"Shoebox" PC contest! (A free, compact PC)

Error 404 · Jul 16, 2008, 11:42 AM

Ok, I had an idea (thanks to Kookie Wookie) to create a small contest based on the idea of a Shoebox PC project that my friend and I started yesterday.
The challange is this:
Find a free (or cheap as chips) PC that has a low power consumption, and then make a case for it.
Nothing special, you may think. Not so!

The real challange comes in the way you package the PC!
It must be compact, be made from off-the-shelf parts (or as wacky thing as possible) that can be gotten for free, (in my case, a shoebox), and then pack your PC into it!
The aim is that it should be either unobtrusive or terribly obvious (and cool looking), and originality is as important as creativity!

You dont have to be a CAD modeler to do this either! If you can throw together something completely out-of-this-world in an afternoon, then you might have a better chance of winning than someone who has put weeks of work into it!

Remember, the aim is to have everything free, so you can't use an OS that you've paid for; I'm installing Ubuntu Linux on mine, but anything else can be used if its free! (even FreeDOS!). The PC is meant to be free as well, and should be internet capable, so you can post your project off of it!

(but dont worry about the screen, mouse or keyboard being free, those are optional)
UPDATE: Finishing date is 17th of August, so be ready by then!

Now, the prize, funnily enough, is ALSO free! (Dont worry, I can't win it)
You get a cookie, and a Thanks (for being cool).

Here's a link to my project, which is the Shoebox PC; you can post your project either in this thread, or in the Projects section of the forum. Dont forget to include pictures and desctriptions of how you made it and where you got your stuff!
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showth...635#post887635

Contestants, start thinking!

King Wookie · Jul 16, 2008, 12:28 PM

Well, Seeing as I was part catalyst, I will be looking into doing something once my current project is wrapped up, hopefully by the end of the week.

Now, what's the minimum specs for a basic Linux distro?

Luke · Jul 16, 2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Wookie

Now, what's the minimum specs for a basic Linux distro?

any thing as long as it boots you can probably find a Linux to run on it

King Wookie · Jul 16, 2008, 12:44 PM

Well, I do have a Dell P2 sitting here looking bored . . .

JC316 · Jul 16, 2008, 06:15 PM

Sounds interesting. I have most of the parts that would be required for it. I have Windows 98 that I got for free, I have a "Dumpster dove" hard drive, case fans, RAM and CD Drive. The only thing that I would need is a power supply and mobo/cpu.

Error 404 · Jul 16, 2008, 10:22 PM

King Wookie, you could probably get FreeBSD to run on that, although I've never used BSD...

JC316, you can use the Windows installation you have, but make sure your case looks either awesome, weird, or not computerish at all!

The case can't really be bigger than a microwave oven, because who wants to carry one of those?

hat · Jul 16, 2008, 11:41 PM

This man wins.
http://hackedgadgets.com/2006/02/06/...key-bottle-pc/

Error 404 · Jul 16, 2008, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hat

This man wins.
http://hackedgadgets.com/2006/02/06/...key-bottle-pc/

He probably would, had he found his PC parts on the side of the road and not bought them.

Remember, the aim is to be as cheap as possible! You can use Lego if you want to, but only if its your little brothers.

Seriously, I'd like to see a Lego contestant...
I think I should probably set a date when the contest closes...
How long would people like to do this? One month, two, three, or four?

Luke · Jul 17, 2008, 12:30 AM

someone give me some free itx stuff so i can win

looking for some stuff to put my old p3 stuff in atm

Error 404 · Jul 17, 2008, 02:29 AM

Good luck with that.

I have set a date that contestants have to finish by!
It is approximately one month from now, the 17th of August! (thats... Saturday in America, right?)
So, you all have plenty of time!

cdawall · Jul 23, 2008, 02:35 AM

mines going to be all the peices i have laying around which just happen to be a Biostar 780G board 5000BE 2x512mb crap ram @900 or so 5-5-5-15

Error 404 · Jul 23, 2008, 07:24 AM

Cool, I'm glad someone's interested!
Good luck.

johnnyfiive · Jul 23, 2008, 05:26 PM

Man, I have some of the best shoe boxes for doing this I just don't have any spare computer parts to use. Damn.

imperialreign · Jul 23, 2008, 09:50 PM

if I can scrouge together a couple of parts, I can throw down on this . . .

Error 404 · Jul 24, 2008, 08:00 AM

Cool, more contestants!

@ batmang; creativity is the key, so the only way you'll get a cookie is if you do a better job than me at making a Shoebox case.

