New basic HTPC - 16-Dec-2014

[waynio]

Here is a new HTPC I started to make today.

Spec
Gigabyte GA-Z97N-GAMING-5
Intel Core i3 4370
Noctua NH-L9i Low Profile CPU Cooler
2x Enermax UCTB12 T.B.Silence Fans
Corsair ATX PSU
4x 3.5 HDD
1x 2.5 SSD
5.25 optical drive



Sketchup.

Printed, cut & tacked together.

Stuck on 2mm aluminium sheet.

Cutting the panels to size.

Sanding to the edges.

Drilling all the mounting holes.

Countersink to deburr the other sides from catching on the scroll saw.

Making a slit for the optical drive eject button, a dremel would have been better but I don't have one.

Eject button done.

All panels basics cut, drilled & sanded.

Now the 45 degree bevels, I've grown to like edges like this.

Front.

Bottom.

Top.

Back.

Sides.

Stacked & that's all for this update.

I'm yet to come up with a name for it.

 

[waynio]

The handy 10mm nut blocks lack a 3rd face mount so have to add them manually, here drilling & tapping.

Cut 2 lengths of square bar to mount the optical drive, drilled & tapped to fit to front & back panels.

Optical drive mount, square rods & a little 3mm sheet.

Fans going into this.

More square rod for the cases feet.

Mounted.

Base complete with added nut blocks.

Add the panels.

Walls up & optical drive mounted.

Sturdy to pick up by the optical drive.

All panels on.

To do...

Add mobo spacers, add HDD cage which I made earlier, install hardware, do a photoshoot & then just use it.

Should get that done tomorrow.

 

[cliffo88]

Nice work, is it staying with that finish on it or any plans to change / paint it?

 

[Luke_Bowman]

Looks very nice.

Dimensions?

 

[ED209]

looks like you have spent a fair bit of time on it so far and looking good so far, look forward to the next update

 

[Audigex]

Great handiwork, and looks to be well thought out in terms of design too.

But all that hardware and no dremel? How did you manage that?

 

[waynio]

Nice work, is it staying with that finish on it or any plans to change / paint it?

Yes, leaving it raw unless I feel like painting it at a later date, thanks cliffo.

Looks very nice.

Dimensions?

Thanks Luke, it's...
143mm high including feet.
220mm deep.
517mm wide.

looks like you have spent a fair bit of time on it so far and looking good so far, look forward to the next update

Thanks Ed, all in about 18 hours.

Great handiwork, and looks to be well thought out in terms of design too.

But all that hardware and no dremel? How did you manage that?

Thanks Audigex, not had a dremel for about 2 or even 3 years, I should get one for little jobs, been making do with drill & scroll saw.


It's complete, well minus an optical tray cover.



Motherboard mounted on 30mm spacers.

The HDD cage is made of 4 2mm panels & 8 nut blocks, holds 4 HDD & 1 SSD.

The big spacers allow excess cable to go underneath the motherboard.

Bit of a snake pit behind the optical drive & yes I'm using an e-sata cable for it.

Mesh being stuck in place with JB weld in the background.

All assembled & good to go, shame about the slight bulge above the optical drive, must be a smidge out of place to cause that.

But the gap isn't noticable where it is & the eject button works.

Temps.

I could really do with making a collapsible light tent for completed shots.

 

[coolamasta]

Nice work there well done, think it might benefit from being anodised black or something so the finish looks like the Lian-Li cases, no idea who would could do that though

 

[Confused]

That looks really smart, a great job that!

 

[waynio]

Nice work there well done, think it might benefit from being anodised black or something so the finish looks like the Lian-Li cases, no idea who would could do that though

Thanks coola, would be nice anodised but I don't fancy spending more on it, all in the case cost £26 & 18 hours, not bad, I might ask for a quote on having it anodised though to see if I'm willing to do it.

That looks really smart, a great job that!

Thanks Confused.



Added the finishing touch with an optical tray cover.

 

[cliffo88]

I bet everyone that walks into your living room says 'what in the hell is that?!'

Good job.

 

[waynio]

I bet everyone that walks into your living room says 'what in the hell is that?!'

Good job.

Thanks cliffo.



Can't sleep so messed about with the design.

Possibly.


Not got the material though so it'll have to wait.

 

[ANDARIAL]

Looks good
Personally I would have found some other method to eject the disc(don`t know what)but that slit/slot to eject don`t look `nice` to me
Congrats on a unique case mod though m8

 

[Savan_P]

This is very very nice in my opinion!

Looks very nice and clean, fits the colours around it very well. Good job.

 

[jellybeard999]

Looks good
Personally I would have found some other method to eject the disc(don`t know what)but that slit/slot to eject don`t look `nice` to me
Congrats on a unique case mod though m8

Same. Would be better to remove the eject switch from the optical drive and wire in a new switch, mounted to the case.

Good job though.

 

[HalfBakedJake]

Brilliant! I want to build my own HTPC case. I just can't find one that fits my needs

 

[ED209]

love the build, looks great and tidy.

wish I could do this!

 

[waynio]

Looks good
Personally I would have found some other method to eject the disc(don`t know what)but that slit/slot to eject don`t look `nice` to me
Congrats on a unique case mod though m8

Thanks ANDARIAL, the slit could have been done nicer if I had a dremel, really should get one but the function works nicer than a tiny hole & a tiny disc stuck to the eject button, prone to falling off.

This is very very nice in my opinion!

Looks very nice and clean, fits the colours around it very well. Good job.

Thanks Savan.

Same. Would be better to remove the eject switch from the optical drive and wire in a new switch, mounted to the case.

Good job though.

I'll probably try an re routed eject button some time, thanks.

Brilliant! I want to build my own HTPC case. I just can't find one that fits my needs

It's nice making your own but my first case was pretty terrible but that's a good few cases back, now have better tools & experience.

love the build, looks great and tidy.

wish I could do this!

Thanks Ed, everyone starts somewhere, good research & a bit of practice is all it takes plus there are people to outsource to now if no workshop space or the tools.



Done the new front, couldn't wait for the perforated aluminum with wanting it done by 2015 so went with the chunky brass hex mesh.

All the best for 2015.

 

[BuToNz]

Purdy

 

[waynio]

Purdy

Installed it.

And thats it done.