Building Your Own Case - 2023 Edition

[BigAl01]

I'm looking for some new case design ideas for a build in the summer to fall of 2023.  I have a few ideas of items that could be used to house computer components, such as an old Klipsch subwoofer or perhaps an old cooler from the Boy Scout days of the 1990s.  I feel confident in modding an existing device, but not so much in constructing a new case out of wood or things of this nature.  I like the 'appliance' idea, but it would help to have lots of suggestions from fellow modders.  Below is that old subwoofer I mentioned, which would just barely be big enough to house a micro-ATX motherboard and a graphics card.  Where the woofer is currently located, I would probably apply a wire mesh to help with ventilation.

Do you have some ideas for me to consider?  Keep in mind that I have several months to think about this.  If there is an idea that sounds good to me but I don't have the item on hand, then it will take time to find it - that's one reason to start thinking about this now.

It would be a tight fit, but this subwoofer might work.

[BigAl01]

Some of those case ideas have already been made - the nuclear football, the Millennium Falcon, and the electric breaker panel come to mind.  I've never thought of turning a lawnmower into a computer!

Should I mow if it snows?

[Watchtower_GM]

I can't take credit for that one the idea came from a t-shirt. 

TShirt 

I really don't mind how much an idea has been tried by others. I have a tendency to see things different anyway. Wall PCs have probably been tried a thousand times but that's exactly what started me down this path to my first Watchtower.

[BigAl01]

Today I took my Ryzen-Nine computer out of my computer desk and pulled out the rolling floor shelf.  I made some measurements so now I know what size computer I can build on the shelf and have it still fit inside the desk cavity.  I'm liking this idea more and more, but again, I'm not building it until June or July of 2023.  While I had my current computer out, I pulled out the bottom fan filter and cleaned it.  I also blew out the dust collecting where the PSU pulls air into itself.  

Here is the shelf that I pulled out of the computer desk.

[BigAl01]

Remembering that I had previously built my Through the Looking Glass system with the Thermaltake P5 chassis, I checked into using the leftover tempered glass for my new 2023 build under the computer desk.  However, the glass panel is a bit too large (it is 22.5" by 22.5") for the desk enclosure (21.0" by 19.0").  So I started looking at other ideas and the updated Thermaltake Core P3 TG Pro in black looks mighty tasty to me at the moment.  Although I don't have it's measurements as of yet (they didn't post them on their website), I'm sure it is smaller than the P5 series.  If I go this route I don't think much modding would be necessary.  This revised P3 design addresses the main issue of the earlier version - it tended to tip down to the glass panel side due to weight of the glass.

Revised base helps with stability.

[Ph3arr3t]

I have an idea for a case, following the refurbishing concept, your BigAl seems to be tucked into a desk, why not use the whole desk / drawers for the different components ?

[Ph3arr3t]

@Watchtower_GM..

that shirt I have also seen. I have also seen a collection of the "Case Mods" sites and one I've seen that's close to that is someone used a large multi drawer toolbox on wheels as a PC.

[BigAl01]

I don’t want to use my whole desk for a computer build (as has been done with a few other glass top desk designs), mostly because there is no space below the top except for the drawers.  Good idea though.  If I use the Thermaltake P3 case that I’ve shown above, I will have several lighting options and modding possibilities.

[petosiris]

Hi @BigAl01,

But Ryzen Nine is sitting on a wooden shelf that is on rollers - I believe it would come out and I could use that as a base for the new build - meaning it could be attached to the wooden shelf and thereby add strength to the structure.  It's just an idea for now.

Personally I like your idea of using the current wooden cabinet on rollers as a base for the new build.  If you're going to have the new PC under your desk you'd need a platform with wheels under it anyway.

Then you can add some steampunk gadgets to the case, perhaps?

Image source: https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/254848-steampunk-chassis-amazing-case-water-cooled-rig-weve-ever...

[BigAl01]

I've decided to not build the case from scratch this time around.  I have other ideas that will become more obvious once I start posting a new build.  I'm still not in a rush with this project and other things have come up since we returned from our month of wine drinking...er...tasting in France.  I went ahead and ordered the Thermaltake Core P3 Pro case from Newegg; it is scheduled to arrive today.  I like the idea of Steampunk gadgets, especially the USB Pentode Electron tube flash drives.

Sandra smelling scents in the Steampunk-like Wine Museum in Bordeaux, France.

So, what came up?  Well, my father-in-law passed away a few days ago (Monday, 22 May 2023).  I've been very busy getting the stuff out of his apartment at an assisted living center.  He was fine while we were on vacation, but when we visited him the day after our return, he wasn't doing well.  That night he went into the hospital with a UTI and seemed to be improving when we visited him in the hospital on Saturday and Sunday.  But he died at age 96 on Monday morning.  His funeral is tomorrow (Thursday).  Everything is happening so fast.  My wife Sandra is taking it well though.  She was a good daughter and did her best for him.  We were looking forward to taking him to church on Sunday but he was in the hospital.  

[petosiris]

I'm sorry to hear about the death of your wife's father!  My condolences to her and you all!

And thanks for the tip about USB Pentode Electron tube flash drives!  I will definately buy one of those.