DIY PC Case Ideas?

I'm looking for something super-cheap or something I can find around the house, like cardboard maybe?, that I could secure a bootable mobo with everything on it and psu + hdd.

My vision would be throwing everything neatly into a cardboard box, cutting a few small holes in the side for cords, secure a few things with a little tape and run it like that. Possibly cut the box top so its more of a tray or a small box for portability\storage. Any links to DIY case articles or tips or recommendations for safe materials to set the mobo on would be greatly appreciated.

 

What do you consider super cheap?

You get what you pay for so keep that in mind.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811154102

$10 More but much better brand
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119203

Both have free shipping

 

Some people have been known to mount their MOBO to the wall with standoffs and run their computers that way.

 

Yes, I see that at a place where they suppose to fix computers...!!!:confused

 

cardboard
http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/02/03/recycled-cardboard-computer-case-by-francesco-biasci/

toaster oven
http://lh3.ggpht.com/abramsv/SHZ9uVVLyFI/AAAAAAAAVRg/LnztOD1pVYU/s1600-h/tewrthghdfgmhj.jpg

Just google for case mods and you'll get lots of ideas similar to these http://www.neatorama.com/case-mod/

 

Of course using something like cardboard you have to think about earthing, as if you look at all the screw holes on a motherboard, they all have metal around that is supposed to connect to the case, and therefore to the outside of the power supply, which is earthed.

Also, computer cases are designed to get the best possible airflow pattern to remove hot air, and a toaster oven will not have that design.

I am not saying this is a bad idea, just things to think about.

 

Thanks a lot guys, I have a direction I may be moving in. Would wood(;p) be a decent idea? Maybe fix the standoffs to a plank or two and duct tape the planks underneath a desk or in the corner of my basement. Also isn't it possible for the mobo to simply rest upon the cardboard\wood it doesn't necessarily have to be secured. Thought I've seen that in a video or two online. again thanks for the input

 

i'm by no means an expert, but would't heat from the mother board/cpu be a factor in the materials used. if you had access to some scrap sheet metal (18-20 ga.) and a brake you could make a nice, cheap box any size you want. jmo cbw hbb.

 

That's fine,you could even screw the stand off's straight to the bottom of a computer desk.

An idea me and Ace were talking about a while ago is an old VCR case.

Don't forget to post pics of the completed project

 

I have made cases from wooden boxes, fish tanks, CRT monitors and gutted DVD players; as long as you have standoffs, you can put the motherboard in pretty much anything and be fine.

It makes it easier to add slaved drives for data recovery from client machines.

 

The first PC I built was on a beer box because the case was back ordered. You can use practically anything, but as someone already stated, all the screw mounting holes should be grounded to the PSU. I'm not saying that it has to be grounded, but it's supposed to be.

 

What kind of material would be best for standoffs? More specific if you are making a homemade modded case.

 

Welcome to the forum You really need to start a new thread gamerkidz rather than drag up an old one.

As for standoff's its doesn't matter what they are made of as they aren't part of the motherboard circuit,they can be plastic,metal,wood,rubber anything you can make your own standoffs simply with a screw or small bolt and some metal washers,the only thing is a bag of brass standoffs is cheaper than buying some small bolts and washer.

You just have to make sure whatever you use is so large that it strays out of the standoff area onto an electrical contact if you use something conductive.

 

Maybe I'm overly paranoid, but I'd shy away from using cardboard as a case for a PC due to flammability issues.

If something goes wrong and the CPU or board suffer a meltdown, a temp. of 80-90C might be just enough to ignite the cardboard.

I'm aware clear (Plexiglas) cases also can burn; however I suspect they have a much higher flash point.

 

Alright, thanks. I just saw this link when I Googled DIY computer cases, I just created another thread because well I have another problem, lol. Its under hardware and is about my pin layout for my front panel I/O switch.

 

I Always thought built into the desk would be cool......just shorten the drawers and build it in behind there with all your connections staight on the top of your desk

 

It is a nice idea but considering you live in OZ, you'd have to install a lower powered machine and give a really hard think on the airflow design, heat kills computers.