How would I build a pc without a case?

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culr

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Feb 15, 2014
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I'm working on a "pc in a desk" project (my first build)

I'm quite confident in putting a pc together in a case, as I've fiddled with my current pc a fair amount.

However I'm unsure of how to wire things such as a power button, or front audio ports (though I won't need the audio ports with the way I've designed the desk).

So basically, I'd like to know how to build a pc without a case, so when It comes to putting it together in the desk I won't have any problems what so ever.

Cheers
 
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arkieboy72472

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Jan 10, 2014
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You would have to hand drill the spots for motherboard standoffs. You could use a band saw or router to make the spots for case fans. You may could take a front power switch from another desktop and put it on the front of the door or cabinet. If you use a big graphics card, you would need a way to stabilize it so that it stays upright unless you use integrated graphics.

If people can lay out a system on a piece of wood and mount it on the wall like I have seen, then this should be possible. I would consider proper cooling and airflow the biggest hurdle. I see no reason why you can not do this.
 
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culr

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Does the mobo need to be raised from the wood?


 
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Jacob McIntosh

Jacob McIntosh

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culr

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The case isn't an issue.
The desk is the case.
It's more to do with the wiring of things such as the power button (I've not a clue in how to do that)
There will be plenty of air flow as the desk will have up to 12 fans in it, 8 pulling in and 4 rad fans pushing out.
 
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Jacob McIntosh

Jacob McIntosh

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Although it will work on bare wood, you run the risk of bending/breaking one of the connections on the bottom of the board. Just raise it bu 1 cm or so and you will be fine.
 
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culr

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The top of the desk, is going to be on a hinge, with a hole in the centre. So that no wires ever need to leave the desk.
The I/o and pcie slots will be wired directly from the hole to the monitor/speakers
(There's a rectangular block at the back of the desk for all the wires to run through, with a hole cut into it so that the expansions etc can leave the main part of the desk and easily be wired through the rectangular block)
 
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Benevolence

Benevolence

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Sounds like a cool project! Personally I would put the motherboard on standoffs to prevent any possibility of static discharge from the wood. Secondly, you can purchase the On/Off and HDA/Audio Jacks online from amazon or Newegg. Just look for a motherboard power header or something like that. No case needed! If you can, post a pic of the project, we geeks really get off on that!
 
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Jacob McIntosh

Jacob McIntosh

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Sounds good, but I would pick up some sort or metal reinforcer to reinforce the cards in your expansion slots, because the only connection they will have to anything is the PCIe slot on the board, and wires that will pull the card from one side to another. The expansion slots on a PC case prevent the card from moving, so that there is no damage to the card itself or the PCIe slot pins. I've seen a few motherboards that come with one (Gigabyte i think), but I'm sure you could find something designed for a test bench that you can use in your desk.
 
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culr

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It's not started yet, though I've just finished sketching the desk with a plan of different components.

I'm wondering if I should give the woodwork a go myself, or let someone more capable of doing so do it for me (I am only 17 and have never worked with wood)
 
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culr

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There will be holes in the cutout of the I/o and pcie slot areas that allow for them to be screwed directly into the wood just as you would screw them into a case, do you think this would be sufficient enough?
 
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Jacob McIntosh

Jacob McIntosh

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Me personally, I would do as much as I could on my own, and then get a family member or friend to help.

I also found a motherboard that had the brace I was talking about in my last post. It is orange, so not great for looks, but they do exist which is means that I'm not crazy.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128594
 
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culr

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Yes that's exactly what I'd like to have, but rather than using a brace have it crewed directly into the wood, as there will be up to 5cm of wood separating the main component area to the back of the desk where the wires are, where the slots would be able to be screwed directly into the wood rather than the brace

Edit: the mobo is going to be pushed up to the separating piece of wood, so that the 'back of the case' is poking through into the wiring area of the desk
 
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