Custom Wooden Pc Case

[Rockergage]

For woodshop class i planned to make a pc case out of wood in the shape of a Tardis. I understand it is possible but i am wondering about what i should do. I plan to have the motherboard be on the bottom of the case, should i layer the walls or floor with something? Should i place the mobo up against the walls or should i stay and inch or half an inch away? I planned to be about 1ft by 1ft by 2ft for the case with the top part and the bottom walk up base be extra which i build afterwards, would my fans be good if i put them with two on the bottom pushing air through and up to air on the side where the fans will pull the air out. i plan to use some random Intel mobo, a 800W or 850W PSU, four fans, Intel i5 4690K, a GTX 980 or 970 *fans aimed towards to push air towards the other airflow, would this be adequate or if more fans would work? Two more questions, One i had plans to make the top light thing be the power button, i wanted to make it so i pushed on it, it would go down, it would power up and play the doctor who Tardis noise. Would it be possible for me to wire the lights into the PSU and the sound thing if i put in a sound card or a small speaker? Final question, for spacing i planned to put the harddrives in a separate sealed off area, so with a 12 x 9 mobo then the 12 by 3 area *if going by 12 by 12, i might change it to 13 by 13 and leave area for the sides or make room for walling*, would that be a good idea if i made sure they were secure, i planned to have them stand straight up too if that changes it.

 

[computers_are_freaky]

Just attach the radiator to your outtakes, and if you don't have any, then attach it to the intakes. I have seen a video, that shows that having air go through a radiator then into the case only raises the case temperature by 1-4° so that's nothing. Do not have it on the wall with no holes behind it though, as it will just kill your fans, try mounting it on brackets a few inches out.

 

[Rockergage]

How hard would it be for a novice in watercooling be to make it pump in and then pump out to an external cooler and filtration place outside of the pc

 

[computers_are_freaky]

Should be no problem, as long as you do your research, but are you sure you want to? Not sure how that would fit with the tardis look, to have an external radiator box. I reckon either set up a loop or use an AIO on the inside of the case, or just stick with air.

 

[Rockergage]

I think I will just get an upgrade cpu fan. I am now wondering if an amd r9 390x would be better then a gtx 970 or the r9 fury. I was working on the case drilling the roof for a power button and put a spacer between my mobo and the backplate but I feel i feel I half assed it but I feel it's fine. Wouldn't mind some thoughts on the GPU

 

[Rockergage]

Anyone know a good PCI-Express 3.0 Riser cables? Would prefer long GPU won't fit in slots easy so it would be simpler to just do Riser cables.

 

[computers_are_freaky]

As far as GPUs go, then I would advise checking out some of those comparison threads, people there will know a lot more than me, but here are my 2 cents:
GTX 970 vs r9 390: pretty similar as far as performance goes, but for higher resolutions, then the r9 390 has a huge advantage (as long as you get the 8Gb model)

GTX 980 vs r9 390x: AMD wins this one as far as performance goes, and it also has a lot more VRAM, so if you ever consider Xfire, definitely the better option. Also, the GTX 980 is basically a 970 with a slightly better binned chip and 0.5Gb of VRAM more, so not worth it over the 970 IMO, especially if you OC a 970.

GTX 980Ti vs fury X: alone for 1440p, then get the 980Ti, but for 4K or with more than one, the fury X pulls ahead (don't ask me why, because I have no idea, but it does).

Not sure where the fury nano and fury fit in, maybe you could look at the nano, because it would fit in your case sans risers, and if you're considering watercooling, then it is very good (as long as you pay 450$, anything more and it becomes terrible value wise).

If you're looking for risers, make sure you order them from somewhere with a return policy, because in the event that they bottleneck your performance too much or just flat out don't work with whatever card you choose, then you can still return them and try some others.

 

[Rockergage]

I am thinking of either moving my mobo back half an inch or make a box as the backplate I am using is backwards and I think I am just going to make a tray for the GPU and use screws to secure it

 

[Rockergage]

Build is basically done, i'd like to thank you all for every suggestion and feedback provided. To fix the problem with the motherboard and the GPU output i ended up putting a layer of cardboard underneath the tray to raise it up and it fit better. I am thinking either a nano or a GTX 970 but i am going to wait to see the new GTX 1080 first. If you want some more pictures just request.

 

[computers_are_freaky]

Yes please. Been dying to see the finished product.

 

[Rockergage]

Yes please. Been dying to see the finished product.

Look above for my imgur pics, i uploaded one with it on my desk.

 

[computers_are_freaky]

Ok, found them. Nice work, although I think you ought to give that sign above the door another go, it seems a bit hasty. You could try using masking tape to help with the straight lines, and plan it all out as well, but remember that it will not make a perfect seal on the wood, so you still need to be careful. The outside also seems rushed, in some places you can see the brush strokes. I'm not trying to nit-pick and if you're happy with it as is, then that's what matters, I'm just trying to offer a bit of advice. Anyway, well done.

 

[Rockergage]

Ok, found them. Nice work, although I think you ought to give that sign above the door another go, it seems a bit hasty. You could try using masking tape to help with the straight lines, and plan it all out as well, but remember that it will not make a perfect seal on the wood, so you still need to be careful. The outside also seems rushed, in some places you can see the brush strokes. I'm not trying to nit-pick and if you're happy with it as is, then that's what matters, I'm just trying to offer a bit of advice. Anyway, well done.

i wish i probably had better brushes for the regular painting, and i had tried to get a stencil for the sign part but i couldn't find one and was tired of painting and all of the stuff going wrong so i just wrote it out by hand, i liked it too, kinda mini seems like something the Doctor would make when he was young, i am actually now going to make a new wall with a better tray and panel as i believe since the mobo is upside down it is causing heating problems with the CPU and GPU and by making a smaller area the air will be able to move easier through the system and i can hide the ugly cables and make it easier to do everything from installing GPU's and make the fans be removable but the panel side not like a regular computer.

I might also snipe a GTX 980 on ebay, if i do i am going to be happy.

 

[Rockergage]

Didn't get the GPU, and i am currently on the fence if i should get a temporary GPU or wait for the GTX 1070's in early june late may