Moreover, it is absolutely not necessary to buy an expensive top-end case - you can make it yourself. It just takes a little effort, experience and patience.
How to make your own transparent computer case.
The obvious advantage of a transparent computer case is its aesthetic component. Other advantages of a transparent case include:
In most cases, users complain about the following shortcomings:
The largest case manufacturers have long brought to the market a line of transparent case models to suit every taste and budget. And the first problem is what material to choose.
If you have already decided to buy a case with a transparent side panel, another dilemma arises - should you use tempered glass or acrylic (plexiglass)? Both materials have their advantages and disadvantages, so the choice can be difficult.
Advantages:
Flaws:
Advantages:
Flaws:
You don't need to purchase anything or take any additional steps to prevent static electricity damage when working with PC components. A few simple tips will help you avoid danger without any additional effort.
An antistatic mat also provides complete protection, but the tips described above are more than enough. Even an anti-static wrist strap would be overkill for the average PC user. If you have assembled/disassembled your PC many times and never encountered static electricity, consider yourself very lucky.
Be sure to make sure that you know where the wires should be laid and how to secure the components. Pay special attention to the second - improper use (fitting in the socket, temperature conditions, dust) of components, be it RAM or a video card, will certainly lead to PC failure. The main problem inside is the wires connecting the power supply to the rest of the PC. Once you are sure that all components that require separate power are connected, tie the remaining wires together with a plastic tie or electrical tape. In most cases, they can be placed neatly along the edge of the motherboard. The case is cooled in such a way that air flows through all its parts, after which a lot of dust settles there. It clogs the paths and air communications of the entire system, which also leads to overheating and breakdown of expensive components. Therefore, it is necessary to perform regular cleaning, even at home. Following our static electricity tips, remove one side panel and thoroughly vacuum the motherboard.
Be extremely careful not to snag the processor or RAM!
The cost of a transparent case ranges from several tens to several hundred US dollars. If you decide to buy a case with a clear cover, we recommend Antec's time-tested products. The optimal case for the average user, Antec Nine Hundred Two V3, has the following characteristics:
As for the shortcomings, users most often complained about:
You can now buy such a case for about $140 on Amazon or the manufacturer’s website.
Most technicians pay attention to the following characteristics:
The first step in creating a transparent PC case with your own hands is to compile a list of necessary materials and equipment:
Computer components:
Tools and peripherals:
Follow the instructions and you can easily make a transparent case yourself:
That's all. Assembly complete! In general, the whole job may take a couple of days, but the result is worth it. The body itself is very quiet (plexiglass is an excellent insulating material), so you can enjoy watching movies, surfing the Internet and listening to music to the fullest. Which material will be the best for the side transparent panel of your PC case is up to you to decide. Different options have their pros and cons. To summarize, we can conclude that tempered glass is still a little more practical. Despite its weight and fragility, it provides a clearer view of your PC's internals.
The home computer, despite the fact that they are constantly trying to force it out of the shelves, still holds its position and is still used both at home and in the office. Moreover, some professions necessarily allow only a desktop computer without any compromises, such as a laptop, tablet, ultrabook and others.
Computer installation is another important aspect. And if at home it’s not scary even to have it on the desktop, then in the office every detail is important, including placement. And if this is the main server, then it should generally be given a special place.
Thus, with the introduction of new technologies, a wide variety of plexiglass products have become widely used. Boxes for system units were not spared. So, how to protect and from what the plexiglass box protects the computer’s brain, and most importantly, whether you can make it yourself, look below.
In this case, the use of the computer should be thoughtful. In an apartment, for example, the cooler can often suffer. In other words, this is a fan that cools the main “engine” of the machine. Due to constant operation, a lot of dust from the air can get into this cooler. Naturally, by enclosing the case in a special box, and even correctly calculating the cooling holes, you can really improve the condition of the machine. Moreover, glass can repel dust. This quality is simply irreplaceable in the case of a home computer.
Also, the plexiglass body can be easily wiped. Taking into account the fact that the material does not allow moisture to pass through, you can be absolutely calm about your computer.
There was a time, it was even fashionable, to enclose the processor in a transparent box, which revealed all the contents that were difficult for many to understand. This had its own aesthetics and its own romance. Moreover, sometimes there was a special neon or multi-colored lighting that illuminated the glass. The end result was very beautiful, taking into account the presence of elements of the most varied shapes and sizes inside the box.
