[work log] Diy itx case, aka ikea case

[Hattu]

Greetings from Finland! My first post to TPU and this forum...

So, i'm building a new itx case from a scratch. It's gona be a long project and my first, but at least i've started building it. I have a lot of other money holes atm, so i think this project could take additional 3-9 months to finish from this point. Fortunately, i can take most of the (metal) materials free from my work. Would still need about 150 - 450€ to finish it. Closer to the latter if i choose to use an AIO watercooler, like Eisbaer 240 LT. It should fit...

I started to build my original ryzen rig about a year ago, and finished it early last spring. Everything is working fine, except i don't like the size of my case (Define Nano S) and my GPU is from 2011... I don't use it for gaming, so it's okay-ish for now...

After a few weeks fidling with available materials, beer, pen and paper, i decided to use 8x12mm steel rods for the chassis and add aluminium sheets where needed. And that's about 8 weeks ago.

The sheet in the picture measures about 170x170mm, it's 3mm thick and it's for the MB. It also works as a heatsink for the SSD beneath the MB. The GPU will be attached to the backside of this plate with a riser cable, similarily like in Dan cases. There will be a possibility to adjust the position of the MB/GPU combo vertically, so there should be enough room for thicker GPU/ thinner CPU cooler combination or vice versa.

The SFX (-L) PSU goes under them. On the front there will be two silent 120mm fans and on their left side is room for a small DVD or blueray drive. If i decide to use an AIO, it should fit on the right side of the chassis. Or at bottom, if i relocate the PSU.

The exact position for HDD(s) is a bit open question right now, like the possible fan controller.

As a cover i think i'll use a combination of aluminium sheets and stainless steel mesh. Haven't decided yet the colors for the paint job. Propably matte black on the inside and something colorful outside. No glass panels. Or leds.

Oh, allmost forgot. The outer dimensions of the chassis right now is 161mm(w), 251mm(h) and 320mm(d).

Components/ My current rig atm:

- CPU : Ryzen 1800x, no oc
- MB : AsRock X370 Fatal1ty ITX /diy VRM heatsink mod
- RAM : 2x8GB GSkill Flare-X 3200/CL14
- SSD : Samsung 960 evo 512 GB
- CPU cooler : Noctua NH-L12S
- Case : Fractal Design Define Nano S
- HDD1 : WD Velociraptor 150GB
- HDD2 : WD Black 1TB
- HDD3 : WD Black 1TB (external USB)
- PSU : BeQuiet SFX-L 500W /w diy ATX+EPS cables
- GPU : Asus GTX 560 Ti 1GB (lol)
- OS : Dualboot WIN 10 Home / Ubuntu
- BackUp : Qnap NAS for backups, music and my photos.

Things to add:

- AIO : Ordered Alphacool Eisbaer 240 LT today, hope it fits.
- Front fans : Noctua redux NF-S12B pwm.
- Fan controller : I'll propably build my own....
- PSU : Diy power cables where needed.
- HDD : One 3 - 8TB to replace the old two internal ones would be nice.
- Front USB and audio connectors: Something ready made...
- Buttons, Power and HDD LEDs : Haven't decided yet...

Things to avoid:

- LED lighting

So, does anyone have ideas, tips or opinions of my project so far? And yeah, i know the GPU is "rather" old... Thanks to miners...

I'll take a few more pictures of it at the following days.

And pardon my english, haven't used it for years.

 

[Hattu]

Still waiting for the aio parts to arrive, it'll take two more weeks or so ... And then i'll take it apart and do something with it... Or not.

 

[Hattu]

Met..

 

[Vario]

Cool! Looking forward to see how this turns out. Your english is quite good.

 

[Hattu]

Had some extra time and tried with real components. Next time (If there will be) I must take proper measurements. I haven't noticed, that the cpu coolers support thingy is quite thick and the riser cable have no room left. And I may have a problem with dvd drive. Well, I have to wait until next weekend, should have the AIO and more time then.

2 pics from inside my original case, 2 pics about the riser cable issue and a few general. Still alot to do...

Lol, problem solved with 4 washers.

First, my smileys went away, then i tried to reply but instead modified my post. Maybe next time I'll manage...

Aargh!

 

[Hattu]

So, had some time today to try to fit most of the components. Issues with the riser cable took away some precious millimeters, but maybe, just maybe, i can squeeze all together.



Here is some copper and heat transfering material for m.2 SSD.

Front fans and AIO- cooler.

Another angle.

From behind/ right side

And then left side with possible HDD and DVD- drive positions.

The exact width of the case is 161mm, and it seems that's not enough. May need additional 3mm. But there's still some work to be done before that conclusion. Everything is held together with cable ties atm.

 

[Hattu]

Slow progress, been really busy at work. Got some time yesterday and now I have a few side panels almost ready and the radiator in place.


Radiator:

Left side:

Right side:

Top panel with L-shaped aluminium something, I don't know the right word.

Quite crowded inside, atm there's like 1-2mm space between ram and radiators fan screw...

That's all for now, hopefully I can continue at sunday. Then it's time to work on psu bracket, gpu and front fans mounting.

 

[robot zombie]

Top panel with L-shaped aluminium something, I don't know the right word.

Just to be that guy, it's usually called "aluminum angle." Though when it's iron or sometimes steel people often call it an "angle iron" which then leads some people who work with the stuff every day to call aluminum angle "aluminum angle iron" which just doesn't make a lot of sense. Don't be one of those people

Anywho, looks like you're approaching the moment of truth! I wonder how it will cool. Looks like a major pain to assemble! Reminds me of working inside of one of those teeny little Dell Optiplex boxes where you have to break everything down to get to pretty much any one part save for the drives.

Don't get me wrong, I think the layout is pretty interesting. Can't wait to see it really come together! This is madman-level stuff.

 

[Hattu]

Just to be that guy, it's usually called "aluminum angle." Though when it's iron or sometimes steel people often call it an "angle iron" which then leads some people who work with the stuff every day to call aluminum angle "aluminum angle iron" which just doesn't make a lot of sense. Don't be one of those people

Anywho, looks like you're approaching the moment of truth! I wonder how it will cool. Looks like a major pain to assemble! Reminds me of working inside of one of those teeny little Dell Optiplex boxes where you have to break everything down to get to pretty much any one part save for the drives.

Don't get me wrong, I think the layout is pretty interesting. Can't wait to see it really come together! This is madman-level stuff.

Yeah, it seems to be quite tight place to assemble. But, my friends know i'm a madman. Big Time.