I need to make a small PC

  • Thread starter Thread starter Michael C
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Michael C

I need a PC that will fit into a smallish space. Here's a pic of what I'm
trying to do:
http://mikesdriveway.com/misc/carsim1.jpg

I've got 3 options.

1. Use a micro-atx board and p4 2.4 CPU I have and find a suitable micro atx
case. The problem is most of these cases are bigger than the motherboards
and the board I have pretty much uses all the available space (in depth at
least).

2. Buy an ITX board to take the P4 and use a spare ITX case I have here. Are
these available still in socket 478 with an agp port?

3. The reason I have the case is because the board in it is dead due to a
dead fan on the chipset, so repairing that board is also an option. But can
those chips be replaced?

4. Some other idea? I need an AGP port and would like something to take my
2.4 cpu.

Thanks,
Michael

PS, the actual dimensions I need are 415 width x 230 depth x 170 height.
 
Michael said:
I need a PC that will fit into a smallish space. Here's a pic of what I'm
trying to do:
http://mikesdriveway.com/misc/carsim1.jpg

I've got 3 options.

1. Use a micro-atx board and p4 2.4 CPU I have and find a suitable micro atx
case. The problem is most of these cases are bigger than the motherboards
and the board I have pretty much uses all the available space (in depth at
least).

2. Buy an ITX board to take the P4 and use a spare ITX case I have here. Are
these available still in socket 478 with an agp port?

3. The reason I have the case is because the board in it is dead due to a
dead fan on the chipset, so repairing that board is also an option. But can
those chips be replaced?

4. Some other idea? I need an AGP port and would like something to take my
2.4 cpu.

Thanks,
Michael

PS, the actual dimensions I need are 415 width x 230 depth x 170 height.
Click to expand...

http://www.mini-itx.com/store
http://www.logicsupply.com

There are plenty of solutions out there, but technology marches on.
With S478 chips gone, there is less reason to make S478 boards.
And AGP chipsets are dying out for similar reasons. They still exist,
but would be more likely to be harnessed to an LGA775 socket.

For example, this is a current generation LGA775, DDR, AGP board. P5PE-VM

http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/13-131-029-04.jpg

You can get a retail P4 2.8GHz (model 511) for $70, to fit in that $55 motherboard.

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/...x?type=1&name=P5PE-VM&SLanguage=en-us&cache=1

In terms of packaging (a computer case), I can think of a couple options.
There were some cases, that used a right angle riser for AGP, PCI, or both.
That allows using a full sized AGP card, but turned on its side. That allows
keeping the profile down. You still have to figure out a low profile cooling
solution for the processor, if the assembly is too high. There are also
microATX cases with low profile card slots. If your AGP card is low profile,
that will open up more possibilities.

Back to your dimensions.

415 x 230 x 170 is 16.3" x 9" x 6.7"

My spare AGP video card is about 5" at the faceplate, implying a non-low
profile package height-wise. A microATX board is, by standards, 9.6"x9.6",
which means you might be looking for a board which is smaller than standard.
The P5PE-VM is 9.6" high (standard), but only 7.6" deep. So that would fit.

My problem is with the remaining space. The remaining space implies crowding
the PSU next to storage devices. Something you might not find in a commercial
case. You may be able to use a SFX power supply, to free up more volume. But
other than that, you might be constructing your own case to package it.

Or starting again, with some kind of mini-itx with a different processor,
and just building from the ground up. Maybe dumping the AGP card will open
more possibilities.

You could stick the $70 P4 model 511 processor, into this $325 LGA775,
PCI Express x16 video, DDR2 memory motherboard. You could buy a low profile
PCI Express video card. Then go shopping for a mini-itx case. Maybe that
would meet the volume spec. The 511 is 84W, so it makes for a warm solution
for a tiny case.

http://www.logicsupply.com/product_info.php/cPath/78_55/products_id/409

I guess my thinking is, if you want an off the shelf solution, with a
nice case, you almost have to select the case first, and then select
components to fit into those constraints. If your dimensions above were
16" x 16" x 6.7", then the solution could be cheaper. But if your
dimensions don't follow one of the many standards out there, then the
price of the solution could rise dramatically.

