The Rusty Rocks Linux Box

This is the start of another project which won't get much done on it for a little while while I work on my other mods, but I thought I'd show you what I have to start with.

I have been meaning to build a PC to put a Linux Distro on for a while, just to try it out and see what I think. I bought this case for $15 a couple of months ago and hadn't done anything with it.
Tonight I screwed is my old hardware that was just lying around doing nothing. It's pretty much junk stuff these days.
System specs are:
AMD Athlon XP2000+
Gigabyte Socket A GA-7VA MoBo
1.25Gb of RAM
10Gb Seagate HDD
Radeon 9550 video card
Sony DVD burner.
Hell, I've even chucked in a floppy drive, simply because of the front panel.

Here's a couple of pics (and yes, my desk is a mess and really needs a clean up):

Here's the guts of it:

As you can see, the insides aren't real tidy. It's all just been slapped together to get it working first.
I have no idea what I'll do to it yet and suggestions are welcome. Whatever happens to it, it will probably happen after the small Media PC is done, as that's my first priority.
So don't expect too many updates to this for the time being.

What I forgot to mention as far as ideas and plans for this case are, is the speakers and the cost of the build.
I want the speakers integrated into the case so it takes up less space on the desk and has less wires running around. I'm not after top quality sound, just something I can hear.
They may just go in the side, or I might put them on top. I'm not sure yet.
The build will also be cheap, cheap, cheap. If I have something lying around I can reuse, I will.
I'm not counting the cost of parts I already have, but overall I want this done for a total of under $100, which after the $15 I spent on the case leaves me $85 to buy any paint, bondo, sandpaper, speakers, or anything else I may need.
There are quite a few 120mm fans lying around here, so some of those will probably be used.

How about a blowhole effect but with a difference?

Have one (or more?) fan blowholes in the front and put the speakers in their own ones either side? Might look cool but might look naff. Those 4 triangles are just begging for something in the centre to focus them.

Which linux distro will you use?

Cut out the triangles, then mount plexiglass on the outside with a clearance of about 3-5cm from the edges of the triangle (like, overlapping the small triangle, and still on the metal surface), and flame polish the edges.

Then do a window of a similar style in the middle.


If you want to see what I'm on about, check out Project: AlumaxX.

I was buying some fans for the Small Media PC today and saw these speakers at the shop.

Perfect for the Linux Box and they were only $9!

LINUX!!!! use the penguin.

There's nothing like changing your mind! I know I said I wasn't doing this for a while, and I know I showed the case I was going to use, but I decided I needed to mod something while I wait for the weather to be better for painting for one mod, and while I wait for some water cooling stuff to come for the other.
I changed my mind on which case I'm going to use, simply because of space issues with my desk. This will fit under the desk better.

Some of you may remember this Gateway case from the first post in the Ratputer thread:

It had already been started as a case on it's side with the drive bays added:

Today I started by making a new drive bay cover out of a scrap bit of perspex and using epoxy to glue it in place after cutting the CD drive hole. Once glued in place I trimmed down the edges to fit.

The speakers I bought are being integrated into the front as they are the exact height as the case is. So I maked out where needed to be cut to make them fit and then went to it with an angle grinder and then epoxied them on.

Once the epoxy dried, it was time to crack out the bondo! The first lot used up the last of what I had in one tin:

Then the second layer put on:

And where it's at now after a little bit of sanding and trimming with a knife:

It still needs more bondo to get the shape I want and I'm also going to put a fan below the CD drive, but that's all for today anyway.

that ended up looking very nice there on that front panel...damn... your making me want to start working on my linux box again... (must...not...no...time....GKF&EFAF&D)

Interesting approach with the speakers right in the case. Can't wait to see more of this, the mini Rat and the Ratputer!

I changed my mind again and went for more Bondo. I thought I'd see how it would look unsanded.

First another layer of bondo to go over the newly installed fan. Here's hoping the fan doesn't fail...

