Lego Computer Case

[critter1227]

I was planing on taking my old case, An ENERMAX Ostrog GT, and modding it quite a bit. But Then I thought of making a case out of Lego's, after that news article a few days ago. I saw a few people have either made smaller form factor cases out of them, or cases made for "lesser" computers. I was thinking of making something that could compare to mid to higher end cases. With a basement at the bottom for the power supply and some drives, plenty of fan intake and outtake, and possibly a roof for a radiator. 

 

 

I started to lay out some plans and found a few issues...

1. I found the melting point of Lego's are around 80 degrees Celsius. And some components could possible get near that easily. Should this only affect them if they are near the parts, like the gpu? Or would the parts holding the motherboard and parts under it be affected. And would extra airflow help this?
2. Lego's are about 9.6mm, while most PC parts are in metric integers, would drilling into them be my best bet, or should parts like fans still mount fine. I found that fan mounting holes and Lego Technic holes are about the same, should this be fine?
3. I'm having issues finding dimensions for parts like power supply's, larger air coolers/radiators, and a few other parts. Anyone think they can point me in the right dimensions.
4. Would it be easier to use some metal pc case parts, like a motherboard tray and make most of it out of Lego's?

 

 

TL:DR: Anyone have an experience in Lego computer cases they can share.

[jkraghify]

@linuxnutcase

 

I have seen his lego PC in person, and it is quite awesome.

[Casperian]

Well, I know now what my SFF pc case is gonna be...

[Casperian]

 

-snip-

 

No air in the case should be > 80°C. As long as the coolers and motherboard,etc don't touch the plastic you should be good. 

Dimensions should be on the manufacturer's website.

[linuxnutcase]

i built one http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/338825-lego-pc-case-mod/#entry4620155

 

u are going to take tons of your time, i had friends help and it still took a while, most the time was spent on finding the right lego bricks in bins of many different bricks.

 

here would be my pros and cons,

cons,

1 it will take tons of time,

2 cost legos cost brand new around 11cents per brick, most likely you already have some bricks but still my case is around i am guessing here like 3k + bricks i haven't counted just made some guesses.

3 you can't really move it much,

4 it is easy to break

5 plastic bricks don't dispense heat that well.

6 you can't really make things perfect size for hardware, because lego bricks were not made to work with say an mother board.

 

pros,

1 it is bad ass

2 makes you reunite with the inner kid,

3 your friends can help and have fun at it.

4  it is really customizable, i wish i did some cooler form factors and designs that just a block.

5 if you use color bricks you like you don't have to paint that case,

6  all those legos you bought years ago will have a useful use.

 

hope this helps, good luck on the case, either way your bound to have fun,