PARKE wrote on 2023-03-07, 12:03:

Another way to make a hole is with the type of bit below. Make a dent in the middle of where you want the hole. Strap the plate […]
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BitWrangler wrote on 2023-03-06, 21:18:

ptr1ck wrote on 2023-03-06, 21:12:

A typical hole saw has too large of teeth and will probably wreck the shield unless you use a press. I would recommend a punch or cutting it with snips after you get a small starter hole.

Yeah the best type on metal are the adjustable ones with a two "teeth" or cutters or whatever you want to cal them, but there's maybe not room. Actually from a Princess Auto you might find a stepped hole enlarging bit that will go from 3/8 to keyboard size. Forgot what they're called.

Another way to make a hole is with the type of bit below. Make a dent in the middle of where you want the hole. Strap the plate to a piece of wood and grind away until you have the right size. Do it slowly or the metal will turn blue because of heat.
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That's creative ,thnx .(good idea). I turned my AT into ATX, so now I have to mount a plexiglass where the 2nd PSU can mount and backplate... (On my 486)

ediflorianUS wrote on 2023-03-09, 12:09:

That's creative ,thnx .(good idea). I turned my AT into ATX, so now I have to mount a plexiglass where the 2nd PSU can mount and backplate... (On my 486)

I've got an old AT tower that has plenty of dings and tents and rust.

I'd really like to put a new gloss coat of paint on it, cut out a clear window on the side, put some ground effect LED lights under the motherboard, and 3d print a front panel that holds a USB hub and a 2" OLED display that shows the CPU temp & switches between 133 and 160 when I hit the turbo button.

but that might have to wait until I retire from the day job though.

Ozzuneoj wrote on 2023-03-07, 04:43:

I'm honestly surprised that none of the big manufacturers have put out a modern retro case. When I built my current PC in 2019 I desperately wanted a modern retro-looking case, but the closest I could find that was actually a good case was the Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C. I got it in white with a solid side panel and I like it... but that was four years ago and I'm amazed that there aren't retro-looking cases out there yet.

Well last year a UK company called Overclockers UK ran an Aprils fools gag, but I really wanted it to be true. Check out this page and tell me it doesn't look cool.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/reboot

original_meusli wrote on 2023-03-09, 14:58:

Ozzuneoj wrote on 2023-03-07, 04:43:

I'm honestly surprised that none of the big manufacturers have put out a modern retro case. When I built my current PC in 2019 I desperately wanted a modern retro-looking case, but the closest I could find that was actually a good case was the Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C. I got it in white with a solid side panel and I like it... but that was four years ago and I'm amazed that there aren't retro-looking cases out there yet.

Well last year a UK company called Overclockers UK ran an Aprils fools gag, but I really wanted it to be true. Check out this page and tell me it doesn't look cool.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/reboot

Bah... what a missed opportunity. 🤣

I do wonder if anyone will ever make a "retro" display once other technologies have caught up to CRTs. At this point in time, nothing can really replicate a CRT's motion clarity or resolution + refresh rate flexibility, so purists will still have reasons to use them for retro gaming. If we ever get to where an OLED or MicroLED display can have a massive resolution in a 4:3 aspect ratio (to fully simulate the look of a CRT) with extremely high refresh rates and some kind of scanning black frame insertion to simulate CRT motion-clarity, I would love to see one actually produced in beige with a big chunky mechanical power button. Maybe even with a big box on the back for... whatever. Putting a PC in there, or just storage or something. 😁

Ozzuneoj wrote on 2023-03-09, 19:47:

I do wonder if anyone will ever make a "retro" display once other technologies have caught up to CRTs. At this point in time, nothing can really replicate a CRT's motion clarity or resolution + refresh rate flexibility, so purists will still have reasons to use them for retro gaming. If we ever get to where an OLED or MicroLED display can have a massive resolution in a 4:3 aspect ratio (to fully simulate the look of a CRT) with extremely high refresh rates and some kind of scanning black frame insertion to simulate CRT motion-clarity, I would love to see one actually produced in beige with a big chunky mechanical power button. Maybe even with a big box on the back for... whatever. Putting a PC in there, or just storage or something. 😁

Hey Guys! It's Phil on that exact subject--

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEqinYQ0RtI

He thinks an 8K monitor should be able to do it pretty well

FYI if you find something the right shape and want it "less black" or haven't got time to do a super good paint job, then Dollar Tree has been having self adhesive vinyl come in in several widths, I might be remembering wrong but 1", 2" 4" and 12" was what I saw, but the local crafters etc fell on it real quick and I am not sure if it's gonna be a long term line or was one of those opportunist buys they get for a short period. Anyhoo, there was a polar/glacier white, but I thought I saw a cream color too.

