Aerocool Dream Box or similar basis for custom build?

porina · January 6, 2017

I recently got a rack mount server which I want to rehouse into something more practical. It doesn't have ports or anything in ATX positions, so there doesn't seem to be much point in getting a standard case as a starting point. I'm looking for some kind of customisable chassis which will allow me to mount and hold things together as a first step, then later on may look at putting things around it as a case mod. I don't have a concept for the case at this time.

In a quick search I found the Aerocool Dream Box, which seems ok as a starting point and is widely available.

Luke did a video with the Spotswood Tech Station, but I can't find that for sale in a quick look.

Is there is anything else I should look at?

porina · January 7, 2017

I'm still not sure about the Dream Box, although it is still my only known option in that style.

After some further research it turns out the server mobo is SSI EEB form factor, specifically the EP layout variation. Comparable to EATX with different mounting hole spacing. I've not had much luck identifying SSI EEB cases at all, although I wonder how hard it might be to modify an EATX one to fit as I will probably need to cut different port holes.

porina · January 15, 2017

Absent any other suggestions I did get the Dream Box in the end. I spend a lot of today on it, and I'm tempted to call it the Nightmare Box... above photo is a work in progress. Note the "case" bottom is to the right. It is effectively laying on its back at the moment as I haven't affixed the motherboard mount rails to the frame yet. There seem to be some parts that can be used for that but I can't figure out a nice way to do it short of using cable ties.

I didn't realise just how long it took to assemble. Every joint takes 4 screws. There's a lot of joints. There's just enough parts for the design I settled on, which is essentially your regular rectangular arrangement. So the frame itself, while tedious, isn't particularly difficult. It took me several hours to get this done.

For now I'm using the mobo's original front panel controls (switches for power, reset, LED for HD, power). The Dram Box supplied unit would be redundant as I'm not sure there's any USB connectors. I wouldn't rule out making a newer, nicer set, but it certainly isn't a priority. I need to decide where, and how, to mount the PSU and SSD. The PSU along the bottom seems best bet, as it will keep all cable access to the near side as shown in photo. If you imagine this as a standard tower style case, the rear/IO side is nearest in photo. The area on top is what would be the normal window side. So I'm not really doing anything radical on the layout.

My intention, and it may take some time to implement, is to clad the outside to turn it into a normal-ish case. Window side will probably be all acrylic window. Maybe acrylic panels all around? Haven't had an all acrylic case in a while. I'd also need to give airflow some thought. Currently my plan was to have airflow in an upward direction, but nicely sealing off the IO panel could be difficult for my skill level. So maybe a front to back flow might be easier to implement.