rogue_jedi
Supreme [H]ardness
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2002
- Messages
- 4,821
i needed something to do while the forums were down and i didn't have a processor for my box (forums are back up but i still don't have a processor, so the project will continue)
i can tell you right now that this worklog won't be exactly full of pictures. i just started it and we are getting close to done with it, so there won't be much in the way of construction steps. my method of obtaining pictures isn't all that great either. so bear with me, and i'll get pictures when i can.
i was looking around and happened across a stereo (working) in my basement that wasn't in use. it belonged to my brother. i checked with him, and he said it was fine if i used it as a computer case. he also said he would help. we checked the physical size of the box, and it was big enough for the matx system that until now has been on my nightstand. (celeron 400, 256mb memory, linux)
so we got to work.
original plan:
1) remove the tape deck from the stereo
2) relocate the transformer
3) install motherboard in the base of the unit where the tape deck went
- wire sound outputs through the amp where the tape deck originally plugged in
4) leave 3cd changer/radio intact and still working.
now of course this didn't work, or else i wouldn't have said 'original' plan.
first problem - motherboard didn't fit in base (d'oh!) so we took out the cd changer and mounted the motherboard upside down in the top of the case. the power supply was placed on the base, and bolted down through two holers drilled in the top of the psu (it is upside down as well) the transformer was wired to the power cord for the psu, and the other end of the power extension cable we used was run outside the radio where the power cable had originally gone. so now there is just a power plug where the cable had run.
second problem - this lay in wiring the sound through the tape deck 'in's on the amp board, as the impedances from a soundcard and a tapedeck are different (high vs. low) and the soundcard is also already amped some. however the speakers for the radio are unpowered, so the soundcard can't drive them. still working on a solution for that (suggestions welcome)
now a third problem has arisen. the atx motherboard cable from the psu won't reach the motherboard in the top of the case. it is about 1/2" too short. does anyone know of a cheaper extension cable than the one on frozencpu? it is only $3.50, but the shipping makes it 9-10 dollars. not cool.
we painted the sides, top, and bottom of the radio black. the back is getting painted as well after we finish cutting holes for expansion cards in it, and the front will get painted as soon as we get around to masking it. the problem with that is that the radio/amp piece is screwed to the front and we don't want to take it off, but it will be a major pita to mask it completely. we will probably just wrap it in saran wrap or something (but most definitely not saran wrap b/c of the static and everything)
anyway, it is coming along OK, and i'll post pictures when i get a chance. (i'm on 56k as well so that doesn't work too well - uploading is slow) more later.
i can tell you right now that this worklog won't be exactly full of pictures. i just started it and we are getting close to done with it, so there won't be much in the way of construction steps. my method of obtaining pictures isn't all that great either. so bear with me, and i'll get pictures when i can.
i was looking around and happened across a stereo (working) in my basement that wasn't in use. it belonged to my brother. i checked with him, and he said it was fine if i used it as a computer case. he also said he would help. we checked the physical size of the box, and it was big enough for the matx system that until now has been on my nightstand. (celeron 400, 256mb memory, linux)
so we got to work.
original plan:
1) remove the tape deck from the stereo
2) relocate the transformer
3) install motherboard in the base of the unit where the tape deck went
- wire sound outputs through the amp where the tape deck originally plugged in
4) leave 3cd changer/radio intact and still working.
now of course this didn't work, or else i wouldn't have said 'original' plan.
first problem - motherboard didn't fit in base (d'oh!) so we took out the cd changer and mounted the motherboard upside down in the top of the case. the power supply was placed on the base, and bolted down through two holers drilled in the top of the psu (it is upside down as well) the transformer was wired to the power cord for the psu, and the other end of the power extension cable we used was run outside the radio where the power cable had originally gone. so now there is just a power plug where the cable had run.
second problem - this lay in wiring the sound through the tape deck 'in's on the amp board, as the impedances from a soundcard and a tapedeck are different (high vs. low) and the soundcard is also already amped some. however the speakers for the radio are unpowered, so the soundcard can't drive them. still working on a solution for that (suggestions welcome)
now a third problem has arisen. the atx motherboard cable from the psu won't reach the motherboard in the top of the case. it is about 1/2" too short. does anyone know of a cheaper extension cable than the one on frozencpu? it is only $3.50, but the shipping makes it 9-10 dollars. not cool.
we painted the sides, top, and bottom of the radio black. the back is getting painted as well after we finish cutting holes for expansion cards in it, and the front will get painted as soon as we get around to masking it. the problem with that is that the radio/amp piece is screwed to the front and we don't want to take it off, but it will be a major pita to mask it completely. we will probably just wrap it in saran wrap or something (but most definitely not saran wrap b/c of the static and everything)
anyway, it is coming along OK, and i'll post pictures when i get a chance. (i'm on 56k as well so that doesn't work too well - uploading is slow) more later.