Hey...I'm new here...so greetings to you all.

Anyways...I have decided for my first computer mod project I'm going to start with a new computer(to take to college..i graduate this year)...I'm thinking athlon FX 51, radeon 9800XT, etc etc

Anyways....what do you all think of my idea:
Take a minifridge...turn it on end so the door open up, and the side becomes the front. Build a custom acrylic case for the computer and mount it flush inside the fridge, so it acts as a shelf. Put some LEDs in the computer and take out the fridge's light. Make stealth drives into the side of the fridge....so it LOOKS liek a normal fridge sitting on it's back, but when you open it....VOILA!...my mtn dews will be sitting on top of my blue glowing computer...which is kept cool by the fridge...haha

...also..i'm gunna mount an LCD display into the side so it meets flush and you won't even knwo it's there when you turn it off

what do yall think...i'm looking at spend probably 3000 or so on this project, to buy all the parts and the fridge and the acrylic and LCD display....and i REFUSE to go with a micro ATX form factor, before anyone says it...im gunna get an athlon FX 51, a gig of ram, and i think an Asus SK8N mobo...put in a 52x Plexwriter, 160GB SATA Seagate Barracuda, radeon 9800XT, Sounblaster audigy, logitech mx700 mouse, a Blue LED modded HP mulitmedia keyboard, and a 17" LCD(DVI)...any suggestions are welcome....


PLEASE PLEASE if any of you know where i can get some cheap acrylic sheets(say...1/2" thick)....cut to size..lemme know

As a fellow Gaw-jan [that's Georgian to you yankees!], let me welcome you to PR!

Where is C-Towne? Cedartown?

Anyhow ... the fridge mod is difficult for two reasons:
A) Constant heat. Beer stays cold once it is cooled. CPUs do not. For this reason, minifridges in general don't have 'oomph' [what's the technical term for oomph here pimps?] to cool a mobo, vid card, etc.

B) Condensation. OK with beer .... very bad for mobos. And as humid as GA is, you know it's unavoidable.

There are numerous threads here in PR regarding the mini-fridges and their potentials/pitfalls. Read them ALL before you begin buying parts - knowledge is ECONOMIC power in this case.

Again, welcome aboard.
-MF

Here's a link to start.

It was posted just yesterday. There have been countless "ideas" regarding fridge mods. Most of them did not succed. Sorry to burst your bubble. Welcome to PR!

I don't think of it as bubble-busting - just informed pragmatism. A lil knowledge, a lil guts - who knows?
-MF

"Most" gorked ? I think "all" is closer to the mark.

I think the problems MF identified are insurmountable, inasmuch as it's going to seriously reduce the life of your {B}hardware and {A} compressor.

One way round it is to buy two identical mini fridges & stack them - a bit of filler & they'll look like one unit Keep one as it is for your beer /bawls, remove the cooling from the second & use it as a conventionally cooled case.

Dual compressors! By george I think he's got it!

Which leads to the question - if you have a piece of industrial equipment generating heat and you need to keep it cold [say 5C], what do you do? Certainly this problem is solved .....
-MF

Quote: Originally posted by Monsignor Funkibut Dual compressors! By george I think he's got it!

I don't think you got it Funki - I was saying junk the 2nd compressor

Quote: Originally posted by Jonny English "Most" gorked ? I think "all" is closer to the mark.

True...true...
I just didn't want to assume things. You never know.

i have put lots of thoguht into this project...and read many of yer failed efforts...and is eriously think mine will work

w/ an acrylic box set flush into the bottom of the fridge the condensation shoodnt be a problem......u wont get much if any on half inch acrylic

as for the computer generating heat...as i can tell..no1 else has tried having stanbdard ventilation on the computer ina ddition to the power of the fridge....perhaps even a ducted fan on the cpu?

the airflow in the system wood also eliminte any potential condensationt he acrylic didnt avert