Jump to content

MiniATX - "Cardboard 1.0" build log

KemoKa
By KemoKa
in Build Logs
 Share
Posted

I had forgotten we had a build log section :v never mind, here it is!

 

For the past few days I have been working on a project, a very special project, one that I know for a fact has probably been done before, but damn it, I'm gonna do it too just because I can!

 

The idea is to build a competent gaming machine out of an ATX motherboard, but in a case with ITX dimensions, one I can use as something to easily haul around to lan parties. As you can probably guess, much cardboard is involved. Hopefully I'll be able to make more of these build logs down the road (because my main rig is powerful but weighs 45 pounds) but for now, this is the first one.

 

A run-down of the specs on this machine:

 

Core 2 Quad Q6600

Asus P5B ATX motherboard

Sapphire Radeon 7770 GHz Edition

8GB DDR2 RAM

Crucial M4 SSD

Toshibe 750GB HDD

EVGA 430W PSU

 

All fit in a handle-carried case roughly 10x8x13 inches. Tiny by ATX standards. And from what I can tell it's pretty much dead silent.

 

Pictures will have to be through imgur since LTT is being stupid at the moment. http://imgur.com/GfrJ1CT,9kiGbw0

 

Enjoy the fun! Moar will be to be had.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I hope you're going to reinforce that cardboard. It is looking good so far.

 

Spoiler

4790k @ 4.5Ghz 1.180v -  NZXT Kraken X31 | MSI Z97 Krait | Kingston Hyper X Fury 32GB 1866Mhz, 2 DIMMs white and 2 black | GTX 980 Ti - G1 Gaming | GTX 680 - Reference | SilverStone ST75F-P | Phanteks Enthoo Pro

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

this is very interesting. Never would have picked carboard. Maybe another type of light material? What are you using to hold it together? Hot glue? 

 Just because you don't care, doesn't mean other others don't. Don't be a self-centered asshole. -Thank You a PSA from the people who do not say random shit on the internet. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

this is very interesting. Never would have picked carboard. Maybe another type of light material? What are you using to hold it together? Hot glue? 

Wood glue :D and @Razarza yep I do plan on reinforcing it, So far it's holding up quite well, so we'll see how it goes. It's quite Ghetto. Of course, using just one piece of cardboard would have been absurd, the case is about 3 or 4 pieces thick, so it's not completely flimsy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Wood glue :D and @Razarza yep I do plan on reinforcing it, So far it's holding up quite well, so we'll see how it goes. It's quite Ghetto. Of course, using just one piece of cardboard would have been absurd, the case is about 3 or 4 pieces thick, so it's not completely flimsy.

are you glueing things to the cardboard?

 Just because you don't care, doesn't mean other others don't. Don't be a self-centered asshole. -Thank You a PSA from the people who do not say random shit on the internet. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

are you glueing things to the cardboard?

The motherboard is held on by velcro pads, and the PSU is held on by 3M double sided tape/foam/pad things (that both actually work much better than I expected them to.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Wood glue :D and @Razarza yep I do plan on reinforcing it, So far it's holding up quite well, so we'll see how it goes. It's quite Ghetto. Of course, using just one piece of cardboard would have been absurd, the case is about 3 or 4 pieces thick, so it's not completely flimsy.

That's good to hear, I'll be waiting on more pictures once you make more progress on it. What sort of LANs are you going to use this for, would make an excellent little CS box.

 

Spoiler

4790k @ 4.5Ghz 1.180v -  NZXT Kraken X31 | MSI Z97 Krait | Kingston Hyper X Fury 32GB 1866Mhz, 2 DIMMs white and 2 black | GTX 980 Ti - G1 Gaming | GTX 680 - Reference | SilverStone ST75F-P | Phanteks Enthoo Pro

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

The motherboard is held on by velcro pads, and the PSU is held on by 3M double sided tape/foam/pad things (that both actually work much better than I expected them to.)

Ah ok. How much did this cost in total? New parts or being reused from other things?

 Just because you don't care, doesn't mean other others don't. Don't be a self-centered asshole. -Thank You a PSA from the people who do not say random shit on the internet. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

IF it's going to be closed don't forget to get/make fan grilles and put some fans... Don't expect the PSU to do all the work D:!

Oh and what are your plans on grounding?

This is a signature.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

IF it's going to be closed don't forget to get/make fan grilles and put some fans... Don't expect the PSU to do all the work D:!

The PSU is actually separated from the rest of the components, so... yeah, fans will have to be placed. Making plans for that right now.

In my head, you understand. Written plans are not ghetto enough :3

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

Ah ok. How much did this cost in total? New parts or being reused from other things?

