Project: ITX Switch PC

visbits

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Joined

Jan 20, 2009

• Jan 26, 2009

• #1

Hi guys, I've got a 16 port switch that recently died. So I've decided to mod it into an ITX pc with a good bit of storage.

Specs of system:
Motherboard: Zotac 775 Nvidia 7050
PSU: FSP ATX-200-50PLB (FSP20050PLB) 200-Watt Power Supply
Ram: 2gb Crucial value 5300 2x1gb
CPU: Conroe E4600 2.4ghz Dual Core
Storage: 2x Toshiba 200gb 4200rpm 2.5" laptop drives, Raid1


Just wanted to make a very important note here, I feel its more than appropriate. I order parts from performance-pcs.com quiet often and every order has been smooth and precise. On the recent batch of parts for this mod, one of them was defective. I promptly took pictures and emailed them, I received a reply within the hour stating that a replacement has been shipped via first class postal service. I just wanted to thank the people at performance-pcs.com for being so good to me over the past years.

Thanks Guys!

100% DONE!!!! FINALLY LOL

On with the MOD! LOG
Here is an idea of the case size I'm working with, only limitation will be height.

Let work begin!

Removed unwanted standoffs.

Cut down the switches actual PCB and mounted the ports back on the front.

The motherboard will have a PCI-E 1x riser (flexible) with intel gigabit adapter. This will be re-traced directly to the uplink port.

Perfect fit!

 

Last edited by a moderator: Oct 8, 2009

OP

visbits

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Joined

Jan 20, 2009

• Jan 26, 2009

• Thread Starter
• #2

Got rid of the audio stack, going to use the front panel header for the ports any way.

Theres a few pieces in those stacks.. I had to slowly peal/break away, and used toe nail cutters to clean it up at the board.

The psu arrived!
Sparkle 200watt Flex atx.
12v = 12amps
5v = 15amps
3.3 = 16amp

PSU stripped modded and ready to be installed.

Cables will require modification and sleeving!

Stole this for 25$

Testing the psu to make sure its gona be okay.

Everything is within spec, the 5v is a little high at 5.10 but once the hard drives are in it should be down around 5.05


Working on the PWM to voltage regulated circuit to drive the blower next!

If you want to see it in action

http://www.falstad.com/circuit/

Import:

Code:

$ 1 5.0E-6 24.46919322642204 83 5.0 99
v 144 304 144 224 0 5 88.0 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
f 272 224 352 224 0 5.0
162 400 240 464 240 1 12.0 1.0 0.0 0.0
v 464 288 352 288 0 0 40.0 12.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
w 352 240 352 288 0
g 144 304 144 352 0
w 352 208 400 240 0
w 464 240 464 288 0
r 272 224 272 304 0 10000.0
g 272 304 272 352 0
r 144 224 272 224 0 100000.0
c 272 224 272 144 0 9.999999999999999E-5 0.07224759680712044
g 272 144 272 112 0
o 0 64 0 35 5.0 3.90625E-4 0 -1
o 2 64 0 35 10.0 9.765625E-5 1 -1

Stay tuned for more updates!

 

Last edited: Sep 16, 2009

Albaholic

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Joined

Sep 5, 2001

• Jan 26, 2009

• #3

Wow, that is some nice work. I should do something like that for my ITX stuff

 

OP

visbits

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Jan 20, 2009

• Jan 27, 2009

• Thread Starter
• #4

Thanks

 

Spawne32

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Oct 11, 2004

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NJ

• Jan 27, 2009

• #5

sweet setup, are you using one of those awesome in-win powerman psu's?

 

OP

visbits

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Jan 20, 2009

• Jan 27, 2009

• Thread Starter
• #6

Sparkle atm, fortron soon. Inwin psu suck.

 

jamesman32

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Jul 15, 2008

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Suffield, Connecticut

• Jan 27, 2009

• #7

Try a Pico-PSU. That's what I use in my ITX. Same motherboard as yours as well.

 

OP

visbits

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Jan 20, 2009

• Jan 27, 2009

• Thread Starter
• #8

I would like to, I don't think it will handle 2x laptop drives + the heavy blower and LCD that's going into it. What all do you have in your system?

 

N

noobert

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Jul 18, 2008

• Jan 28, 2009

• #9

that blower/heatsink looks great

 

CompuTamer

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Jan 4, 2009

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Brandon Mississippi

• Jan 28, 2009

• #10

Are you going to make some sort of ducting to go over the heatsink to direct the air over the PSU and then out of the case? I figure that it would help to keep the temps down and make sure that heat doesn't build up anywhere.

 

aja

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May 24, 2005

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SOUTH AFRICA, and yes, we do have electricity, and

• Jan 28, 2009

• #11

wont that blower be a bit noisy?

 

OP

visbits

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Jan 20, 2009

• Jan 28, 2009

• Thread Starter
• #12

Thanks guys, the heatsink should be perfect. With the E2200 and no fan on the heatsink it idles near 35C clap:).

I'm using the motherboards PWM header to control a mosfer which will control the high amp blower. I will most likely run the mosfet circuit to the fan at 7v. I can see no need for it ever needing 12v.

Thanks guys!

 

aja

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May 24, 2005

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SOUTH AFRICA, and yes, we do have electricity, and

• Jan 29, 2009

• #13

keep us posted! I like these kind of projects

have a look at www.mini-itx.com for the projects listed on the right for some inspiration if you get stuck

 

OP

visbits

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Jan 20, 2009

• Jan 29, 2009

• Thread Starter
• #14

 

dark bishop

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Jan 19, 2008

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Folding the PWN, Salem Oregon

• Jan 29, 2009

• #15

cool little project.

 

Jolly-Swagman

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Sep 20, 2007

• Jan 29, 2009

• #16

Thats Pretty Awesome Work there visbits, Well Done!

 

OP

visbits

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Jan 20, 2009

• Jan 29, 2009

• Thread Starter
• #17

 

Mr.DLucey

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Jul 8, 2002

• Jan 29, 2009

• #18

Hey it's coming along really nicely, keep up the good work.

 

pinky33

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May 6, 2008

• Jan 30, 2009

• #19

good idea. Clean for such a small space.

 

bLack0ut

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Dec 21, 2004

• Jan 30, 2009

• #20

How much space is between the hard drives, and are you gonna have any fans blowing directly on them? In my experience, drives in tight spaces get hot quick and die much faster.