illerin

So getting parts in, sadly didn't get a Zen 3 at launch so will have to wait for that. Going to use a 3070 for now(will beat my 1060 mobile by a mile... or 10). But thinking of flipping the mobo/gpu and psu and having the side fans as exhausts and a fan in the open area exhausting up. So all my hot are is going out sideways and up while the fresh are is pulled in from the bottom. Still keeping the divider wall between the mobo and Gpu other then a cutout for the side exhaust area and power cable.
 
Blue is intake fans, reds are exhaust. 
Parts: 
MSI B550m Mortar 
Seasonic SFX 650
RTX 3070
 

Updated:
Got the power button done, stained and clear coated the wood, painted the alum and added the case mounting hardware.


 

Updated:
Got the power button done, stained and clear coated the wood, painted the alum and added the case mounting hardware.


 

I got a 3070 FE from bestbuy, had no luck when trying on the site, but using their app i was able to order one.

Got one from bestbuy online, could never add one to the cart from their website, but was able to order one thru their phone app.

With remote working, I got to bring my work computer home (3950x, 64gb of ram and a 2060 super (it might seem unbalance, but for what I do it's perfect)), and my personnal computer was sitting in a corner (ryzen 2600, 16gb of ram and a 2060) for 6 monts. So I decided to make a mini-itx HTPC/Vr gaming rig for my living room with parts from my personnal computer.
 
My old Thermaltake Armor being HUGE, I choose to shrink down a lot. I just needed to buy a new motherboard (I chose the Asus A320i-k, just because it was the cheapest one and I didn't need more) and a new PSU (I chose the Corsair SF450).
 
I wanted to use wood, make the computer less "computery" in the room. I chose red oak and maple (sentimental thing).
 
 

 
I decided to make the internal out of sheet metal (and by cutting the pannel of an old Lenovo). But first I made a prototype out of cardboard..
 
Afterward, it was "only" a question of glueing the wood, cutting, sanding, and putting a coat of Teak oil. It took me waayyy more time to do all of this than I anticipated (and I'm way over budget). The end result is far from perfect, it isn't perfectly even, the cutting isnt perfectly straight, the mounting holes for the fans aren't perfectly aligned... But. I love how it looks.
 


 
My internal AC cable being too shot, I had to flip it and cut a hole in the middle metal sheet so the PSU could breathe.
 

 
Last thing was to put something to seal the panels (so I wouldn't get cat hair everywhere on the computer). And do some cable management.
 

 
And here are pictures from the final product
 

 
 

Hi all, I have plans for a gaming desk build and I thought I would share to give others idea's.
I have made my setup in sketchup. there is some items in the photos that are not apart of the build, off to the side.**
White and copper theme
 
I just moved into this room a few months ago, smaller (9'X9.5') then my already small (10'X10') room. I already had issue with my desk being small, and didn't really have a good option to put the existing desk in the room itself and still have good room layout function. 
 
The bed I had was just a footon, the frame blocked most use of storage below. and being that I didn't have a closet anymore, I made a platform bed, and my dresser under it as well, worked out great. There is about 35cft of storage under the bed. 
back wall of the closet is pallet wood. 
copper pipe used for drawer handles, standoffs, and shelf units.
drawer unit will be custom, designed after ikea ALEX units, only problem being the depth of ALEX is only 18", as to mine will be 26" deep.
also the unit has a open spot to accommodate my 7 channel and 2 channel stereo's.
40" TV and 2X 24" Asus monitors.
Hifi stereo speakers 7X.
desk is made from cabinet grade plywood as a base layer, topped with project panel pine butcher-block.
Monitor riser is also the pine, possible that I might go get a piece of 8/4 hardwood with live edge.
Black & decker coffee maker... probably the most important part of the build! haha, hey it makes sense to me.... getting coffee lake soon!
 

at least i can confirm wd.....AZ is smr with 256mb cache, while RZ has 64mb cache but its crm
 
the sales person took the wrong model to me, luckily i refunded the AZ smr

Since my PC lays sideways in my rack I thought I’d add a new power button. 
 
I used stepping bits to get the hole to the perfect size to screw in the button’s shaft and wired it up to a spare set of power sw and power led wires I had laying around. Looks great and had a very satisfying click.
 
