Well, my dremel hand has been getting itchy again, so I think it's time for another casemod. This time I'm building a home for our clan's LAN server.

We're called the Beefpiles, so I'm naming the project "Beefpile Interactive Gaming Server", or B.I.G.S.

Here is the general idea: The case will be modeled on 1960s-1980s mainframe computers. If you've seen WOPR from "War Games" then you know exactly what I'm talking about.

The victim for this mod will be an old Gateway tower I'm inheriting from a buddy. Here are some shots of the case:


This case is a real monster. It was made when men were men and computer cases could survive global thermonuclear war. The steel is very thick. All of the outer plastic panels are removable, which makes painting/cutting very easy. There are some weird things about it, however:

• There is barely any cooling. The CPU Heatsink (which doesn't sit down on the heatspreader) is surrounded by a plastic shroud which I guess was vented through the PSU. There are no other case fans. Here's a pic of the inside of the case just after I got it:
• There is a spot for an 80 mm fan, but for some reason Gateway covered this with a metal plate
• The PSU is a custom size. The funny part about this one is that the holes are in place for a standard PSU. There is a bit of metal that has to be removed so my Antec 350W will fit. Here's a shot of that
• And finally, the I/O plate is integrated with the PCI slot covers and is specific for the Gateway board. It will probably take some careful cutting to get a precise hole to hold the standard punch-out I/O plate

Here are my ideas so far:

• Paint: Brown basecoat with a dark green topcoat (topcoat will not totally hide brown)
• Practical mods: cut out PSU opening, cut out I/O plate, add 92 mm intake to front
• Front intake fan grill made of aluminum mesh fan filter. Filter removed and replaced with modder's mesh.
• Handles on top and front
• Stenciled detail text near important components
• Toggles on front to control lights
• Power button replaced with big red button (and of course it's going to have a flip cover)
• DragonModz Dragon meter for HDD activity
• Custom LED array (more on this below)

Ok, so the main feature of the case will be the custom LED array, and it's a beast. Twizted over at DragonModz is putting it together for me, and I think he might have thought twice had he known what a job it would be.

The array contains 60 LEDs. There are two colors, orange and green. The LEDs will go through a pattern designed to simulate random flashing. Like I said, if you've seen video of old mainframes, you know what I'm talking about. Sometimes these are referred to as blinkenlights

Ok, so here is an animated GIF showing the on/off sequence. The LED colors are not included here, only the binary state of the individual diodes:

---

That's about it for now. I'm waiting to get the case back from it's owners at the moment, because there was a problem with their new machine and they needed their old one back in the meantime. Hopefully I'll be able to start working in earnest next week.

I suppose I could mention the machine specs, although they aren't very good! As I mentioned, we're planning on using this thing as a server, and since I'm financing it myself it's going to be on the cheap.

• MOBO: ASRock K7S8X
• Proc: Athlon 1800+ (Palomino)
• RAM: The 3 biggest sticks my buddies have to spare. I'm hoping to get at least 512 MB
• HDDs: once again scrounged from old rigs. A 10 GB and 20 GB
• Video: Radeon 9200 pro

Ok, thanks for reading. As always if you have any comments or suggestions I'd love to hear them.

Looks like you have got this all worked out already - Great planning Bionic

Keen to see this Array in action!! How about some light up switches on the front too?

Looks pretty sweet, is it going to be bare LED's or will they be behind acrlic to diffuse the light and make it more authentic?

Quote: Originally Posted by nobody Looks pretty sweet, is it going to be bare LED's or will they be behind acrlic to diffuse the light and make it more authentic?

Right now I'm planning to build an inset box on the side panel (where you see those vent holes in the first pic) to hold the array. It will be covered by a window. Probably clear plexi because that's what I have lying around. I might sand it a bit to give it more of a frosted look.

How much is the custom LED array costing you?

Quote: Originally Posted by Masterp How about some light up switches on the front too?

That's what I meant by "toggles". I'm planning on using 2 standard toggle switches like this one (currently out of stock over at mnpctech.com)

Quote: Originally Posted by Albedo How much is the custom LED array costing you?

ygpm

Let's say that is was less than my worst fears
I'm sure that once Twiz gets it to me it will be worth every penny

HA! I love it!

I work at a military helicopter plant. This will make me feel right at home.....
Don't forget all the mil-spec items ....Flip cover on the toggles (the real ones are only red; at least the ones here) and yellow/black diagonal stripe safety tape.(the military loves that stuff). Lots of warning signs....buzzers... and a lot of equipment is fitted out with rotational beacons....in case something goes wrong. (in your case: if you get an email).
You may want to Google sites like this for more ideas:
http://www.american-milspec.com/

Looks like the parts are going to be working in a sweat shop haha. This should turn out nice.

Quote: Originally Posted by prime-evil You may want to Google sites like this for more ideas: http://www.american-milspec.com/

That site was fantastic! I'll definitely give it a hard look to find some parts there. +Rep for you.

