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#169005 - 04/07/2003 15:16 Under-desk PC case
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
I'm looking to get a new PC case for my wife's workroom, and it'd be nice if I could find a case that would bolt to the underside of her desk for space-saving purposes. I know I've seen a company somewhere that sells whole computers in this form factor, but I'd rather just get the case. Of course, it might be possible to get the case from them, but I can't think of the company now.

Also, I don't want one of those things that you can bolt underneath your desk that'll hold a mini-tower case upright. I'm looking for something that's more along the lines of a 2U rackmount case with different mounting options.

Edit: Aha! Found them. Like this:

(from here; they don't seem to sell just the case)


Edited by wfaulk (04/07/2003 15:30)
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Bitt Faulk

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#169006 - 04/07/2003 17:00 Re: Under-desk PC case [Re: wfaulk]
msaeger
carpal tunnel

Registered: 23/09/2000
Posts: 3608
Loc: Minnetonka, MN
What cpu and other options are you trying to get ? Do you want a P4 like the one in the ad ?
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Matt

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#169007 - 04/07/2003 17:38 Re: Under-desk PC case [Re: msaeger]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
I just want a case (and power supply that'll fit in it).
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Bitt Faulk

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#169008 - 04/07/2003 17:46 Re: Under-desk PC case [Re: wfaulk]
msaeger
carpal tunnel

Registered: 23/09/2000
Posts: 3608
Loc: Minnetonka, MN
I know you want to just buy the case but I am wondering what you plan to put in it. Could you use a mini-itx for instance.
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Matt

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#169009 - 04/07/2003 18:03 Re: Under-desk PC case [Re: msaeger]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
I'll be putting a dual PII in it. This might require more height than 2U will provide, but 2.5U or 3U would be fine. I just want to hide it as much as possible.

It's a Tyan Tiger 2 (S1692D) mobo. The manual claims it's ATX size, and, more specifically, 9.5" x 12". It's perfectly rectangular. No cut out corners.
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Bitt Faulk

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#169010 - 04/07/2003 23:03 Re: Under-desk PC case [Re: wfaulk]
drakino
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/06/1999
Posts: 7868
One think to keep in mind is that in general, small U form factor cases are noisy, thanks to several tiny fans scattered all over the case, and most systems not spinning them down and up as needed.

To give you an idea, the 1U dual Xeon Proliant DL360 G3 is actually noiser then the 7U 8 processor Xeon Proliant DL760 G2.

Another thing to ensure is that when bolting it to the desk, make sure there are some rubber spacers to help prevent case vibrations from using the desk as a speaker.

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#169011 - 04/07/2003 23:27 Re: Under-desk PC case [Re: drakino]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
One think to keep in mind is that in general, small U form factor cases are noisy
Yup. I'm quite aware of this, which is why I was asking about cases designed for this purpose. I've about given up, though, and might settle on a 2U rackmount case and replace the fans if they're noisy.
make sure there are some rubber spacers to help prevent case vibrations from using the desk as a speaker.
A very good point. I'll probably have to make some angle brackets myself for mounting the thing, so I should be able to figure out how to fit some thick rubber grommets in the holes that allow the bolt through to attach to the case and let the case rest on them. I figure threaded inserts are the right thing to use to attach it to the underside of the desk.
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Bitt Faulk

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#169012 - 11/07/2003 10:34 Re: Under-desk PC case [Re: wfaulk]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31596
Loc: Seattle, WA
it'd be nice if I could find a case that would bolt to the underside of her desk for space-saving purposes
Hmmm. I just realized there's nothing stopping me from taking all the components out of the PC and bolting them, individually, to the underside of the desk. Spread out over the entire surface area so that there's no ventilation issues. Done properly, you could do away with most or all of the cooling fans and have a silent, caseless PC.

Of course, you'd still need that spare Shuttle machine to take to LAN parties.
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Tony Fabris

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#169013 - 11/07/2003 10:59 Re: Under-desk PC case [Re: tfabris]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
I'm thinking of my wife's knee ramming into the side of a video card.

Hmmm. Nope.
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Bitt Faulk

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#169014 - 11/07/2003 11:42 Re: Under-desk PC case [Re: tfabris]
djc
enthusiast

Registered: 08/08/2000
Posts: 351
Loc: chicago
wasn't it loren that did exactly this, but mounted on a wall? i seem to remember it was a firewall machine, or something along those lines...

--dan.

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#169015 - 11/07/2003 12:05 Re: Under-desk PC case [Re: djc]
lectric
pooh-bah

Registered: 20/01/2002
Posts: 2085
Loc: New Orleans, LA
Wouldn't you need to make sure everything was grounded together?

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#169016 - 11/07/2003 12:41 Re: Under-desk PC case [Re: lectric]
djc
enthusiast

Registered: 08/08/2000
Posts: 351
Loc: chicago
yup.

--dan.

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#169017 - 11/07/2003 16:06 Re: Under-desk PC case [Re: djc]
muzza
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 21/07/1999
Posts: 1765
Loc: Brisbane, Queensland, Australi...


Edited by muzza (11/07/2003 16:25)
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