@ imperial; dont worry about looking for high-spec stuff, just get a pile of late 90s hardware and put Puppy Linux on it, and it will be easier to find. Worked for me!

imperialreign · Jul 24, 2008, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Error 404

Cool, more contestants!

@ imperial; dont worry about looking for high-spec stuff, just get a pile of late 90s hardware and put Puppy Linux on it, and it will be easier to find. Worked for me!

s'all good - I've got some ideas in mind; I just need to round up an old HDD and spare ODD; I've got just about everything else I need

she might be a tad bigger than a shoebox, though

Jul 16, 2008, 11:42 AM	#1
Error 404 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Australia Posts: 1,330 (0.71/day) Thanks: 166 Thanked 178 Times in 157 Posts System Specs	"Shoebox" PC contest! (A free, compact PC) Ok, I had an idea (thanks to Kookie Wookie) to create a small contest based on the idea of a Shoebox PC project that my friend and I started yesterday. The challange is this: Find a free (or cheap as chips) PC that has a low power consumption, and then make a case for it. Nothing special, you may think. Not so! The real challange comes in the way you package the PC! It must be compact, be made from off-the-shelf parts (or as wacky thing as possible) that can be gotten for free, (in my case, a shoebox), and then pack your PC into it! The aim is that it should be either unobtrusive or terribly obvious (and cool looking), and originality is as important as creativity! You dont have to be a CAD modeler to do this either! If you can throw together something completely out-of-this-world in an afternoon, then you might have a better chance of winning than someone who has put weeks of work into it! Remember, the aim is to have everything free, so you can't use an OS that you've paid for; I'm installing Ubuntu Linux on mine, but anything else can be used if its free! (even FreeDOS!). The PC is meant to be free as well, and should be internet capable, so you can post your project off of it! (but dont worry about the screen, mouse or keyboard being free, those are optional) UPDATE: Finishing date is 17th of August, so be ready by then! Now, the prize, funnily enough, is ALSO free! (Dont worry, I can't win it) You get a cookie, and a Thanks (for being cool). Here's a link to my project, which is the Shoebox PC; you can post your project either in this thread, or in the Projects section of the forum. Dont forget to include pictures and desctriptions of how you made it and where you got your stuff! http://forums.techpowerup.com/showth...635#post887635 Contestants, start thinking! __________________ Third rig: PC Express Invader. C2D E6400 2.13GHz, 4GB DDR2-800, 320GB HDD, Intel 945, Asus 9600GT 512MB, 550W PSU, W7 HP 64-bit. Fourth Rig: Dell Optiplex 170L, P4 Prescott 2.8GHz, 512MB DDR266RAM, 80GB HDD, FX5200PCI 128MB, 250W PSU,XP Pro Fifth rig (Laptop): Dell Inspiron 4000, 14.1", PIII 850MHz, 384MB RAM, 9.3GB, XP Pro. Now with passive cooling! “I could make a better looking computer case with a bucket of Lincoln Logs.” -lemode Last edited by Error 404; Jul 17, 2008 at 02:30 AM.

System Name:	B!tch \ Inspiron 15
Processor:	Intel i7 2600K (3.4 GHz, 8 threads) \ Pentium DC M T4300 2.1 GHz
Motherboard:	Asus P67P8-V3 \ Intel GM45
Cooling:	Xigmatek Balder 120mm (4x120,1x140mm case)\ Dell stuff
Memory:	Patriot 2 Viper Sector 5, 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz\ 4 GB DDR2-800 6-6-6-18 SoDIMM
Video Card:	VTX3D 6970 2GB \ Intel 4500MHD
Hard Disk:	1TB Samsung SATA, WD 500GB SATA (16MB cache), 1TB Seagate \ 320 GB Samsung 5200 RPM
Optical Drive:	LG SuperMulti w/ever \ DVD-RW Multi
CRT/LCD Model:	Dell Ultrasharp U2311h 23" (so sexy) \ 15.6" Dell LCD 1366x768
Case:	CoolerMaster Gladiator RC-600 \ Inspiron 15 chassis
Sound Card:	Onboard 5.1 \ Onboard Stereo
PSU:	Antec 850w with yellow racing stripes \ Dell power brick
Software:	Windows 7 HP 64 bit \ Windows 7 HP 64 bit (Dell OEM)

