LS3 - The 6.2L Mini ITX Gaming Machine

[byalexandr]

 

Quick update, thought I'd show that I have the frame painted. I painted it a semi-gloss black.

 

 

I also put my 360 controller there for a bit of scale. For now it's sitting on a couple of wood blocks (to get the GPU some fresh air) until I get those feet on the right all mounted up. I will be doing that tomorrow, as well as creating most of the exterior, which will be a single sheet of zinc plated steel painted a color that I haven't decided yet, and that you guys are gonna vote for

 

So vote below for the exterior color from the following options, feel free to contribute your own ideas:

 

-Matte black

-Semi-gloss black

-High-gloss black

-Matte grey

-Semi-gloss grey

-High-gloss grey

-Semi-gloss red

-High-gloss red

-Semi-gloss white

-High-gloss white

-Textured black (something like truck bed liner most likely, it's kind of gritty with a little bit of shine to it, almost like a powder coat, not sure how durable it will be though)

 

And it'll have a mirror-y power button like the one in the photo, with case feet like the ones in the photo. I'm thinking of just have it plain on the sides and front with a power button in it's current position (maybe on the right instead) and then black mesh on the top and bottom.

 

Let me know in a reply below. Thanks in advance, @byalexandr

[afyeung]

High gloss red. Would make it stand out and fit the AMD GPU lol. BTW, that's a 120mm fan in the front right? Dang that's small. That's like less than a quarter the size of my PC lol.

[byalexandr]

Just now, afyeung said:

High gloss red. Would make it stand out and fit the AMD GPU lol. BTW, that's a 120mm fan in the front right? Dang that's small. That's like less than a quarter the size of my PC lol.

I like the gloss red as well, though I think it might become tiring after a while, don't know. Maybe if I get some automotive paint and have super high gloss kind of sparkly red, that would look pretty cool. And yes, it's a 120mm fan

 

This is roughly (very rough) what the case would look like, the color you all are choosing is what is currently red in this render I threw together:

 

[afyeung]

24 minutes ago, byalexandr said:

I like the gloss red as well, though I think it might become tiring after a while, don't know. Maybe if I get some automotive paint and have super high gloss kind of sparkly red, that would look pretty cool. And yes, it's a 120mm fan

 

This is roughly (very rough) what the case would look like, the color you all are choosing is what is currently red in this render I threw together:

 

Nice! Keep up the good work! If I did a compact build like yours, I would make a glass enclosure lol. But I think glossy red or matte black would look very nice. 

[MEC-777]

My vote goes for wrinkled (textured) black.  

 

Looks awesome!  Are you planning to add dust filters on the intakes?

[byalexandr]

27 minutes ago, MEC-777 said:

My vote goes for wrinkled (textured) black.  

 

Looks awesome!  Are you planning to add dust filters on the intakes?

Probably not, I clean my PC often enough anyways

 

I'm thinking between red gloss automotive paint and textured black.

[MEC-777]

9 minutes ago, byalexandr said:

Probably not, I clean my PC often enough anyways

 

I'm thinking between red gloss automotive paint and textured black.

Or... 

 

[byalexandr]

1 minute ago, MEC-777 said:

Or... 

 

Haha, that would be... Interesting...

[Dark_Fuzzy]

Something like this color would look pretty cool. http://www.overclock.net/t/1461963/complete-hanovers-brandywine

 

[byalexandr]

7 hours ago, Dark_Fuzzy said:

Something like this color would look pretty cool. http://www.overclock.net/t/1461963/complete-hanovers-brandywine

 

Hmm, unfortunately I'm not one for iridescent paint like that, at least not black and red.

 

Oh man, I found this stuff: http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/DPL1/BSU1348/N1160.oap?ck=Search_N1160_-1_-1&pt=N1160&ppt=C0253

Wish I named it after a Subaru, boy do I love that color and Subaru in general.

