New Project: Total Carnage

[Eric1970]

ok, I was able to get a Total Carnage cabinet in real good shape for $100.  I plan on putting the PC components on a piece of wood that can slide in & out of the unit.  This will help in the maintenance of the unit as I won't have to get around to the back.

I have a few questions:

1. Any pictures or hints on connecting the motherboard and other components to a piece of wood?  I am concerned with two things:
  1. Overheating
  2. Keeping the audio and video card in their slots as I can't screw them in to anything

I'll begin to post photos of my journey soon.

Thanks all.

[leapinlew]

ok, I was able to get a Total Carnage cabinet in real good shape for $100.  I plan on putting the PC components on a piece of wood that can slide in & out of the unit.  This will help in the maintenance of the unit as I won't have to get around to the back.

I have a few questions:

1. Any pictures or hints on connecting the motherboard and other components to a piece of wood?  I am concerned with two things:
  1. Overheating
  2. Keeping the audio and video card in their slots as I can't screw them in to anything

I'll begin to post photos of my journey soon.

Thanks all.

Not what you want to hear, but... just keep the computer in it's case. Put the computer in the cabinet or put the computer on the side of the arcade. The amount of time you spend getting into your cabinet to get the computer out will be much less than building and mounting whats necessary for the computer to not be in its case.

Another option - use a computer with a good onboard audio/video card so you have no cards to worry about.

Even more options! - Make the front of your cabinet hinged so you can open the cabinet from the front to get to the computer.

As for the overheating - you can fix that with a few fans. One on the bottom pulling air in and give the air a place to escape at the top of the cabinet. Heat rising and all...

I've seen cards held in place in PCI slots with a hot glue gun. I wouldn't do it - but I've seen it.

[atog]

I can second that.

I had some glorious dreams of mounting all the pc components on the sides of the case, or on a removable slider too.  In the end, it was a lot easier just to stick the computer inside as is.  I did take the side of the pc off to keep it cool.

[Eric1970]

I am starting to see what you guys mean.  For every component I need some type of strap or bracket to get the thing onto the slider.   

I'm waiting for a monitor/tv anyway so I may still try and get it done.  I will photo my journey and post soon.

thanks,

[edge]

I agree.. It is much easier (and faster) to stick the entire PC into your cab. 

However, with my latest cab, there wasn't anyroom to stand up a PC case... so I had to mount every PC component seperately.  You can check out my Golden Tee project thread (see my signature) for more details.

Good luck!

[Paladin]

I had an old PIII 450 system with no case that I wanted to put in a cab I was building to sell.  I was too cheap to buy a case, so I mounted everything onto a piece of wood and put it in the bottom of the cab.  It worked fine, and didn't overheat - your milage may vary.

I present "PC-on-a-stick":

[ArcadeMaze]

X

[DarkBubble]

I usually cut the case so that the brackets are still available.  Then I mount the modified case to the side and then screw everthing it.  It is still pretty handy to get parts in and out.

ArcadeMaze

Ooooh, nice idea, not to mention a total forehead slapper.  "Duh, why didn't I think of that?"  I'll have to remember that when I start converting my Centipede/Capcom Bowling carcass.

[Eric1970]

yup - I was no considering this, using the one side panle that the monther board is on.  That would help out.  I also like the cheap straps Paladin used.  stay tuned...