Nowadays a wide variety of organic glass is used. It can be multi-colored glossy or matte material. It looks great and stylish, adds severity, a little brightness and texture to the form. This, by the way, is sometimes also important, especially if the work involves “cooperation” between a machine and a person.
So, you can make a box for the processor yourself. Moreover, the main thing is to calculate, cut and cut. Gluing plexiglass is not difficult; for this there is a special polymer glue that holds it together perfectly and is absolutely transparent. In addition, it perfectly seals seams for better performance. However, it is also possible to use certain fittings. It is worth looking at photos of product examples, as well as master classes where you will see every step.
And we will start with the simplest thing - cutting. To do this, you need to measure the processor first in the old case, and then without it, or rather without one wall. You need to be prepared for the fact that most of the parts will need to be transferred to one of the plates. Therefore, if you are unsure of your abilities, it is better not to do this, but to buy one and ask a specialist to help with the installation. The cutting is done to size, adding a little - 1.5-2 cm on each side. Thanks to this approach, you can not make a mistake with the size, and if the box is slightly larger, it’s okay. You can put an LED strip inside and then the body will be gracefully illuminated.
The material, I must say, can be cut perfectly with a hacksaw; you can use a grinder with a special attachment. Then it will be easier to perform manipulations. In order to see the cutting line, it is best to use a black non-permanent marker. It will perfectly highlight the desired line, and it will be easy to erase it later.
Another important point will be the elaboration of the fastening. It must be of the highest quality. This requires fittings or glue, as mentioned above. For example, special small screws. In principle, plexiglass is a fairly pliable material; it does not crack or burst when working with it. And, nevertheless, if the work is to be done for the first time, it is better to use a small piece to check. If, when screwing in the screw, the glass does not crack, you can safely use it in the future. In general, in most cases, organic glass does not crack when screwing in self-tapping screws, if the correct level of pressure is maintained.
So, in conclusion, we can add that such an operation is an excellent tuning for a computer, and besides, it can become an additional positive experience of working with material that belongs to the future.
So, about a year and a half ago, I first came across the Clear Tech transparent case, or I don’t remember exactly what it was called. Since then, I had a vague idea that it would be nice for me to do something similar. Once again, having carefully examined it, I realized that a repetition was out of the question, especially since my financial capabilities were severely limited. Therefore, I created my own construct, perhaps not so spectacular, but quite viable, and also suitable for repetition. We can speak about this with complete confidence, since when I started making one body, I made three of them, their names are in the title.
I’ll make a reservation that guys who haven’t held a caliper in their hands are unlikely to take on such a design; perhaps they should first practice and try to create something simpler, like this lamp.
Just to learn how to cut and glue plexiglass. I probably won’t write about these simplest operations, because... this has been done many times before me.
In general, judge for yourself - making such a case is quite simple. When making it, I did not draw drawings, since I did not buy plexiglass in the store (it is a rather expensive thing), but looked for it at my work (well, for example, a sheet of red plexiglass, which was enough for the entire body of the KTP-5 ROUGE, cost into a bottle of vodka), but this led to an additional difficulty - I had to always take into account the different thicknesses of the plexiglass so that overall everything would look quite neat.
So, first you need to have material for the side and rear walls, for the side, large enough walls, you should not take plexiglass thinner than 5 mm, the rear wall must be at least 8 mm thick. Then you can start making the top and bottom covers. The bottom cover is cut out of 10 mm plexiglass, the top - 6 mm. Both covers should be absolutely identical, naturally, first I made the thick bottom cover, and then fitted the thinner top one on top of it. If possible, it is better to mill both covers in one pass. Next are 4 vertical posts. They are also cut from 10mm plex, at the bottom of each, two holes with M3 threads, at the top, one M3 hole. I drilled the front racks for the trim of the covers, the rear racks are indented for the rear wall, which is also made of 10 mm plexiglass, since it carries a heavy power supply. I must say that I have not come across plexiglass, the thickness of which would be expressed in such round numbers as 6 and 10. In fact, everywhere the thickness size came in tenths and hundredths, for example 6.35 and 10.2. So, the principle, measure twice, cut once, applies here 100%.
