I know a lot of people have slimline aluminium enclosures from Maplin, but for less than £12 I just can't resist. I've ordered one. I need it as a fileserver of course. Updated (Complete) Specs: VIA Epia C3 800 Motherboard 256Mb PC133 SD-RAM 40Gb 3.5" HDD 2x 80mm Coolermaster LED Fans (White) 2x Hurricaine Laser Cut Grills 120w 42mm Deep PSU At the moment I have spare memory lying about and I have ordered the fans. I'm considering painting the case a very dark black and shining it up really glossy. The fans I'm using are Antec LED fans, one red and one blue. I'm going to use the blue fan for intake (cold) and the red one for exhaust (hot) The fans at 7v The fans at 7v without flash The aluminium mesh grills I'm not sure if I like these mesh grills, I noticed if you push it hard enough it touches the spinning fan. I'm going to put 4 black rubber feet on one edge and 4 on the bottom. This should allow it to sit flat or stand up with no problems.
ouija it looks like you still need some bits, take a wander over to www.mini-itx.com they have the boards http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=2 and a small PSU http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=9
I have every piece lined up (mostly from KustomPCs) but I've been looking for PSU. I'll take a look today, thank.
How see through are the grills? It might be an idea to stick a couple of lengths of high strenth rods. less than 1mm diam behind the grill to stop it been pushed onto the fan... or take up Linear's duct Idea. (space permitting... about half an inch maybe?)
Could possibly duct it. The case is 50mm high and the fans are 25mm deep. Even a quarter of an inch would do. Good plan, I'll look into that.
Heh it was unintentional I was going to choose green and red and, but I have a lot of green in Project:U-359. Then I realised what I need them for so decided to choose those colours. I am considering gettin some sticky sheet and cut it in the shape the fighter jets have the "INTAKE" with a big arrow pointing to the engine intake Like harriers.
I have a few of the 120mm versions of those grilles, but I use mine on the interior of the case as filters. Use the standard chrome wire grilles on the outside of the case. As filters they work just as good as the foam ones, look better, and you don't have any foam to rot out!
For a name, howz about Fire n' Ice? Playing off of the red and blue fans. Of course, theres the various jet names you could use...since you're playing with the idea of the jet intake arrows.
Those filters are pretty common on company equipment. You should be able to find them easily. The big used electronics warehouse down the street from me has thousands. If it came down to it and you really really wanted them I might be persuaded to go get ya some.
Good idea on fire & ice. I also like the jet name idea... like hurricaine or tornado I bought the grills for about £5 each from KustomPCs
I picked up my filters and all of my fans over at 2cooltek. They have some really good prices and a good selection. The 80mm version of the filters there are $2.50. Here's the link http://2cooltek.safeshopper.com/42/cat42.htm?72 .
I've fixed the fan problem. I'm still waiting on my aluminium box I have the LEDs and chrome holders though Fan fixing kit from OCS and 2 rubber washers on each corner
Ouija can u post some pictures of the wiring hookups for the fans. I wanted to put a switch on the LEDs and yet still have the fan running, would this be possible?
There's a thread on the KustomPCs forum about this exact question. Yea, you can do it. You need to desolder one of the wires from the flexible PCB (you can see the red and black ones in the pic above) and put the switch in there and solder it back in place. Either one will work.
you'd best fill the gap at the sides between the fan and the filter (electrical tape?) else the filters will do no good.
How can you say they won't do any good? Since I'm using the filter as a grill, the dust won't escape anyway.
They'll work fine as grills, but you won't get as much fresh air into the case. There will be less air resistance through the gap than through the filter, so much of the air will come around the side (i.e. from inside the case) and circulate back through your fan. Always bear in mind that air molecules are matter and have a volume of their own, albeit a small one.
Considering the motherboard I am choosing can be completely cooled passively, high airflow is not necessary. Besides, if the fan was ducted at the moment the picture wouldn't be very descriptive [edit] I may even use just one washer, but I don't want to duct it with electrical tape and make a mess. I'm sure I'll think of something.