Building your own case wouldn't be that bad. First, you need to think
of a mechanical solution, to keep the AGP card upright and without
stress. The rest of it would be "snakes n' ladders". My hardware store
sells aluminum angle iron of various dimensions, and it is soft enough
to be easy to drill. You'd probably need over $100 worth of aluminum
just for the frame. Then pick the metal of your choice for the outside.
Thin sheet aluminum allows the use of a nibbling tool (got mine at
Radio Shack long ago), and you can cur square holes for things like the
CDROM drive tray. Tin plate wouldn't be as much fun to work with.

Costwise, it makes the cardboard box almost attractive :-)

Paul
 
Michael C said:
I need a PC that will fit into a smallish space. Here's a pic of what I'm trying to do:
http://mikesdriveway.com/misc/carsim1.jpg
Click to expand...
I've got 3 options.
Click to expand...

You've got 4 actually, use a decent laptop.
1. Use a micro-atx board and p4 2.4 CPU I have and find a suitable micro atx case. The problem is
most of these cases are bigger than the motherboards and the board I have pretty much uses all the
available space (in depth at least).
Click to expand...
2. Buy an ITX board to take the P4 and use a spare ITX case I have here. Are these available still
in socket 478 with an agp port?
Click to expand...
3. The reason I have the case is because the board in it is dead due to a dead fan on the chipset,
so repairing that board is also an option. But can those chips be replaced?
Click to expand...

Not by the average solderer.
4. Some other idea?
Click to expand...

Yep, use a decent laptop/notebook.
I need an AGP port
Click to expand...

Why ?
and would like something to take my 2.4 cpu.
Click to expand...

Makes more sense to get a decent laptop/notebook.
PS, the actual dimensions I need are 415 width x 230 depth x 170 height.
Click to expand...

Easy as falling off a log with a decent laptop/notebook.
 
Rod Speed said:
Yep, use a decent laptop/notebook.


Why ?
Click to expand...

To put my nvidia 7600GS into. I'm using this for a racing simulator.
Makes more sense to get a decent laptop/notebook.


Easy as falling off a log with a decent laptop/notebook.
Click to expand...

That would be an option but I think expensive to match the video
performance.
 
Paul said:
Building your own case wouldn't be that bad. First, you need to think
of a mechanical solution, to keep the AGP card upright and without
stress. The rest of it would be "snakes n' ladders". My hardware store
sells aluminum angle iron of various dimensions, and it is soft enough
to be easy to drill. You'd probably need over $100 worth of aluminum
just for the frame. Then pick the metal of your choice for the outside.
Thin sheet aluminum allows the use of a nibbling tool (got mine at
Radio Shack long ago), and you can cur square holes for things like the
CDROM drive tray. Tin plate wouldn't be as much fun to work with.

Costwise, it makes the cardboard box almost attractive :-)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed reply. This is an option although I'd just use steel
as I can weld it. I wouldn't need a complete case as it's all going inside a
wooden box anyway. I could just make up some sort of frame. This is my last
option, although I'll probably have to go with it in the end. :-) The real
killer is the 230mm dimension which is pretty much the width of the mini atx
board. Any case I bought would have to be no larger than the board in this
dimension which is unlikely. With regards to the heat issues I could mount
the drives to the left of the motherboard and the power supply to the right.
 
To put my nvidia 7600GS into. I'm using this for a racing simulator.
Click to expand...

All you actually need is decent video capability.
That would be an option but I think expensive to match the video performance.
Click to expand...

Nope, quite a few have what you need for that now.
 
Thanks for the detailed reply. This is an option although I'd just use steel
as I can weld it. I wouldn't need a complete case as it's all going inside a
wooden box anyway. I could just make up some sort of frame. This is my last
option, although I'll probably have to go with it in the end. :-) The real
killer is the 230mm dimension which is pretty much the width of the mini atx
board. Any case I bought would have to be no larger than the board in this
dimension which is unlikely. With regards to the heat issues I could mount
the drives to the left of the motherboard and the power supply to the right.
Click to expand...