 

So far I have this color in mind though: http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/DPL1/BGM0398/N1148.oap?ck=Search_N1148_-1_-1&pt=N1148&ppt=C0253

 

Which looks like this:

 

 

Or maybe something a bit darker with deeper color. I kind of want something with a bit of flake or glitter to it. Not like it's infected with glitter herpes though (*cough* Linus' PC *cough*), just a tasteful dash.

 

I wish they sold this paint in touch up cans... So nice:

 

Thing is, I don't even like GM or Chevrolet that much  But I like the LS3 engine at least. Maybe I should throw some Ford OEM paint on there, I love Ford

[byalexandr]

Just now, gFrenken97 said:

Rosso Fiorano is an amazing colour, it's dark-ish red with a subtle glitter when light hits it.

Oh shit Ferrari colors  Let's see if they sell that in a spray can LOL

 

It is a pretty color though, maybe a bit too dark in some photos but I guess it's just the lighting.

 

Yeah they don't sell that stuff in a touch up can at O'Reilly

[Mikius10001]

I'm not sure if this has been asked, as I don't really have time to search through 5 pages of posts, but roughly what did this cost you? For the PC Hardware exclusively, not your time and the case materials

[MEC-777]

23 minutes ago, gFrenken97 said:

Rosso Fiorano is an amazing colour, it's dark-ish red with a subtle "sparkle" when light hits it.

LOVE that colour. +1.

[byalexandr]

11 minutes ago, Mikius10001 said:

I'm not sure if this has been asked, as I don't really have time to search through 5 pages of posts, but roughly what did this cost you? For the PC Hardware exclusively, not your time and the case materials

For hardware:

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-4170 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($114.78 @ OutletPC) 
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-L9i 57.5 CFM CPU Cooler  ($42.34 @ Newegg) 
Motherboard: ASRock B85M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($72.99 @ SuperBiiz) 
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($61.99 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($149.89 @ OutletPC) 
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 380 2GB ITX Compact Video Card  ($178.98 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: Silverstone 450W 80+ Bronze Certified SFX Power Supply  ($59.99 @ NCIX US) 
Total: $680.96
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-03-16 11:24 EDT-0400

 

Don't have the NH-L9i but that's hardware. I didn't actually buy everything at once, this is the result of years of selling, upgrading, trading, etc. I started out with an HP Slimline PC that had an Athlon and a GT 610, moved to an FX 6300 and a GTX 760s (and then two 760s at a point), and then I moved to my current i3 platform, which I had paired with a 290 but sold to buy the 380 Compact (which I am in fact enjoying much more than the reference 290). This summer I will be upgrading to a Xeon E3-1231v3 and either an R9 Nano or the Polaris equivalent.

 

As for material, I've used two sheets of 18x12" 22 gauge steel, which are roughly $15 each but I already had some scraps lying around that would fit the chassis parts, as well as a 12x24" sheet of zinc plated 22 gauge steel for the exterior, which was around $25. A box of rivets were $8, I had some spray paint for the chassis but for the exterior it's gonna cost around $15 worth of automotive paint, and then I also purchased a tap set for some screw holes which was like $30, but that I should've had already so I won't factor that cost in. The bending brake was $40 but again I should've had that tool already.

 

So raw case material wise it was around $50. But I have all the tools to make the case, which definitely adds to the cost if you don't have them already, it's why a lot more people don't build their own cases, that and lack of experience. I also had my old SG05 that was used, and that was like $40 if I recall. So perhaps $90 total, but not much more than a regular case in material cost. Plus I had a lot of waste and stuff left over.

[byalexandr]

4 minutes ago, MEC-777 said:

LOVE that colour. +1.

Wish I could easily obtain it though

 

I could get this: http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/DPL1/BGM0341/N1148.oap?ck=Search_N1148_-1_484&pt=N1148&ppt=C0253

 

Which looks like this:

 

[MEC-777]

3 minutes ago, byalexandr said:

Wish I could easily obtain it though

 

I could get this: http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/DPL1/BGM0341/N1148.oap?ck=Search_N1148_-1_484&pt=N1148&ppt=C0253

 

Which looks like this:

 

 

I'm diggin that colour too, but ultimately, it's up to you. Make it your own.