After these 6 parts were screwed together, I immediately screwed the plastic legs to the bottom cover so as not to further scratch the nascent case. The frame is ready, and we can say that a third of the work is done. Of course, there is quite a lot of work left, but from now on everything that is done is done visually. We make the back wall, its dimensions, if you follow the above drawing, are 470x (140 minus the double thickness of the side wall). Those. if the side walls are made of 6.35mm plexi, then the width of the back cover is 140-(6.35x2)=127.3.
It’s probably worth saying a few words right away about the sizes. These dimensions are not something super-rational; I took them almost from the ceiling. And as you can see in the photos, they can be easily changed.
So the back wall. We have decided on its general dimensions; it can already be screwed into its rightful place, but that’s not all, because the back wall carries many functional loads. At this stage it’s the turn of the motherboard. It is installed on a piece of plexiglass measuring 600x290x4. This piece of plex is secured to the inner sides of the vertical posts with four M3 screws. There is no need for great precision here, and the thickness of this piece does not play a big role. But then you will need to act extremely carefully. Modern motherboards have an average of 9-12 mounting holes; I cut the same number of pieces of plexiglass measuring 10x10x8, in the center of each hole with an M3 thread. Using short M3 screws, we screw these pieces to the motherboard, naturally, screws on the parts side, plex on the smooth side. In the future, all that remains is to carefully coat these pieces of plex with glue made from sawdust of the same plex, soaked in dichloroethane and glue it in place.
From an old computer case I cut out a part of the back wall with a grid for installing expansion cards. We insert any two boards into the two outer connectors of the mother, attach the grille to them and ... now it’s the turn of dichloroethane. The previously screwed frame, plus the back wall screwed to it, as well as a strip of plex (600x290x4) pre-installed in this frame, taking into account the further installation of the power supply - we put this entire structure on its side. And then we take the motherboard on which the boards and grille are installed, with pieces of plex already screwed to it, lubricate them with dichloroethane glue and glue it all onto a 4-millimeter strip of plex, so that the grille fits close to the back wall.
Since the back wall is transparent, it will not be difficult to carefully mark the holes in it. To avoid scratching the plexiglass again, I used a thin felt-tip pen. Subsequently, its traces can be erased with alcohol. Then it’s a matter of technique: we drill, saw out, and straighten the edges with a scraper. All that remains is to do exactly the same manipulations with the power supply, and the back wall is ready. On my cases, however, there are some other little things: a fan, power connectors, speaker connectors, but all these details are of secondary importance. Their installation is not particularly difficult and I mentioned them only for the sake of maintaining objective reality.
Well, I hope I outlined the process of making the back wall clearly enough, but just in case, I’ll give a small illustration. And once again I must say that having made three cases, I became convinced that there are no uniform sizes. All metal inserts were from different cases and, accordingly, had different sizes, and all three motherboards had slightly different configurations of output connectors.
Next you need to make something like a small shelf for installing hard drives and CD-ROMs. I made this thing based on installing three CD-ROMs, so if someone is not happy with this, then the dimensions will have to be changed.
So the dimensions for a tall block, two racks for mounting FDD and HDD - 323.5x130x8, in both narrow ends I drilled three holes for M3 threads. The bottom of the shelf for CD-ROMs is screwed to the top side - 170x146.5x8, the bottom end will be screwed to the 10 mm bottom cover of the case. The side walls of the CD-ROM box are made of thinner plexiglass - 5 mm, they are screwed to the ends of the 8 mm top and bottom covers. All that remains is to mark the holes for mounting CD-ROMs, as well as a 3-inch floppy drive and hard drives, but this is not difficult. But an unexpectedly difficult task for me was finding long enough screws with inch threads to secure the hard drives through 8 mm plex. I solved this problem when I disassembled some old printer.
One more thing. To make the structure rigid, I glued small plexiglass inserts to the sides of the CD-ROM box; they are screwed to the vertical posts with M3 screws. In general, my design ended up with more screws than glues. Probably some things could be simplified, but I tried to make it as convenient as possible, disassemble everything and gain access to any point of the case. I needed this, because in my cases, in addition to the computer itself, there are several other pleasant little things installed.
So, all that remains is to make the front wall. The principle is the same as with the back wall - we cut it to size, attach it to the front vertical posts and use a felt-tip pen to outline the cuts for CD-ROMs and floppy disks. There is also a hole for an indicator on the front panel. I fit a piece of plexi of a different color into this hole, exactly the size. This is not a very easy task, but little by little you can carefully adjust everything - it turns out very impressive, even better than on branded cases. You can glue this insert using a medical syringe with a thin needle, so as not to get excess dichloroethane on the front panel.
