DIY cases

[Spork13117]

I can't afford a case for my ultra cheap pc. does anyone know whether or not I can just put it in a cardboard box with a crap ton of fans. I could punch holes in it and put mesh behind the holes to keep out dust. I am concerned about heat and fire safety, so could i put tin foil underneath the motherboard. so can some one with more experience please tell me whether or not this would work. .

[cobalt77]

Yes it will work, excluding the foil underneath (will short out the board)

[WereCatf]

9 minutes ago, Spork13117 said:

I can't afford a case for my ultra cheap pc. does anyone know whether or not I can just put it in a cardboard box with a crap ton of fans. I could punch holes in it and put mesh behind the holes to keep out dust. I am concerned about heat and fire safety, so could i put tin foil underneath the motherboard. so can some one with more experience please tell me whether or not this would work. .

Scrap-wood is always a good option as well. Wood is easy to work with, sturdy and scrap pieces can often be had for free.

[Bobbyman5506]

theres a video somewhere about someone building a cheap gaming ready pc in a shoebox 

[cobalt77]

4 minutes ago, WereCatf said:

Scrap-wood is always a good option as well. Wood is easy to work with, sturdy and scrap pieces can often be had for free.

If you go wood then the test bench layout is popular due to the simplicity of making it. Have a look at this recent thread for examples https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/1161963-recommended-open-air-test-bench/

[Guest]

43 minutes ago, Spork13117 said:

could i put tin foil underneath the motherboard

Aluminum foil is electrically conductive and will short out the PCB and components on the motherboard.

 

[Spork13117]

thank you all so much, but are you sure that if I use cardboard or a shoe box that it won't catch on fire?

 

 

 

[Spork13117]

wood also seems flammable and i dont have great fans, also, do i need to worry about dust? ( this is a permanent solution )

 

[Guest]

16 minutes ago, Spork13117 said:

thank you all so much, but are you sure that if I use cardboard or a shoe box that it won't catch on fire?

 

 

 

 

14 minutes ago, Spork13117 said:

wood also seems flammable and i dont have great fans, also, do i need to worry about dust? ( this is a permanent solution )

 

If any part of your PC gets so hot that it ignites paper/cardboard/wood, there's something horribly wrong.

 

The reason why the plastics used in a PC have a flammability rating is not in case things get so hot that they ignite.  It's in case something else catches fire (a bursting MOSFET, for example.  Or a  shorted PSU wire) that the plastic doesn't add fuel to the fire.

 

So if you want that added flame retardation, go to Home Depot, Lowes, Amazon, etc. and  buy Fireblock, BanFire, etc. spray.  Spray down the surfaces made of wood, paper, etc. and let dry.

[Spork13117]

thank you so much again, this is my first time on this forum after watching ltt for two years. i have tried a few other tech forums and this is by far the best one. one more question, would a wood test bench be a good permanent solution. would dust effect the components at all?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[andrewmp6]

Or buy a cheap motherboard tray like this https://www.ebay.com/i/174031488364?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=174031488364&targetid=883564623986&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9014233&poi=&campaignid=6469750549&mkgroupid=93041470030&rlsatarget=pla-883564623986&abcId=1141176&merchantid=6296724&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkeit7riw6AIVR4VaBR3RpQgIEAQYASABEgJYpfD_BwE

Then just ghetto rig up a cardboard box over it with fans,Or find a cheap used test bench/mining rig frame and use that

[Teunvdhanenberg]

17 hours ago, Spork13117 said:

I can't afford a case for my ultra cheap pc. does anyone know whether or not I can just put it in a cardboard box with a crap ton of fans. I could punch holes in it and put mesh behind the holes to keep out dust. I am concerned about heat and fire safety, so could i put tin foil underneath the motherboard. so can some one with more experience please tell me whether or not this would work. .

i did this too but its better if you get a piece of wood paint it black so you can still use the screws and stuff to hold it in the right place cardboard will tear appart