Well ive never done a build log on Bit-tech before but I sure have looked some over. Seeing all these wonderful builds inspired me to slap together some old hardware and make a case as small as I could around it. I know the hardware isnt the best but hey, its paid for and just sitting idle on the shelf. So for hardware i have: Zotac 775 socket mobo Adata 1600 meg ram (4 gigs) Good ol' Q6600 Quad core GTX260 GPU Rosewill PSU 640gig 2.5" WD HDD Id love a new small form factor PSU to make the case even smaller but that money is no way in the cards having two little ones at home So onwards to some screenshots of what I have thus far! As I update the model and tweak some stuff in more ill get a good render with some better textures and colors. Enjoy my first build log on Bit-Tech! EDIT: And for those wondering im at 9.9L and trying to squeeze all I can out of this to make it small.
Umm.. The policy is that you should have started working on the project physically to throw it into Project Logs, this is more for Modding - Planning. But I don't really care if you just start it soon! One question, the PSU orientation is pretty exotic, I asume all the low-voltage wiring is coming out of the top where the ventilation is on the PSU, but where is the AC-plug for the PSU, on the bottom?
Sorry about that! Like i said its my first so i didnt know. Other sites dont require that so i just assumed. Ill have some other pics up tonight of the hardware getting preped. As for the psu, yes its a bit unorthadox but im going to hardwire the psu out the back of the case instead of under. The only downfall is that the cord cannot be removed but when you think about it you always use the cord so i dont care ill update later tonight!
Here is a quick shot of the hardware just before I hooked it up to make sure everything still works! Worked great and only pulled 250watts at the wall with OCCT running power supply test.
My two pieces really driving it to stay bigger are the long GTX260 and the slightly smaller than a normal Rosewill PSU. If I had a new PSU and GPU it would be a bit smaller! Oh well ill continue on the design and hopefully have it built in the shop here soon enough.
Yea but considering that would cost a few hundred its all good that its a little bigger! Heck even the SFX PSU would greatly shrink the size
I've got a SST ST45SF lying around, waiting to be used again, as I ditched my miniITX-system for a µATX. They're not that expensive actually. $80 for a very good 450W 80+ Bronze PSU isn't that much. They recently released this SFX-PSU with modular cable-management and now a 80+ Gold certification for $99 -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256084 Be quiet is selling a 350W SFX-PSU for $55.
Thanks but even that is out of the budget. Everything in this build is free to me and sadly I dont have any money to put into this. Just another challenge of the project!
Trying to get everything in order on the model within the next day or so and get a case built! Ill see how .080" 5052-H32 holds up once you place the components in there.
Ok today's update! Getting closer! Just have a few more little details to fix and then its build time.
Just thought id give you all a heads up! Material has been pulled and last night I wrote the program to punch out the parts. Im trying to get it punched and bent during my lunch break today! stay tuned for pictures and a video of the punch machine in action!
Here is a quick video and simple picture. Sorry but I was pressed for time so I didnt get bending pictures. Ill take some better pictures for my fit up test tonight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FgI8idJXZQ
Sorry that I missed a few "in progress" shots but I think you can get the jist of what is going on. I fit checked a few parts and they all seemed fine. Now that the case is together I have to add in the hardware and then work on the wiring and case finish. Here is a size comparison against a few random things that I was using: And then a general shot of the front and rear. PLEASE keep in mind that I havent done much filing and sanding at this point so there are a few rough edges:
Wow, looks amazing so far, would wish to be able to have the tools and skills to do something comparable. Looking forward to further progress on this project.