Too case or not too case

[monkeychunkuk]

So whilst building cabs i cant decide to keep them in their pc cases or not

Heres one in its case

One out of its case



The problem i have is mounting the psu and keeping the video card in place


Whats the general thinking   

[Nephasth]

I cannibalize old PC cases for mobo trays and I/O panels, this way there is no problem with mounting video and pci cards.

[Howard_Casto]

What he said. 

The video card is the only real issue with going caseless.  You don't want the thing snapping off or falling out.

[BadMouth]

Use something better than a jigsaw to cut it or you'll end up with edges like this. 
Angle grinder or dremel with heavy duty cut-off wheel would have been much better.

[Nephasth]

Use something better than a jigsaw to cut it or you'll end up with edges like this. 
Angle grinder or dremel with heavy duty cut-off wheel would have been much better.

You sure you used a jigsaw? Looks like you used your teeth!


Some mobo trays you may not have to cut either. This one I just ground off the rivets to remove the sides of the case.



Depends if you have space issues or not...

[mahkeymike]

Use something better than a jigsaw to cut it or you'll end up with edges like this. 
Angle grinder or dremel with heavy duty cut-off wheel would have been much better.

Harbor Frieght....
There called Nibblers
THIS

OR THIS

[Howard_Casto]

Actually, I've had really good luck with jiggsaws for cutting cases, back in my "modding" days that's what I used.  Every now and again you'll need to smooth things out, but the edge is fairly clean. 

You just have to use the right blade.  Man, I dunno what BadMouth did, but you've got to work really hard to screw it up that bad. 

[monkeychunkuk]

Apart from the look what Are the draw backs on leaving them inside a stripped down cab?

[danny_galaga]

Too case or not too case

I don't think it's too case at all, seems to be just the right amount of case...

[Generic Eric]

I can't add much to what has been said.  I like the exposed PCB though.

[SithMaster]

If you have a dell dimension series case you want to scrap you could easily drill out the rivets and just have the one side to mount a mobo, psu, optical drive, and hd depending on model of the case.

I'm somewhat positive that trying to cut a pc case somewhat fast with a jigsaw will cause edges like that.  Best to go slow and let the blade do its thing.

[Drnick]

Apart from the look what Are the draw backs on leaving them inside a stripped down cab?

There are only a few things I have noticed. Noise from fans sounds louder with no case. Then there is Dust and Fluff in the fans.  To deal with that you can just put a filter over your cabinet fans.

[Howard_Casto]

Honestly it's better to leave the pc cased.  That way when (not if) the pc dies, you can just swap it out instead of unmounting a pcb tray, power supply and ect.  Sometimes you have to de-case though.... there just isn't enough room in the machine. 

[Gray_Area]

Use something better than a jigsaw to cut it or you'll end up with edges like this. 
Angle grinder or dremel with heavy duty cut-off wheel would have been much better.

Board and clamps make a handy fence.

[edekoning]

If you already have the case and the space for it, than use it. If you still need to buy all the computer parts, than you can save a few bucks by not buying a case.