Framed - 4PC Test System

[TheGreatSatan]

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:

[TheGreatSatan]

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.

[TheGreatSatan]

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.

[TheGreatSatan]

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.

[TheGreatSatan]

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.

[TheGreatSatan]

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

[TheGreatSatan]

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.

[TheGreatSatan]

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.

[TheGreatSatan]

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

[TheGreatSatan]

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

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.