Planning on build a wooden PC Case, Need advice!

[InsaneJihad]

Just got some new tools for my workshop, this includes a band-saw and a new chop saw. So to break the new tools into action I have decided to start a new project and build a wooden pc case, with a custom water cooling on a fairly small budget, if anyone has designs existing, or advice please contribute!

 

 

Ben

[aidenrelkoff]

sounds like, fire. this would be a ok idea for a mining pc, if the case is just like a frame and its open air all around. bit an enclosed wooden case sounds like a bad idea. if your gonna go it. make sure the mobo mounting back plate is metal ans stuff like that.

[Virgule]

Just got some new tools for my workshop, this includes a band-saw and a new chop saw. So to break the new tools into action I have decided to start a new project and build a wooden pc case, with a custom water cooling on a fairly small budget, if anyone has designs existing, or advice please contribute!

 

 

Ben

One thing I would suggest would be not to do it in wood since wood conducts heat far less efficiently than metal. That means the hot temperature buildup in the case will be far more insulated from the exterior air than with a case with sheet metal design.

 

So if you do it in wood, my suggestion would be to Optimize it (with capital O) for air flow. That means EVERYWHERE temperature will rise. Even behind motherboard. 

[Virgule]

Just got some new tools for my workshop, this includes a band-saw and a new chop saw. So to break the new tools into action I have decided to start a new project and build a wooden pc case, with a custom water cooling on a fairly small budget, if anyone has designs existing, or advice please contribute!

 

 

Ben

Another problem with wood is you'll need far thicker "sheets" for assembling pieces together, drilling anchor points, or whatever...since wood is fragile at a certain thickness. This will mean you'll have way less space for cable management, components, ... 

 

My suggestion is learn to spot-weld, punch, brush and bend sheet metal and you'll make a far better case than your wooden chest will be.

[Sauron]

Since you plan on watercooling I don't think airflow is such a big deal as others make it out to be, as for the design I can suggest you to take a "real" case as a model and place the holes and pci expansion slots in the same position, so you can be sure a motherboard will actually fit perfectly. Make sure you have at least 3-4 120mm fan vents though, even if you watercool it some extra airflow can't hurt.

[Virgule]

Since you plan on watercooling I don't think airflow is such a big deal as others make it out to be

The misconception with cooling in a standard case is it's only chips that need to cool down. This misconception is due to the fact that components that have chips (cpu itself and gpus) produce the majority of the heat in a case and because a lot of hardware exist to dissipate that heat (waterblocks, heatsinks, aftermarket coolers, ...). This gives a false sense that those are the only important areas to cool and that if a beefy watercooling loop is implemented at these points, then all is solved. 

 

As I said, metal (typically aluminium, as it's most used in cases) is a GREAT heatsink. The motherboard assembled so close to a metal sheet is a great design that cools all the motherboard's pcb. If a wood plate of decent thickness replaced the metal sheet, this would insulate the space between mobo and "back plate" and heat would rise and rise until temperature reaches a higher equilibrium.

 

A way of dealing with that would be to have a much wider gap behind mobo and air flowing through. This takes space.

[Nuds]

I have thought about a project like this before and a good compromise to consider would be to take apart a secondhand case or even buy a Motherboard tray. I know Lian-Li sells trays and other manufactures might sell replacements also.

 

( http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=130_210_750_753 ) 

 

This will take a lot of the guess work out of setting up the I/0 and helps with compatibility. The tray can dissipate heat as everyone else has said and gives you space for cable management. Plus you could make a slide out Mobo Tray which can make build go smoother. 

[91Chris]

You should make it look like a really fancy piece of modern furniture. A nice light coloured wood with some frosted glass and brushed stainless in there somewhere.

[gylmir]

all the arguments above this post are a myth and scam (all the conduct shit and fire things mdf burns above 120° and i think your pc will be fried if anything gives that amount of heat on the outside of the components)

they are all not true i build me a wooden case out of 12mm mdf it run far cooler than my tower case before.

this was my first build i made and i can give you a big tip don't rush it like me it will take time and more than 30+ hours to make it all that you want.

 

i didn used any backplate just drilled small holes in the back and sinken bolts [example]

 

Tip1: don't rush the project

Tip2: use for the base and backplate 12mm MDF all the other can be 9mm

Tip3: sand everything every hole and side to make it all smooth

Tip4: make a 3d model drawing or something before you begin with all the sizes etc. (don't forget drive cages and all the little things)

Tip5: use wood screws from 16mm to 20mm long if you want to screw it direct into each other.

 

if you have any more questions you may always ask them i hope to see this project soon.

[InsaneJihad]

Cheers for the info guys, Wow such fast responses damn i love this community.
 

Well use wood i believe will still be the best option, and i will take the advice and use a motherboard tray from mountain mods, or lian li.

 

I have begun a build log and would much appreciate help along the way, more information about the build can be found there also with some mock ups of the designs.

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/164947-wooden-pc-case-design-and-build-log-project-get-wood/

[InsaneJihad]

all the arguments above this post are a myth and scam (all the conduct shit and fire things mdf burns above 120° and i think your pc will be fried if anything gives that amount of heat on the outside of the components)

they are all not true i build me a wooden case out of 12mm mdf it run far cooler than my tower case before.

this was my first build i made and i can give you a big tip don't rush it like me it will take time and more than 30+ hours to make it all that you want.

 

i didn used any backplate just drilled small holes in the back and sinken bolts [example]

 

Tip1: don't rush the project

Tip2: use for the base and backplate 12mm MDF all the other can be 9mm

Tip3: sand everything every hole and side to make it all smooth

Tip4: make a 3d model drawing or something before you begin with all the sizes etc. (don't forget drive cages and all the little things)

Tip5: use wood screws from 16mm to 20mm long if you want to screw it direct into each other.

 

if you have any more questions you may always ask them i hope to see this project soon.

Oh Btw, looking good man. especially if you paint it!

[gylmir]

@InsaneJihad thx man i'm thinking about 2 more cases i have in mind and try to get all the things directly so i don't slow the building and have a better one

[Syntaxvgm]

you people are insane. Wood cases are just fine, plenty of people have made them. Your metal cases conduct very little heat if any at all unless it's really confined like a laptop, it's all about airflow. just make sure to ground the motherboard to the case of the psu. for regular desktop cases, no heat is really conducted form the motherboard, through the mounting posts, to the case. That's ridiculous. long as air is moving over it, you are fine. 

[Bagmup]

Thinking any PC part will get hot enough to make wood catch fire...bahahahaha.

Looks like an awesome project.

[gylmir]

Thinking any PC part will get hot enough to make wood catch fire...bahahahaha.

Looks like an awesome project.

true but your pc will get bsod first and eventually be blown apart before the wood catch fire.

MDF got fire resist of 120° Celsius and you also have a fire resistant MDF so no worry at all

 

wood case has the same safety as metal case and include 1 advantage not need to be grounded