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Well yeah you jsut read that right - I am bored and working something out of SolidWorks that could act as a computer case, or more like a rack.

Trying to make it as small as possible, to contain eATX boards + PSU + 5.25" bays and multiple 3.5" bays along with 2.5" holes here and there for SDD, or smaller drives or whatever. Along with a water loop that could be mounted either on the side or on the front.

It would probably be made out of plexiglass for fun cause it would look like PIMP. Since I cannot work with sheet metal as of now on SolidWorks I used different measures to get everything right. The end result would probably be better made by using plexiglass or those kind of transparent towers.

It'd be a "stacked" style too, made as slim as possible - the motherboard would be sitting on top of the "rack" and would take ALL the place. Everything else would be going under it. I would even make a flipping cover for the motherboard.

Ill post pics later tonight since I dont work and Ill be spending some time in SolidWorks to touch it

Here are some "alpha" releases of what COULD be something that I will end up building for myself.

You can see how small it actually is. Well it's bigger on the picture, but the tray fits a standard ATX motherboard. Perfectly. Also the hole on the rear of the bottom part is for the PSU, which according to some dark measures I found on the net, should also perfectly fit in there.

Also created some .25"x.25" square acrylic "cubes" so that it sits on something.

I am thinking that, even with the longest power supplies out there, a 12" x 9.6" x [the height of the PSU] box would NOT be enough to put in like 5x 5.25" bays (by group of two, in case people use large bay reservoirs (like I am planing to) and large fan monitors and what not, and a single one for a DVD drive) and some 3.5" drives. Maybe I would keep the extra bays for a possible 12" x 13" version (for Extended ATX, or crazy people), and keep 3x 5.25" bays and a couple of 3.5" bays.

I would also need some space to put at least a water pump in there.

I also need to re-work on the size of the motherboard tray's "cross" plate as it is too large and would not allow perfect clearance for backplates.

I am trying to build a useful and compact computer rack that is also appealing to the eye. This is why I would love to use acrylic for such a project, altho metal could also very well be used (with different size, of course, unless you want to have a rack made of 1/8" thick metal plates.... LMFAO ). Let's all agree to the fact that when most people see a nice clear acrylic case, they all say it's pretty. However when they see a stripped down tower or a rack, people go "Eww". I know my girlfriend does And such a rack would be just perfect. Its always nice to have fast hardware, but a touch of design is also pretty much welcome IMHO

Cool stuff man

Thanks TT, Im not even sure if I will be able to do all that by myself in any kind of given timeline but hey it's nice to have something to wish for, other than computer parts. I know my girlfriend will kill me if I start using rigs that falls apart and such, sooo...

Worked on that thing for an extra 5hours, and there is still so much to do!

Aight some explanation:

- I kind of liked the cross-like mobo support but wanted to try something, and IMHO it turned out quite nice. So it's some kind of web-shaped ATX motherboard tray with a hole for CPU backplates. I plan on cutting out some kind of logo on the larger plastic part that is left in the middle.

- I know the DVD drive is whacky, shortly put I did not cut the hole for it in the front panel so both the DVD drive and front panel were sitting at the very same location, making it look weird.

- The PSU is a physical replica of my PCP&C Silencer CF 750W... same length, switch and power locations are real too

- If you take a close look at the 3rd picture you will be able to see the bay mounting system that I am trying to build. It looks like two straight extruded lines, in which we could screw the bay drives. The holes still does not line up perfectly but I think I used the wrong measurements. You cannot see it from the pictures, but there are two notches that keeps the bay mounting system in place. Right now only that side is built as I need to do the other side. Also there will be some kind of "key" or "notch" on the motherboard tray to make it hold at that place so that it does not slide away while being moved - it will only move when the tray will be lifted. Yeah I plan on having a "flipping" motherboard tray, just lift it off and you can access the water components, bays, drives and cables... kind of like a car

- The damn thing is MUCH smaller than I thought. I cranked the sizes from the exact ATX motherboard size (12 x 9.6) to 13 x 10 since the DVD drive would not fit with the PSU there. Even then it's a tight fit about everywhere else. I will have to expand it from somewhere to be able to put the watercooling stuff in there (pump, and hook the radiator up). It will also allow me to find some more place to hide a couple of 3.5" drives, and maybe an extra 5.25" drive (could be vertical since most DVD drives works vertically).

If you have any comments or ideas about that, don't hesitate to post it up. Id like to hear what you guys think about it Im happy about the results so far and I have no doubt that if I could create it for real it would look kick-ass