Chassis design considerations

**NiSlo** · 11-22-2006, 02:50 AM

Hi Guys,

I'm currently in the process of mocking up my double din chassis that everything will mount to which will then go in dash behind the TS. The mobo and m2-atx fit perfectly, however I'm at a cross roads with the position of the hdd.

I've currently got two options to go with:
1: Rather than a lid as such, I will just have two angled pieces of metal that join onto the flange at the top of both side pieces which the HDD can then be attached to. The benefit I see with this is the extra air circulation around the hdd, as oposed to second option. I did think about the fact that the HDD would then make up some of the structural strength of the whole thing, but there wouldn't be enough strain to cause any problems I wouldn't think. The angled pieces would also be a couple of mm longer than the height of the HDD so that the HDD is actually recessed a couple of mm from the top of the chassis when mounted.

2:This one has a lid, with two tabs attached, to which the HDD can then attach. I'm just a little concerned about the heat though. So much less circulation when it is attached this way.

Thoughts?

**2k1Toaster** · 11-22-2006, 02:54 AM

#2. THe drive should be fine. If you make it metal you can even make it a huge heatsink, but not neccessary.

If you have a chance to look in some of the newer Dell's they mount there drives sandwhiched like that vertically so that only the bottom and cable connect side is visible. They have probably designed that for a while so I would assume all is well.

**NiSlo** · 11-22-2006, 03:06 AM

Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

#2. THe drive should be fine. If you make it metal you can even make it a huge heatsink, but not neccessary.

If you have a chance to look in some of the newer Dell's they mount there drives sandwhiched like that vertically so that only the bottom and cable connect side is visible. They have probably designed that for a while so I would assume all is well.

Yeah I had thought about the chassis becoming a heatsink, but wasn't sure if woud still work with such thin metal that I will be using to build the chassis (probably around 1mm gal or aluminium). Wouldn't hurt to put some of that gel stuff they use between cpu's & heatsinks between the Hdd and the chassis to help out the heat transfer side of things I spose.