The Mini-Rat Small PC.

[Bucko]

Now I have my new system for gaming, I want to put the old computer in a small case for using as a media centre. The smaller case will take up less desk space when I have two computers going.

To that end I just bought this as the raw material for the case:

Yes it's an awful shade of pink, but I am planning on painting it. Besides, the white version was $20 dearer. I guess pink doesn't sell...
The PSU mounts at the front of this case and it also has pre stealthed DVD doors and these nifty covers over where the floppy drive goes and the front USB ports etc.

This thing really is small compared to a normal tower. Very narrow and a lot shorter.

I decide on a colour tonight and go and buy some paint in the morning to start on it.

[Bucko]

Here's the case stripped down. You can see just how narrow the case is looking at the 5.25" bays.

[Bucko]

what are the advantages of having a psu in the front of a case ?

The main one is case height. With a normal case the PSU is above the MoBo, so the case has to be taller to accommodate that. With the PSU at the front it allows the case to be about 3"-4" shorter.
The mounts for the PSU allow it to be mounted either way up too, so I'll put the fan on top rather than the bottom.

There will be a fair bit of soldering on this case too, as I want all the cable from the PSU to be the exact length required. So I'll cut and shut them to make it all work. I'm considering putting in fan speed controls and hiding them behind the floppy disk flap on the front. I still haven't decided on a colour yet, but I do want to keep this case looking simple and sleek.

[Bucko]

It was still a $85 case. So not too cheap, but better than the $109 for the white. There was a black case the same size with a mesh front, but it only had one DVD drive cover and I wanted two for this system, so the pink case it was.

Normal PC sounds will be fine for me. I don't have too many problems with noise as it is, so I'm not too worried.
Besides, once I buy a new TV later this year, I won't hear the computer when I'm watching it in the next room.
I'll integrate it in with my stereo and the likes later. For now it will just be for watching TV and movies at my comp desk while doing things on the other PC.

I have decided to go for a green case like my current one. I like the green and I can reuse more cables and fans etc. I won't be painting today though. It's too cold and wet. Besides I have a doctors appointment in a few hours and don't want to get too dirty.
To that end I'll start on the PSU mods instead.
I will mount the PSU fan side up and first mod will be replace the stock 120mm fan with a green LED one.

[Bucko]

This is the spare PSU I had lying around from a previous PC that I will use.

I pulled the top off and removed the fan from it:

Then I soldered in the green LED fan and put the PSU all back together:

[Bucko]

More on the PSU. I shortened all the wire for the MoBo connector so it will be a nice neat fit. I removed around 7" from each of the wires and soldered them back together.

Part way through:

And job done:

The next step will be doing the other power wires for the drives and fans.

[Bucko]

It has been raining everyday since I bought the case, so I haven't been able to do any painting.
I did do a simple mod for the mouse I'm going to use. It's a HP mouse with a smoked base you could see the red LED through. I changed out teh LED for a green one to go with the case.

The guts before LED removal and the new LED.

And back together:

It works fine. I'll probably do some other painting on it yet, but for now the LED will do.

I also picked up some green LED fans today and some green molex ends.

[Bucko]

First you'll notice the new name for the thread. I've decided seeing as the Ratputer will be my gaming PC, I should have the Rat theme going for this case too.
I will stray from the rat them for the inside, which will be a bright green, but the outside will be a more Camo style green.

Tonight I cut a blow hole in the top of the case and was stripping the paint from it until my cheap-o dremel blew up.
I need new batteries for my camera, so I'll put up pics later.

[Bucko]

As promised, a couple of photos.

The blow hole:

As you may be able to make out, the hole isn't perfectly round, but once the fan guad goes on it won't be a problem.

You can also see how much paint I stripped off before my Multi-Tool went pop.

[Bucko]

I just realised you probably meant the grill at the back, its for two 80mm exhaust fans.

Here's a pic with the PSU dummied up so you can see where it mounts.