Buy Case Or Build Case

**setite** · 07-17-2006, 10:01 PM

Not sure how to search for this, tried a few different strings and found nothing. Basicall I'm wondering if I should save 90$ on a case... and use the money to buy the materials, fans, and build a case.

On another side, not thinking of money, but of performance. Now I live in Las Vegas, so my trunk is going to be hotter than hell and there is not a single feasible way to change that. Now I wonder if I would benefit more from making an enclosed case, buying an enclosed case, or building some open aired case.

**theheel** · 07-19-2006, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by setite

Not sure how to search for this, tried a few different strings and found nothing. Basicall I'm wondering if I should save 90$ on a case... and use the money to buy the materials, fans, and build a case.

On another side, not thinking of money, but of performance. Now I live in Las Vegas, so my trunk is going to be hotter than hell and there is not a single feasible way to change that. Now I wonder if I would benefit more from making an enclosed case, buying an enclosed case, or building some open aired case.

i have built a case and bought a case (shuttle). Honestly speaking.. i like the case i made out of an old aluminum star trek game. Its got better ventilation, and cross ventilation. It does a lot better job than my shuttle case done in terms of keeping heat down. but if your good with a dremel or other tools (i wasnt, it was a learning expierience for me)... and have the time id say build a case that fits ur custom needs.

i have to say that the case i made is ugly as hell though... but it gets the job done and is stuck in the trunk so no one sees it

**MatrixPC** · 07-19-2006, 10:20 AM

Build it yourself.
The main reason is build it to the exact size that fit to where you gona put it. That way, you can maximize the size to get better ventilation/airspace ... well you know ...

**RedGTiVR6** · 07-19-2006, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by setite

On another side, not thinking of money, but of performance. Now I live in Las Vegas, so my trunk is going to be hotter than hell and there is not a single feasible way to change that. Now I wonder if I would benefit more from making an enclosed case, buying an enclosed case, or building some open aired case.

no case?

I'm not running a case. (click the below pic for a larger pic)

More pics: http://www.mj-garage.com/cpg/display...album=12&pos=3

It's been 105 or so here in the DF/W area for a week +. Every day when I come out of work, my car temp gauge reads at 111+. I've yet to have a single problem with the computer. It's booted up and been playing music flawlessly for over a year now. It probably gets more air flow like this than most CarPC designed cases.

**setite** · 07-19-2006, 04:51 PM

so with 110-120 degree temperatures you think an open aired solution will be fine... does yours have any fans? mines going to be a smidgeon hotter than yours i figure because of the temps here in vegas and because its an amd athlon 64 3000+ but im not worried now about that as much as i am about powering it... cant figure out how im going to power it
need to figure out what my power specs will be

**RedGTiVR6** · 07-19-2006, 04:54 PM

I'm only using hte onboard fan that's on the processor, that's it.

with that processor, you might consider running a bigger fan on it than the equivilant to what I'm running....I've yet to have any problems though!

**red_parchel** · 07-19-2006, 05:35 PM

I've asked my self the same question, from what i've done w/ my car, i think it depends on where you want the computer, if you're tight on space make it, if you've got all the room in the world [when does that EVER happen?] save the trouble and buy one .. but if ya can make a case and have the time .. go for it!

props to ya