Crazy Jayhawk
10-06-01, 04:43 PM
I currently don't have the means to build this thing, but that might not always be the case.
This thing would be a cube, about 25" on a side. Each face would be divided up into nine 8"x8" squares, with a bit of framework between them to fasten the squares to. The squares would come in several varieties:
1. Expansion card bracket square, with I/O port square mounted in an adjacent slot. This would also require a mobo tray to be fastened to the frame. By adjusting the location of the squares, the mobo can be mounted in almost any orientation. Put it in horizontally and you don't have to worry about the HSF falling off. You could also put multiple mobos in a single cube.
2. PSU square. The 8" x 8" form factor would also allow for mounting dual PSU's in a single square. The square would also have an internal shelf or shelves for holding the PSU(s).
3. Fan squares. These could hold four 80mm fans, four 92's, or a single 120 or larger. You could fit a Comair Rotron fan into a square. Fan squares would have a thin cloth mounted on the outside to serve as a dust filter.
4. Drive squares. A single 8"x8" square could hold three 5.25" and two 3.5" bays, or four 5.25" bays. These would have a spring-loaded panel on the outside so that the drives could be completely hidden when not in use.
5. Control squares. These would hold the power and reset switches as well as status LED's. Obviously, you would have a lot of unused room on the panel, which could be utilized for more drives or fans. You would need one for each mobo, or enough switches and whatnot on a single square for the mobos, if you're using multiple ones.
6. Foot squares. These would go on the bottom of the case and could hold rubber feet or casters.
7. Blanks. These are simply 8" x 8" panels with nothing mounted in them. They cover sections that aren't being used for something else.
I worked out this idea with another resident of my hall. Basically, I collect Rubik's Cubes, and he suggested making a case that looked like one. The idea developed from that. The outer panels could have varying colors, and the cloth cover on fan squares could be dyed in different shades as well.
In other words, the case could be made to look like a giant Rubik's Cube. :)
This thing would be a cube, about 25" on a side. Each face would be divided up into nine 8"x8" squares, with a bit of framework between them to fasten the squares to. The squares would come in several varieties:
1. Expansion card bracket square, with I/O port square mounted in an adjacent slot. This would also require a mobo tray to be fastened to the frame. By adjusting the location of the squares, the mobo can be mounted in almost any orientation. Put it in horizontally and you don't have to worry about the HSF falling off. You could also put multiple mobos in a single cube.
2. PSU square. The 8" x 8" form factor would also allow for mounting dual PSU's in a single square. The square would also have an internal shelf or shelves for holding the PSU(s).
3. Fan squares. These could hold four 80mm fans, four 92's, or a single 120 or larger. You could fit a Comair Rotron fan into a square. Fan squares would have a thin cloth mounted on the outside to serve as a dust filter.
4. Drive squares. A single 8"x8" square could hold three 5.25" and two 3.5" bays, or four 5.25" bays. These would have a spring-loaded panel on the outside so that the drives could be completely hidden when not in use.
5. Control squares. These would hold the power and reset switches as well as status LED's. Obviously, you would have a lot of unused room on the panel, which could be utilized for more drives or fans. You would need one for each mobo, or enough switches and whatnot on a single square for the mobos, if you're using multiple ones.
6. Foot squares. These would go on the bottom of the case and could hold rubber feet or casters.
7. Blanks. These are simply 8" x 8" panels with nothing mounted in them. They cover sections that aren't being used for something else.
I worked out this idea with another resident of my hall. Basically, I collect Rubik's Cubes, and he suggested making a case that looked like one. The idea developed from that. The outer panels could have varying colors, and the cloth cover on fan squares could be dyed in different shades as well.
In other words, the case could be made to look like a giant Rubik's Cube. :)