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]

Ideally, you go from least amount of heat to extract (M.2) to the most amount of heat to extract (GPU) from what I would recommend.

I pulled out my video card yesterday just to look at how big it was.  It has an included 'anti-sag' bracket that I won't need because it's being mounted vertically.

I wonder why these video cards are so big.

[BigAl01]

Sunday has been a big day.  My wife went to some festival at Wolf Trap, so I had the whole afternoon to work on the computer.  The Windows 11 USB install stick arrived Saturday from Amazon, so I had everything on hand to complete this build.

I started with the CPU install, followed by the CPU AIO cooler.  These steps went well.  It was my first time using the AM5 socket.  I decided to pop that socket cover off myself, rather than hope it popped off when the lever was lowered.  The AIO cooler had pre-installed thermal paste so I was able to avoid the mess of installing new thermal paste.

Time to open the box on the AMD 7900X CPU. Socket it to me baby! The AIO CPU cooler is attached. I can't wait to see that LCD in action!

[BigAl01]

Continuing on with the build, the next steps were to install the PCIe 4.0 extender cable and then the video card, but first - I installed the wires for the front panel because they are hard to reach when the video card is installed.

One issue was the alignment of the PCIe 4.0 extender cable.  I did a test fit with the video card (it wasn't aligned correctly) and when I tried to use a screwdriver to release the holding clip, the ends of the clip just broke off!  I mean, what the #(U$( !  I got the video card out and decided that I could only use one mounting screw (of the two) to hold down that extender cable, and that allowed the video card to reach the mounting brackets.  So it's harder to pull out now, but it's installed.

The front panel switch connections are in, and now I'm installing the PCIe 4.0 extender cable. Ok, the 7900 XT video card is installed. It was a pain to get the PCIe 4.0 extender cable aligned right.

[BigAl01]

After finishing all the power connections and double-checking everything, I was ready to power it on.  This is always a scary part - don't believe anyone if they don't agree.  

So I plugged in a monitor, mouse and keyboard that I borrowed from a few other computers on my LAN and I pressed the power button.  The fans came on but the video card didn't start it's fans.  There was no display.....

The fans work. Where is the video? Oh oh. Error lights on the motherboard for the CPU and memory. Rats.

[BigAl01]

So I sat there for a few minutes, thinking about what I might try next.  Maybe a BIOS update for the motherboard?  This motherboard is supposed to work with my 7900X CPU right out of the box though.  My memory is on the approved list from the MSI motherboard manufacturer.  Then, all of a sudden.....

.....I get a display message.  Something about that security Ftp stuff and I should hit 'Y' to acknowledge that the CPU has been changed.  What?  This is a new install.  But I did hit 'Y' on the keyboard.  And the system booted up to the BIOS.  Hurrah!

After getting past the CPU security issue (Ftp), I am into the BIOS.

Ok, I checked temperatures and such, and then inserted my Windows 11 USB stick and pressed reset.  Windows installed and I was into the desktop, with some MSI installer coming along for the ride.

Windows 11 installed successfully. Where did that MSI installer app come from?

I looked at the apps that the MSI installer app wanted to install (including AMD chipset drivers), so I let it go ahead.  After a few minutes it stopped at 48% of installing the chipset drivers.....10 minutes later it was still there.  So I pressed reset.

And, my Windows 11 install has been corrupted.  I can't log into Windows 11 successfully.  It keeps hanging once I reach the desktop.  No mouse, no nothing.  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr................

[BigAl01]

Repeated reboots didn't change much.  I hit F8 and got into the Windows startup repair menus and such.  I tried 'startup repair' and that didn't fix it.  I tried a few other things to no avail.  I thought about it for about 30 minutes.  I decided that I would select the option to reinstall Windows 11, keeping my personal data (really only my account login information and the Windows 11 key I think).  It took a while to delete the old install before it was ready to install the new version (maybe 7-8 minutes), but once it completed, I was able to successfully log into Windows 11 and get to my desktop where I could continue installing apps and things of this nature.  It was time to crack open a bottle and celebrate!

No MSI installer app came up this time. I ran Windows Update to get things up to date. My wine of choice? A 2017 RdV Rendezvous red blend.

You might notice that I installed the tempered glass panel now.  Most of the work ahead involves installing software and some 'theme' stuff to complement the computer desk where this machine will be set up as my main machine.  

More to come in the next few days and weeks.

[petosiris]

Looking good, @BigAl01!  Sorry to hear about all the troubles you had during the last phase, but glad you got it to work eventually.  There are always some problems when building a new PC ...

[BigAl01]

You got that right, especially with a new platform.  Unexpected things might rattle some folks, but not me.  I've seen my share of problems to overcome.  

[petosiris]

So what's left to do with your new build then, @BigAl01?  A week of tuning Windows to your own specifications, installing drivers and programs?  Do you plan to upgrade the PC to a custom water loop later on?

[BigAl01]

@petosiris - I need to move several computers around my LAN to make room for this new machine, along with what you describe.  But more importantly, developing a theme for this machine.  It's name is 'Wine-Time' if that alludes to anything.  We shall see.

An earlier shot but I do need to go through the BIOS and set up the memory.