Ordered my Briefcase for my new mod project. Updated, More PICS

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Thu Apr 04, 2002 10:19 am

Really? I have seen a few better.

First off, Who needs a floppy?

Inside is neet though.

Greg

Sean · Post by **Sean** » Thu Apr 04, 2002 5:17 pm

I don't like where he put the HDD, right above the PS.. That would really heat it up if you ask me..

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Fri Apr 05, 2002 11:58 am

Mboard tray done:

As you can see, the mboard is held in by thos Tray clips. I drilled holes in the plexi just large enough for the little nipples on the back of them to fit threw, then I superglued them liek No ones business. 3 or 4 times. should be really well held in.

HD mounting:

As for the HD, I just have little rubber washers between the Plexi and the hd, so both air can get threw and to reduse vibrations i hope. Its a 60g Maxtor.

Also Picked up a monitor...Not sure if it will fit yet or not though.

Greg

ChaoZ · Post by **ChaoZ** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 2:07 am

Hi,

the mod marscheese mentioned here is my mod.

I made a small page about it: http://www.normal-gibts-schon.org/toolcasehowto (sorry for my bad english)

@Sean: The HDD doesn't heat up to much, because it has only 5400 rpm and the psu sucks out the air under the hdd.

@Nexus_7: nice idea for the hdd, but you should have some more space between your hdd and plexi. In my case i had about 10mm above the hdd an about 20mm under it (20mm where the air is sucked out by the psu).

ChaoZ

Sean · Post by **Sean** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 7:41 am

AH, thanks for clearing that up, makes a lot of sense now.

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 11:23 am

I was playing with it, and the hd doesnt even get worm. so Im not really worried. I like your buttons though.

I am making a new Mboard tray right now. I wanted one that uses screws instead of those push pin thingies.....among other reasons.

Greg

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Mon Apr 08, 2002 7:04 am

Man I love this place!

I don't normally hang out in the forums and such, either so busy you can't keep up or totaly dead or dull. Not around here, Great ideas and a active too.

How did you guys come up with an idea like that for a laptop?

I been wanting a lap for awhile and never thought of it myself! Can't afford to buy a good one, and what I can afford ain't worth having.

What will you power it with?

Actually I don't know if your really planning it as a laptop, but I like the idea myself.

I have a power inverter that might work and an extra car battery. If the inverter gives a clean power I could use it, then with one of those flat thin monitors built into the case I have a semi laptop. Cart the case and a battery to the park and the kid can play all day and I can work out in the fresh air!

Is that about what you are planning for yours?

With a flat 15" Lcd display and a standard 1700xp or so, about how much power would it take to run it as a laptop do you think? I have a 300 watt inverter now and been thinking on getting a 1500 watt for around the house anyway. We lose power in the rural area here sometimes.

My problem has always been the standard monitors are to big to carry around and eat too much power.
A suitcase system I could cart out to the car or van easy enough and a LCD might not eat too much power.

canton_kid

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Mon Apr 08, 2002 9:22 am

I had thought about incorporating a battery into this but I have a laptop so that would just add a feature I dont need or dont want to figgure out. yea LCD's use Lots less energy. this 18.1" uses about 25% the amount a normal 19" monitor uses.

Glad ya like it here.

Greg

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Mon Apr 08, 2002 1:04 pm

yep I love it here.

I bet a 15" Lcd would be pretty low power then. About all I would need for a portable. Know any place to get a good LCD monitor cheap? Looks like most are running around $300 where I've been looking.
I might put my other projects on hold and do a portable first. More useful to me. I all ready have a desk, was going to build a custom one, with the computer built in, but it can wait.

Besides, I will probably travel most the summer.

canton_kid

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Mon Apr 08, 2002 1:25 pm

Damn, I just looked up the power consumption of mine...get this 45 watts when it is runnign full blast. that is awsome. Probably gana be pritty cool then also.

As for cheap ones. I can probably get you one slightly cheaper. Liek a Mag, samsung, or viewsonic. would be lie $250 ish shipped to ya.

Greg

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Mon Apr 08, 2002 7:34 pm

Well the case is here. Not exactly what I expected.

its suposed to be Alluminum and well if there is any, its between the plastic outside and partical board inside.

Gana have to buy some Lexan or steal now to sturdy it up. what a drag.

Greg

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Wed Apr 10, 2002 5:58 am

45watts??? THATS ALL??

I don't know what a power rating is for my normal 17" SVGA when running, but I think it is like 20 watts in standby or something. I just shut it off when not using it though. Have to look it up in the book.

I didn't buy a 19" becuase the one I was looking at said it used 80 watts in standby and I think 20 watts in power down mode.

I don't recall what either use when actually on being used.

Personnaly I always liked the 15" about as well as my 17" I think. Might not if I went back to one, but was not overly impressed when I bought this 17". Great KDS extreme flat, but I think 15" would have been enough.

At 45 watts, the higher price would be gained back in electric savings over time, and I geuss they ran extremely cool then too?

I'll have to look at the store and check one out for custom apps.

Have you ever taken one apart? Would it be easy to mount in a custom case, or would I need to mount the whole case it comes in into the case?

canton_kid

marscheese · Post by **marscheese** » Wed Apr 10, 2002 7:40 am

Nexus, what moniter are you using w/ the rig?

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Thu Apr 11, 2002 1:22 am

That mitsubishi E85LCD.

gana start hacking tomarow probably.

Greg

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Fri Apr 12, 2002 6:35 pm

Been a little bussy with other stuff. Here is a little update though. I have again changed my design. I now have an alpha attached to my mboard. it is Sweet! I have it screwed into a double layer of plexiglas for support. I can now pick up the mboard by the heatsink and nothing moves. very nice change. Ill show you a few pics of the updates.

Greg