Setting up a computer without a case - how?

[Sean453]

I've got some extra parts laying around that I could set up but I don't have a case for them. So I thought maybe I could set it up without a case. I don't know what to put it in though. I guess I need a box or something or I could just lay the parts on a wooden shelf or table. What would work well and not end up catching on fire?

These are the parts I've got:
Athlon 650 MHz Slot A
Gigabyte 7IX
384 MB pc-100
ATI 4 mb video
300w compusa psu
1.6 gig ibm hard drive from my old aptiva system
(also going to have an extra maxtor 20 gig when I get my new 80 gigger soon)
15" dell monitor

So that should be good enough to setup a basic system just for SETI or other DC projects. For now I'll just borrow the CD/floppy from my good system to get it up and running.

 

[erikistired]

i had one mounted on a piece of plywood for demonstration purposes. it never caught on fire. was neat too.

~erik

 

[deerslayer]

I had one sitting on top of my desk for about a month until I found a cheap case. I used a power switch out of an old gateway case to turn it on. People have told me you can just use a screwdriver to touch the two power pins together and that will start it up too.

You can mount it on a board or in a box or something like that, just make sure there's nothing under it that will conduct electricity.

 

[osage]

I have 3 sitting on a table behind me..I just put the mobo on the antistatic bag it came in on top of the box, set the PSU of to the side and use the styrofoam holders that come with CD or CDRW drives to hold the CD drive, I set the HDD on top of the CD/CDRW. 1 short piece of wire goes on one pin where the power lead from the power button goes, just touch the other end of the wire to the second pin for power button and it starts right up.
These are just used for F@H, so it's not like I do alot of other stuff with them.

 

[LaxMan]

I saw a comp in a cardboard box at hardforums I believe. Pretty crazy.

 

[Budman]

Here's a way to have a case without having a case.

http://www.plycon.com/cases/diycase.htm

 

[xSauronx]

ive seen entire cases with a power supply that cost less

given, they arent quite as roomy....