I used this technique several times and it almost always worked. The main thing is to take your time to adjust the insert, repeatedly trying it on in the right place. And one more thing: it is better not to saw the insert with a file, but to forcefully scrape its ends with just a piece of hacksaw blade ground off on sandpaper.
Installing power buttons, reset buttons, etc. is quite simple. I used different buttons in different cases, which I managed to get - I soldered them into the corresponding printed circuit board, which was subsequently screwed to a plexiglass holder. A small board is attached to it, into which LEDs are soldered - each strictly above a button. The holder is installed between the racks on which the hard drives are mounted, that is, it should not be wider than the width of the hard drive. I believe that anyone can design and glue such a fairly simple part themselves, in accordance with the buttons they have. And besides, the buttons can be installed not only horizontally, but also vertically. In general, no difficulties are foreseen on this side. With two side walls, everything is also quite simple - you just need to cut them to size and secure them with 4 M3 screws to the vertical posts. It would be ideal to find screws with decorative heads, but so far I haven’t come across any, although I took the time to go around the entire Mitinsky and Moskvoretsky markets.
Plexiglas goes well with technology; it’s not for nothing that this material is so popular in high-tech and futurism styles. Among other things, it makes impressive computer cases. They can be purchased ready-made or made yourself. The latter is not so difficult. In addition, the material allows you to realize your own ideas. Let's look at how to make a plexiglass case with your own hands.
Plexiglas is used to make computer cases due to its advantages such as lightness, impact resistance and aesthetics. Most often, transparent plexiglass is used to create the case - many see a peculiar beauty in the open display of wires and circuit boards. If you want to hide the internal “stuffing” of the computer, use matte sheets.
To create a computer case, transparent plexiglass material is most often used.
The pliability of this material is also important - even a beginner can cut and glue it.
From this video you will learn how to make a computer case from plexiglass with your own hands:
Let's look at the procedure for creating a plexiglass case.
First you need to prepare the tools:
Before you start creating a plexiglass case, you should take the markings from the old case
To make calculations, first measure the old case, then add 1.5–2 cm to each side. Also note that you will need a stand for a motherboard of the appropriate size, as well as racks for FDD, HDD and CD-ROM. For simplicity, they can be made the same as they were in the previous building.
Use plexiglass no thinner than 5 mm. For the bottom and back wall, on which the fan and other parts are attached, you can take sheets up to 10 cm.
To connect individual elements of the body, use self-tapping screws, a heat gun or glue. The first option is more convenient: at some point you may need to disassemble the structure. In any case, at least one side wall must be removable.
To create a plexiglass case, plexiglass sheets no thinner than 5 mm are used Before using self-tapping screws, test them on a small piece of the same plexiglass from which the body elements are made. If the material cracks when screwed in, choose either a stronger sheet or thinner screws.
For plexiglass you can use such types of glue as Acrifix, COLACRIL, Cosmofen, Dichloroethane. Please note that the latter remedy is extremely toxic and when working with it you must carefully observe safety precautions.
The box is assembled as follows:
There are many ways to additionally decorate such a case. For example, one of the side walls can be engraved or etched with acid in advance.
For illumination, ordinary LEDs or LED strip are used. Additionally, you can make several fancy “lamps” from plexiglass in the style of futurism or steampunk.
If desired, the casing can be mounted on the wall.
With sufficient experience working with plexiglass and an understanding of how a computer functions, the case can be made in a non-standard shape: in the form of a pyramid, a ball, a stylized robot, etc. It all depends on your imagination.
“The need for invention is cunning,” says the old proverb, and computer enthusiasts have never complained about a lack of creativity. Unusual computer cases are one of the manifestations of developed imagination and resourcefulness. These people are not stopped by the fact that after purchasing suitable hardware there was no available funds for a housing for it. “Kulibins” prove that a lack of funds is not an obstacle when assembling a computer. This material about cool PC cases is dedicated to the creations of such creative people.
I bought a case, but didn’t have enough for hardware
There are also situations when you have a high-quality case at hand, but there is nothing to put in it. What to do in such a situation? You can find a set of iron “from the time of dinosaurs” at a flea market, but not everyone will like this approach. Such components make noise, collect dust, consume electricity, and can even break at the wrong time.
