Aurora Design's DeToX

[confusis]

The beginning:

AMD released their DTX and M-DTX form factors in 2004, to answer a need for a standardised form factor like Shuttle's dual slot SFF systems. Unfortunately, like Intel's BTX, the form factor never really took hold outside of OEMs. I've been a fan of the form factor since launch, admiring it's almost M-ITX size with the ability to have 2 expansion slots. When the opportunity came up to grab one of Elitegroup Computer System's new H61H2-MV boards, I jumped at the chance.

DeToX - the name derived from DTX, and the organic, natural feel of the wood as a medium for chassis work - is designed to look like an older appliance, found in someone's attic and dusted off - maybe something from the late 40's/50's. I chose the flawed sides of the wood to accentuate this, bringing out the 'used and abused' aspect of the design. The cutouts are also designed to accentuate this, not quite perfect, as if it has taken damage over the years.

I will be staining the pine a darker, cedar-like tone to help with the effect.


The board features Intel Socket 1155, H61 chipset, and a couple of nifty features:
Great socket placement compared to most M-ITX boards:

And two expansion slots!

The design work started by mocking up the proposed hardware in Sketchup and in reality: (missing is the cooler, drives and power supply )

And then I began cutting the parts. The wood here is 4 and 7mm thick, 3 ply, Pinus Radiata, grown in the largest planted forest in the Southern Hemisphere (Kaingaroa Forest, just a stone's throw from where I grew up)

And now for some real work. Mocking up here:

I attached the side panels with 'panel pins', little 15mm long nails well suited for working with such materials.

The fan here has had 5mm shaved off the frame to enable the blades to sit within the hole provided for it

Where I am at now: most of the cutting is done. Need to do some tidying up, then work on the aluminium struts for the corners. All in all, I've spent 6 hours on this so far!

And off I go to complete more work.

The system specifications:
ECS H61H2-MV board
Pentium G645/Core i3 (still to decide/purchase)
2x4GB RAM
eBay special gigabit card
HD4550 (upgrading to the low profile Sapphire HD7750 when budget allows)
Flex-ATX PSU (to be purchased)
Deepcool Gamma Blade cooler
SSD and HDD TBD

[Fuganater]

Great start!

[confusis]

Great start!

Thanks sir!

[Beta-brain]

Interesting, I like that mobo

you using the Dyson for cooling?

[confusis]

LOL! Probably not - it's not SFF

[Mechh69]

Nice start but I have one question, why the additional NIC card? Just curious, and I also like the board! How much was it?

[confusis]

The onboard LAN is 10/100, the NIC is gigabit.

Board is not on the market yet Shall be under US$100 when it launches (launching in asia first, then worldwide)

[confusis]

Change of plans - The corner pieces are 'rimu' wood.. I think, it's from a floorboard I recycled

[confusis]

First coat of stain, a custom mix by my mum's partner - 'Aurora' Oak. The orange will fade as it cures/dries, in 18 hours or so I will be doing a second coat to even out the colour and darken it a bit.

Remember my aim here is not 'as new' perfection, the aim is to look like it's been used for 10-20 years back in the Art Deco era, then stored in an attic until recently when it was 'found and dusted off'.

I also cut a set of case feet from the same wood as the corner struts:

[xr4man]

i am loving this design so far.