Project :: SeRvEr :: ** Added Some Nice Candy Shots **

Having just sold my old server I found myself in need of a replacement. It needs to provide enough storage for my ever-growing MP3 collection – now up to 130GB – in a relatively small and quiet box.

I plan to use a mirrored pair of 160GB Maxtor drives to store my MP3’s and a 120GB Maxtor that will be partitioned to be the system drive, miscellaneous storage and an area for Ghost images of my other machines. I have left space for another drive should it be required later on.

As some of you might already know I am a big fan of putting TFT displays into my cases. See projects Bulky and Bulky II for examples. This time around I plan to incorporate a 12.1” TFT from a stripped down monitor I acquired via eBay.

I have just replaced my Shuttle SS51G with a Soltek QBIC as I wanted the extra drive space so I am going to use its motherboard as a basis for the system. I was going to have used an Epia based board I had bought but have decided to use that for another project…more of which later.

The Design

The case will be 32cm wide, 32cm deep and 24cm tall and will be split into two sections much like the Yeong Yong server cases. It will be constructed using a steel tubing frame and aluminium sheets.

I am tempted to paint it black but am not sure yet.






The Specification

Shuttle FB51 Intel P4 Motherboard
Intel P4 2.4GHz 533MHz CPU
512MB PC2700 Samsung DDR
Adaptec 1200A RAID controller
2 x Maxtor DiamondMax9 160GB Drives (RAID 1)
1 x Maxtor DiamondMax9 120GB
LG Combo DVD/CD-RW
Zalman 7000cu Copper HSF
2 x 120mm Panaflo low volume fans
Noritake 2 x 40 Serial VFD
4-channel fan controller (undecided)
2 x Green Cold Cathodes
435w uncased Enermax PSU
12.1” Hitachi SVGA TFT display

The Pictures


Shuttle motherboard with P4 chip installed.


The huge Zalman cooper cooler and memory installed.


The Adaptec 1200a RAID controller installed.


Two of the Panaflo 120mm fans which are 40mm thick.


This jungle of wires is an Enermax 435w PSU pulled from its case ready to be lopped and sorted with cable braid. Will have to do this last when everything else is in place.


The two 160GB Maxtors and LG combo drive. Notice how compact the LG is.


An idea of how I will cool the drives.


The TFT display in bit's...trust me it still works.

That's all for now.

Please feel free to offer any comments or ideas.

Cheers, CC

 

Re: Project :: SeRvEr :: Introduction

Would u like a motherboard to go with that heatsink? that thing is massive!

Is it the same type of frame and sheeting u used on your HTPC?

Will venting hot air from the CPU side of case be a problem?

Have u tried Sketchup to make a 3D model?

Nice plan so far.

 

Hi olv,

Yep it will be the same construction method and material as my HTPC but slightly different. I still have enough stuff leftover so it seems daft not to use it. Not sure how it would look painted black so will try an off-cut and see what I think.

I will be having a window on the motherboard side. I will either have an exhaust fan at the rear of the case on the motherbaord side or on the top of the case...not sure yet I will see how it goes.

As for SketchUp I downloaded it and can draw you a lovely little house with a pitched roof but as for a model of my case I've not had much luck yet.

Cheers, CC

 

hehe, the video tutorials are really helpful!

 

Yeah I downloaded all 150MB of them but where's the tutorial for case sketching

Cheers, CC

 

its hidden in the corner of one of the houses

 

Having spent some time going through the tutorials for SketchUp I have had a go at a model of my case design.

It's not perfect...or finished...but I think it's looking pretty good.

















I've also done a small animation of the case which you can download here :: www.loonatic.com/server/server.avi (2.32mb)

You can download the SketchUp source file here also :: www.loonatic.com/server/server.skb (1.13mb)

Some feedback would be nice as I plan to start working on it over the weekend.

Cheers, CC

 

Would you care to upload the sketchup file too? I like your case alot, I would like to snoop around in it

 

No problem...had not thought about it actually.

Have added a link to the above post.

Cheers, CC

 

very nice design. will keep my eye on this cos it look similar to what im doing.

 

Right...have been working on the case over the past week and it's comming on a storm

First off I made the framework using 20mm steel tubing and plastic corner joints. I have left out the bottom bar at the back as it's not required.



I then turned my attention to the bottom and back of the case. This is made from 2mm barley pattern aluminium and has been bent to form both the bottom and back - looks better and adds strength to the structure.



I used the blanking plate from the shuttle case to mark out the cut-outs for the ports and then roughed them out with a drill and then it was time to file...and file...and file.



I had to make cutouts for the corners of the frame. A 114mm hole was also made using a holesaw...this will be the exhaust fan for the PSU.



Next I mounted the motherboard using another peice of the aluminium and some 'L' shaped aluminium.



I now wish that I had made the motherboard tray using a single piece of the aluminium and bent it to form the two mounting surfaces. I may make this bit again later.



The fan for the PSU exhaust mounted...it will be replaced by an aluminium fan I think...or maybe an LED fan.



Next I mounted the controller board and inverter for the TFT display onto a sheet of perspex.









The TFT display is a 12.1" unit and is a perfect fit.

Cheers, CC

 

I made a simple housing for the DVD/CD-RW combo drive and the three HDDs using some more 5mm plexi. The HDDs are held in place using 6-32 UNC bolts I found at my local model shop and spacers made from aluminium tubing. The idea is that a 120mm fan will blow onto the drives to keep them cool. So using this method of mounting them gives the air plenty of room to circulate.







The PSU will also hang off the side of this structure. It's needs sorted out but you get the idea.



The whole unit will then be mounted on the right-hand side of the case.



This is the right-hand side of the case showing the 120mm fan for the HDDs. I still have to decide how to make the cutout for the DVD/CD-RW combo drive.



This is the left-hand side of the case and I have installed an 80mm intake fan and a window.



This view from above shows how tight it is inside the case.







Lots of time was spent working on the front and top for the case. It is made from the same aluminium and has cut-outs for the TFT, a VFD, 3 LED vandall switches and two 80mm exhaust fans - one for the motherboard side and one for the PSU side.













Well...that's it's so far. Still lots more to do...but it's getting there.

Any comments/ideas most welcome.

Cheers, CC

 

Jeez that's pretty. The last shot looks like a smiley face. Nice work on the cut outs too.

 

With all of you Ubermodders around how can I get some people to actually look at my project?

Looks really cool man!!

 

seriously nice work there charlie. It looks really good.

The precision on the back cut outs r very impressive too.

nice work

 

CC, this looks amazing

Must have taken ages to file those hols so neatly hehe.

Good Job!

 

Words escape me..

Real nice job.

Can't wait to see that thing all fired up.

A couple of questions. 1, where did you get those corners for the tubing ? Also where did you get that tubing ? I want to make something simular. Don't worry i won't copy you. You have just inspired me.....

You have some serious hard disc space there. Damm Man !

I want it.......

 

Looks really nice.

How did you get the cutouts for the mobo so accurately ?

 

That looks so great! Does the intake fan on the right of the CPU fan provide enough air to keep the computer as cool as it looks?
So what color lighting are you thinking of?

 

lookin good btw is sketchup easy to use?