Hey guys,
I just started working on my very first home made computer case, to hold my very first costum build rig.
After about 2 weeks looking at boring, square, bulky black boxes, I decided I wanted a different computer case, with something else to it, rather than a plain rectangular sided box.
The idea was to make something compact and, like I said, not square.
After another week of planning and thinking, I finally decided on the design. I was going to make my home made case look like an arcade machine !
I started working on Monday, and since I'm on vacation, I spent my entire days on it (which my back did not appreciate)
So, this is what it has looked like so far:
(and Yes, I was working on a bathroom, guest room's bathroom)
Concept
http://imageshack.us/a/img46/8654/dog8.jpg
SolidWorks CAD
http://imageshack.us/a/img24/2248/h4pd.png
Getting on with the drawing
http://imageshack.us/a/img543/5048/njts.jpg
The first cut piece
http://imageshack.us/a/img546/7037/st1b.jpg
More pieces
http://imageshack.us/a/img839/2497/wfu0.jpg
Assembling..
http://imageshack.us/a/img827/4545/p92c.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img62/9003/tdbb.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img707/5615/2irw.jpg
Looking good...
Some electronic components arrive
http://imageshack.us/a/img20/9605/stxq.jpg
Meet Mr and Mrs HDD support
http://imageshack.us/a/img837/6010/lye7.jpg
Backside, made of spare wood, cause I had enough of runs to the hardware store
http://imageshack.us/a/img194/2710/qex6.jpg
Acrylic windows, side (inside), front and top
http://imageshack.us/a/img4/7554/j521.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img196/1420/7rw0.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img845/8527/ll2e.jpg
Front fan hole
http://imageshack.us/a/img819/9496/t5ql.jpg
Gluing the side pannels
http://imageshack.us/a/img202/1969/45x4.jpg
And after some sanding
http://imageshack.us/a/img94/8155/o519.jpg
After some more fine sanding, and a grid on, this is how it looks right now,great, is it not?
(the back slides in)
http://imageshack.us/a/img547/8769/4cqp.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img20/9760/ou57.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img842/5851/gaz0.jpg
BUT, I didn't come here to brag only, I got a few questions for you-
The way it is designed, this case is all arround compact, having little to none spare space, and that brings me some concerns, regarding cooling and air flow, that I had not considered at first.
The graphics card sits on the top end of the case, barely fitting on the advanced section on the front side, with the fans facing upwards, sucking air in, and out of the case. The PSU has it's own isolated vent system, air enters from below, and exits through the back, without affecting the rest of the case. The standard intel CPU heatsink fan will sit roughly on the center of the case, sucking air in and out in every direction. With two intake fans (80 and 92mm) on the bottom front end of the case, I'm worried that the air flow isn't tidy enough, specially due to HDD position. Other ideas I had regarding air flow consist of giving up either the top or the front acrylic windows, for more fan holes.
So my questions are:
1) Is the airflow going to be has bad as I think it will
2) Should I move the HDD supports?
3) What else can I do to improve the overall air flow on the case
Any other useful answer or comment is welcome, thanks