Strange Case Dimensions
 

I've got a specialized project that I'm working on at the moment. I'm in graduate school in chemical engineering and need a new computer for my office. They provide us with a basic pc, but it's a P.O.S and I can't take it anymore :(.

I would just replace the PC they gave me with one that I build but I'm afraid of people coming in and messing with it when I'm not there. To this end I plan on placing my new PC inside a drawer in my office desk. This way I can lock the computer in the desk and have all the cables run out through the pre-drilled cable hole in the top. It would also let me reclaim precious desktop space :).

The problem is that the drawer is only 12.5"x16"x10". This means that the only cases I've been able to find so far that'll fit are mini-itx and shuttle cases. The mini-itx aren't powerful enough for what I need and the shuttle cases are too expensive. It seems like what I need is a desktop case that's narrower and taller than normal, or a mini-tower thats shorter and wider than normal. Does anyone know of a case that would fit these rather nonstandard measurements? It doesn't have to look pretty since it'd be in the desk drawer all the time. I would just make a case out of the drawer itself but I can't damage the wood since it's not my desk.

If anyone has an idea please chime in, I'm having trouble just browsing the net :eek:

Your afraid someone will come in and steal it or use it?
Secure it software wise (Linux linux linux) and apply a cable lock to it.

or both ;)

concern with locking your comp in a drawer is this: will it be cool enough w/o air circulation? I am envisioning some serious drawer mods to give fan-vents... btw: why not use the drawer itself as the case? more work, but more oooh-factor too ;) Again, check out the heat-issues...

as I said above, I can't modify the desk since it's not mine. And there is no good place to secure a cable within 10 feet of the computer area. There are several vent holes in the desk already to run wires, and I've already got a forced air system worked out that will be invisible from the outside.

The closest thing I've found so far is this one. But it's 0.25" to wide :(

ok, so buy a small mobo (we got an AT31Fusion to fit into a powermac case awhile back), mount it on some particle board and slide that into one side of the drawer & mount hard-drive etc on the other side on a nother piece of board??

btw: that case you linked to is micro-ATX... I can't imagine the mother-boards for that form-factor are particularly cheap, as i seem to remember it coming out quite recently...

You can set up a Shuttle system for under $400, if you still use your current keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

Secure the computer to the desk itself. If there is a hole in the desk anywhere you can simply run the cable through it and back to the computer locking it in place. It only discourages theft, but locking it in the desk isn't foolproof either. Your best bet is to secure the room itself and stop worrying.
No one is going to lift it ;-)

was wondering that myself... is it a shared office?

I would just build a Shuttle system.
That way you can take it with you to/from the office.
Or, if the office is in your dorm room, you can always secure to the desk like kel said.

Re: Strange Case Dimensions
 

There was micro-ATX back in the day before miniITX.

http://images10.newegg.com/productim...130-316-11.JPG

The security of the system as far as it walking off isn't that big of a problem. I was mainly concerned about people just messing with it. The janitorial staff has been known to have problems in the past.

I think it would just be cool to have it in my desk, away from sight. And I could use the extra room on top of my desk that it would give me. The shuttle is too expensive, but I just found out that the case I linked to earlier will fit with 1/4" to spare. And it's only $30 :)

Could you get some good shielded video, keyboard, and mouse cables and move the machine into a locked closet or filing cabinet?

I think Sty did that do avoid the noise.

I think it would be fun to use the drawer as the case and mount the motherboard to the side of the drawer. You could pull some parts off of an old case and use them to help you.

so wait...janitors mess with the hardware?? wtf? like, opening the cases and stuff?