Jul 16, 2008, 12:28 PM	#2
King Wookie Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 1,031 (0.52/day) Thanks: 873 Thanked 280 Times in 224 Posts System Specs	Well, Seeing as I was part catalyst, I will be looking into doing something once my current project is wrapped up, hopefully by the end of the week. Now, what's the minimum specs for a basic Linux distro? __________________ “Excellent. My 32x DVD drive killed my cat.” -Sasqui “Soap Vaseline Steel Wool Microwave. Run.” -CyberDruid “Yeah, MS is not to be confused with MicroSoft which is a chronic, often disabling, Central Processing Unit nervous system disease.” -Kreij

System Name:	Blackbox
Processor:	Intel i5 750 @ stock for now
Motherboard:	EVGA P55 LE
Cooling:	Corsair H50 with 2 x Zalman ZM-F3 push/pull
Memory:	2 x 2g team extreem DDR3 2000
Video Card:	Asus GTX 460 Top
Hard Disk:	Seagate 500.12, Seagate 320.11
Optical Drive:	LG DVD RW
CRT/LCD Model:	BenQ FP222W - 22 inches
Case:	CM 590 with 5x various fans (Thermalright/Noctua)
Sound Card:	Onboard
PSU:	Corsair HX620
Software:	XP home SP3

System Name:	Desktop Rig\Laptop HP 8510P
Processor:	Intel Core i7 970 @ 4.0ghz 24/7 \Intel T9300 @ 2.5Ghz
Motherboard:	ASUS P6X58D Premium Motherboard\HP 8510P
Cooling:	Custom Water\Laptop cooling
Memory:	6x2GB DDR3 PC3-16000\3Gb of 667
Video Card:	ATI 5870 1GB x 2 Crossfire \HD2600 256Mb
Hard Disk:	OCZ Vertex 2 120GB, 2x Samsung 2TB \500GB Samsung
Optical Drive:	16X DVD Burner\8X DVD burner
CRT/LCD Model:	2 x Samsung 2443BW+ 24" + Samsung SA450 24" Eyefinty \15.4" laptop widescreen
Case:	Xigmatek Elysium\it's a laptop
Sound Card:	Auzentech X-Fi Bravura 7.1(With DTS Drivers)\SoundMAX onboard
PSU:	Corsair TX850W\90W power brick
Software:	Windows 7 Pro x64\Windows 7 Pro x64
Benchmarks:	I Should put something here

Jul 16, 2008, 12:44 PM	#4
King Wookie Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 1,031 (0.52/day) Thanks: 873 Thanked 280 Times in 224 Posts System Specs	Well, I do have a Dell P2 sitting here looking bored . . . __________________ “Excellent. My 32x DVD drive killed my cat.” -Sasqui “Soap Vaseline Steel Wool Microwave. Run.” -CyberDruid “Yeah, MS is not to be confused with MicroSoft which is a chronic, often disabling, Central Processing Unit nervous system disease.” -Kreij

Jul 16, 2008, 06:15 PM	#5
JC316 Knows what makes you tick Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: DFW/ Texas Posts: 6,047 (2.26/day) Thanks: 714 Thanked 912 Times in 696 Posts System Specs	Sounds interesting. I have most of the parts that would be required for it. I have Windows 98 that I got for free, I have a "Dumpster dove" hard drive, case fans, RAM and CD Drive. The only thing that I would need is a power supply and mobo/cpu. __________________ Core 2 Duo Overclocking guide Athlon 64 overclocking guide “If I were to do this, it'd be my luck that the door would rip off the hinges, burst into flames, and rape my face with fiery hot death.” -El Fiendo

System Name:	Budget Gaming
Processor:	AMD FX6300
Motherboard:	Gigabyte 880GMA-USB3
Cooling:	Coolermaster Hyper 212+
Memory:	8GB Ripjaws DDR3 1600
Video Card:	HD7850 1GB
Hard Disk:	1TB Sata2
Optical Drive:	DVD RM
CRT/LCD Model:	Acer 19"
Case:	Generic black
Sound Card:	Stock onboard
PSU:	Lepa 500W
Software:	Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit

Jul 16, 2008, 10:22 PM	#6
Error 404 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Australia Posts: 1,330 (0.71/day) Thanks: 166 Thanked 178 Times in 157 Posts System Specs	King Wookie, you could probably get FreeBSD to run on that, although I've never used BSD... JC316, you can use the Windows installation you have, but make sure your case looks either awesome, weird, or not computerish at all! The case can't really be bigger than a microwave oven, because who wants to carry one of those? __________________ Third rig: PC Express Invader. C2D E6400 2.13GHz, 4GB DDR2-800, 320GB HDD, Intel 945, Asus 9600GT 512MB, 550W PSU, W7 HP 64-bit. Fourth Rig: Dell Optiplex 170L, P4 Prescott 2.8GHz, 512MB DDR266RAM, 80GB HDD, FX5200PCI 128MB, 250W PSU,XP Pro Fifth rig (Laptop): Dell Inspiron 4000, 14.1", PIII 850MHz, 384MB RAM, 9.3GB, XP Pro. Now with passive cooling! “I could make a better looking computer case with a bucket of Lincoln Logs.” -lemode

