Scratch Case Build Idea

[RzarEater]

So I'm not entirely sure this is where this belongs, but here it is anyway.  For the last several weeks I've been searching for a case that I like the layout, the functionality, aesthetic and overall build quality.  Pretty much the only thing I came up with was the Case Labs Magnum M8 or the Magnum SMA8.  Both way out of my price range, and also the size of the cases are rather daunting.  So I set out to design my own case instead, I know making one on my own is going to be a long arduous path and will also be expensive, but it'll be what I want/need.  Yes, this is heavily inspired by the Case Labs M8 and the Corsair Carbide 540 Air.

 

My first sketches are extremely rough, but my first images of the build and the first time I've ever used Sketch Up, this is what I came up with.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing has a thickness yet, I'm thinking ~2mm thick aluminum or steel.  Which will be textured and painted a matte black.  This is going to be a mATX case, as I have no way to utilize the full potential of an ATX board.  The rear, side, and top vents will be covered in a hex mesh, and the front and top vents will have magnetic fan filters.  It will have a large Acrylic Windowed Panel.  This will at some point also contain a custom water loop.  With a 2x120 in the back portion of the case, a 2x140 in the main compartment, and possible a 120 exhausting out the back above the PSU (the big purple thing).  In the 5.25" bay will house a Fan Controller or a Dual Bay Reservoir.  Below that is a 140mm intake, and next to those are 2 120mm intakes.  Both side panels will be removable, hopefully by pin hinges, but I haven't really looked into it yet.  Finally anything that can shift will have rubber/silicon to reduce any sort of vibration.  Also rubber passthroughs for the motherboard wall will be added at a later date.

 

I'm hoping for constructive criticism and feedback so I can hopefully make this come to fruition.  Any opinions, questions, comments, critiques, basically anything but "You Suck" would be helpful.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Flyguygamer]

Nice.I would like to see a lot of watercooling rads. 

[Tea1337]

That looks like it would be a great watercooling case, all reservoirs in the back(Unless someone wants to see it) and enough rad space to watercool.

[RzarEater]

Nice.I would like to see a lot of watercooling rads. 

 

That looks like it would be a great watercooling case, all reservoirs in the back(Unless someone wants to see it) and enough rad space to watercool.

 

 

Well the goal would be to have a 280 rad in the viewable area, a 240 and a 120 in the back.

[Flyguygamer]

Well the goal would be to have a 280 rad in the viewable area, a 240 and a 120 in the back.

That would be nice. 

[Tea1337]

Well the goal would be to have a 280 rad in the viewable area, a 240 and a 120 in the back.

Wow, quite a bit of room for watercooling. You should mark off where a motherboard would go so it can have the best cable management. I really like the concept of the case

[RzarEater]

Wow, quite a bit of room for watercooling. You should mark off where a motherboard would go so it can have the best cable management. I really like the concept of the case

 

I'll import one of the mATX motherboards I found while scouring the internets looking for ideas.  And put it in there, and while I'm at it I'll add the passthroughs between each side of the case.  But not until tomorrow, got class in the morning.

[IVIeLt]

For a build that complex your going to need a hell of a lot of tools and know how.

 

I've been modding PC's professionally for clients for a few years now and I'm about 4 months into a scratch build and I'm still struggling to make it all work even with a shed full of pretty much any consumer level tool you can imagine

[RzarEater]

For a build that complex your going to need a hell of a lot of tools and know how.

 

I've been modding PC's professionally for clients for a few years now and I'm about 4 months into a scratch build and I'm still struggling to make it all work even with a shed full of pretty much any consumer level tool you can imagine

 

I'm unfortunately aware of how long this is going to take.  If I can gift this to myself by the time I graduate next spring, I'll be very happy.  But this is one of those experiences that I would love to have, along with a custom desk, and tri monitor stand for said desk.  

[RzarEater]

So I worked on my concept a bit more.  Adding details and parts that I imported that I found around the internet, specifically from Google Warehouse and from scc.jezmckean.com/

Turns out my sizing for the whole case is a little bit short.  When you see the final 2 images, you can see that for thicker rads, the sizing completely fails.  I've also made a list of all the things that still need to be added to a more complete version of this concept and I will add that after the images.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the clipping issues of the radiators isn't fixed by raising the top of the case by 20-30mm, I will go with a slim radiator instead of the thick 120 rad.

 

Here is the list of all that I wish to still add to this this before I start working on realistically making it happen.

-Fan Filters for all intakes and the top exhausts.

-Adding a Handle(s) for transport

-Frame around the motherboard wall and the front and back panels to attach sheathing to

-HDD Cages

-SSD "Holsters" on the back of the Mobo tray

-Reservoir

-Do I want front Audio Jacks?

-Extra Venting out the back?

-Sound Dampening Material?  Is it even feasible or just a waste of money in this kind of build?

-2 or 4 USB 3.0 Front Mounted Ports?

-Hex Mesh or intakes/exhausts or another more stylized grill?

-Easy Release Door for both sides

-Bottom Passthroughs + Cover Plate for a maybe future pedestal for this case, that houses a dual mITX system for a NAS/Media Server.

-Rubber Feet

-LEDs or Cold Cathodes

-LED lit mobo connectors and PCI ports like on the NZXT H440

-As well as the thickness of the Aluminum that would make this built like a tank and not flimsy.

 

Again if you have a comment, question, constructive criticism, feel free to post or pm.  I'm going to keep posting this here, unless I'm told that it doesn't belong here.  If anyone actually cares, the size right now is 330mm wide x 360mm tall x 400mm deep.

 

Thanks for any comments or criticism you send my way.