[byalexandr]

5 minutes ago, MEC-777 said:

I'm diggin that colour too, but ultimately, it's up to you. Make it your own.

I like it too to be honest, I think I'll go for that color.

[Bananasplit_00]

wait, what hapaned to that scetch were it looked like a brushed aluminium front panel  that looked EPIC really dont think glossy red would look nice tbh

[Supercian411]

17 hours ago, byalexandr said:

 

Quick update, thought I'd show that I have the frame painted. I painted it a semi-gloss black.

 

 

I also put my 360 controller there for a bit of scale. For now it's sitting on a couple of wood blocks (to get the GPU some fresh air) until I get those feet on the right all mounted up. I will be doing that tomorrow, as well as creating most of the exterior, which will be a single sheet of zinc plated steel painted a color that I haven't decided yet, and that you guys are gonna vote for

 

So vote below for the exterior color from the following options, feel free to contribute your own ideas:

 

-Matte black

-Semi-gloss black

-High-gloss black

-Matte grey

-Semi-gloss grey

-High-gloss grey

-Semi-gloss red

-High-gloss red

-Semi-gloss white

-High-gloss white

-Textured black (something like truck bed liner most likely, it's kind of gritty with a little bit of shine to it, almost like a powder coat, not sure how durable it will be though)

 

And it'll have a mirror-y power button like the one in the photo, with case feet like the ones in the photo. I'm thinking of just have it plain on the sides and front with a power button in it's current position (maybe on the right instead) and then black mesh on the top and bottom.

 

Let me know in a reply below. Thanks in advance, @byalexandr

semi gloss red

[byalexandr]

6 hours ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

wait, what hapaned to that scetch were it looked like a brushed aluminium front panel  that looked EPIC really dont think glossy red would look nice tbh

It was supposed to be anodized, but that would be much more costly and would take longer, plus the result wouldn't have looked entirely the same as the sketch unfortunately. I think you'll like my new design though, I'll reveal it once I get the paint and all.

 

4 hours ago, Supercian411 said:

semi gloss red

 

I'll be doing a garnet red with a bit of sparkle, high gloss, basically like a car's finish.

[SuperShires]

Maybe Im a sucker to simplistic design and dont lke a pc to stand out but I'd say paint it gun metal gray

[byalexandr]

33 minutes ago, SuperShires said:

Maybe Im a sucker to simplistic design and dont lke a pc to stand out but I'd say paint it gun metal gray

I am thinking of that as well... Matte gun metal grey with semi-gloss black, I mean it's already half way there:

 

 

By the way, should I leave it like that or put some case feet? The GPU is still getting plenty of air from the rear so no worries there, just a matter of looks.

[derick90]

 

1 minute ago, byalexandr said:

I am thinking of that as well... Matte gun metal grey with semi-gloss black, I mean it's already half way there:

 

 

By the way, should I leave it like that or put some case feet? The GPU is still getting plenty of air from the rear so no worries there, just a matter of looks.

Omg i've been waiting for an update all day!!! And i think some small round case feet would be perfect, sitting flat on its bottom like that just gives the "unfinished" feel imho. maybe like 1/2" tall at most, and bravo sir. Lookin sexy. 

[Heesleemer]

maybe not traditional feet, but something like what is on the FT-05 would be sick. 

[byalexandr]

1 minute ago, derick90 said:

 

Omg i've been waiting for an update all day!!! And i think some small round case feet would be perfect, sitting flat on its bottom like that just gives the "unfinished" feel imho. maybe like 1/2" tall at most, and bravo sir. Lookin sexy. 

Haha, I've been working on it a lot today. I might just add some rubber case feet, the trouble is that they need to be quite tall since that steel sheet goes down a fair bit below the bottom of the actual chassis. I'll make it work though, probably black like the rest too just to match more.

 

Now it's just a matter of mirror finish garnet red or matte (or maybe semi-gloss) gun metal grey.