Jul 16, 2008, 11:41 PM	#7
hat Maximum Overclocker Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 12,236 (5.16/day) Thanks: 2,054 Thanked 2,039 Times in 1,549 Posts System Specs	This man wins. http://hackedgadgets.com/2006/02/06/...key-bottle-pc/ __________________ My Heatware “Inb4 smartphone LN2 overclocking.” -radrok

System Name:	Starlifter // Dragonfly
Processor:	(lapped) i7 920 4GHz 1.3v // 1090T 3.6GHz 1.3v
Motherboard:	Asus Rampage III // Gigabyte GA-770T-USB3
Cooling:	(lapped) Corsair H70 // (lapped) TT Big Typhoon
Memory:	3x2GB DDR3 1600 10-10-10-30-128-1T 1.5v // 2x2GB DDR3 1333 9-9-9-24-1T 1.5v
Video Card:	HIS Radeon 5870 // BFG Maxcore 55 GTX260
Hard Disk:	Plextor M5S 128GB + 512GB OCZ Agility 4 + 2TB WD20EARS // WDC Black 500GB
Optical Drive:	SATA DVD-RW // IDE CD-RW
CRT/LCD Model:	Dell/Alienware AW2310 + 19" HDTV // 19" HDTV
Case:	Antec SOHO 1030B // some really old white case... but it's decent
Sound Card:	Creative X-Fi Fatality Professional // onboard (disabled)
PSU:	Antec NeoHe 550W // Corsair CX600w
Software:	Windows 7 Home Premium x64 // Windows 7 Home Premium x64
Benchmarks:	zunn zunnzunn zunn zunn

Jul 17, 2008, 12:30 AM	#9
Luke Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 132 (0.06/day) Thanks: 18 Thanked 53 Times in 39 Posts System Specs	someone give me some free itx stuff so i can win looking for some stuff to put my old p3 stuff in atm

Jul 17, 2008, 02:29 AM	#10
Error 404 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Australia Posts: 1,330 (0.71/day) Thanks: 166 Thanked 178 Times in 157 Posts System Specs	Good luck with that. I have set a date that contestants have to finish by! It is approximately one month from now, the 17th of August! (thats... Saturday in America, right?) So, you all have plenty of time! __________________ Third rig: PC Express Invader. C2D E6400 2.13GHz, 4GB DDR2-800, 320GB HDD, Intel 945, Asus 9600GT 512MB, 550W PSU, W7 HP 64-bit. Fourth Rig: Dell Optiplex 170L, P4 Prescott 2.8GHz, 512MB DDR266RAM, 80GB HDD, FX5200PCI 128MB, 250W PSU,XP Pro Fifth rig (Laptop): Dell Inspiron 4000, 14.1", PIII 850MHz, 384MB RAM, 9.3GB, XP Pro. Now with passive cooling! “I could make a better looking computer case with a bucket of Lincoln Logs.” -lemode

Jul 23, 2008, 02:35 AM	#11
cdawall where the hell are my stars Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: some AF base Posts: 16,021 (6.43/day) Thanks: 457 Thanked 2,753 Times in 2,222 Posts System Specs	mines going to be all the peices i have laying around which just happen to be a Biostar 780G board 5000BE 2x512mb crap ram @900 or so 5-5-5-15 __________________

System Name:	Deployment build
Processor:	Phenom II B97@4080mhz 1.6v (24/7 4800mhz max clock)
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Video Card:	Sapphire 7950 3GB 1150/1400 1.27v
Hard Disk:	2x32GB STT SSD's raid 0, 1TB Samsung F3's, 1.5TB Seagate 7200.11
CRT/LCD Model:	STi 22"
Case:	Thermaltake Commandar MS-I Epic Edition
Sound Card:	E07K USB DAC->Fischer FA-002W High edition
PSU:	Antec TPQ-1200
Software:	windows 7 ultimate x64