 

Most aluminum I've ever cut, still a lot of sanding to do. Turning out well so far! =D

@startrek03 Making those test parts really helped refine the final parts, though after i bent them i found out i drilled the vent holes on the wrong side! So I guess i have the option for vent/intake from either side of the case now. 
 
Have the top and bottom panels and the perforated panel cut out. Going to wait till i  have the computer hardware till i cut the top panel intake holes so they will line up with the fans. This is just a 1/8" wood panel so if i need to change the vent holes due to hardware change or change in air flow configuration its can be done cheaply. Still got a lot of work to be done to finish it.
 
 
 
 

Making the final side pieces now. Built a form to hold the side pieces to ensure they are the correct width as the glue dries.

Also have been thinking about airflow after @burh4n analysis and comments, and i think I'm going to add some pass thru holes for venting. I originally plan to flush mount the case to the bottom of my desk, but now thinking i will leave a 1/4" gap and have holes in the panel so the air can pass thru the case.

Made a test piece for the side wall with vents to see how well the hole pattern would turn out, got better with them as i went along. 

Thats a bit cleaner for the Hub

Most aluminum I've ever cut, still a lot of sanding to do. Turning out well so far! =D

@startrek03 Making those test parts really helped refine the final parts, though after i bent them i found out i drilled the vent holes on the wrong side! So I guess i have the option for vent/intake from either side of the case now. 
 
Have the top and bottom panels and the perforated panel cut out. Going to wait till i  have the computer hardware till i cut the top panel intake holes so they will line up with the fans. This is just a 1/8" wood panel so if i need to change the vent holes due to hardware change or change in air flow configuration its can be done cheaply. Still got a lot of work to be done to finish it.
 
 
 
 

laser cut looks way better
 
I have some el-cheapo range hood carbon "filter" material. No restriction to air flow, and the "carbon" part does absolutely nothing at all to capture small particulates. But I think it is designed to capture relatively massive cooking oil vapour particles. Im thinking on using several layers of this cheap (its like 3-4 dollars for 1.5x1.5 feet/500x500mm) sheet. Layering helps me figure out if its worth it as an idea and gives some design freedom. 2-3 layers of this stuff should be a labyrinth enough to capture majority of the dust, but not so much it will affect airflow. 
 
Proper foam air filters wont restrict airflow until clogged full. By which time, its swapped out. But the foam filters are used in rather high vacuum environments: on the intakes of carburetted motors. So, on relative low vacuum environment of a PC case...foam may not work well. 
 
Using mesh screens has no restriction to airflow, but getting the right mesh is important. Too tight of a mesh will restrict airflow too, too loose wont capture dust. The big advantage of mesh is that its pretty much indefinite... if you clean every 2-3 months.   

Thats a bit cleaner for the Hub

Thats a bit cleaner for the Hub

@startrek03 Yeah, not too happy with the sd slot, thinking about having another go at it to get that slot better. Thinking i will do a small plunge cut to get two vertical lines to make the slot cleaner. 
 
 
Got the alum sheets in and did a test fit with my test side panel to make sure the slot fit correctly.(it did =D ) 
I plan to stain the wood side panel, and paint the wood subpanel thats below the perforated alum black so it matches the foam filter(not shown). Going to either brush finish the alum so it all looks the same, or just paint all the aluminum parts.
 

Made a test piece for the side wall with vents to see how well the hole pattern would turn out, got better with them as i went along. 

Thanks Burh4n for your input! Will differently have to try the fan both ways and bench mark it once its built. There is a second exhaust under my graphics card, though it will be smaller since i'm going to make a second slot increase i go with a double slot card, but i get what you mean by the mobo just spinning the same air. Was thinking about putting a 60mm fan for a side exhaust by the mobo so the air is drawn across the case. Dont think this would detract from the look of the case and it wouldnt be blowing hot air on my legs. 
 
Made the power strip cable box as a test run for making the case and think it turned out nice. This doesnt have the 1/8" alum trim i intend to put on the case so it does look a little bare. Thinking about getting some self etching alum paint and testing out coloring the alum. 

Made a test piece for the side wall with vents to see how well the hole pattern would turn out, got better with them as i went along. 

Made a test piece for the side wall with vents to see how well the hole pattern would turn out, got better with them as i went along. 

Made a test piece for the side wall with vents to see how well the hole pattern would turn out, got better with them as i went along.