Built a (nerd) thing...AMA

"PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120" (pyroholtz)
10/11/2020 at 13:46 • Filed to: computerlopnik

I have been planning on a new home file server for a while now and couldn’t find a simple thin-ITX case that would fit a single 3.5" HDD as well as a 2.5" SSD. I know it’s a strange use case so I accepted the fact that I’d need to modify something or build my own.

Looking around the garage a month or so ago, I remembered that I had some 20ga 304 SS sheet metal, left over from another project. I wasn’t in a rush to get the new computer up and running, so I decided to try my hand at fabricating a case. I planned out in my head what I wanted and began the act of hacking up various pieces and pop-riveting things together.

Without a sheet metal shear or brake for the bends, the end result severely lacks in dimensional accuracy. Using all hand tools and armed with zero sheet metal fabricarion experience besides brackets or other unimportant things, this case won’t win me any awards on fine craftsmanship but I’m happy with how it turned out.

Since it doesn’t take much horsepower to run a file server, the older specs of this system won’t be an issue and all the components were not being used, so win:win.

Motherboard: Intel DQ77KB thin-ITX w/ (partially) integrated PSU and dual gigabit NIC

CPU: i5-3470, 4-core, 4-thread boosts to 3.6

RAM: 2x8GB 2,400 Mhz DDR3-sodimms

Storage: 5TB WD 3.5" sata HDD and 240GB Samsung 2.5" sata SSD

DISCUSSION (12)

Brickman > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
10/11/2020 at 14:59

I thought you bought the case if you wouldnt of said you made it. It’s really good! Kinda looks like a toaster :P

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > Brickman
10/11/2020 at 15:07

Thanks.

I’m just good a picking the pictures that look best, if you saw this thing in person, you’d be giving me shit and ask if I wore a blindfold during most of the work.

MM54 > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
10/11/2020 at 15:25

Very well done!

facw > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
10/11/2020 at 17:12

Looks good to me. I’ve just got one of these thingies:

Kinja'd!!!

Two 3.5" bays, dual-Celeron of some sort, 2GB of RAM (I’ve tried to upgrade to 4, but it doesn’t boot?). Not really that reliable. No metalworking skills required, which is good because I have none.

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > facw
10/11/2020 at 17:31

Is that a NAS running some basic firmware or is it running a full fledged OS?

facw > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
10/11/2020 at 20:58

It’s an NAS, with a somewhat limited OS . It is apparently possible to get Windows/Linux running on it, but with some difficulty, so I’ve just left it with the default. The fact it is Intel rather than ARM based like most of the competition does provide a bit more flexibility in what it can do.

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > MM54
10/11/2020 at 23:55

Thanks

Nom De Plume > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
10/12/2020 at 00:18

After watching the ongoing effort to turn a BBS wheel into a computer case. 90% expected this to be vehicular related instead of utilitarian metal fab.

It looks good and anyone who digs into a dusty corner to say otherwise needs help.

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > Nom De Plume
10/12/2020 at 00:43

A BBS wheel into a computer case, that sounds cool!

Nom De Plume > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
10/12/2020 at 01:37

It remains to be determined how well it will be pulled off.

Insofar as YT stunts go. This one is pretty far into the acceptable category.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
10/12/2020 at 09:04

Very nice! Seriously, good job!

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > BaconSandwich is tasty.
10/12/2020 at 11:29

Thanks Bacon