need ideas to enclose MOBO!

**nadir_s** · 10-30-2002, 02:07 PM

Hi guys

I was thinking of putting the entire tower and all into the trunk but now... I don't think that's possible due to the IDE cd drive i'd like to put up front. I'm thinking of slipping the mobo underneath my car (it has no PCI cards on it... sound and video is built onto mobo).

How did you guys do it? I was thinking the easiest way of acheiving this is to enclose the motherboard and whatnot in a plexiglass case (1 sheet big enough to build = $6). What have you guys done??

I was also thinking of cushioning the casing... because my car does run on stiffer springs and I don't want to damage the components.

One more thing... how long can the IDE cables go? I heard 18"... is that true? Just incase if i don't have enough, rather than getting an external drive, do I have any other alternative? I heard something about firewire... but wasn't sure what that meant. Thanks for all the help you guys can offer me!

**hijinks21** · 10-30-2002, 03:28 PM

if you completely inclose it you're going to run into big time heat problems. I don't think i'd trust a computer under a car or anything. It would be just asking to get the crap kicked out of it. From my experience with plexi you'd have a awful hard time finding a way to mount it so it wouldn't fall off during even normal driving conditions.

**moahdib** · 10-30-2002, 03:54 PM

I have gone the plexiglass route and it's not easy but definitelly rewarding. If you know someone with a laser cuter of some sort it would definitelly help

**nadir_s** · 10-30-2002, 03:58 PM

Well enclosing meaning, just to protect it, ill have air vents or leave a side open for air to enter... and i'll mount a fan on top of the processor as well.

If i can't mount it underneath the seat, where else would I put it? The trunk would produce the same beating... I was just thinking of puttiing a cushion or something undereath the case i make.

As for the plexiglass... I've worked w/ it before and i know cutting it SUCKS. I plan to just get a big sheet of it... then at the hardware store, they cut it for u (only retangular/square dimentians you tell them). I can then just drill a hole for mounting the mobo onto it.

What would u guys suggest in glueing it together? Thanks

**eugenen** · 10-30-2002, 06:30 PM

Sheet metal works fine. Here is a couple current pics of mine, its overhead instead of under the seat. http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/eugenec9/...Player&.view=t .

I bought two 1" C-clamps and a hammer with a plastic head from sears. Clamped a scrap piece of 1/2" plywood for a straightedge to it and used a cutoff wheel in my dremel to score the bend, then used the hammer to bend around the plywood. Sprayed the whole thing with some rust-o-leum texture flat black. I made it tall enough to fit low profile pci card (which are overpriced, so I cut and bent the bracket from a normal one to size) and big enough for a flex-atx system board. With proper planning heat is not a problem. I have removed my fan and didn't bother to cut openings in my overhead console for air because I don;t need it yet. Celeron 500 with big heatsink gets warm but not hot.

**Raas** · 10-31-2002, 04:42 AM

however it is not used in the car I have a 5m ide-cable with a dvd-drive on the other end and all is ok.

greetz,

**Stine161** · 10-31-2002, 11:49 AM

Originally posted by Raas
however it is not used in the car I have a 5m ide-cable with a dvd-drive on the other end and all is ok.

greetz,

where did you get such a cable?

**Ohgary** · 10-31-2002, 03:20 PM

You cant enclose a PC well enough to keep "crap" out of it under a car. I bet you cant even do it on top of the car either.

Why not use a video extender and put the video and interface from the rear mounted pc up front where you need it.

**MP3DUB** · 10-31-2002, 10:33 PM

Originally posted by nadir_s
<edit>I'm thinking of slipping the mobo underneath my car (it has no PCI cards on it... sound and video is built onto mobo).
<eidt>

i think hijinks21 took you literally, as in mounting it on the underside of your chassis.