Case Mod - In Progress Projects: silent and simple #1 ubuntu box update 14th,july-07

Hello everyone welcome to my first work log here at bit-tech. been watching for some time now and enjoyed your projects and learning from them. So now its my turn to contribute my own, as the title states this is one of 3 projects I will be doing over a period of 6-12 months from now .all will be air cooled to achieve the best possible cooling while maintaining almost absolute silence. And lastly all will have simple yet interesting mods done too them. All comments and suggestions are welcomed and I hope to make this first project enjoyable for you all.

So i have decided to build a comp. Using the ubuntu Linux os. The use for this machine will be, Surfing the web, saving pictures and hopefully get some sort of bandwidth management (limiter) running. And as I become more familiar with this os system, I will be looking to add CAD and or 3D creation software.


Ok this is the case I will be using. Bought it new and one day I goofed and it fell. So it’s not perfect anymore but more than good for my needs will not be making repairs on it instead focus on the build.



Will be posting and update soon, looking forward to your replays.

 

A project log has to have some modding to show. Rules are sticky'ed at the top.
http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=113985

 

Where did you get that box ?

 

Projects: silent and simple #1 ubuntu box update 20,mar 07

Thanks for the reminder Spaceraver.

Heero195, its a Powmax (MATX3304-S) Micro ATX Mini-Tower Case with 250 watt psu. Google it, many stores still sell it. I got mine from tiger direct.

Work done so far. Some hardware installed and first obstacle with the LOGISYS PS350MA MicroATX 350W psu bought to replace the original for better stability.


The fan shroud is too high and the psu did not slide thru no matter what angle I tried. And since I wasn’t going to remove the bridge that’s in the way. Hacking the psu was the only way. Also the stock fan was to be replaced by a better one.

First the psu.and replacement fan, a 80mm mad dog multimedia. Also stock fan and a panaflo.

The hack.

And the fit.

Slide right in and whisper quiet too. But after some thought and a Fastening problem something more needed to be done. Got some leftover parts...

And the idea.

Will post the rest shortly.

 

now the work and a short guide.

tools,

task,

turn counterclockwise until u got this.

then squeeze and push out.once out ,the rest is easier.

hmmm...more work.


push out one side and.....

then the other.

until this. now do the same with bottom of inside while pushing out with ur thumb and u can place this tool like this.

keep using the pliers to evenly push out and do the above.

and finaly.

lol more work

 

A test for fit and

U guest it doest not align

An idea and more work
Time to put it together and the finished work.

Now the final second fit.

Much better and the most important part,the noise level is Hardly audible to the ear so iam happy.

done for today another update soon.

 

been busy but managed to post some more work done.now that the psu is silent,i need to change the stock fan on heatsink. its too noisy.

first some temp. readings.


at idle with stock fan.

and with load.

now the new 120mm fan,yup another mad-dog multimedia.a 92mm zalman,120mm antec and a huge 3 blade nidec for comparison.

due to the fan not being bolted down from all sides, a strong vibration was being channeled thruout the case.rubber washers installed on bracket and fan... a test.much better but i wanted to try something more because of a rivet being in contact with the bracket.

i remembered having some hdd with a rubber sleeve and come up with this.

i will post some results later, now a quick repair with the vid card ill be using.


cards that work with ubuntu:gforce 2,gforce 4 and the elsa gloria 3 to be used for cad and so forth.

thank god for $1.00 stores.

all set to install per articsilver.com instructions.

and clamped for overnight cure.

will try to post another update soon.

 

wow been some time since i posted.but anyhow here is some work done.

i did not want to use a trey drive reason being the comp will be sitting vertically.so i took an old cd-rom and come up with this.

took some work but the result is both visually good and functionally sound.
another update soon.

 

I'd remove that horrible L-shaped cover on the front panel that's covering the mesh, tbh. :/

 

Duste if i decide to keep the case i will do that.but right now this is about a simple comp for everyday use.

 

nice case

 

doesnt look to bad, and i was hoping you'd remove the feet. im interested to see what you do with the rest of this.

 

Thanks Boxcarhobo ......

500mph dude that was the first thing i did and i did it on the same day,i think

god willing another update soon.

 

Rofl, I bought this same case and was going to put top of the line HW in it and make a new front panel with two 120's.


I gave up (the case was made out of tin foil only worse)

I'm now building a case exactly the same way just with aluminum box tubing.

 

Ok so iam late again with updates.so here i go...


MonkeyNutZ poor metal indeed and even 80mm fans would be a stretch .


so the slot drive works good.but even with the cutting i did to make it fit, the stock power connector was too long.np some of you seen this solved before with one of these.



and....



also rubber grommets for less vibration.



a fan with housing for the vid card.



the last modding task is to do a pci bracket for the phobos 4 port nic.



and...



finished!:

now placing this ubuntu box on my desk.but first some more anti-vibration for total Quietness,rubber feet.



and the final pics.



sorry for not including some work details but placing this project has been a personal fight for me.but i thank God that by his grace it is finished.
Also i will make an effort to give a painless and short guide of ubuntu installation soon.