i started on the small DIY project about 2 weeks ago with the assumption that it would take 6 hours max. it shouldn't take too long right? all you have to do chop up some bars and piece them together. boy was i wrong... i've spent nearly 18 hours on it and not yet fully finished. it's a pretty straight forward process, but just very time consuming. i only used very simple tools, nothing complicated:
- dremel (with cutting disc, and drill bit)
- rivet gun (with rivets)
- ruler
- pen
- screws with washer and nut
- 2x 8' aluminum L-bars
i'll be using a MSI bing bang x58 motherboard, which has 7 pci-e slots. i built this rack to fit 7 GPU on top with a full slot space in between each card for breathing room. there's also 1 additional space for a 8th GPU on the bottom, next to the PSU. there's only 2-3 motherboards with 8 pci-e slots (including the MSI big bang marshal), so most likely i'll never use these motherboards, but i just made that 8th slot in case i'll ever need it.
it's not completely done, but i'll snap a few pics of what it looks:
empty frames
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimg535.imageshack.us%2Fimg535%2F5747%2Fdscn7338d.jpg&t=664&c=g_b6gkQB3sfShA)
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimg194.imageshack.us%2Fimg194%2F1715%2Fdscn7339w.jpg&t=664&c=To1WI_mI5IdWbA)
this is going to be a double PSU rack, but i have not drilled holes for the screws yet. it's just soft mounted right now.
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimg827.imageshack.us%2Fimg827%2F9171%2Fdscn7340.jpg&t=664&c=NZ3Acs_G1yuzLQ)
mounted the motherboard
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimg803.imageshack.us%2Fimg803%2F5283%2Fdscn7342.jpg&t=664&c=J3i8onHyi79vyQ)
a closer shot, you can see i used a long screw with washer and nut to use as the motherboard standoffs. after the motherboard is mounted, i could add another optional nut on the very top to secure it, but i didn't think this was necessary. the screw is long enough, the motherboard won't be popping out.
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimg96.imageshack.us%2Fimg96%2F1213%2Fdscn7343.jpg&t=664&c=RatbtZIg74MV3A)
2 GPU's mounted
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimg10.imageshack.us%2Fimg10%2F5666%2Fdscn7345b.jpg&t=664&c=mZM_H6vdawPk4Q)
these next few pics is just for lulz. the GPU's in here are NOT going to be used in this exact setup.
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimg717.imageshack.us%2Fimg717%2F4871%2Fdscn7347f.jpg&t=664&c=won1u8sIKmxMRg)
7 GPU's test-mounted on top
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimg97.imageshack.us%2Fimg97%2F8154%2Fdscn7348x.jpg&t=664&c=vqlK-HM0FKOOng)
this shows 8 GPU's total, 7 on top and 1 on the bottom next to the PSU
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimg828.imageshack.us%2Fimg828%2F8134%2Fdscn7349f.jpg&t=664&c=h84lhzBgUdCkjQ)
closeup of the one on the bottom
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fimg695.imageshack.us%2Fimg695%2F2152%2Fdscn7350.jpg&t=664&c=WeShDUjvPievdg)
a shot from the back
more updates to come when i have time, the rack isn't finished yet....