Scratch Build – In Progress Project RAMBO

Hello guys,

I've finished my first mini scratch build called "RAMBO" and want to showcase him. I'll add here new photos and work procedure very soon and hope you'll like it. So long...

 

Moved to Modding until you have some pictures that work and / or are of work in progress

 

Beginning

Motivation

I’d been thinking about my own PC case construction for many years, but finally this year all my ideas‘ve matured to final shape. It relates to power consuption which goes down by every year and you can have quite powerfull PC and feed it with PicoPSU. That's way I decided to built quiet HTPC which can serve as desktop PC for routine job at once. True is, that I could chose from current PC cases on the market but I wanted to realize my construction imagination and ideas and make something to show off in living room
I’ve not been playing games for a long time so I decided to reject use of detached graphics card (b‘cause of power consuption, fan noise and case measurement) and take up with Intel embeded solution instead. I mainly work with RAW image files – editing, archiving – i7 4790T should be enough for that.

Requirements
Small sized HTPC
High processor performance (on demand)
Low noise/PWR consuption – usage of Pico PSU

Drawings





I'll use black shaded plexiglass for upper and bottom base



Whole compact contsruction will be welded from full rod (10x8mm)



Everything's welded + MB plate







Final black paint

 

Hardware list

Intel i7 4790T@2.7GHz (TDP45W)

MSI Z97 AC

2x8GB Crucial Ballistix Tactical LP

Scythe Big Shuriken 2 Revision B

 

Neat! Welcome to Bit-Tech.

 

That is the perfect cooler for what you have planned. Total eclipse of the mother board.

 

Engraved inscription "RAMBO" on a front smoked plexiglass

Because I utilize SD card slot very often, I decided to make embedded solution with push-push slot-in SD card reader. I took external USB 3.0 SD card reader and soldered the slot, afterwards a small inlet has been cut to left-side panel... result is invisible and discrete. USB is connected to on-board internal USB3.0 connector.



At the beginning of my project a didn't want to deface a clean case-design with buttons or connectors that's way there is a VFD Media Lab Display (Thermaltake) allowing start with IR remote controller. On a rear side is "emergency" start button located when RC discharge




It's been almost finished...

 

Hi!,
really nice dinky little thing.
Bravo!

 

Holy Cow! I can't even see the type of connector you soldered on that stick.

 

SD Socket (push-push)

The USB3.0 stick has SD card slot (push-pull). I got SD Socket (push-push) type like http://uk.farnell.com/molex/503500-0991/connector-sd-card-push-push-smt/dp/2064067 and soldered to PCB (the pinout is same)

 

1st set of Final pictures

Case assembled - before final painting and acryl polish






Check small SD card slot on the left-side panel - that's what I wanted to achieve









I still experiment with "RAMBO" backlight but I'm so close to finish...

 

Nice piece of furniture!

 

Very cool deaign

 

It came out awesome.

 

Final pictures cluster#2

First, thank for positive feedback to all! ... I complement some of new pictures..

Here is VFD display of Thermaltake Media Lab VFD Panel in standy-by mode(Computer's off). When PC's on, it can display whatever you want (alert of received email, current played track, news ...). Very all-round.


Placed on my desk...


I'm still not sure about use of LED strip ... maybe one red LED'd be better


Together with my other toys (z5450)


With use of Red LED strip an inscription on front Acryl dies away ... maybe I'll paint graved title by black color ... What do you think?

 

It looks so nice!

 

Yes this is awesome work for sure looks very smart, the name had me thinking it was going to be something military