Project: Secret of the Ooze

[gvblake22]

Thanks for the input Gig. You bring up some very good points, and your concerns are legitimate.

1) The corner of that piece of acrylic is not cracked, that is just the reflection of the light fixture above me (I'm trying to show how it can be dark tinted one minute, then reflective the next).

2) I have it all worked out in my head how I will be securing the components. It is really hard to explain (if not impossible) so I'm just gonna have to leave you in suspense until I can get working on the project again and show you pictures...

3) The PSU will face so the wires go inside the case, don't worry

4) The space is indeed cramped, but I designed this with small size in mind. In order to achieve a small size, it's prettymuch necessary to squeeze in every component wherever possible. So the layout is cramped on purpose :P

5) As far as working in this case, I have decided that this will be more of a permanent system that I don't tinker with. It's just gonna be one of those "reliable" systems that is just there and I can always count on being able to use it. So I will really only have to set it all up once, and then be done with it. Maybe changing the video card or something eventually, but that's about it, nothing real major. This is definately not going to house an enthusiast system that I will be tweaking and tinkering with for months on end. That project will come soon enough

[Gig-O-Ram]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

Thanks for the input Gig. You bring up some very good points, and your concerns are legitimate.

Your welcome! And thank you for giving creedence to my thoughts as well. :)

Originally Posted by gvblake22

1) The corner of that piece of acrylic is not cracked, that is just the reflection of the light fixture above me (I'm trying to show how it can be dark tinted one minute, then reflective the next).

Ok, I guess I couldn't really make that out. Sorry about that. I'm glad it's not damaged, which would probably make working with it harder.

Originally Posted by gvblake22

2) I have it all worked out in my head how I will be securing the components. It is really hard to explain (if not impossible) so I'm just gonna have to leave you in suspense until I can get working on the project again and show you pictures...

Alright, I look forward to seeing how you do it. :)

Originally Posted by gvblake22

3) The PSU will face so the wires go inside the case, don't worry

Gotcha. It will still be hard to do, maybe - but it seems like you have things worked out pretty well.

Originally Posted by gvblake22

4) The space is indeed cramped, but I designed this with small size in mind. In order to achieve a small size, it's prettymuch necessary to squeeze in every component wherever possible. So the layout is cramped on purpose :P

I know what you're saying. Even though my case is a server tower (about 21" X 8" X 18") it seems I have everything crammed in there pretty close, and I use some of the drive bays to hide cables/wires, and I'm wondering how I'm gonna fit the 250G SATA in there when I get it, (probably right over the floppy) and fitting some of the light sticks in there may also be a challenge.

Originally Posted by gvblake22

5) As far as working in this case, I have decided that this will be more of a permanent system that I don't tinker with. It's just gonna be one of those "reliable" systems that is just there and I can always count on being able to use it. So I will really only have to set it all up once, and then be done with it. Maybe changing the video card or something eventually, but that's about it, nothing real major. This is definately not going to house an enthusiast system that I will be tweaking and tinkering with for months on end. That project will come soon enough

I agree with you on that point. If it were my case, I'm not sure I'd wanna go in there again unless I had to for some reason. And even then, I'd wonder. The way I have mine right now, with the way I have some of the wire management, taking it apart for any reason would be a major pain, and even just going in to change, or add something is trying. Doing the cooler change on the video card won't be a big deal, but it's the new drive that might give me headache.

Oh, btw...I know you've seen some of it, or maybe all of it, but I'm working on getting my project log set up here. I'm gonna put it up a bit at a time, so people can comment. :)

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by Gig-O-Ram

Ok, I guess I couldn't really make that out. Sorry about that. I'm glad it's not damaged, which would probably make working with it harder.

HAHA, no problem. Another person did the exact same thing too. It's all good ;)

Originally Posted by Gig-O-Ram

Gotcha. It will still be hard to do, maybe - but it seems like you have things worked out pretty well.

Welllll, I never said it was going to be easy
It is definately going to be tricky getting it to fit in there. I think the cables where they come out of the PSU are going to be prettymch jammed right up against the optical drives. I have already decided that a modular PSU is definately the way to go with this case too. Plus it will make sleeving all the wires a little more manageable too.

Originally Posted by Gig-O-Ram

Oh, btw...I know you've seen some of it, or maybe all of it, but I'm working on getting my project log set up here. I'm gonna put it up a bit at a time, so people can comment. :)

Cool, I'll have to check that out (again) :thup:

[gvblake22]

Ok, I know it's been a L O N G time since I've had a real update for you all, so I decided to try and pick this project back up. But first, I need a little input...

Below are several preliminary sketches of what the outside of the final case might look like. I want to make some kind of decorative (yet functional) frame around behind the front and back panels of the case. The bottom edge of the front and rear frames will act as the case feet regardless of which design I go with. I would like to know what you guys (and gals) think about this idea and which design you like better:

[fps justin]

i think no bends or two bends is good. 4 bends seems too much for me.

[Gig-O-Ram]

I like your ideas for the decorative (yet functional) frames, but I'd say that either the two bends or the four bends are the ones I would go with. The two bends is very cool, and will serve well as feet. I like the four bends, which will serve two functions...support and getting people to look at it and go, "Cool!" 8)

[gvblake22]

Thanks for the input!
There's an actual poll at the top too

[Gig-O-Ram]

Sorry, I didn't see the poll...but you now have one vote for the four bends! :)

[polobunny]

No bends look better IMO.

[micmac]

Hmmmmm....I think it should be no bends or two bends. I voted for two, but will they be strong enough to hold up the weight of the case? Thanks for making all those cad pictures :D