Then the fan guard was put on, a hole drilled through the Bondo and an LED set up in the guard.

More Bondo:

Then following that up with some more bondo and some white undercoat:

The speak grills aren't on properly, they are just there to give you an idea of how this may look.

oh, oh, oh, idea

make it look like one of those houses that's all textured on the outside. ! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Omega

oh, oh, oh, idea

make it look like one of those houses that's all textured on the outside. ! :D

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you mean Stucco?

that is kinda what it looks like...

Yeah, that stuff. :D

Interesting effect. Wall effects.... someone should do a brickwork style front...

What colour are you going to make it.

Different. You gonna keep it that way?

I'm still deciding. I have sanded back some of the Bondo to tae off the higher ridges and peaks. It actually gives an interesting effect wre he ondo shows through the undercoat.

This project is one where I'm trying out some ideas and just seeing what happens and if they work. It's all low cost and even if it fails, I have learnt what can or can't be done for other projects.

Yeah, I think that's cool, it make a flinstones look :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bucko

It's all low cost and even if it fails, I have learnt what can or can't be done for other projects.

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This is the exact same reason why I have temporarily shelved my John Deere mod. There's a few things I want to try paint wise to see if it'll be feasible or not.

And I have to admit, I kinda like the look of your front panel now with some of the bondo showing through. White and pink, who'da thunk it?!?

You could undercoat it one colour then top coat a different one and give it a sand for that effect in nicer colours. Bondo isn't a nice colour.

This opne is taking unexpected turns - what next?

Break a leg!

I remember once, seeing a DIY show where they made some shelves and covered them with that stuff they wrap broken limbs with. It gave a really neat stone look when painted.

I got bored tonight and thought I'd do some quick and fun modding.
I grabbed the Rusty Rock as I'm now calling it (you can see how I used the rust paint here if you like) and decided to finish it off as much as possible.

A couple of hours ago I had this sitting around, the case the hardware was in and the Rusty Rock:

I started fitting everything into the Rusty Rock case:

Used some zip ties to hold the front fans in:

I started to stealth the DVD drive:

The front now looks like this:

I used a DPDT momentary switch to be the reset and power switch in the middle. Down for power and up for reset. The black rocker switch is for the UV lights.

Speaking of the UV lights, here's a night shot:

Things that are left to do is cut a window in the top and put it on, and then put a whole heap of bondo on the sides and the top and a little more around the DVD drive.
Once that is done I'll do the rest of the rust paint on it.

So I'm pretty happy for a couple of hours work.

*giggles* that's starting to look great!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sirkillalot617

LINUX!!!! use the penguin.

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LoL... sig!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Omega

oh, oh, oh, idea

make it look like one of those houses that's all textured on the outside. ! :D

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HAahHhhAaa...
I don't know why, that made me laugh out loud man. :D :D

Hadn't seen this Bucko, but now I see 'Rusty Rocks'... LoL

I like the bondo idea...

Time for an update!

I finished off the DVD drive stealthing and applied the rust paint:

I also changed the rest of the front too with more Bondo and rust paint:

Last night I did the keyboard for it. I took an old IBM keyboard I had lying around doing nothing:

And I gave it the Bondo and rust treatment too:

I'm getting a free 15" CRT from a guy at work, so I'm going to give the monitor the same treatment.

so why did the speaker openings become fan holes?"

Because I changed my mind.
They could still be used for speakers if I wanted to.

Craptacular! Heheh.. and I mean that in the nicest possible way. :D

I think this is a hilarious mod!

don't forget about the Rat Monitor I'm doing for this PC!

That keyboard is probably the sickest part!! Very nice.

That looks sooooo awesome. I love the keyboard too.

But I hate getting crap on my hands, and although Im sure it wouldn't, looking at that just makes me feel like I would get dirty or nasty using it. Which gives the mod even more appeal in a strange way. Love it.

+rep for this and the monitor, all are awesome!