The cardboard boxes were free, and I can get more from the supermarket if need be for future builds, but the rest of the build is as follows

Q6600 - ¥3000 (~$25)

P5B Motherboard - ¥500 (~$4.50)

7770 - $65.00

SSD - ¥6000 (~$50)

PSU - $40

RAM - ~$20

HDD - Pulled from a dead machine - free

 

So, total cost of the project is going on just under $210. The handle was more expensive than the motherboard. Bit of a lucky find, that one was.

If this project turns out to be a success, I'll use this as an example for uber-budget builders who come here, perhaps. Doesn't even have to be made of cardboard.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

 

If this project turns out to be a success, I'll use this as an example for uber-budget builders who come here, perhaps. Doesn't even have to be made of cardboard.

That last sentence gave me a terrible idea... lately here people are buying new furniture, leaving old one in the trash area...

This is a signature.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

That last sentence gave me a terrible idea... lately here people are buying new furniture, leaving old one in the trash area...

Where I live, people are doing yard sales, and all the furniture that no-one would buy is just sitting on the side of the road with a sign saying FREE. So yeah.

Or the local thrift store is a good place to go for it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

That last sentence gave me a terrible idea... lately here people are buying new furniture, leaving old one in the trash area...

Next up on LTT Forum Build Logs, "The Lounge PC".

 

Spoiler

4790k @ 4.5Ghz 1.180v -  NZXT Kraken X31 | MSI Z97 Krait | Kingston Hyper X Fury 32GB 1866Mhz, 2 DIMMs white and 2 black | GTX 980 Ti - G1 Gaming | GTX 680 - Reference | SilverStone ST75F-P | Phanteks Enthoo Pro

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

Next up on LTT Forum Build Logs, "The Lounge PC".

we have desk cases for computers, why not put a PC inside a sofa?

 

Oh dear...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

The cardboard boxes were free, and I can get more from the supermarket if need be for future builds, but the rest of the build is as follows

Q6600 - ¥3000 (~$25)

P5B Motherboard - ¥500 (~$4.50)

7770 - $65.00

SSD - ¥6000 (~$50)

PSU - $40

RAM - ~$20

HDD - Pulled from a dead machine - free

 

So, total cost of the project is going on just under $210. The handle was more expensive than the motherboard. Bit of a lucky find, that one was.

If this project turns out to be a success, I'll use this as an example for uber-budget builders who come here, perhaps. Doesn't even have to be made of cardboard.

Why are you using Yen if you live in New Hampshire? (Actually wondering.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

Why are you using Yen if you live in New Hampshire? (Actually wondering.)

about three months ago I came back from a 10-month stint in japan, and while I was there I spent an exorbitant amount of time drooling over used electronics and computer stores in Akihabara. It's crazy. The anime, the models, the maid cafes, the porn, it's all a facade. What you really want are the two backstreets that go behind it. that's where all the real treasure is... :3 That's where I found my Q6600 and <$5.00 motherboard

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

about three months ago I came back from a 10-month stint in japan, and while I was there I spent an exorbitant amount of time drooling over used electronics and computer stores in Akihabara. It's crazy. The anime, the models, the maid cafes, the porn, it's all a facade. What you really want are the two backstreets that go behind it. that's where all the real treasure is... :3 That's where I found my Q6600 and <$5.00 motherboard

Amazing. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

we have desk cases for computers, why not put a PC inside a sofa?

 

Oh dear...

I built one inside an old  Pachinko machine for a guy about 6 months ago for his man cave .

 MSI Z97A Gaming7 , 4690k , 2 X MSI 960 4g , 500gb ssd , 7tb of WD hdd storage , EVGA 100G2 , Corsair h100i , 2 X 32" 1440p as I RMAd the 4k ones , CM quickfire .

NOW I'VE LOST IT I KNOW I CAN KILL . TRUTH IS HIDDEN BEYOND THE GATES  IT'S ALL DARKER THAN BLACK .

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 3 months later...
Posted

 

 

Ok. This is awesome. 

Like hardcore-Pure awesome  :lol:

Disregard my crossfire suggestion haha 

You'd have to upgrade your motherboard, and LGA 775 motherboards with multiple PCIE slots can be a rarity at times

||LTT Starter Guide||

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

Ok. This is awesome. 

Like hardcore-Pure awesome  :lol:

Thanks :D I'm gonna have to start posting to this thread again. Should be fun.

*extends box cutter* time to slice some moar boxes, muahahahahahahaha

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted
  • Author

Disregard my crossfire suggestion haha 

You'd have to upgrade your motherboard, and LGA 775 motherboards with multiple PCIE slots can be a rarity at times

Not necessarily rare, just expensive. May as well make it a skylake build.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing Build Logs

×