i plan to build a small scratch build itx case, the "big" idea is that there will be 3 itx mobo's in 1 case 1 oriented normally and two 90 degree to it under it my main problem is making the mobo tray for it, the case itself will be build using a friend with tools (my main problem) and more skill then i (i have ideas but no real skill) the mobo tray needs more precise skill then he can do i need help planing the tray and finding a way to make it... quick sketch go to post #13
for upper and lower MB drill 4 holes - nothing spectacular, tap 'em and use simple brass standoffs. also one can use m3-m4 screws... hard to advice without full picture: materials, size, cooling, purpose etc. do You need quick access to MB? especially low one? if not - use long standoffs for 2nd MB.
Subtec's form factor SketchUp model is as accurate a model for mounting holes etcetera as you'll get as it's based of the standards published in formfactors.org. Without knowing what the rest of the case'll be like, which bits you want hidden/exposed etcetera I can't comment on accessing the boards, however at a glance I'd say have the central board stationary and the top and bottom boards on removable tray's similar to Lian Li.
i'll do a "full" model during week end the 3 its will be : main H77 1155 I3/I5 - need to buy htpc Sapphire PURE Mini E350 (IPC-E350M1) download Intel BOXD945GCLF2 Atom 330 the plan is to fix 10 HDDS inside 4*1TB from old RAID5 arry 4*2TB new array 2*500GB for OS drive for HTPC & download the bottom (ATOM 330) doesn't need quick access, i did plan to put longer standoffs and stack the E350 on it. my main problem is to make the right "cut" for the IO panel for the mother boards and PCI slots the idea was to kill old pc case and take the whole back part for the main IO and PCI and just make holes for the E350 and ATOM IO... they don't need extra PCI i plan to have back 120mm fan on the 3*MOBO tray for the MAIN and open vent for E350/ATOM (find some mesh to close it) anyway, i'll upload plans during the next day or so
GPU on H77 ? PSU ? I would consider having them arranged like three slices of toast in a toaster with a larger fan feeding cool air between them... dunx
good idea to rip old case apart. for i/o: just put htpc and download boards 1-2 inches away from pci slots and use pci slots to guide cables. for HTPC/torrents it will be good enough IMHO
after making the design i'm thinking i should re-think the psu location for better proportion of the case... and make it under the HDD that i should re-orient to save some space go to post #13
wow, looks cool right now i'm thinking design 2 is best but i should rotate top boards i don't know if putting 3 board one on top of each other will be stable with top board having full size cooler (passive) also design problem... how to make the doors close tight and nice without seeing any screws on the side (back is ok) BTW...this clip made me wonder right now the power setup for the rig is: ATOM - PICOpsu 80W E350 - Seasonic 250W FTX main - Seasonic ??? i can use the main PSU to power the ATOM, the pico is DC-DC so i can just use an adapter to power it from main but i can also do it to the E350 just get a DC-DC for it will save some space and noise, or is there a down side i don't consider?
Have you considered making a feature of one or more of the mobo's? My present build has one ITX and one ATX and I decided to put the ITX on show Depending where you mounted the ITX it could give you more space inside the case.
well, did some re-designing back to basics, classic design the sketch isn't finished but you'll get the idea the case will hold 3 itx motherboards: intel atom - 24/7 download server saphire e350 - NAS / HTPC asrock z77e - main rig bottom sitting psu: * ATX seasonic 450W for main ivy * TFX seasonic 250W for E350 on top of the psu's i the motherboards (need to figure how to mount them) * intel ATOM * saphire e350 * asrock z77e + 650ti in the front 8 hdds: * ATOM : 1 * E350 : 1 os hdd + 4 nas hdd * ivy : 1 os ssd + 1 hdd between the front HDDs and back motherboars, there will be a 2*140mm fans on the front itself i plan to put a full peace of MDF to block HDD and fan noise sketchup
