Ok, I'm nearly done now, and I'm feeling quite pleased. This is for my server, which runs the new TV server along with DNS/DHCP/webserver, general file server, and a small Linux VM. Stuff like that.
The idea was to have something that wont look out of place in my lounge. Or at least no more out of place than a subwoofer or other piece of A/V equipment/table/random block of pine. It'll probably be adorned with a plantpot or something equally as tasteful.
It's also as near silent as it can be (with a few harddrives) and well cooled. The CPU with no fan hasn't gone above 40C yet. It's been 100% loaded for about an hour.
OK, so, how I went about it...
The bottom tray.. This is where all air is pulled into the case. Two 12cm fans, with inline resistors, which draw through the grill on the underside. Intake is as the bottom as that's the largest opening of the case, and I don't want to be able to hear the fans. Hopefully pointing the apeture at a carpetted floor will help with that.
The grill? Well, that was from a disposable barbeque from the night before. It still has a little burger residue, but I'll live with that.
The raised platform is where harddrives sit. It sandwiches a piece of foam to the bottom tray to attempt to isolate it from the rest of the case.. You can't really see that there though.
That's it nearly assembled. Foam sealy strip things for the door too.. Makes for a cushioned seal, and a pleasing thump when you close the door.
Oh, and some little feet. That should allow it to draw air from underneath the case.
OK. Ready to go..
Fans in..
Foam in the bottom.. Hopefully filter out some of the crud from my unhoovered floor.
Butchered ATX case. Lots of chopping required.
And now the rest of the bits. I have four SATA drives in there as well as the one in the pic.
These little latches hold the door on pretty solidly.
And no, that's not a tail.. That's the power switch that I haven't mounted to a backplate yet..
Well, there you go. Two days spent on this, but it's still not quite finished. Need to go round the edges with the router, mount the power switch, and do something with the I/O shield. When routed, it'll have rounded edges and should look all smooth
Phew.. I really need to find something less nerdy to do with my time
James
The idea was to have something that wont look out of place in my lounge. Or at least no more out of place than a subwoofer or other piece of A/V equipment/table/random block of pine. It'll probably be adorned with a plantpot or something equally as tasteful.
It's also as near silent as it can be (with a few harddrives) and well cooled. The CPU with no fan hasn't gone above 40C yet. It's been 100% loaded for about an hour.
OK, so, how I went about it...
The bottom tray.. This is where all air is pulled into the case. Two 12cm fans, with inline resistors, which draw through the grill on the underside. Intake is as the bottom as that's the largest opening of the case, and I don't want to be able to hear the fans. Hopefully pointing the apeture at a carpetted floor will help with that.
The grill? Well, that was from a disposable barbeque from the night before. It still has a little burger residue, but I'll live with that.
The raised platform is where harddrives sit. It sandwiches a piece of foam to the bottom tray to attempt to isolate it from the rest of the case.. You can't really see that there though.
That's it nearly assembled. Foam sealy strip things for the door too.. Makes for a cushioned seal, and a pleasing thump when you close the door.
Oh, and some little feet. That should allow it to draw air from underneath the case.
OK. Ready to go..
Fans in..
Foam in the bottom.. Hopefully filter out some of the crud from my unhoovered floor.
Butchered ATX case. Lots of chopping required.
And now the rest of the bits. I have four SATA drives in there as well as the one in the pic.
These little latches hold the door on pretty solidly.
And no, that's not a tail.. That's the power switch that I haven't mounted to a backplate yet..
Well, there you go. Two days spent on this, but it's still not quite finished. Need to go round the edges with the router, mount the power switch, and do something with the I/O shield. When routed, it'll have rounded edges and should look all smooth
Phew.. I really need to find something less nerdy to do with my time
James