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I've had a dream for a few years of tearing out the innards of my childhood Compaq Presario CDS 520 and installing a completely new interior and a new screen in place of the CRT monitor. Then I realized the screen is probably 10 inches horizontally and it's square so it would probably be a good idea to have a separate monitor and the whole computer can just be the case. I'll remove the CRT monitor completely and install acrylic in the front so I can view the parts and pretty lights and fans
My mission to myself is to have a desktop case that functions the way it should. The power button works,, floppy drive works (well idk maybe), the DVD (/blu ray?) drive uses the same tray as before and hopefully even the CPU lights blink when they should. As far as the actual parts I'm pretty set on buying the Core i5-750 with a matching P55 mobo, but I'm not sure if I should get a tiny one like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136073. The case measures ~13" at all the smallest places so I might not need a small mobo and I don't want heat to be an issue. I'm not worried what graphics card so much (although I do want/need one). I'm just worried about everything actually FITTING and working.
If you're unfamiliar with this computer go here http://www.obsolete-tears.com/compaq-presario-cds-520-machine-359.html. I can provide pictures of the one I own if anyone is interested.
I'm posting all this here because I'm very interested in your ideas, suggestions, opinions, warnings, similar stories, etc. So... what do you think?

eternalmatt wrote:

I'm posting all this here because I'm very interested in your ideas, suggestions, opinions, warnings, similar stories, etc. So... what do you think?

Well .. i dont have any of those (ideas, suggestions etc).
But all the best and keep posting updates .. looks like a fun project

Shouldn't be too hard as long as your handy. You would want to clear everything out of the case, and remove all standoffs or metal that sticks up along where you would be installing the new MB. You would have to carefully drill holes for the new standoffs to mount the new MB to. Lining up the card slots probably will be the tough part, it probably will require chopping out the section from the case and either making something new out of metal (copy the layout of a normal case), or even chop that section off of a normal case and 'make it work' with the old case. Whether it would be welding/screwing/epoxying/JB weld it in place, but you can do it!

I also have a compudyne 486DX-33 lying around, still works with win 95 on it.

Interesting. What does the back look like in terms of connectors etc? I would suggest using the mITX board and just use extension leads to pass from the back of the board to the back of the case. I suppose you need USB, ethernet? video if you are not using the screen/replacing it with a same sized LCD, and power at a minimum.

Cooling would be my concern. What graphics power do you need, what PSU do you need to drive it, and how do you get all the heat out the case?

Thread needs photos of each side, and some idea of how it comes apart, what space the motherboard sits in, and what the original motherboard layout is.

Can you use the CRT section to house a fish tank? - preferably without cooking it DIY lava lamp?

I've actually considered buying a small tower or reusing the side of one and simply putting that inside of this case so I can have the necessary places to screw into and it wouldn't be as much work although it wouldn't be quite as pretty, but I'd rather have that then screw holes on the outside of the case. I don't know the first thing about welding and the word epoxy sounds painful, but I have my brother and dad to help.
In the back of the case, there's no VGA port or any USB so I'll need to add those somehow. There is an ethernet port to your surprise but thats only because we installed a network card later for email once we booted into Win93.1. I'm aiming for something in the range of the Utility Player from the TR System Guide which shows a 500W PSU and a decent graphics card. Knowing this, the case would get pretty hot because the only holes at the top and bottom sides are likely meant for passive cooling of the CRT monitor. I guess I'd be willing to cut a couple holes in specific places to allow for better airflow and install 80 or 120mm fans.
http://i49.tinypic.com/152c35w.jpg - Back
http://i50.tinypic.com/2i7y8zn.jpg - Side
http://i49.tinypic.com/161hwf7.jpg - Close up
http://i50.tinypic.com/9fwh8z.jpg - Close up
http://i49.tinypic.com/2istrtu.jpg - Old inside
http://i49.tinypic.com/xl0c2u.jpg - Interior

Little update: After managing to strip an Allen screw beyond belief, I had to get a drill which proved useful in completely obliterating any trace of the bugger. I was able to pull the case right off and reveal two circuit boards, ten thousand capacitors, way to many resistors, and a couple more things I don't know how to identify. Here's a few pics.
http://i49.tinypic.com/ornxg4.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/xdxx69.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/2zhoyee.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/34eb9rr.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/34q1wmd.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/11w4x0k.jpg
I kept working after these pictures were taken and I've since unscrewed the boards from the metal case, unplugged many wires from the boards and seem to be at a point where I may have to clip the wires to pull the boards out. Both boards are connected to each other and a couple other things so its a little tricky. I'll post more in a couple days as I get farther. Until then, Merry Christmas everyone!

okay, so you've exposed the innards of the CRT monitor. The capacitors in there can retain their charges for quite some time after you last plugged it in. Be VERY CAREFUL, as it is possible to kill yourself if you touch the wrong thing.

All twin lead non-surface mount resistors, caps etc, awesome heh.

Lol, I've probably touched every imaginable part of these boards and the CRT, including the copper wiring, with my bare hands. The thing hasn't been plugged in since....2001? I wasn't that worried. What I was worried about, was the X-Ray radiation warning sticker that I found in two places. But anyway, I've since removed both boards and the monitor from the metal case (without clipping wires) and might just unscrew the entire frame apart to remove the additional unimportant things. Like the hard drive, floppy drive, speakers, about 30 wires, and god knows what else.