Build case for ITX motherboard?

Enclosures and acoustic damping to help quiet them.

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littlebigman
Posts: 111
Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:54 pm

Build case for ITX motherboard?

Post by littlebigman » Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:20 am

Hello,

I need to build a series of compact hosts using Intel's D945GCLF(2/2D) or D201GLY2(A) whose price is around 50-90E, but the price of cases is ridiculous (150E!)

The only one issue I have is that I need to insert a PCI card, and lay it on its side using a "riser", ie. parallel to the motherboard to keep the case as slim as possible. Considering the height of the CPU heatsink, I'll probably have to replace it with a passive, lower model, and screw a CPU fan to the side of the case, and under-volt to keep the noise at its minimum.

So... since I don't know anything about building cases, I'd like to ask those of you who are used to building stuff how I could create a case to hold this motherboard. I know I could use eg. Meccano parts, but I think customers wouldn't like it ;)

Thanks for any hint.

psiu
Posts: 1201
Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2005 1:53 pm
Location: SE MI

Post by psiu » Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:22 am

Stick em in a teddy bear or N64 or something. :P

Check out mini-itx.com for examples.

mark314
Friend of SPCR
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Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:02 am

Post by mark314 » Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:30 am

http://www.mini-box.com/M300-Enclosure- ... F-Reader_2

Price: ($USD)
1 – 9 $59.95
10 – 49 $53.95
50 – 99 $50.95
100 + $45.50

Image

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mark314
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Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:02 am

Post by mark314 » Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:35 am

This would work too:

Jetway JC-104 Black Mini-ITX Enclosure with 100w PSU, 80W AC-DC Power Adapter, Slim CD ROM Adapter and PCI Riser Card

http://www.mini-box.com/Jetway-JC-100-M ... -Enclosure

$94.00 USD

It is wider because the PCI ports are next to the mini-itx board, rather than above it. Check out the manual: http://resources.mini-box.com/online/EN ... manual.pdf

Aris
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Post by Aris » Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:19 pm

www.logicsupply.com also has some good itx cases.

insta
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:05 pm
Location: KCMO

Post by insta » Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:51 pm

I have the shorter version of this case, with the LCD front. The fan is loud, and there isnt' all that much space inside. It does hold 2x 2.5" HDD's (or one 3.5" HDD) though. You also need a PicoPSU to power it. This machine is still active as my router.

I've also used the Morex 3377. I liked it a lot more. Fit was a bit tighter (and actually didn't fit my Atom board without modification). It runs quieter though, and comes with a perfectly adequate PSU. This machine is a mombox now :)

bgiddins
Posts: 175
Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:04 am
Location: Australia

Post by bgiddins » Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:38 pm

I'd wait for the Antec ISK 300/400 cases - they have 80mm fans that will probably be easier to quiet/replace than the 40/50mm fans of most mITX cases.

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