Project : Homeserver **UPDATE 5 [almost finished] (29/12)**

Hi all,
First of all , merry x-mas to everyone.
This will be my first log, but I've done several cases before ...

This PC will be my new homeserver.
I'm using one of those cheap Matsonic boards with everything onboard, 512 Mb PC3200 Corsair value select RAM, a P4 2.6 Ghz, an extra Gb network adapter and a old 10 Gb WD caviar (will be changed later)

the case is an old "Fujitsu Siemens" case from a "Scenic eT" pc.

The case is a mATX model and does only support a mATX PSU, 2 x 5.25" drives and 2 x 3.5" HDD's.

But since I'm using vibration dampers, I only have space for 1 DVD player and one HDD (I removed the other cages)

What I've done :

-Planned everything
-Installed everything to check if it fits

What I've got to do :

-Fix the front with wome bondo
-Fit a normal ATX PSU
-Fix the cooling so the entire case will us only 1 x 120 mm fan
-Paint the case


So that will al be done in the next week.

On to the pictures:
All the pictures have a max res of 640 x 480



the nudie





back side ( only fits a mATX PSU as you see )



the internals



original PSU (To weak and doesn't support P4 ... )



the front



onderneath the front cover, you can see the DVD player and the HDD with vibration dampers

Comments and tips welcome

Update's soon

Greetings,
Brubacker

 

Nice front holes to add 4cm fans or passive intake (with mesh) to cooling the HD or other parts, for example.

 

thanx for the tip , I was already planing to do that.
I've got some mesh laying around so ...

but it will be a passive intake, because I want to have a silent server ...

note : The PWR LED is a dual color LED , the first color = PWR and the second color is HDD activity

 

**UPDATE**

I removed the little rounds in the holes and cutted the mesh.

made a bigger hole for the ATX PSU



The hardware



The hole for the ATX PSU



The front as it is now



The front panel as it is now



Close up on the rounds and the mesh


The case will be painted black with some nice blue accents (like the mesh and other stuff)

Tomorrow I'll try to fix the front panel with the bondo and maybe paint the case already.

again , comments and tips are welcome.

Greetings,
Brubacker

 

Looks nice for me. All those frontholes aren't too speacial anymore. But since this project is more silent than blingbling chrome and lights, they work well I did three holes to my wooden case too.. It was last spring I guess.. not sure, case isn't ready yet


I would put HDD to bottom of case with some ducts. Silent server isn't good place for HDD and it usually needs some special cooling.. I would put heatsink to it.

Nice project anyway! Are you going to use matte or glossy paint? Glossy isn't good if you're painting whole case, I usually use it only for details. It's harder to make flat surface with it

 

I can wait to see it painted in black (mmmm... Sounds like Rolling Stones hehehe)

 

Well those holes where already there, so only thing I did was remove the "filling" and put some mesh behind it

note : I'll be using matte paint ( /me has bad experience with glossy paint )

 

Oh I allready forgot they were there I reallyreally should sleep more

Matte is the only right paint for this

 

I've just received a nice big package from Taiwan containing a 8 ports Gigabit switch

My home network will be powered by the 8 Ports gigabit switch from Ovislink, and U.S. Robotics broadband router and a Belkin 54 Mb/s wireless acces point.

Tonight an update on the case with the bondo work and some pictures of the new switch.

 

**UPDATE 2**

A little update.
I finished the "bondo work" and going to paint the case this evening.
Don't mind the crappy bondo work, it's the first time I've done it and my sanding machine blew up, so I had to sand it by hand

on to the pictures



bondo applied



started sanding ( that's the sanding machine that blew up )



the total front finished



close up on the "bondo work"


Comments/hints/project name sugestions/... are always welcome.
Greetings,
Wim

 

forgot the picture of the switch.

This is the switch I got today.

8 x 10/100/1000 layer 2

 

**UPDATE**

pictures after the first layer of paint is applied.









a blue shine ( how it comes I don't know, but it actually is black )



The blue mesh

That's it for now ...
more update's soon ...

Greetings,
Brubacker

 

Maybe needs some bondo more. But is looking well.

 

I know it needs more bondo, but I don't have any left ...
So I'll do the case as she is now, probably you won't even see it because she's put away.

as long as it looks black or dark it's enough

next time I'll get some extra bondo

thx for advice.

tomorrow a new layer of paint and in the evening a layer of varnish.
then put it al togheter and I'm done ...

 

I never worked with bondo, i`m not sure if it needs more bondo or not. But with an extra layer of paint and sanding, maybe the marks from bondo-covered zones disappear, and you will get a perfect finish.

 

(I GUESS!) Bondo sucks more paint and that's why it's different coloured. So it seems you were nasty and didn't use primer am I right?

 

Are you going to put the switch inside your case? I started a project along those lines - a firewall machine with build in switch.. it's stalled for the moment pending me moving house. This mod sounds as though it will incorporate some nice ideas - I may have to 'borrow' some when I get re-started on my own!

 

Nice project dude, it reminds me of this one...
Read my project log so you won't make the same mistakes I made.

BTW isn't the stock heatsink noisy? are you replacing it?

 

maybe you only see it because the paint is still wet

I'll apply the second layer of paint today.

Guilty as charged ... I didn't use any primer

nop, he won't be in the case but in my room
I want to be able to remove / replace the switch without touching my server

as for the ideas, go ahead, I wouldn't mind you " borrowin' " the ideas

Well prolly he is to noisy, but he will be replaced by :
a. Zalman CNPS7000B-Cu without fan
b. fanless 1U cooler
c. Titan cooler without fan

(I'll be testing them one by one and then chose the best/most silent cooler )

if you have any other questions, feel free to ask
I'll give you an update on the paint ASAP

Greetings,
Brubacker

 

**UPDATE**

ok, paint was dry and applied a new layer

here are some pics of the first coat



front ( looks better irl )



the cover



the chassis

comments welcome

Greetings,
Wim