Can I build a computer without a case in a wooden desk?

[arnamak]

I have a mini-itx case right now but the airflow is absolute garbage, can only really fit one fan and it's causing my 780 ti to perform...well, not great (starts to throttle itself ~83C, which is my average temp).

So, I thought, why not just get rid of the case altogether? Well, safety for one. Things running at ~83C directly touching paint/wood/whatever finish ikea uses, is that dangerous? And also, dust. I guess I could cover all desk openings with mesh, but is it that much of a problem?

This is the desk I have: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10244743/#/10244743

As you can tell, the back is completely open and all of those shelves are removable. I have no problem drilling into the wood to mount fans/components and stuff, I just need to know if it's safe or if anyone that's done something like this has any advice.

Here are my system specs, just because I'm so used to putting them at the end of help posts:

CPU - i5 4570

GPU - EVGA GTX 780 ti (stock, reference)

PSU - SeaSonic 550w 80+ Gold (forgot the model number, something like ss12)

RAM - 2x4GB HyperX 1600

SSD - Samsung EVO 250GB

MoBo - ASRock H81M-ITX

Thanks!

 

[iron8orn]

i think its possible

probably line the inside with exact fitting aluminum sheets.. or at least what the mobo will be sitting on since the bottom of the mobo would get hot.

 

[DookieDraws]

Your components will get very hot and you need to have them inside of a case with proper cooling. I recommend getting another case, maybe a mid or full tower case. Even a "cheap" case would be a better solution than not having a case at all. If money is an issue, just sell the smaller case (and anything else you'd like to get rid of) and use that money towards a new case. There are some decent, and very inexpensive cases available.

Best of luck to you!

 

[iron8orn]

i think dookie is right but if you got 4 200mm high cfm fans and had 2 in the front as intake and two in the back as exhaust..

 

[arnamak]

Your components will get very hot and you need to have them inside of a case with proper cooling. I recommend getting another case, maybe a mid or full tower case. Even a "cheap" case would be a better solution than not having a case at all. If money is an issue, just sell the smaller case (and anything else you'd like to get rid of) and use that money towards a new case. There are some decent, and very inexpensive cases available.

Best of luck to you!

Mind if I ask why? If I mount a bunch of intake/exhaust fans on the desk and give them more room to breathe than a case ever could, why is a case still better? Could even water cool at that point since space and cable management really become a non-issue. Like I said the back is open and there are plenty of areas on the front I could use as exhaust.

My problem is my computer absolutely *has* to go inside of that cabinet, which is roughly 20cm wide (usable space)...and any case that will fit in there likely wouldn't have great cooling options.

 

[DookieDraws]

Mind if I ask why? If I mount a bunch of intake/exhaust fans on the desk and give them more room to breathe than a case ever could, why is a case still better? Could even water cool at that point since space and cable management really become a non-issue. Like I said the back is open and there are plenty of areas on the front I could use as exhaust.

My problem is my computer absolutely *has* to go inside of that cabinet, which is roughly 20cm wide (usable space)...and any case that will fit in there likely wouldn't have great cooling options.

Well, simply put, a case would be "better" because it was designed to house your components. Your components will be safely and securely enclosed inside of the case. This way, you won't have to worry about your cat (if you have one) jumping up on your exposed components and destroying everything, while possibly taking all 9 of his lives at the same time in one quick zap! 😛 Your case fans will be pulling fresh air across your hot components while the exhaust fan is pushing the hot air out.

By the way, 20 cm isn't much space at all! How in the world would your case fit in there?

 

[arnamak]

Mind if I ask why? If I mount a bunch of intake/exhaust fans on the desk and give them more room to breathe than a case ever could, why is a case still better? Could even water cool at that point since space and cable management really become a non-issue. Like I said the back is open and there are plenty of areas on the front I could use as exhaust.

My problem is my computer absolutely *has* to go inside of that cabinet, which is roughly 20cm wide (usable space)...and any case that will fit in there likely wouldn't have great cooling options.

Well, simply put, a case would be "better" because it was designed to house your components. Your components will be safely and securely enclosed inside of the case. This way, you won't have to worry about your cat (if you have one) jumping up on your exposed components and destroying everything, while possibly taking all 9 of his lives at the same time in one quick zap! 😛 Your case fans will be pulling fresh air across your hot components while the exhaust fan is pushing the hot air out.

By the way, 20 cm isn't much space at all! How in the world would your case fit in there?

Sure, but if I drill into the wood/use aluminum plates with stand offs for my components, they'd be secure in there as well. No cat, no worries about damage from falls or anything like that. Strictly concerned with anything I might be missing in regards to heat or something like that.

Right now I have a Cubitek Mini-Cube, which fits in there pretty well, got about an inch of room on either side 😀. But like I said, a case that small comes with terrible airflow.

 

[BustaRhymes]

A mini-itx case should push the video card air straight out the side of the case.

Building a computer inside a desk is a neat idea. One company did that at Computex, but i don't know if i would try to do it in a wooden desk lol prob glass or aluminum/steel would be more appropriate.

 

[BustaRhymes]

Also I looked at your desk and they have a mid tower inside of that desk, Maybe a mid-tower or mini-tower would be better than an itx case. Most of them should fit mini-itx motherboard no problem.

If you do decide on your project though use rubber/plastic or something as a fire insulator. You will also want some kinda fan blowing air across your components such as hard drive and motherboard.

 

[Pondering]

It will fit a midtower with hair left over on each side. I have one of those crazy tower desks too. I bought the Cougar Solutions Black Steel case for $20 each so I got spoiled.

Dimensions of my case: 7.8" x 16.7" x 19.1"

20 cm: 20 * (1/2.54) = 20/2.54 = 7.8740 inches