Steel could work but one of the nice things about the
aluminum is you don't have to care about the rust or
painting. Plus, if you're bolting it together instead of
welding, anything off tolerance a bit can be slightly
adjusted later... and that without having to do as much
disassembly, just loosening a few nuts.

You can often get aluminum angle cheaper online than at the
local hardware stores, but if you aren't looking for
something *fancy*, just functional, you might be able to do
without the angle altogether and just use a metal brake to
put some folds in the metal sheeting. Naturally it would
depend on the size of the case and sheet thickness, whether
that provides enough support. In particular I'd pay the
most attention to support of the board backplane, since the
board is screwed to it, it ought to be as rigid as
reasonably possible.
 
kony said:
Steel could work but one of the nice things about the
aluminum is you don't have to care about the rust or
painting. Plus, if you're bolting it together instead of
welding, anything off tolerance a bit can be slightly
adjusted later... and that without having to do as much
disassembly, just loosening a few nuts.

You can often get aluminum angle cheaper online than at the
local hardware stores, but if you aren't looking for
something *fancy*, just functional, you might be able to do
without the angle altogether and just use a metal brake to
put some folds in the metal sheeting. Naturally it would
depend on the size of the case and sheet thickness, whether
that provides enough support. In particular I'd pay the
most attention to support of the board backplane, since the
board is screwed to it, it ought to be as rigid as
reasonably possible.
Click to expand...

Paul just gave me an idea. I can get a standard mini tower case and use the
angle grider to cut the whole thing in half where the motherboard ends. Then
cut the front off it and weld the front onto the rear section of the case. I
did the same thing to a whole car once for paddock bashing so it shouldn't
be too much trouble for a case :-) I just need to find an old mini tower
case as all the spares i've got here are midi and just a little bit too
high. There'll be no room for the hard drive but I could just screw it to
the floor of the case. I'll post some pics when it's done :-)
 
Many options.
My goal was the same some time back, I cheaply.found a casetronic 4117
case on ebay for 1 buck, because the fake world deemed it no good, and I put
my microATX with a p4 inside. A year later it was just needing the fan
cleaned up on psu (coincidentally just yesterday). I have yet to find a case
that small- there are newer options and power hungry, I gave up when 450
watts was claimed not to be enough. Got the cash to fall for hoaxes there is
always a way.
Go custom with confidence- I did learn that aluminum on small psu is
incredible- I would swear the box even helped renew energy, I would put an
even hotter cpu in such a case with the right stuff- big power seemed to
change the size of mainstream's idea of "small".
 
kony said:
Steel could work but one of the nice things about the
aluminum is you don't have to care about the rust or
painting. Plus, if you're bolting it together instead of
welding, anything off tolerance a bit can be slightly
adjusted later... and that without having to do as much
disassembly, just loosening a few nuts.

You can often get aluminum angle cheaper online than at the
local hardware stores, but if you aren't looking for
something *fancy*, just functional, you might be able to do
without the angle altogether and just use a metal brake to
put some folds in the metal sheeting. Naturally it would
depend on the size of the case and sheet thickness, whether
that provides enough support. In particular I'd pay the
most attention to support of the board backplane, since the
board is screwed to it, it ought to be as rigid as
reasonably possible.
Click to expand...

Here's what I ended up doing

http://www.mikesdriveway.com/racesim/pc.jpg

and here is the complete unit. The PC is under the seat at the back so the
incomplete case works quite well.

http://www.mikesdriveway.com/racesim/assembled.jpg
 
kony said:
Very nice, you must REALLY like racing!
Click to expand...

I do but I've never really played them because i haven't had the proper
setup until now. The keyboard or mouse was no good and attaching a steering
wheel to the desk was pretty average also (it kept falling off and the
pedals on the ground would move). If you used an existing PC, monitor/tv and
speakers a setup like this could be done for somewhere around $500US or less
if using a cheaper wheel.

Michael
 
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