Possibly a good cheap Mining Case Idea - Frankenstein Case

[btcgolong]

Possibly a good mining case idea or a very, very, bad one...

I'll say up front that the open air case design would be cheaper, but in if you are in a situation where you cant have an open air case, what about this:



Buy 2 cheap mid size cases, cut the lower section (where the expansion slots are) off of one (and the very bottom off of the other) and weld them together to make a tall case with double the expansion slots, more fans and possibly space for 2 power supplies.


I have access to a TIG and MIG welders; I might give it a try, I would love to see if anyone has done this.

It could be laid horizontally to hide the most of the Frankenstein weld.

[btcgolong]

I was going to do a mock up, but this guy did it for me:


http://www.overclock.net/t/650568/haf-932-amd-extreme-edition


Not exactly the setup I want, but damn close.


We need 2ed power supply on the bottom, additional card the expansion slots, more fans (front, back and sides).


Looks nice.

[f5alcon]

still more expensive than a few pieces of angled aluminum and wood

[Nebell]

I've spent about €15 today for wood and screws and built mining rigs out of wood, each able to hold 5 cards. Took me 30 minutes to build both.
I don't think you can get much cheaper than getting some wood and screws and building it yourself.

[adaseb]

I've spent about €15 today for wood and screws and built mining rigs out of wood, each able to hold 5 cards. Took me 30 minutes to build both.
I don't think you can get much cheaper than getting some wood and screws and building it yourself.

Did you even read his post? He was talking about an closed air case not open air.

[btcgolong]

still more expensive than a few pieces of angled aluminum and wood

Sorry I have to jump in here before this goes off track. In the original post it stated:

I'll say up front that the open air case design would be cheaper, but in if you are in a situation where you cant have an open air case, what about this:

This is just an attempt at building a miner in a case, of course with the heat, it could be a very bad idea to begin with

[adaseb]

I think the cheapest method is just to buy a server chassis and mod it to include more industrial fans. Should be cheaper than 2x Full towers.

Rosewill R4000 or L4000 should work.

[btcgolong]

I think the cheapest method is just to buy a server chassis and mod it to include more industrial fans. Should be cheaper than 2x Full towers.

Rosewill R4000 or L4000 should work.

I was trying to get more case pcie "expansion" slots, but I really like those cases. too bad they don't make one with miners in mind.

I didn't want to stack the GPUs right next to each other...but maybe if I was running only 4 (1080s)


What about this:


Thermaltake Core P3


https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133313&cm_re=Thermaltake_Core-_-11-133-313-_-Product

[btcgolong]

I've spent about €15 today for wood and screws and built mining rigs out of wood, each able to hold 5 cards. Took me 30 minutes to build both.
I don't think you can get much cheaper than getting some wood and screws and building it yourself.

What the motherboard sitting on? Care to post a picture or 2?


Also, anyone using anti-static mats under the motherboard (for the metal and wood framed cases), not that you need one?






Thanks

[QuintLeo]

There are already cases around that have provision for 2 power supplies.

They tend to be VERY large and expen$ive though.

[btcgolong]

The one I like is about $180 plus tax and shipping, ouch.

[smg1902]

Also, anyone using anti-static mats under the motherboard (for the metal and wood framed cases), not that you need one?

Don't put any electronics on anti-static bags.  They're designed to protect their contents by pushing the static electricity to the outside of the bag.  If you don't feel like drilling a few holes into a sheet of metal or wood and screwing in some standoffs to make a ghettofied motherboard tray, just set it on something like a piece of cardboard or even the box that the motherboard came in.

What about this:

Thermaltake Core P3

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133313&cm_re=Thermaltake_Core-_-11-133-313-_-Product

That's actually what I'm using for my rig.  I was going to build another full computer anyway so I figured I would get an actual case for everything and just sell off the extra cards when I'm done mining.  That case has a fairly sturdy plexiglass-like covering on it so I have two cards in the main motherboard x16 slots and the other three sitting on the top of the glass towards one edge sitting in the removable gpu bracket that came with the case, and a second PSU powering them sitting on the opposite edge.  I'll probably have to come up with a better long term solution though since there's a bit of sagging going on, but for now, it's working out pretty well.

[Vann]

I've spent about €15 today for wood and screws and built mining rigs out of wood, each able to hold 5 cards. Took me 30 minutes to build both.
I don't think you can get much cheaper than getting some wood and screws and building it yourself.

What the motherboard sitting on? Care to post a picture or 2?


Also, anyone using anti-static mats under the motherboard (for the metal and wood framed cases), not that you need one?






Thanks

Wood 1"x2" slabs area good choice for an open frame base because it's non-conductive and you can easily screw motherboard standoffs or a round plastic pen tube cut in to 1/4" sectons in to it.

[infested999]

I am using for 3 rigs this case, each rig for one shelf:


 
Very simple and cheap, less than $15.
I have placed for each rig an extra  angled aluminum where I put the cards.