Jul 23, 2008, 07:24 AM	#12
Error 404 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Australia Posts: 1,330 (0.71/day) Thanks: 166 Thanked 178 Times in 157 Posts System Specs	Cool, I'm glad someone's interested! Good luck. __________________ Third rig: PC Express Invader. C2D E6400 2.13GHz, 4GB DDR2-800, 320GB HDD, Intel 945, Asus 9600GT 512MB, 550W PSU, W7 HP 64-bit. Fourth Rig: Dell Optiplex 170L, P4 Prescott 2.8GHz, 512MB DDR266RAM, 80GB HDD, FX5200PCI 128MB, 250W PSU,XP Pro Fifth rig (Laptop): Dell Inspiron 4000, 14.1", PIII 850MHz, 384MB RAM, 9.3GB, XP Pro. Now with passive cooling! “I could make a better looking computer case with a bucket of Lincoln Logs.” -lemode

Jul 23, 2008, 05:26 PM	#13
johnnyfiive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,975 (1.60/day) Thanks: 740 Thanked 856 Times in 537 Posts System Specs	Man, I have some of the best shoe boxes for doing this I just don't have any spare computer parts to use. Damn. __________________ [o_0] - GO BUCKEYES! ------------------------------------------------------ HEATWARE /MY KEYBOARD / VIDEO OF MY LGA 2011 RIG ------------------------------------------------------ Steam: johnnyfiive ORIGIN: johnny5iive League of Legends: 5iive

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Cooling:	Corsair H100
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Video Card:	Gigabyte 7870
Hard Disk:	Intel 330 120GB
Optical Drive:	LG R/W+/-[0_o]/
CRT/LCD Model:	Dell UltraSharp U2713HM
Case:	Corsair 400R
Sound Card:	Onboard
PSU:	Corsair GS700
Software:	Windows 8 Professional 64-Bit

Jul 23, 2008, 09:50 PM	#14
imperialreign Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sector ZZ₉ Plural Z Alpha Posts: 4,001 (1.88/day) Thanks: 272 Thanked 953 Times in 710 Posts System Specs	if I can scrouge together a couple of parts, I can throw down on this . . . __________________ <Guide: Understanding audio specifications and hardware> <X-Fi Support Syndicate> Hit me up on Steam: http://steamcommunity.com/id/imperialreign {THERE IS MADNESS TO MY METHODS}

System Name:	УльтраФиолет
Processor:	Intel Kentsfield Q9650 @ 3.8GHz (4.2GHz highest achieved)
Motherboard:	ASUS P5E3 Deluxe/WiFi; X38 NSB, ICH9R SSB
Cooling:	Delta V3 block, XPSC res, 120x3 rad, ST 1/2" pump - 10 fans, SYSTRIN HDD cooler, Antec HDD cooler
Memory:	Dual channel 8GB OCZ Platinum DDR3 @ 1800MHz @ 7-7-7-20 1T
Video Card:	Quadfire: (2) Sapphire HD5970
Hard Disk:	(2) WD VelociRaptor 300GB SATA-300; WD 320GB SATA-300; WD 200GB UATA + WD 160GB UATA
Optical Drive:	(2) I/O Magic "LightScribe" SATA DVD ± R/RW
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Sound Card:	Creative X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro PCI-E x1
PSU:	Kingwin Mach1 1200W modular
Software:	Windows XP Home SP3; Vista Ultimate x64 SP2
Benchmarks:	3m06: 20270 here: http://hwbot.org/user.do?userId=12313

Jul 24, 2008, 08:00 AM	#15
Error 404 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Australia Posts: 1,330 (0.71/day) Thanks: 166 Thanked 178 Times in 157 Posts System Specs	Cool, more contestants! @ batmang; creativity is the key, so the only way you'll get a cookie is if you do a better job than me at making a Shoebox case. @ imperial; dont worry about looking for high-spec stuff, just get a pile of late 90s hardware and put Puppy Linux on it, and it will be easier to find. Worked for me! __________________ Third rig: PC Express Invader. C2D E6400 2.13GHz, 4GB DDR2-800, 320GB HDD, Intel 945, Asus 9600GT 512MB, 550W PSU, W7 HP 64-bit. Fourth Rig: Dell Optiplex 170L, P4 Prescott 2.8GHz, 512MB DDR266RAM, 80GB HDD, FX5200PCI 128MB, 250W PSU,XP Pro Fifth rig (Laptop): Dell Inspiron 4000, 14.1", PIII 850MHz, 384MB RAM, 9.3GB, XP Pro. Now with passive cooling! “I could make a better looking computer case with a bucket of Lincoln Logs.” -lemode

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