American enthusiasts have developed a Raspberry Pi mini-computer, priced at about $30, which is slightly larger in size than a credit card. The board of this little thing contains a filling comparable to that of an average smartphone, and when installing the Linux OS, such a PC can be used for watching movies, surfing the Internet and other simple tasks. In the example given, just such a computer is installed in a desktop PC case.
The supermarket will help us
Do you have access to old fruit containers at the supermarket or green market? Then you can make a cool PC case for just a hundred rubles. A potato box, some cable ties, and the case is ready. 
This PC can be called an example of minimalism and ingenuity rolled into one, but there are stranger computer cases.
All my life I dreamed of a laptop
Do you want a powerful laptop, but you don’t have enough money, and taking out a loan is not an option? Then a toolbox and a matrix from an LCD monitor come to the rescue. A little ingenuity, and with a flick of the wrist the whole thing turns into a laptop. 
Of course, in terms of weight, such a machine will be 2 times heavier than a laptop, and you also need to carry the keyboard and mouse with you. But, of course, this example deserves a place in the selection of the most unusual computer cases.
Making an iMac with your own hands
Apple computers are not cheap, and Lenovo all-in-one computers, although they cost less, are also more expensive than a desktop. But what if you want an all-in-one PC? You can tighten your belt and save up for an iMac, or you can just take the stuffing from a laptop with a broken screen and a desktop monitor. A little double-sided tape, a couple of screws - and we meet the new iMac model. 
For a complete ambience, all that is missing is a bitten apple, as well as a silver color. But this is not a problem either: a trip to the building materials store (for a can of silver) and the grocery store (for a kilogram of apples) can solve the problem. At the same time, vitamins into the body after a long winter. 
Another example of how to make a candy bar with your own hands. 
Second life of a cardboard box
In the era of the development of online stores, a huge amount of packaging containers in which purchases are delivered gradually accumulates in everyone’s home. Sometimes it’s a shame to throw away good boxes, and the space in the pantry quickly runs out. You can breathe a second life into the box by using it as a PC case. This is especially rational if the brand new hardware in it came from the store. 
This approach is very popular among the people; the Internet is replete with pictures showing such unusual computer cases. 
If you don’t have time to do handicrafts or if you forgot all the skills learned in labor lessons in elementary school immediately after graduating from school, you don’t even have to bother with scissors and tape. 
And that will do. And even like this: 
Subtle and tasteful
Sometimes unusual computer cases can pleasantly surprise you. Sometimes this is the fruit of careful work, and in terms of price they are comparable to factory models.
The production of such a case, made in the spirit of minimalism, probably cost several hundred rubles per plexiglass. And considering that all the parts were neatly fitted, the owner also spent more than one hour working on it. 
And this is actually a masterpiece, and making such a cool PC case definitely cost the craftsman a pretty penny. 
Poor fish
Effective heat dissipation and a stylish look rolled into one also deserve a place in the selection of unusual computer cases. We can only hope that the owner purchased the aquarium specifically for the PC, and the fish did not have to set off on a free voyage. 
By the way, if someone wants to repeat this step, they need to take into account that water cannot be poured as a liquid. For these purposes, synthetic or mineral oil, for example, transformer oil, is optimal. In any case, the liquid must be electrically inert.
Computer in a canister
Another example of using outdated containers, this time plastic. Such a machine would fit seamlessly into some fuel warehouse or car service center. There, such a strange computer case would not stand out against the background of the general situation. 
Cooling is never too much
This was probably the slogan that guided the owner of this strange computer case made entirely of fans. But such a large number of turntables consume quite a lot; they probably require another power supply. And one can only imagine the noise that rises in the room when such a monster is turned on. 
Once and for all
This is exactly what you can call such an unusual computer case. Polyurethane foam is very difficult to remove from surfaces, and if any part fails, you will have to sweat to get to it. 
By the way, this is another example of recycling vegetable boxes.
For those who are tired of constant laptop overheating
It seems that the owner of this laptop is tired of constantly cleaning his computer from dust, regularly changing thermal paste and dealing with overheating. Otherwise, why else would there be a need to install a powerful water cooling system on a laptop. 
True, it is difficult to call such a design a laptop, because we are not talking about any mobility. That is why this masterpiece of “engineering” was included in the selection of the strangest computer cases.
