Project 12" TFT in a Plexi Case (Dialup Caution)

Ok, this post is kind of like a condensed work log as I'm trying to post it everywhere I can to show it off. This is as far as I have got so far but it is looking good.



I wanted a PC that was original and that would look good, I thought about building from scratch but found a cheat. A kit that had all the parts to make whatever I wanted with a mobo tray included for less than it would cost to have the entire thing made from sheet metal.

So I started by buying this kit, called a lubic kit.

http://www.aerocool.us/aerocool-files-v3/lubic/kits/lubic-combo.htm

This kit is a bit of a pain in the a*s to start with, you have to work out where to put sliders in order to mount further pieces and I found myself virtually ripping the entire structure apart just to put in one slider.

Finally I finished my case, Version 1.

As my imagination is slightly limited it was just a basic ATX case on wheels, I didn’t take any pictures as I didn’t like the design. So I dismantled it and started all over again.

This time I had more of an idea what I wanted to do, I started with the top and worked down, mounted the motherboard tray at the top and made it so it slid out, allowing easy access. Then further down still I placed the PSU, now I ended up with an inverted ATX design. The only problems I had were the drive mounts, I wanted to be original so I devised a way to mount the CD’s vertically and place the HD’s vertically below them.

This caused a problem with airflow so I moved the HD’s to the side of the case but still vertical, allowing space for a 140mm fan in the centre.

Now for the screen, the exciting bit.

I tried to get a 12” Touchscreen but found they were too pricey so I settled for a 12” TFT from Ebay.



Got it and took the casing off, drilled a few holes in the mounting plate and fixed it into my case but portrait not landscape. On the front where normally CD drives would be.



I rigged a VGA lead internally to give me output and made a connection from a molex to the Power pin I needed, (Not ideal but it will last for a while).

I mounted the rest of my components and then fired it up, the screen worked although still set to landscape.



After a while of playing around with the Nvidia Desktop I got my screen to run at 600x800 at a 90degree angle at a refresh of 80hz, threw on a RocketDock to allow easy application loading and then it was done.



From then on I spent about 1 week measuring all the externals so that I could have some Plexi cut. I went on to Ebay again and found some black gloss plexi at 3mm.

It arrived and I talked to friend of mine who has a CNC machine, gave him some drawings with all the measurements I needed, including holes for CD trays, fans etc and send him the plexi.

A few days later my plexi returned all cut and ready to mount, but I needed holes drilling to mount it onto my case.



Hopefully it will be finished soon.

Pics of the screen in action.




OK , I have just finished some more modding and its nearly there. I have cut out 2 holes in the top for usb connections and power, reset etc. I have program that will allow me to open my cd bays from an icon

Cant get my waterblocks made so I will have to buy some. Got to buy 2 xeon waterblocks and a dual 120mm rad. works out about £105 plus I want to change both my cd drives and I think SATA will be better, looking at the top scorer in this months CUSTOMPC

Keep your comments coming, pics will follow 2moro.

EDITED (Pics Resized)

Holy crap. That's really nice. The first of it's kind (that I've seen...and it isn't much =P).

Keep up the good work!

Glad you like it, Its gunna look the mutz nutz when its done.

Looks nice, similar idea to a LAN machine I'm contemplating.

Please resize the pix though, I'm scrolling sideways at 1152x864 res!
800 wide is good (or 600 if you have your screen rotated 90 degrees )

Ok more Pics as promised.

Rig from front


Rig top with CD open. (not stealthed yet tho )


Front and Side Veiw


Front other side


now the fan at the front is my old one, my new 14cm one hasnt arrived yet. Bloody Royal Mail, what are they playin at??

and my water cooling isnt set up so it runs a little on the warm side. Both CPU's are idling at 45C but it is coming along.

Comments are welcome as always

EDITED (Pics resized)

the case looks awsome dude! However I have one question, How did you solve the back panel issue. Because I was thinking about building my own case, but this issue dove to the pit of madness. Another thing is how did you manage to prevent the cds from falling at that angle?