BitWrangler wrote on 2023-03-09, 20:06:

FYI if you find something the right shape and want it "less black" or haven't got time to do a super good paint job, then Dollar Tree has been having self adhesive vinyl come in in several widths, I might be remembering wrong but 1", 2" 4" and 12" was what I saw, but the local crafters etc fell on it real quick and I am not sure if it's gonna be a long term line or was one of those opportunist buys they get for a short period. Anyhoo, there was a polar/glacier white, but I thought I saw a cream color too.

Interesting idea! I'd never considered doing vinyl wrap on a PC. 😁

douglar wrote on 2023-03-09, 14:02:

I've got an old AT tower that has plenty of dings and tents and rust. […]
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ediflorianUS wrote on 2023-03-09, 12:09:

That's creative ,thnx .(good idea). I turned my AT into ATX, so now I have to mount a plexiglass where the 2nd PSU can mount and backplate... (On my 486)

I've got an old AT tower that has plenty of dings and tents and rust.

I'd really like to put a new gloss coat of paint on it, cut out a clear window on the side, put some ground effect LED lights under the motherboard, and 3d print a front panel that holds a USB hub and a 2" OLED display that shows the CPU temp & switches between 133 and 160 when I hit the turbo button.

but that might have to wait until I retire from the day job though.

don't ruin it , just paint it white or peroxide the yellow suff. (vintage is now gold and new led stuff is norm , so if you want stuff like that buy ready made new stuff).

i'd say best bet is to find a complete 386 or 486 and gut it. 'untested' or 'broken for parts' could save you a few bucks. but yes its hard to find AT style cases nowadays.

on a separate note - has anyone tried appliance touch-up paint on a PC case? i dont have the means to fully repaint.

What's peoples thoughts about AT cases missing the cover? These come up from time to time here (I myself picked up a PC last year with he cover missing)
Only once have I seen someone mention going to a metalworker and getting a new cover made.

That's something I would probably grab if I came across it. Maybe give it a sheet ductwork metal cover if nothing else. The fiddly part with cases is the motherboard tray and slot bracket spacing/relationship, if you can get something or anything in which that exists, partial cases, test frames, then throwing a box around the rest is kinda trivial.

chinny22 wrote on 2023-03-13, 10:58:

What's peoples thoughts about AT cases missing the cover? These come up from time to time here (I myself picked up a PC last year with he cover missing)
Only once have I seen someone mention going to a metalworker and getting a new cover made.

I'd first try to replace it with a metal cover from another case. It's not uncommon to find AT cases with damaged plastic fronts, so combining parts from multiple broken cases can result in a singular restored case.

Fabricating a replacement case cover out of metal is always an option, but it also might be fun to try other materials.

I've thought about doing a proper woodgrain case out of actual wood. Or possibly building a case out of MDF with a laminate surface.

BitWrangler wrote on 2023-03-13, 14:19:

That's something I would probably grab if I came across it. Maybe give it a sheet ductwork metal cover if nothing else. The fiddly part with cases is the motherboard tray and slot bracket spacing/relationship, if you can get something or anything in which that exists, partial cases, test frames, then throwing a box around the rest is kinda trivial.

ductwork / sheetmetal is SHARP, so be careful if you wanna try this 😀

BitWrangler wrote on 2023-03-13, 14:19:

The fiddly part with cases is the motherboard tray and slot bracket spacing/relationship, if you can get something or anything in which that exists, partial cases, test frames, then throwing a box around the rest is kinda trivial.

This may have been mentioned already, and I haven't really looked into this, but what about a GPU crypto mining rack? I would imagine that there are tons of those available of various sizes. Maybe one of those could be modified and cut down a bit to act as a motherboard tray.

Most of at cases i encountered lately has plastics degradation issue, i mean discolour and fragility issues.

Found this site, but they have none left. 🙁

http://www.evercase.co.uk/index.php?route=pro … ategory&path=63

Then I found this, but you need a large wallet...

https://classiccomputershop.eu/Webwinkel-Prod … ium-DOS-PC.html

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original_meusli wrote on 2023-03-14, 15:33:

Then I found this, but you need a large wallet...

https://classiccomputershop.eu/Webwinkel-Prod … ium-DOS-PC.html

Yikes, that is pricey! It would be cheaper to just buy a complete 386 or 486 system off of Ebay.

A hint... Don't limit your search to AT cases.
What else could have used AT cases but not been sold as a computer?

I recently got a unit from work and found that the case also has standoff mounting for AT motherboards.

Found a couple more on eBay for cheap-ish (compete systems).

I've decided that some of the AT cases I have I really don't care for and will probably sell, but they are also fill systems so they won't be going for cheap, especially since at least a couple of them are branded with original parts.

10 years ago, the Asian companies - not the big names - were making new retro-style PC desktop cases that matched the 80s and 90s cases. Then the market shifted to laptops and gaming desktop cases, so regular cases pretty much disappeared.