I don't want the rig to be MILITARY so much as I just want it to look like an old mainframe. That's why I was thinking only having a flip cover on the main power switch. The fan/light toggles will be bare, but I think that will give it a nice realistic feel.

I'm still not sure about how to do the stenciling, since I'd like to have a lot of detail text on there. I'm not sure if I'm patient enough with the X-acto to cut out all the lettering.

As m3_tw0 mentioned, the mobo and proc are from him via the PR Trading Post. They arrived yesterday in great condition. I placed the order with mnpctech.com for the front intake fan, filter, and modder's mesh yesterday as well.

I already have the paint, so I'm just waiting on getting the case back before I start hacking away.

I have a machine that does stenciling on a heavy wax card type stock specifically for spray painting mil spec parts and shipping containers. Very Industrial looking. I have different size dies for the letters. 13/4" ....3/4"....1/2"....1/4" I can punch out the words you want.

PM me if this is what you're looking for.

This looks pretty wild,

The mobo you chose you happen to have it layin about or are you buying it?

Just a thought didn't most of those have a huge tape drive whirring back and forth all the time up front - ya may wanna come up with something along those lines for the 'look'...

my 2 cents.

Quote: Originally Posted by SiathLinux The mobo you chose you happen to have it layin about or are you buying it? Just a thought didn't most of those have a huge tape drive whirring back and forth all the time up front - ya may wanna come up with something along those lines for the 'look'... my 2 cents.

I bought the MOBO and proc secondhand from m3_tw0 at the trading post. I know that neither are great, since the ASRock board uses an SiS chipset, and the palomino core is a poor overclocker, but since cost (and availability) were the deciding factors, I figured they would be good enough for our purposes as a gaming server.

I was thinking about a tape drive. I'm trying to decide how I could incorporate it into the overall chassis. Another idea I had was to put in a row of vaccuum tubes lit from behind by LEDs

not a drive, two big ole reels running back and forth...- my thought was that ya take a VCR tape apart, reel to reel look there not sure how ya'd make it go back and forth tho...

The Vacuum tube idea is cool, maybe you could drill into the base and put the light 'in the tube'...

Quote: Originally Posted by Bionic I bought the MOBO and proc secondhand from m3_tw0 at the trading post. I know that neither are great, since the ASRock board uses an SiS chipset, and the palomino core is a poor overclocker, but since cost (and availability) were the deciding factors, I figured they would be good enough for our purposes as a gaming server. I was thinking about a tape drive. I'm trying to decide how I could incorporate it into the overall chassis. Another idea I had was to put in a row of vaccuum tubes lit from behind by LEDs

All right, we finally got the one rig assembled, so I should be getting the case back tonight. First up is cutting the PSU mounting area and I/O plate out. Also, I'll be placing and cutting the hole for the front intake fan.

Hope to have some pics up tonight

Quote: Originally Posted by SiathLinux not a drive, two big ole reels running back and forth...- my thought was that ya take a VCR tape apart, reel to reel look there not sure how ya'd make it go back and forth tho... The Vacuum tube idea is cool, maybe you could drill into the base and put the light 'in the tube'...

You could probably find an old reel to reel tape recorder in a flea market , second hand store, or a pawn shop and buy it for next to nothing. Use the motors, tape and reels...

Good idea Prime, you're really going for the "assist" on this one
I've had really bad luck finding army/navy or electronics surplus stores in the area, so maybe I'll have to give the flea market a shot.

Quote: Originally Posted by Bionic Good idea Prime, you're really going for the "assist" on this one I've had really bad luck finding army/navy or electronics surplus stores in the area, so maybe I'll have to give the flea market a shot.

Glad to help!
You can usually find a lot of interesting old vintage electronics at the GOODWILL stores and the SALVATION ARMY stores. Plus, you're helping folks out when you buy there.

Fun! Believe it or not but I've got a case like that standing under my desk! A Gateway, just like yours.

From the pictures you posted it looks like it's the same mobo as well! An Intel one built for Gateway.
It has a Celeron 400A processor (passively cooled!), integrated graphics & 256MB of ram (soon 512mb!). I fitted a serial ata controller to it to be able to use a Samsung 160gb serial ata drive, which is extremely quiet... The only 'mod I did was replacing the 92mm Nidec PSU fan by a silent 92mm YS Tech Green Series fan... now... you can only tell if it is on by looking at the power-light... Yup, it's a one fan
only system....
I think it is a great case to use for a modding project. I can vouch for the fact that it is built like a tank!
Darn the thing is heavy!

I really like the idea with the lights & switches...

Found a pic of the front of an old 70's Honeywell mainframe I think you mean...



TDR

If it turns out like that honeywell mainframe, that'll be SOOO sweet.

A case based on WOPR would be really something to see! Looking forward to see your idea. This inadvertedly makes me think about a HAL-9000 based mod. I'm sure it has been done, anyone got a link or anything?