Home made ITX Cardbaord PC.

[JFAllen]

Hello All, My name is Jordan and I've been toying with PC's for far too long and some time ago built a rather unique case for an ITX system. In 2009 or 10 (yeah it was a while ago) a friend challenged me to construct a workable case using nothing but:

• Cardboard
• String
• Tape
• Glue
• Velco for securing the lid.

I suggested it would work better if I could cannibalise an old AOpen grey box as a skeleton for mounting hardware, and some stick on rubber feet. It was also required to have a working power/reset button and easy access USB ports for flash drives. It was agreed, we shook hands and the build begun. The old AOpen case cut down to simply an ITX sized motherboard tray and graphics card bracket; (the power/reset button+activity lights were also used.) This was glued to what would become the floor of the case. Much laughter a few hours and several beers later it was complete with plastic wrap case window and all. Including room for a full sized externally cooled graphics card.

 

 

As you can see, string (which I might add is still there) was used to hold the I/O cage in place. You can also see that there are motherboard standoffs and a place to properly mount a hdd (now SSD.)

 

 

Originally it was built using a GT240 card (for testing) but this was soon traded out for a dual GPU Radeon 5990. This was all powered by the worst PSU I've ever used, some random spare 550W disaster from my mates chain smoking brother. You can see it in all it's shiny glory

 

 

Despite our fears it run without failure playing Crysis 1. However it must be noted that it smelt foul (nicotine, dust, and filth I can't imagine, all being roasted under full load.) It must be noted that the PSU acts as the only case/cpu exhaust. It is a genuine wonder that that PSU never missed a beat. 

 

As it was first put to task.

 

As the innards were loan equipment from my mate, I had to give them back about 4 months later, and then the case sat idle for many years, but was briefly put to task as a media PC for another buddy while I was overseas.

However like the old axe in the shed this thing with its many heads and many handles is still the same old axe, and for the last 2 years it's been my daily driver. in more or less the same configuration.

• i5-4670k
• Silverstone 450W SFF PSU
• Gigabyte GA-Z87n-WiFi
• 256GB Samsung SSD
• GTX295
• 16GB DDR3
• Wireless AC 2x2 intel chip

-Updates include a slot cut in the top of the case to exhaust the GTX 295 (2014)

-Top mount USB-3.0 (2013 rebuild)
-GTX590 (for the last 2 months but it failed (or is playing silly buggers as of tonight, so the GTX295 is back in.) Had to run an external more beefy PSU for the GTX590.

 

It's also collected a few stickers over the years: (and a GTX480 heat spreader)

 

It's been to many a LAN events in Adelaide/Melbourne, (even won a few awards,) and never really had any issues. It's never caught fire or smoked. just hums along minding its own business, serving me well

 

 

I recently got given a 2008 LGA1366 i7 system, that I'm kind of keen to build a cardboard tower for. Once again using a metal skeleton for safe and secure mounting, but that my take a while...

Regards
Jordan

[Wyzzy Moon]

its terrible! I love it!

[DawN the 13 year old]

damn. That's sexy

[Julian5]

Look at those angles so sexy. Gpu upgrade much?

[JFAllen]

Tempted to get a GTX690 (can be had for <$300AUD on ebay at the moment. $ for $ nothing comes close. But at 1080p, the GTX295 still holds its own in the games I play (many years ago I bought 2 on release when I was working as a mining Engineer, but one has since died .)

 

my i7-920 with 2GTX295's in a Silverstone HTPC case from early 2009 (after I cable managed it)

 

(and before)

 

 

[ThinkWithPortals]

It's ugly as hell, and that's exactly why it's awesome

"She may not look like much but she's got it where it counts" - Han Solo.

[riNcis_]

Imagine if some parts start smoking. That would be a disaster.

 

I like that Mazda sticker.