[Ratmagiclady]

Hey, everyone: I was just building a new little desk in order to make some work-space for the new photo monitor and such, and I'm trying to bear in mind what use it might come to later. (What this'll be for now should wind up being a nice carcass for being a hall/kitchen/etc cabinet/workstation later when I've got a proper workshop to work with, and hopefully some nice bead board.

...so, I've been trying to decide on shelf-spacing, and I was just wondering offhand what sizes tower cases are coming in, these days/recently just in case I end up wanting to use this for whatever desktop machine I end up getting hold of or putting together.

It occurs to me, you see, that I don't think I've actually seen a lot of desktops in person in quite some time.

I'm pretty sure really big ones as I remember them won't go in here in any event, but I don't know how big they're coming. My old PC is about a foot deep and 16 inches high, I believe this fellow's what was called a mini-tower at the time, though. (My expectation, if I build from scratch, or more or less so, that I might just go for a monstrous case so I can pack it with whatever old drives or whatever I might need to kludge in, but I could just as easily end up with something already more or less assembled. )

Anyway, any general ideas of the sizes of things these days? Really just need depth and height: how wide they are won't matter.

(Also, is there some kind of rule where I must typo in thread titles all the time? )

Thanks.

[twilhelm]

I recently built a "mid-tower" case with the same purpose, to be able to expand and pack it full. It measures 16 1/2 high by 19 deep. Mini towers aren't much smaller, but have fewer bays. I ended up putting it on a shelf next to my workstation due to the depth.

I'd be interested in seeing your plans, and maybe photos when you are done. I've got a decently stocked wood shop, left over from my cabinet shop days. And I'm always trying to consider a better way to organize my workstation.

As far as thread titles, you've got me on that one.

[Phil1]

The no-name case I have here is exactly 8" wide, 16.5" high and 18" deep not allowing for rear cable clearances.

I think an appropriate case approximatly that size will hold just about anything you would normally need now except and external back up HD or a UPS.

Be sure and leave enough air ventilation clearance all around.

There are some smaller form factor cases out but I think the components may be more specialised for them. I haven't looked into them.

[KungPOW]

here is a link to Antec. They make allot of casses. They have the dims of all their casses listed.

Most typical casses are about 17"H x 8.5"W x 18.5"D

Usually the larger casses are speciallized for some reason or another, and run outside the norm.

http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?Family=NQ==

[twilhelm]

I should have mentioned it was an Antec case I used. From the 6 I've built, I found the quality of the Antec to be great!

[monochrome]

One idea is to go to a few websites like HP.com and write down the dimensions of the major form factors - or the form factors you think you might purchase or build.

[Ratmagiclady]

Thanks for the word on the cases, guys: doesn't sound like things have changed that much. I doubt a particularly *small* case will be in the offing unless that's what I happen to get hold of: I'll want maximum improvising/cheaper parts flexibility, there, I think.

Sounds like most of them out there are deeper than my old desktop, so I won't be able to put one of those in facing forward without extending the back, (not a huge problem, the way I'm making this: if I want to enclose this later, I can probably arrange access and ventilation so the machine can go in from the side, or extend the whole thing out from the wall without it showing. )

Gave me the idea that what I'd better do is make a pretty roomy space in there and just add an adjustable/removable piece of shelving for the time being. That ought to keep my options open.

I'd be interested in seeing your plans, and maybe photos when you are done. I've got a decently stocked wood shop, left over from my cabinet shop days. And I'm always trying to consider a better way to organize my workstation.

I suppose if I can remember to take some photos in the process (I tend to get very absorbed in these kinds of tasks and forget to photograph em) I could do that: I doubt it'll impress cabinetmakers, though: half the design is working around the fact I don't have my long clamps anymore, among other things. Everything needs to be doable with limited tools and facilities, and the materials I could get, so, standard sizes to minimize the number of cuts I have to make, a lot of butt joints, etc, but I'm planning on making the front frame as nice as I can with some nicer wood I've got (and some pass-through tenons that I ought to be able to do by hand if I can still work those in) a lot of the rest'll be dowels and sheetrock screws, I think. It's mostly got to be self-standing all the way through assembly, is the trick.

