Discussions

[BigAl01]

I was busy this afternoon updating my LAN gaming machines (Windows Updates, Norton updates, Adrenalin 24.12.1 updates and things of this nature) and while waiting in-between updates, I started assembling what I think will become a new build in early 2025 - my Plant Rack Mod, or a better name might be 'Green-With-Envy'.  I do like catchy names for my custom builds you see.

So, what am I talking about?  Well, a few months ago I bought my wife a new plant rack for her orchid growing hobby, this time using LED illumination as opposed to the old florescent tube lighting.  I bought the new rack from Amazon, and you can see how that went together here.  Anyway, I just cannot throw anything out it seems.  I had an idea that I could use the old plant rack pieces (minus the florescent tube lights, which I took to the dumpster) to make a smaller assembly that would hold an open-case computer.  As for the new computer build, I have only a CPU (AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D), a few 1 TB M.2 drives and an open frame test-bench case.  I will need to procure all the other parts, meaning PSU, RAM, motherboard, fans, and LED lighting too.  

But as for now, I am only checking out what I can do with the old plant rack to make it into a sort of case configuration.  These early pictures show you my idea, but it could easily change in the coming weeks.  I might want to cut it down in height.  I will need to figure out how to mount some shelves, perhaps plywood or something else I might have lying around my storage room.  

Tell me what you think of this idea and what comes to your mind as I proceed into January 2025 with this build.  It could easily take a few months, so it's kind of a back-burner mod.  I don't need another computer, that's for sure.  But I just can't help myself when the creative juices start flowing.

I saved most of the parts from the old plant rack. Here I am using the short rods to make a compact assembly.

Ok, it's getting a bit more stable, but not strong yet.

A cross-bar on the bottom helps.

A cross-bar on the top helps, but the two hoops help the most. Should I cut them down?

Most of the computer should fit on one shelf, but I may use two shelves just because I can. Hey, it's my mod after all.

[mengelag]

Looks pretty awesome. I'm curious but what would it look like if you mounted the test bench vertically? Are you planning to have plants in the rack also? I think that would look cool but maybe the maintenance because of the moisture would be too much?

[BigAl01]

I think I want that open case to lay flat so that the GPU won't need extra support.  Most of my time will be spent on fabricating the shelve(s) and things of this nature.  I do have an idea about plants being on the rack, but I have nowhere to put this build near a light source (at least for now), so I would also need to install LED lighting for the plants.  Then there is the water issue.  Live plants could be watered in a bathtub and then placed back on their shelf.  The LED lights would need to be on a daily timer to keep them alive.  If I used fake plants, then it would be much less hassle, but not as cool I think.  

[BigAl01]

Good news.  I negotiated with my wife (she is also a retire MSEE) that  we can place this build in our 'music room', aka living room, as long as we have the sleeper sofa that is currently there removed.  That would free up space and I can get a desk to place near this 'Green-With-Envy' build.  She also want's live plants and more than just a few.  I will have to figure out a 2-3 shelf build, with the bottom shelf being the computer.  No rush on this project.  I hope to use a new 8000 series GPU before it's complete.  I am excited.  Early approval is key to a successful marriage.

[jamesc359]

That's certainly an interesting idea. What is your overall theme going to be? Just a couple ideas, you could get some metal serving trays or baking sheets. It'd be significantly more expensive and require a lot more effort as you'd have to drill holes, but I think it'd look absolutely amazing when done.

[BigAl01]

The overall theme is a plant / computer rack that is much more compact than the original one.  If I use real plants on the upper level, I probably want to add a few fans (good for orchids to have airflow) that run on their own PSU and they would come on via timer with the LED lights.  Check that link in my first post for how I did this with the new plant rack that is actually intended for plants.  

The whole assembly is on wheels, so I can move it around.  However, I would need it placed near a desk that holds the monitor, keyboard and mouse.  Right now I don't have room for it in my current setup of my LAN (mostly in the finished basement and in the den).  Talking my wife into having a computer station in the music room (aka living room) would be tough.  I would probably need to get rid of the old sleeper-sofa we have in there.  I do plan to have wireless connectivity to my router though, and that makes it easier to place.   Also, the plants would need to be watered on a weekly basis.  If I hide it away in the basement, I might forget about it some weeks.

So many things to consider with a 'living' computer workstation!

[BigAl01]

When I get moving on this project again (maybe after my upcoming LAN party on 29 December 2024), I will cut some of the long pipes from the old plant rack and make another shelf support so that I have three shelves.  Then I have a big job of cutting up the plywood shelves.  I don't own a circular saw or anything similar, so I will likely be using a hand saw to make the shelves.  That's going to be tough on my right wrist, which most people know was damaged in a 1983 motorcycle accident and then again in 2019 I slipped on black ice and broke both right arm bones too!  

As I said, this project will take a while.  There is also the issue of getting that sleeper-sofa removed from our music room.  

[mengelag]

Happy LAN day on the 29th. Post some pictures if you can!