The back panel is the only bit I'm not happy with at the moment. I found an old case that I was going to throw away and rescued the pci slot area to use. That is bolted to the mobo tray so I can pull out the mobo out the back and not have to unscrew anything. Apart from the Plexi to get at it. Looking for thumbscrews for the plexi though.

Im having problems with the VGA lead that goes to the 12" TFT at the moment so Im looking for a smaller one (if something like that exists).



Sorry about the wires, I couldnt be bothered to turn off and unplug it so just moved it.

Keep your comments coming

nice and shiny, like the LCD.

Looks good

nice mod. i cant wait to see it completed. also, check out the program called ultramon. it'll let you customize the 2nd screen better than windows or the ntray program will.

had a little play with ultramon a while back but with 2 17" tft's i will download the new version and try again.

thanks

This modlog is currently suspended as I will be away for 2 weeks, my watercooling is here though so when I return I should be able to complete my project and finish the log.

Very nice! I haven't see anything like it! Good job and keep up the good work!

I havent died just things have been hectic since I came back from holiday on sunday.

I did however find some time to do a little modding last night.

I mounted the USB and power / reset switches on the top panel.



The switches are push button illuminated switches from Maplins and the button it self is 3mm high, the same as my plexi. So they are flush with the top. The green will be my power switch with power led and the reset and hdd activity will be red. The picture doesnt really do it justice so you will have to take my word for it.

It looks good.

wow, doesnt feellike this long ago since i posted on this worklog. Sorry guys for the lack of update.

Hit a bit of a stopper at the moment. having trouble fitting my 240mm rad in the case. its 10mm too long!

anyway here is the kit i got.



Thermochill PA120.2 rad
2x xeon tdx blocks
thermotube 6" res
Laing D4 pump
1/2" Tubing
jubilee clips and extras.

I think I will have to have the rad mounted externally but I dont want to spoil the look of the case so maybe at the rear of on top if i have to.
I was planning to have it mounted on the base of my case but the psu is in the way.

My current idea is to have the pump on the base of the case and the res upright inside. Just need some ideas on fixing this damn rad on.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for the thought but there isnt enough space to stand the psu on its side.

Right ok. been studying my case for bleedin ages today with the rad in hand trying to fit everything in.

Solution: Cant get it internal so i am going to mount it in a rad box on the top. Hopefully plexi enclosed with a mesh top.
The pump will be mounted on the base of the case and the res will be ummmm.... yeah the res will be internal at a location as yet undecided.

Should the Rad box have the fans in too? or should the fans be in the case? does it make a difference?

I know i need to cut the tubing holes but if the fans need to be in the case rather than the rad box i need to have the top cut again for fan mounts.

Edit: reading this back it's gettin me confused i think i will show you what i mean

nice project.

lol @ the color "Horrible"

well it is... it hurts my eyes looking at it.

i have been thinking about having a new top made and vacuum formed that will hold the rad and fans too. will look a bit like a ram scoop on the front of a car. but with mesh on the top.

something like this.

just a quick sketch and not to scale in any way shape or form

will that be better?

I am also working on a different idea altogether like raising the case slightly to fit everything in. sketch to follow. (seem to spend more time sketchin than fittin the damn thing)


its got the pump and rad below in a seperate compartment the res is still where it is. i figure where the res is i can see the level from the outside but it isnt fully outside, only half of it is, (not sure whether the pic shows that properly.)

Opinions Needed!!

Please put in your post which you prefer.
1 - the rad box roof vacuum moulded etc or
2 - extension with watercooling in.

Thanks!!

why such a big hole for the front intake fan?

the front fan is a 140mm aerocool streamliner and the fact that the drawings are not to scale just a rough un

i spoke to a friend who is involved with plastic moulding etc and he can do a radbox but it wont be until october as he is mad busy at work. Dont want to wait until then so I have extended my case. (thank god for LUBIC) only took about 30mins till i had it how i wanted.

However my case is now officially a BEAST measuring a whopping 57cm tall (not including castors) 46cm long and 24cm wide.

