From metal heater to computer

I had a perfectly good metal heater housing left over from a previous project (http://www.instructables.com/id/Old-rusty-heater-resurrected/), so naturally I had to make something out of it. The more I looked at it, the more I envisioned a new computer. I just happened to have all the parts needed, including a mini-itx board, and this little heater housing was a perfect size for building a small desktop pc.

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Step 1: Materials required

Since I had all the parts I needed, I really had to buy nothing. The parts used were:

- empty metal heater housing
- mini-itx motherboard
- 160 gb hard drive
- 300w power supply
- DVD combo writer
- wireless PCI card
- momentary switch
- two LEDs for the front panel
- two IDE cables
- internal speaker
- 1gb PC2700 memory (maximum for this motherboard)
- software (operating system, hardware drivers, application software)
- miscellaneous nuts, bolts, and washers

The tools used were:

- drill & bits
- jig saw with a metal cutting blade
- files
- screwdrivers

bethmwl says: Dec 25, 2012. 6:18 AM

Really nice looking when complete. I bet hooking in the wires is easier from the side than the back. Handle makes it portable too. All of our PCs should have carry handles : )

mattadamsnet says: Mar 19, 2012. 11:47 AM

I have a case just like this one I was looking for something to do with.

One last thing, Check your specs for the ram. seems a little low.

Nice Instructable,
Matt

knife141 (author) in reply to mattadamsnetMar 19, 2012. 1:06 PM

I used an older VIA motherboard. It won't address more than 1mb of ram in its one ram slot. Thanks for the comment.

TheRealDutchOwner in reply to knife141Mar 20, 2012. 12:14 PM

You mean 1GB. The least RAM Windows XP can use is 64MB, can't go lower.

static in reply to TheRealDutchOwnerApr 4, 2012. 1:48 AM

XP can run on 1 Mb of RAM. My netbook does, and my old standby machine cam with 1, but now has 2 because I added more memory. Have yet to update the netbook.

mattadamsnet in reply to staticApr 6, 2012. 9:32 AM

By starting this thread I was nicely trying to tell the author that he spec'ed 1 Megabyte of RAM while I'm sure he ment 1Gigabyte, and as I'm sure you mean 1 Gigabyte.

TheRealDutchOwner in reply to staticApr 4, 2012. 8:03 AM

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314865

It says that you need atleast 64MB (128MB recommended).
Either you mean GB, or you're talking about Windows CE 6.0 which looks like Windows XP.

knife141 (author) in reply to TheRealDutchOwnerMar 20, 2012. 4:16 PM

Yes, I did mean 1gb instead of mb. I often get my "m's" and "g's" reversed!

mattadamsnet in reply to knife141Mar 19, 2012. 5:40 PM

:)

Very cool PC Case.

kurtnotkirk says: Mar 23, 2012. 7:37 AM

Very cool idea!! I wonder what it would look like if you put those lights on the inside of the case? Love it!!

rimar2000 says: Mar 20, 2012. 4:55 AM

Master, you are extremely creative.

knife141 (author) in reply to rimar2000Mar 22, 2012. 7:12 AM

Osvaldo, I doubt seriously if I'm a "master. I'm probably more practical and cheap than creative! I've seen your instructables, and you, sir, are the Master! I am just a humble man who attempts many things, some more successful than others! Thanks for the comment.

rimar2000 in reply to knife141Mar 23, 2012. 5:30 AM

Well, in Spanish we have a saying: "tirarse con flores". It is "throwing with flowers", I don't know if it exists in English. You and me are giving new live to that saying ;)

Krayzi99 says: Mar 22, 2012. 7:47 PM

Man... I wanna try! But I can't at the moment (FrownFace) lol. Nice ible, weather I can do it or not!

razamatraz says: Mar 22, 2012. 2:58 PM

Nice, put a high end GPU in there and you can still use it as a heater too.

Kasm279 in reply to razamatrazMar 22, 2012. 3:49 PM

Or a Pentium 4 or Pentium D! :)

AG4RZ says: Mar 22, 2012. 12:42 PM

I love it!!! I just rescued a dead heater from a junk pile yesterday, with the intent of building a guitar amplifier in it. Your hack seems much cooler...

knife141 (author) in reply to AG4RZMar 22, 2012. 2:07 PM

I think an old heater would make a great case for a guitar amp! Thanks for your comment.

80$man says: Mar 21, 2012. 11:24 PM

Very Cool! Bonus, if the PC runs slow you can shout more coal!
PS. referring to the first picture in step ten, please consider using Google Chrome instead of Internet Explorer... https://www.google.com/chrome... it changed my life!

knife141 (author) in reply to 80$manMar 22, 2012. 7:08 AM

The picture in step 10 is of windows update running. Normally I use Firefox for all browsing, but when you run windows update it runs windows explorer by default. Thanks for the comment.

sylvain01 says: Mar 19, 2012. 11:12 AM

good idea

knife141 (author) in reply to sylvain01Mar 19, 2012. 2:26 PM

Thanks! The heater housing just sort of said "computer housing" to me!

tutdude98 says: Mar 19, 2012. 11:40 AM

really nice and idea is good

knife141 (author) in reply to tutdude98Mar 19, 2012. 2:25 PM

Thank you!

longwinters says: Mar 19, 2012. 10:03 AM

Very nice; from the pictures it looks like it was made from the start as a PC case.

No worries about air flow, thanks for posting what a plesant surprize.

knife141 (author) in reply to longwintersMar 19, 2012. 11:09 AM

Thanks for the kind words! The looks of this heater cabinet along with its built-in venting is what gave me the idea of turning it into a computer. It just seemed like a natural fit.