covering which will be coming off.

A little problem arose.....

A standard ATX mobo will NOT fit, even on the widest part. I'll have to use all MATX boards. I hope they fit on the smaller parts though.

It'll have 4 HD's, 4 DVD drives, 4 PSU's, 4 motherboards with memory and heatsinks, and a 17 inch LCD on top. The weight will add up.

My Dual Core AMD board arrived. It's MATX and fits on the smallest section. So the good news is, they'll all fit!

Just Perfect

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheGreatSatan

All the boards I'm using are MATX, but I'm still waiting for them to arrive.

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I forgot to mention what they are, as they have changed.

The P4 is a Biostar P4M900-M4 socket 478, but uses up to DDR2-533? (I have the 512MB x2 of DDR2-533 that I pulled from my daughters HP) .Which I didn't even know existed. I thought all socket 478's were limited to DDR400 max. The processor is 3.0GHz

The AMD single core will be my 3000+ XP, if it works. The other board I have turns on, but then shuts down within 5 seconds. I replaced the memory over and over, so it's either the board or the Proc. I'll know when the new board comes.

My Single Core P4 arrived today.

I haven't put the stand offs in yet. I'm waiting till I have all of the boards and am sure of their placement.

Finally, All of my systems are here!

First I have to mount the PSU's, then I'll get the standoffs in place.

I know all the systems run, but I haven't actually hooked them up to a monitor to see if they post. Hopefully, there will be no unexpected surprises.

Also, I'm going to be adding the PSU's too. I will cut off all wires I am not using. I'll keep the Motherboard cable, 12V (when necessary), and probably just one molex line with at least 2 connectors on it.

The I/O plates will be lined up and connected to small sheets of aluminum that will cover up all non-essential back plate areas. I will probably leave the PCIE/AGP slots open to add cards for future testing needs. The actual systems will be using onboard audio and video.

So, tonight I will install the standoffs and at least prep the back areas.

I spent another $140 on on 4 PSU's

I added the stand-offs

I added a little silicon to hold them in

I'm using thumb screws to hold on the removable side, but don't have enough yet.

So here's where we are now. I'm waiting for the PSU's to come and I'm going ot start on the individual front plates for the DVD drives and Power Switches

Thank You!

My PSU's arrived

And I cut off the excess wires

Then I attached the first one and discovered a problem.

If I have one PSU for each system and bolt them all in to the frame, I will not be able to slide each of the motherboards into place. The PSU below will always be in the way of the motherboard above.

So, I will use one PSU and snake the motherboard connection through each level until I plug it in the system I need to run.

I guess I cut all those wires for nothing.

I got mail!

Alright, more wonderful news.

I've decided to use 1 slim external DVD drive for laptops (powered/runs off USB). This was becuase I was mounting the DVD drives when I realized that the drives will cut off a lot of airflow in the system. Also, I decided that I would mount all of the hard drives on the bottom behind the KVM switch and run the SATA cables up to each board.

Then I discovered another hiccup. The Single core AMD mobo does NOT have a SATA connector! :( All I bought were SATA HD's!! Now I'll have to get one IDE drive for the lone mobo at the very bottom. of the rack. Here's the current direction:

So I found a square bar that was left over from Hard Drive PC and cut a hole for the bar to feed all the way to the bottom

I'll have to cut holes as marked for each level to feed in its SATA Cable

I'll be able to mask the onslaught of cables that I may have in this project.

I still need to find a seal of some kind at the top to lock the bar into the plexi

Same goes for the bottom. I'm thinking rubber or silicon maybe?

Framed is pretty much done. I'm in the process of loading XP onto all of the drives.

New Concept photo.

I just need to buy the bracket which will hold the LCD on top. Maybe you can help. I need a bracket like the one I drew up. I don't know where to start looking for one, but I may have to make one myself.

Link To Original Worklog