PROJECT LOG Red Bull Mini Fridge Build

TruckerBomb · Mar 24, 2013

First off, and let me make this clear, this fridge is NON FUNCTIONAL and thus is the reason for gutting and cutting it. I'm well aware that the cooling system on a mini fridge cannot possibly handle this much heat, it's strictly just a 'neat' case idea.

I'm starting by posting what I've got to work with thus far. Any tips or pointers from you 'seasoned professionals' would be great!

I plan on mounting the power supply up top, outside of the main case, as I can't see any benefit to fitting it inside... would only add heat.

It's going to have to be a vertical 'drop in' mount, similar to the Silverstone Raven Cases due to interior dimensions of 18"h x 14"w x 11"d ... there is no other practical way.

Well, here's the pics of the server case and fridge!

And there IS a top to the fridge, I removed it for these shots to show the internals.

Speedracer 64 · Mar 24, 2013

Thats gonna be cool. Very neat and different idea.

Bobnova · Mar 24, 2013

I like where this is going. I was picturing a larger fridge, this thing is sized perfectly!

TruckerBomb · Mar 24, 2013

Bobnova said:
I like where this is going. I was picturing a larger fridge, this thing is sized perfectly!

I agree, its about twice the space inside as a standard ATX case. Should leave me room behind the motherboard for wire management, and I'll probably be putting my drives in a rack near the front... Not sure... Placing those is going to be odd... MAYBE there will be room beneath the motherboard, it'll sit up a few inches from where the tray is now after i cut into the top.

TruckerBomb · Mar 24, 2013

Bobnova said:
I like where this is going. I was picturing a larger fridge, this thing is sized perfectly!

Here it is next to the server case I'm cannibalizing for a few parts. (mainly, the pull-out mobo tray)

doyll · Mar 25, 2013

This is going to be great!

DungeonOgre · Mar 25, 2013

This is so awesome. Can't wait to see the end result of this project.

Are you planning to add airflow fans to the case? Just curious.

TruckerBomb · Mar 25, 2013

DungeonOgre said:
This is so awesome. Can't wait to see the end result of this project.

Are you planning to add airflow fans to the case? Just curious.

Once i get the motherboard in, I'll know if I've got enough room to do an intake on the back. But probably have to cut out the bottom and make a plexiglas plate to fit the bottom and mount the fans to it. One big hole in the bottom would allow me to cutout different plexiglas plates to mount different fan configurations.

briansun1 · Mar 25, 2013

looks good...

m715 · Mar 25, 2013

Looks interesting, can't say I've seen a build like this before...
subscribed

TruckerBomb · Mar 25, 2013

Thanks everyone for the interest! Glad people seem to be as interested in the build as I am!

BlackJack10 · Mar 25, 2013

Subbed!

ikpthegame · Mar 27, 2013

In it for more updates, can't wait.

WheaT · Apr 5, 2013

Subbed!

sadeter · Apr 11, 2013

Interesting idea. Looks cool. Subbed.

TruckerBomb · Apr 15, 2013

Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been spending my free time cleaning out my garage to make room for a skid steer I inherited. I have drawn up a couple raw schematics for layout. I'm not actually working with much more room than a standard ATX case. Then I have to be creative with placement and cable management will be interesting.

Quick opinion: Optical drives.
Should i forego internal drives and instead use external usb drives?

If I do decide to do internal sata drives, the only decent place would be up top behind the logo. I could easily put the light-up logo on hinges and make it rotate upward for access to hidden drives. My question to you is, would that work be worth it? With the use of mounting images, drives aren't really needed anymore.

I wrote this post over the course of an hour on my phone, if I skipped around or made stupid errors, i apologize. LOL

hokiealumnus · Apr 15, 2013

TruckerBomb said:
Quick opinion: Optical drives.
Should i forego internal drives and instead use external usb drives?

External ODDs are fine; I went with one for about a year (ish) when an internal wouldn't fit in the case I was using. The same drive is used for my bench station. The only two situations I wouldn't want it are 1) an HTPC, for obvious reason and 2) a PC you use for photos/videos that you want to burn physical disc backups from. Aside from that, external for occasional use is fine.

TruckerBomb · Jul 14, 2013

Thank you everyone for your patience!

Uploading more pics now!

Was waiting for the money to buy new components, figured I'd rather only build this up once!

I'll be running:

Asus Sabertooth r2.0 GEN3 (the new one with PCI-e 3.0)
AMD FX-8350
Corsair Dominator 1600
3x SLI 9800GTX+ (for the time being, will be getting GTX760 soon!)

TruckerBomb · Jul 14, 2013

Before

After Left the balast in for the lights... may end up changing them out to something else that runs on the computer's PSU.

Free Squirrel cage fan!

TruckerBomb · Jul 14, 2013

Rough layout, power supply in back right. (I cut these template pieces so I could figure out placement BEFORE I started cutting.) There will be a hole under the PSU, the PSU exhaust will be blowing towards the 120mm fan, which will be blowing directly up. The cover over the top of this has vents already, should work splendidly!

Tray dropped in

Inside of the case

PROJECT LOG Red Bull Mini Fridge Build

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