I figure when we get settled, I can make it go with wherever it ends up pretty well: put some maple around the top, maybe beadboard for the skin, or something more contemporary-looking if it stays with some of the stuff we have that's like that.

[reeftool]

I'm planning a similar project as the desk I'm now using is falling apart. I also have an Antec mid tower ATX case of appox the same measurements mentioned above. I have looked quite a bit for a desk suitable for what I want and it doesn't exist so that's why I'm building it. My tower is going under the desk top where it will be accessible but still get good air flow.

[Ratmagiclady]

Well, it sounds like I should share, then, to the extent that I can, given that what I call my abstract spatial sense makes my run-on-sentences seem quite straightforward.

It looks like this one ought to actually end up pretty simple: I'd been planning on working in some hand-done stuff to be a little more elegant, but this may turn out to be a bit of a pain in the long run, so I might do this a little less...elegantly.

[ChrisPlatt]

I'm sure Norm Abram could whip up something for you in a half hour or so.
I'll bet he even has special computer desk making tools!

Chris

[Ratmagiclady]

I'm sure Norm Abram could whip up something for you in a half hour or so.
I'll bet he even has special computer desk making tools!

Chris

Heehee. No doubt. This one wouldn't be a big deal to do a lot nicer in a tenth the workshop he has, there, but hey.

He's got enough tools and jigs in what must be the New Yankee Warehouse he could be like, 'If you give me this computer desk, I'll trade you this lovely chamfered tenoning jig. '

I don't hold it against him, though, Most of his fancy things, he shows you enough to make something like em for yourself, or replicate how they work. Much of the time, anyway. Sometimes it's just like he's reading the plans to something and going through them, but it's kind of like cooking and sewing shows: I'll never remember the recipes, but I can watch the techniques.

[Ratmagiclady]

*flump*

Well, that's officially a desk of some sort. Health was not cooperating with this project, but it's nothing too hard. to do, especially if one were better-equipped.

Doesn't seem a bad design, really. Should serve well for now and adapt into a number of possible useful things later. Here's hoping the softer woods expand in predicted directions: couldn't leave a lot of allowances assembling this way, but it's solid.

Gonna stare at it a bit and give my sweetie a chance to test drive before deciding where to put some extra structural support & mover-proofing: I left some options there cause I figured I may as well make things as versatile as possible: I've set things up so I'll be able to get quite a big tower case in there from one side, and have plenty of room for ventilation and fussing with cables and to put in a little light for such.

On the computer end, I was thinking it might be convenient for this setup to obtain an HDMI splitter: (A simple one like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882200023&cm_re=HDMI_s...-023-_-Product One that adapted one of the ports to DVI would also be OK, I think, since I got one of those cords with the monitor) ) for now, the laptop is going to be alternately-using my new monitor for my photo work, and the TV for watching movies and such. Seems like it'd be OK as long as both aren't operating at the same time?

[jogiba]

My latest 6 core PC build has the Coolermaster HAF X 942 case that is the best case I ever used. I have it under the right side of my workstation desk with caster wheels so I could move it to get to the back of the case if I need to plug a cable in etc.

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z5owfDdyQQ[/YT]

[Ratmagiclady]

Woo, Jogiba, that definitely looks impressive. Might be a bit of overkill for any machine I build, though. Odds are good I'd just end up with what I end up with, if it's a monster case, but if I got really fancy, I'd be looking for something amenable to going in some nice cabinetry,

I think though that if I get really fancy about cases, I'll want something that I can fit out all Steampunk or maybe golden-age-of-aviation themed, That one looks fit for the Death Star.

Thoughts of getting really fancy actually make me wonder how much of a thing it might be to relocate some of the stuff that comes on the front of the case (like power switches and indicator lights and optical drives) to somewhere more convenient. One thing about desktops is the noise can bother me, I wouldn't mind a little extra distance and a chance to be a bit whimsical. Kind of a thing for later, though. )

[lithos]

I have an iCute. Yes. Those Taiwanese have some crazy naming schemes going on. But it's got an eight-inch fan in the side, which is awesome.