Of course this throws most of my plexi panels out, front, back and sides. i cant get any plexi till at least the 16th as my supplier is on holiday till then.

pic below with my NEW 8mb camera, cropped etc to make a file less than 1mb (damn you photobucket)



the cabling is a mess and the water is still out for now but its better. did a test fit with everything and its fine just need the plexi to mount things to.

comments welcome.

i look forward to seeing progress here..

keep it up!

hello again, long time no speak. Work has been mad busy pulling 15hour shifts every night it seems. Finally got the time to order the plexi so it should be here sometime next week while i'm off.

Be nice to finally mount this damn watercooling, its been sitting on the floor in boxes since I got it!

I will keep you posted.

Lookin good. I am workin on a 17 inch lcd mounted in a case right now. You're lucky your lcd has little border around the screen. Mine has about an inch of extra metal on the left and right and a half inch on the top and bottom.

.....sexy

BL**DY HELL!!! This working nights is driving me up the wall!! No time for eating, let alone modding.

My plexi arrived and I sent it to a guy for the cutting, then i went off to work for 2 weeks. Came back expecting it done, went round to pick it up......he F**KING closed. Went out of business! B*STARD!!! I'm so angry. Rang him up and sent an email. today, well yesterday he finally brought my plexi back to me.....UNCUT!!!

TW*T!

Now i gotta find another guy to do the cutting and it has put me back cos this week I have 2 days off that i could have spent tweaking and finished my project.

SO ANGRY!!

Anyway thats me let off some steam now, sorry guys n gals.

Still looking good though. Also with the vga for the front screen have you considered soldering the connection so it is internal? Did that for a friends system once. Made it very clean.

since you have so massive case a "wind tunnel" for the PSU would have been sweet. but still great jop mate can't wait to see it finnished.

this res mount is ****ing me off!

i want it so that only half the res is seen (as in my sketches. Unfortunatly this is a nightmare as I cant attach it to anything strong enough.

Went to B & Q and bought some drain pipe bits. thinking of putting the res on the side with some drainpipe hiding the barbs etc.

pictures tell a 1000 words so i will take a pic n then put it on here.



Its just resting on some scrap plexi but you get the idea

Well my panels are being cut today so I can pick them up tomorrow.

About time too I hear you cry.

Anyway, I have done the stealthing for the drives and got some more piccys for your delight.

Now You See Me!


Now You Dont!

well as near as dammit anyway.

also spoke to my engineer mate and we have devised a way to mount my res internally as my previous design so when my panels come back I can get modding the res mounts.

well i am posting this on my laptop cos my pc is in bits atm.

plexi is done. res is mounted. just routing the tubing and doing cable management. (Pics to follow later on)

My rig has been down since friday @ 2pm as i been working on the tubing. Had to put it on hold this weekend so far as the gf is complaining that i'm not giving her attention.

just did a test fit with all panels on and its going to look the biz when its done. Hopefully today but definatly by monday!

will post pics asap

Very Slick. It's a great mod.

well my rig is finally up and running although the temps are wrong somewhere along the line.
CPU 1 - 50C
CPU 2 - 54C
GPU - 48C

Anyway, got some pics but they excuse the quality as my digital camera has gone AWOL so had to use my phone cam.

More pics to come when i have done some tweaking.







had an idea with these too.



as i said the pics are poor quality but i will get some better ones soon.

TADA!!!

Found my camera and these shots of it do look a lot better. I have left some of the protective film on but only while I am still putting the finishing touches on. Anyway enough of my ramblings heres the pics.

that looks pretty sweet

very nice man!

Just ordered 2 sharkoon fans 120mm 19Db and arctic cooler for my 6800gs from scan. didnt realise my gfx was THAT loud until now. should be here on thursday

And another note, bought some new TIM and reapplied. Now the temps are CPU1 44C and CPU2 46C. CPU2 is hotter cos its next to the gfx card.

Hopefully when they arrive I can take some internal shots too. Needs a bit of a tidy up first.

Ok, the final stages now.

Mounted my LED strips today.

Case


Res Up Close


Just waiting on a couple of things to arrive then it will be done!!