These server cases worth saving?

[secretweapon]

Well I got these giant tower AT server cases in my basement. I been using them as a stand to put stuff on. Recently I took a look at them there's seem to be ample space to put water cooling stuff in. Front will be easy to mod but it's the back that's gonna be a pain to convert to ATX standards. (I'm only working with a dremel and makita drill here) What do you guys think, should I keep them as very unfashionable stands or try modding it?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Secretsg/tower3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Secretsg/tower2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Secretsg/tower1.jpg

[Bensa]

Old cases are the best to mod, they have some personality compared to the new ones where they are all built the same.

[Electron Chaser]

Those old cases are great. They require a little more "persuasion" to accomodate the ATX boards. So grab your dremel and prepare to make a new cutout for the MB connections. That is generally the hardest part to overcome when modding an old AT case.

[WejRepus]

put simply "they dont make em like they used to"...

and if you dont feel like making them into PCs, i have seen some great server case book shelf and night stand mods

[clocker2]

I have converted a few cases like that to ATX form and the simplest way ( after much experimenting) is to have a new rear panel fabricated at a sheetmetal shop.
Here in Denver the cost ranges from $15 to $30 for such a piece.
This is for a blank panel, so you still have to create the appropriate cutouts yourself as best you can, but if you can lay your hands on a removable motherboard tray such as used by Lian-li or (some) Coolermasters the job becomes much simpler.
The cases are well worth the effort to upgrade...the available space is substantial and hard to find in more modern units.
Also, I think the build quality of the old cases is far better...certainly, the chassis is much sturdier and the plastic usually more restrained than the gaudy designs so popular today.

Edit:
It's odd that you should post this question on the very day that I was presented with what I consider to be the Holy Grail of server cases...ATX form-factor with a removable motherboard tray.
A customer at my shop brought it in and donated it for free ( so far, all 5 of my giant cases have been give aways... :beer: ). A co-worker, with a mysterious fetish for older Pentium rigs, claimed the guts, and I walked away with a new enclosure to fit Sprocket into.
Life is good.....

[voodoomelon]

These server cases worth saving?

Yes, yes and yes!

I think the majority of people who read the title of this thread knew the answer before even coming in to read it. :D

Get that Dremel revved up, you've got some modding to do...

;)

[Mark620]

I would keep them....but then again I already know what I want them for :D

[Ziggey]

Definatly some sort of water cooling project here :)

[secretweapon]

Well took some measurements today. The front section before it reaches the power switch/LED is 11""x7", Exact same measurements are on the back where the PSU is. Tower is 24" in height and with the base it is 25 1/2" The metals used in the case are very good quality, although not very nicely tapered to avoid cuts. Here's my rough idea on how I'm gonna do this.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Secretsg/plan.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Secretsg/base.jpg

First the case cover. I'm gonna cut it into 3 piece as indicated on the red line. This way I can remove panels separarely and add blowholes. I might have to take this to a machine shop to get a perfectly lined up cut along the edge. The top piece will have a blowhole and a round reservoir on it. I can just fill and bleed on top the case. The side panel will be windowed. All of the panels and front bezel will be painted black.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Secretsg/cut1.jpg

For the front, I will cut the case open to mount either a 2-199 or 2-302 radiator with shrouds on both sides. The plastic front cover will also be cut open to mount a removable mesh + filter. The small drive cage on the bottom see can be moved so I will put the pump in there and move it further back. Another annnoying thing is the AT style power switch. I will have to change it to ATX standards.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Secretsg/power2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Secretsg/power1.jpg

The back is easier than I thought. The slot cover + AT keyboard hole can be removed and the motherboard tray has holes for an ATX motherboard :D The MB I/O parts will conflict with the keyboard hole so I will cut the section in red off. All I need to manufacturing is a shallow box with the ATX I/O shield at the bottom and put it into the back, on top of the slot covers.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Secretsg/io2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Secretsg/cut2.jpg

Now the PSU+ exhaust fan will be the easiest. The original PSU was HUGE. I have idea why it is so big and why it was mounted vertically. There is a holder for PSUs so I can just put the new PSU there and cut a hole in the back right above the PSU to put a 120mm fan in.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Secretsg/psu1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Secretsg/psu2.jpg


Positives for this project:
Case is free, although it must have cost a fortune back in the day.
There's couple of them so even if I screw up on one there's a replacement.
Will be very spacious once done, even with WC.
There's a Turbo button, build in LED mhz counter and Key lock.
ATX motherboard mounting holes on tray. No drilling needed.

The bad:
AT power switch
Will have to buy a front function panel with USB+IEEE1394 ports

The Ugly:
I live in Canada so I got to get the modding done in a month or so or it's gonna be too cold to do it outside the house. I don't want metal scraps/dust and what not in the house.

[wizard james]

ahh nice ...very nice..

i see u live north of me.. ..i am down in calgary..
i am going to watch this.. might learn something ..always good to learn.. yes..

got msn or aim?

[secretweapon]

Hey sweet! A fellow Albertan. You can message me on MSN, daw_1@hotmail.com Doesn't look like there's too many of us here, I've seen one guy from St.Albert but that's it.

[toyomatt84]

Love that case, by the way. AT cases r0x0r! :D Best of luck on your modding adventure.

[BatousaiRyu]

see now i was gonna say ill take it if u dont want it.... but i guess im a lil late >.> nice grab

[PCGUY112887]

Ah that back does look hard to mod.. maybe take a plate from a normal ATX case and make a place for it back there? Mount it... then plan out all of your fans... after that use scrap metal/spot welder/sandpaper/and bondo with paint to make it look all nice :p

EDIT - Don't scrap that base yet! You can take the sides and cut them out to put some plexi in it... paint it all a nice color... and add a neon under it... then your computer will have TRUE underglows!

[secretweapon]

see now i was gonna say ill take it if u dont want it.... but i guess im a lil late >.> nice grab

If I don't screw up I do have an extra case (exact samething) to play with :D I think I got these from when a local comp store went down.

[2Busy]

I am doing one now that is the old at standard. Take a current version IO shield on a current atx board and slide it into place where it should fit.scribe around the io sheild and cut it out with a dremel.You should be good to go. You will have alot more slots available, but they are easy to cover up with blanks.

[BatousaiRyu]

If I don't screw up I do have an extra case (exact samething) to play with :D I think I got these from when a local comp store went down.

ooo can i have it >.> PLZ!

[Susquehannock]

Agree ... the old ones are often preferable. Make great modding projects
if you know your way around a toolbox.

And they often had metal electro-mag shielding inside too.
Not really necessary, but nice to have.

[Mark620]

Nice Case you have there..........

[Optimus Prime]

just buy a lian-li motherboard tray and mod it in... i know that alot of people do that but come on it works way to well... plus then you could get off to the fun stuff right away.