A heatsink case for small PC (like a power amp style)

phoTToniq · 08-22-2003, 03:05 AM

Hi guys - have any of you made your PC's with a case that acts as a heatsink? I have only just started looking but have found this so far:

http://www.lincolnbinns.com/e-case.htm

P.

Machs_FueL · 08-22-2003, 10:26 AM

why don't you gut an Amp, you could probably find a blow one at a local radio shop.

if you had a mother board small enough, or an amp big enough...

hight would be the biggest problem i think, but it would look cool.. my amp is a freaking beast. could probably fit a full ATX board in there..

guitar333 · 08-22-2003, 10:44 AM

I fried an amp a while back and new I was keeping it for some reason, I have now decided that is going to be my case.

oddcomp · 08-22-2003, 02:08 PM

i would go looking for the cheapest p.o.s blown amp you could find that way if someone looks at it they will decide its not worth the time

RobbieIG · 08-22-2003, 04:59 PM

I had that same idea. I have been having a heck of a time finding one though. I am using one of the ITX boards, so I only need about 7x7x2. I finally got the idea to call one of my local car audio shops, and I can get one from them. You could also go with a diecast aluminum box, but they are hard to find much larger than the size I mentioned. They run you around $40 for one with 4mm walls and mounting flanges.

Also, one thing to consider is ease of use. I think that the ampe heat sinks, with the open ended designs would be good because you could use plastic or plexy ends without having too much of an impact on heat, and they are much easier to cut than metal. Depending on the size of the box, you may want to cut out the rear faceplate for all your ports, or just have a hole where all the cords can come into the box and plug into the motherboard.

If you do find a good source for the amp heatsinks, post it up.

RobbieIG · 08-22-2003, 09:07 PM

Oh....I just found something

http://www.rose-bopla.com/PMX/RSBPCa...c?OpenDocument

The 7.72x4.17 would be plenty big for an ITX system. Wonder what the price is?

jol · 08-23-2003, 07:55 AM

Go to a car-audio store and ask if you can have a blown amp, they sure got plenty of them

Skraggy_uk · 08-23-2003, 02:25 PM

Wow, those extruded boxes look nice. Fins are cool.

Thought about the Amp case idea myself. Would look good alongside real amps in an in trunk custom rack install, with glassed in Subs and stuff.

Linus · 08-25-2003, 10:32 AM

I assume part of the goal here is to eliminate noisy case fans and such as well as make it look good, fit in visually with amps, etc.

In order for a heatsink-case to be effective, you'll have to thermally interface it with everything inside that generates heat. That probably means some kind of heat-conducting metal shim between the processor and the case, hard drive and case, etc. Having heat go from processor to air to heatsink-case to air would be very inefficient and probably inadequate for most processors.

Might be tricky to do, but it's a great idea...

nzKAOSnz · 08-26-2003, 06:50 AM

ummmm
not sure bout ur mothaboards.... but getting the cpu 2 touch the case mite not be toooo goood. ur gunna need one whopping great big block of alumininum to do that.

jst had look nw, it would have to be at least 2" thick to clear connections (if trring to mount to flat surface) thats without any cards in slot

Lando · 08-26-2003, 01:16 PM

Does anyone of a place where I can buy like dead radios? Im thinking what I can do is take an old radio from an Aurora (like mine) then hollow out the case and use it for my ITX

Yamato · 08-26-2003, 04:57 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Lando

Does anyone of a place where I can buy like dead radios? Im thinking what I can do is take an old radio from an Aurora (like mine) then hollow out the case and use it for my ITX

sweet lando!

I have an Aurora that I think I will sell soon, but I have often considered keeping her because it is such a great platform for a carputer.

the way the dash corves toward the driver, and the large space that the radio now takes up.

Have you disasembled the dash yet? I have never messed with it, and was wondering just how much space is back there?

nobuyuki · 08-26-2003, 05:18 PM

http://www.tranquilpc.co.uk/photo_600/05.jpg
How does Tranquil PC do it? they've gotten rid of their fan by using the case as a heatsink..

Linus · 08-26-2003, 06:04 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by nobuyuki

http://www.tranquilpc.co.uk/photo_600/05.jpg
How does Tranquil PC do it? they've gotten rid of their fan by using the case as a heatsink..

The picture makes it look like they connected the processor to the side of the case (and those fins) to disperse the heat. That would work, if done properly. The metal that makes up the fins probably includes a part that sticks into the case (making something shaped like a letter "T" and clips onto the processor socket (hopefully with some thermal interface goop to make a good connection).

Passive (no fans) case cooling can be tricky business. The processor isn't the only thing that can overheat; other chips can get hot too. Normally the air circulated around a case by a fan is enough to cool these chips, but closing off the circulation could give them fits. You aren't likely to break anything with inadequate cooling, but they can result in funky lockups and error messages.

Try googling heat pipes and watercooling for other quiet/silent cooling ideas.

Lando · 08-27-2003, 11:15 AM

Yamato , bbehind the dash is a stavdart double din opening. 7 x 4 x 7. There is a case i was considering called the "C 138" at checkercube.com, but alass, it is 8 x 4 x 8 so close yet so far!!!

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