Ghetto mATX build

[cavemanoc]

I wasn't going to bother with a log on this as it's just a quick and dirty temporary job until I get the cabinet for the HTPC that I built. However - given how ridiculous it looks I thought I'd share the comedy...

I started with a 2U box that I had lying around, I didn't get any pre-mod shots, but you get the idea from this shot - that massive hole in the top is obviously new!

Into that box I was going to squeeze my HTPC:
Phenom 7750
ASUS M3A78-EM
4Gb Ram
2.5" Laptop HDD
PicoITX-150-XT PSU (awesome bit of kit) + Powerbrick
Compro S350 DVB-S (Forgot about this one initially - oh how I laughed after installing everything and realising that not only was it NOT low-profile - but there was no slot in the case for it )

And of course - no SFF build is complete without a quiet, compact, unobtrusive HSF... I went for the Thermalright IFX-14

I had to try and fit all of this......

Fit into the little box...

Anyway - I got the jigsaw out and made a few minor modifications to the Box and ended up with this:

Then I remembered the Compro Did a bit more chopping and ended up with the nearly finished article:

and

Against all the odds, it turned on first time and seems to have survived the butchering! I then remembered that I need to be able to switch it on - so I stole an On/Off, Reset, LED group from an old case I had lying around and presto! Now I just need to find a permanent way of attaching them to the case and I'm done. This was just going to be a stop-gap until my cabinet arrived (that's now a matter for the small claims court ) - so it looks like this will be with us for a while - so I might spend some time tarting it up - suggestions welcome!

 

[cavemanoc]

Still fiddling around with the profiles - am going to undervolt to 1.0v with a down clock of 2.0Ghz (will see how far it goes at 1.0v and stick at that - at stock voltage it was running to about 90W, at 1.0v it's down to 68W ) I was thinking about running it passively - but I'll probably just go for a 5v mod on a nice silent fan just to keep a bit of airflow going through.

I was also thinking about cutting a 12cm blow-hole in the base in the corner bit where the psu normally goes (currently home to the HDD) - I could then mount another silent fan there, with the HDD above it, just to make sure that the components inside get some flow. Don't know if I can be bothered to dismount everything again though (how do you spell overkill again... )

So.... the big question - do I go blink-tastic and get some design-LED stuff going on? (Does anyone know what those nice screw on LED covers are called - the one where you drill a hole, insert the led on one side and screw on the cover on the other - hides the hole and holds the LED? Preferable in a nice 'understated' chrome )

 

[cavemanoc]

Thanks guys - the design criteria was indeed a quick'n'dirty mod to get the machine built and up on the cupboard to do some nice streaming - I hadn't really intended to spend any real time and effort on it, but I have to say it has tickled my fancy a bit so I might tidy it up a bit.

The cooler was obviously for another build, but unfortunately the back-side tower sticks out too far to fit in my Tower (never thought I'd ever find anything too big for that beast of a case!) So I put my "small" TRUE into the games machine, and the media machine inherited the IFX! I do quite like the incongruity of a tiny case with a massive HSF bursting out of it - in some ways I now wish I hadn't done such a 'clean' job of cutting the top hole - would have looked great if I'd just 'pealed' the metal back and left it attached so the cooler was literally bursting out of the case as though I'd just rammed the lid on

The PC Card is loose - but it doesn't matter as I'm not going to be moving the cables - I have use the edge string to give it a snug berth so it's actually surprisingly stable.

I'm still trying to decide what to do with the holes on the side where the PSU use to sit:

I'm still tempted to mount a switch cluster in the rectangular hole with the Power/Reset switches and the Pwr/HDD leds - just not sure whether to go from some of those nice Vandal LED ring switches or something more 'industrial. As for the fan hole - I was thinking about mounting a silent 60mm fan there just to make sure there is a bit of airflow through the case - just a question of repositioning the powerbrick cable to somewhere more suitable.

Quite tempted to get a strip of modders' mesh as well to tidy up the holes - bit of a stocking mod and it should help with dust ingress as well.

Like the comment about the Desk Fan I actually did that about a year ago - we were debating the latest and greatest coolers and how they could know nearly 2C off your temps So I rigged up a desk fan just like that one and took off 10C! I'm actually quite tempted to find an industrial Thermometer with a round analogue dial to go in the fan hole shown above instead of the fan (and possible mount a 120mm under the HDD as discussed previously) - If I can match the case it might look quite cool.

Any other suggestions welcome!

 

[cavemanoc]

Well, I couldn't resist - 50x50cm of modders' mesh, a couple of switches and some cable tidying stuff is winging it's way to me now. I was having a think about sealing the case as well - not sure whether to stick with the standard case screws of go for something a bit more 'industrial' - either some battered old wingnuts, or perhaps some nice ratchet catches.... mmmmm.... ghetto-bling, it's the new flash

 

[cavemanoc]

Lol - I have been toying with a distressed-look spray job - but given I've never sprayed anything before I'm reluctant to try - guess a botch job would kinda fit the theme...

The mesh and switches have arrived - so just busy fitting them up - decided that my jigsaw with a fine-tooth metal blade wasn't really up to the fine work (jigsaw + 1mm mesh = interesting patterns!) , so have stolen some tools from a friend and am busy hacking away - will post some pics once it's done.

 

[cavemanoc]

Well - the basic mod is done - got the switches and mesh in place - actually came up quite well:

Switch cluster

Because lights are cool

Back Panel:

Needs a little work - got a bit carried away with the jigsaw when I was first hacking it apart...

I'm sorely tempted to tidy it up now (gone from pure dirty-ghetto to something I wouldn't mind finishing nicely!) I'll probably end up cutting out the rough edges and edging all the cuts. Still not sure what to do about the paint job...

The last big item is the PCI card - at a bit of a loss at what to do to make it fit the theme - was tempted to go with some distressed copper piping - about 3mm diameter, and make a cage for it so you can still see it, but not touch. A mate of mine has the bending/welding tools required, so could be fun...

Open to any suggestions