Fabbed a custom .063 aluminum case for my VIA - *PICS* - Page 8

Drjekkyl · 05-09-2006, 09:17 AM

Awesome, i'm anxiously awaiting the arrival this morning

Drjekkyl · 05-09-2006, 04:28 PM

The case has arrived and looked great, as the pictures you posted look, unfortunately UPS dropped it pretty hard on one of the thumb screws and bent the top cover a little bit

I'm going to fix it and get it looking pretty again. Thanks again.

blk02si · 05-09-2006, 11:36 PM

Damn UPS guys, I was actually thinking I should put the thumbscrews inside of the case and use normal screws on the outside for shipping just because the thumbscrews stick out kind of far. Let me know if you want me to fab you a new lid, that ****es me off and I will def let my UPS guy know and make them ship you a new lid for free! Im interested to see your build, keep me updated as you go and take a lot of pictures!!!

Drjekkyl · 05-10-2006, 08:30 AM

Don't worry about the lid, it's not that bad, just needs alittle tweaking, but the board fits perfect inside the case. I just need to get a hard drive and dvd drive and i'm set to start fabricating. I think I read in your other post that you went to a regular hard drive instead of a laptop, how is it holding up behind the dash during driving? I may go that route as well if it's holding up okay for you. I'll get a digital camera and start taking pics soon. Thanks again

blk02si · 05-10-2006, 01:40 PM

The Harddrive is holding up ok, I hear laptop drives are more resistant to vibration and such but Full size drives are much cheaper (even if i need to replace) I have mine solid mounted and it has givin me no issues so far. The reason I went with larger is because I have the power to run it (they are 12v hungry) And i figure its physically larger so the arm, disks should be bigger/stronger etc. But either way you go should be ok, Im not exactly sure how your setting up your PC but the case was designed for an m2-ATX power supply and a laptop drive to fit into it. If you move some stuff around im sure you could fit a 3.5 though. I would recommend the M2-atx, thats the P.S. im running and have had 0 issues. Keep me updated on your build!

Jeus · 05-23-2006, 04:24 PM

blk02si
Have you though about making more of the other style case that you have meaning the one that is in your car atm. Let me know thanks.

blk02si · 05-24-2006, 05:34 PM

Actually yes im fabbing another case right now for another carPC, the system is a DELL 1.6 Ghz. Ive had to do quite a bit of reverse engineering to get this computer to be small but thats what im working on right now. What kind of case are you interested in??

Jeus · 05-25-2006, 01:40 AM

I have a ford f150 the dash is similar to the mustang as far as space goes the only big difference i see is the viewing angle. just have to change how the hd is mounted. I really like the install done on your mustang it's pretty much the look i am going for something that is removable without major cost to me to replace panels etc etc.

spaten · 08-21-2006, 04:01 PM

i, unfortunately, picked up on designing my system later than the rest here, and missed out on your first batch of these super slim cases. like everyone else, yours are the first ones i've seen that truly fit my needs.

are you still setup to, or willing to make them?

Veeb0rg · 08-23-2006, 08:39 AM

I'd be intrested in one of these cases.. but i got some thinkin to do on specifics..

IntellaWorks · 08-23-2006, 11:50 AM

This is just a suggestion...

I think for along time we've been using the via boards and thier great. But for those enthusiast who have the space and want a seriously powerful board a nice easy slim case doesn't exist.

What if you made a nice Standard Slimline ATX case for carpc enthusiasts similiar to your Mini-ITX case ???

BTW awesome work on the case pics, really they were an inspiration!

turbocad6 · 08-23-2006, 02:21 PM

the via boards to me suck... to go through all the effort to install a pc & then have something that's frustraitingly limiting like a via is not a good thing to me... I'd say a via board is good as a frisbie, but the corners are too sharp

you CAN have a super slim case & a powerful system though.... ESPECIALLY if your considering the option of a custom case anyway...

I'm a bit surprised there aren't more people doing this.... it's an ideal automotive install.... & not much more headaches that a standard install

I'm talking about using a laptop motherboard!

you can build a super slim (try 1" or so) case..... it can be a fully embeaded install, I'm not talking about throwing a whole laptop under the seat or in the trunk, that's usually sloppy & not pro.... but a laptop motherboard in a slim ss case is an awsome install...... that's the way I'm doing mine....

you can get a whole laptop motherboard from ebay with a pentium m chip on board for around $200... hard to beat... you can also buy a whole laptop & sell the screen & bezel & misc acessories & even come out at less total cost... sure it may take a bit more creativity, but I can install a real powerhouse of a pc that is efficient & low power low heat in ANY dashboard pretty much with this approach....

just some fuel for thought..

CJ8501 · 08-24-2006, 02:35 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by turbocad6

the via boards to me suck... to go through all the effort to install a pc & then have something that's frustraitingly limiting like a via is not a good thing to me... I'd say a via board is good as a frisbie, but the corners are too sharp

you CAN have a super slim case & a powerful system though.... ESPECIALLY if your considering the option of a custom case anyway...

I'm a bit surprised there aren't more people doing this.... it's an ideal automotive install.... & not much more headaches that a standard install

I'm talking about using a laptop motherboard!

you can build a super slim (try 1" or so) case..... it can be a fully embeaded install, I'm not talking about throwing a whole laptop under the seat or in the trunk, that's usually sloppy & not pro.... but a laptop motherboard in a slim ss case is an awsome install...... that's the way I'm doing mine....

you can get a whole laptop motherboard from ebay with a pentium m chip on board for around $200... hard to beat... you can also buy a whole laptop & sell the screen & bezel & misc acessories & even come out at less total cost... sure it may take a bit more creativity, but I can install a real powerhouse of a pc that is efficient & low power low heat in ANY dashboard pretty much with this approach....

just some fuel for thought..

couldnt agree more with you but what about powering it? Can you use a dc-dc psu with a laptop mobo? I havent really looked into using one but this does seem like a good idea..

turbocad6 · 08-24-2006, 03:02 PM

of course you can... dc/dc power supply & startup/shutdown controller is all relatively easy.... when done it will act exactly like a desktop motherboard, but will take a fraction of the space & because it's designed for mobile use, it will have all of the good traits necissary for a car... low power consumption & low heat generation as long as you stay away from p4m's... they suck.... almost everything else is fair game, super budget can go with a 1.2 pIII with speed step tech... cost next to nothing..

great choices will be pentium m or athalon xp-m's... even dual core laptops are a good choice if you must have the latest greatest, but a pentium m 1.6 with 2mb cache will perform as well as a fire breathing 2.8 p4 & consume a fraction of power & produce much much less heat... efficency is the important part... efficient power use & efficient use of space available...

scott_fx · 08-24-2006, 03:09 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by turbocad6

you can also buy a whole laptop & sell the screen

NO! diy projector!

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