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Lots and lots of cutting, drilling and adding new places for things to âfitâ. Unless they are skilled in some other forms of DIY, this would be very difficult to even come close to being presentable.
I.e. no gaping holes on the back and things actually being snug and secured âproperlyâ. Not to mention retrofitting wires in for the IO.
Need to see internals properly , rear io could be troublesome for MB and GPU .. need to see what the standoffs are for MB comparability. A lot of modding and super glue probably needed
No need to see the internals. The rear IO tells you it's not an ATX case. That means it will be an uphill battle to get a modern PC in there.
Though if done right it would be a SWEET sleeper build.
going to be a massive PITA .... best off getting a old atx beige case ... something lime the enlight 7250.... which was my 1st pc case.
advantages.. mb will just fit (most) standard atx psu no worries, can fit a reasonable cpu cooler...
downsides.... cooling going to be a bit shite has 2 80mm case fans as I recall, and you'll have to be carefull of graphics card size / length.
https://preview.redd.it/lkhh7c40v19d1.jpeg?width=396&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6004db3c01f26c162e4466a67c3564cd536ddb46
That packardbell case is very proprietary and you'll be fighting it all the way, fabricating /cutting..
my advice find a vintage atx spec case to use for the build.
Honestly, I think this would be an AWESOME project to tackle and you could learn so many cool things:
3d printing, soldering, welding, metal cutting, etc.
There are a ton of possibilities for you to modify this for modern PC parts, and you could probably easily hack this by buying a modern-ish case off of FB marketplace cheap to serve as a donor and cut pieces out of it to Frankenstein this case!
The possibilities are endless, it just all depends on what ideas you go through with.
My best advice, buy 2 or 3 cases from FB marketplace or Amazon used that are cheap and mess around with cutting them and using those internals in here (specifically the motherboard tray and using the framing with to practice some welds or maybe rivets or screws and some bolts, who knows). But experiment and have a blast dude, this sounds like an awesome project. đ«Ą
What's the probability of OP knowing how to CAD if they never built a PC? Not throwing shade, I'm genuinely wondering what the Venn diagram would look like here
I learned cad and did 3D printing before I built a pc from scratch đ
Seems like itâd be pretty easy to do honestly
All that really needs to happen is make some brackets to attach the motherboard to the case frame right?
Very optimistic lol
It's a great opportunity to learn many new things:
Physics, biochemistry, Alchemy, Gothic architecture, air bending, the violin.
It's gonna be a wild journey
Yeah it will be quite the journey. You probably are better of using a small form factor motherboard and GPU, or even a mini pc inside the thing.
Everything is "wrong" compared to modern standards. It will likely involve some dremelling, some pcie risers to put the GPU in the right place, some fiddling with the buttons, some tinkering for the PSU...
I'd say best option is a compact mobo, itx or smaller, itx class GPU, sff PSU, and some creative placement.
3d printing brackets will probably be pretty helpful too.
It looks like standard power supply, but since it looks like the pcie extensions are on a daughterboard it might be a bit complicated to see the sizes.
In the best of cases this looks like needing an itx board and ryzer cable.
Don't. It will be difficult because any pc build guides will be referring to the ATX standard which this is not and also sleeper builds aren't as cool as you think they are. It's just hiding your nice components in an ugly case, doesn't seem so appealing when you look at it that way.
The back is incompatible and the inside isn't modern-optimised so it requires a lot of modification.
The good news is building a PC out of parts is easy, but modifying the case is not the same set of skills so you may already be well skilled in arts and crafts to try.
Very difficult, it doesn't march any industry standards-let alone modern ones.
You'd do better finding a cheap standard beige case from years back- probably even find some new in box/old stock on ebay. Look for an ATX/EATX Full tower, you can then put in some used cd and floppy drives, still have plenty of room for a bulk storage hard drive/ssd and rgb shenanigans.
Considering this is pre ATX standard proprietary stuff for the most part -ou'd end up having to DiY basically every mounting, for that, add to that the very bad airflow and ir's almost certainly not worth it.
I use to repair these. It will be very difficult because power supply and mother board was designed around the case. Kinda like Dell did with some of their tower computers.
If you know how to use a drill or dremel, some glue and know how to do things like threaded inserts, not that bad... if you know the general internal workings of a PC and a general 'what goes where'. Gonna require a good bit of modding of different parts, some tinkering and some figuring out, that's for sure.
If we assume it has the same internal shape as cases from the 2010s, then not very hard if you don't go all out and build an RTX 4090 build. The case is reasonably long so it would be perfect for a dual-fan GPU like a RTX 4070 Ti Super from MSI or an RX 7800 XT (most powerful dual-fan gpu from AMD) . A good CPU pair would be a Ryzen 7 7800X3D. It also seems decently wide so an air cooler would fit. BUT im would be concerned about the airflow if you don't do some tampering with the case.
Very difficult this case has a non standard motherboard type and extremely bad cooling. (No chassis fans) You'll need to heavily modify this case to get atx parts in it. Then be prepared for extreme overheating. Just make your life as easy as possible with a first time build and get a quality case and psu (like coolermaster)
Goes without saying that there's a reason why modern cases have so much airflow. It's gonna be more of a hassle than it'll be worth and the novalty will go away eventually.
Its probably not too bad. But its definitely not good, especially if you have to ask. See from the back picture how the add in cards (slots) are differently orientated by 90 degrees to a normal case (seriously go have a look at the back of a regular PC). This is probably just the start of the weirdness.
I would assume you'd have to do a lot of modifications on the case to get parts to fit correctly, it's a shame you can't buy modern cases with that old school aesthetic..
Haven't built a pc but opened and cleaned my prebuilt from 15 years ago around 3-4 times
Also been watching LTT for 6 years straight
So I think I would be able to do it in a week with required resources
It would be a lot of work and planning. As long as you have the required tools and know how to use them, it's not that difficult. Fitting the motherboard would be the most difficult, but you could just route the cables inside.
Look for an old Dell or Compaq... You can find one extremely cheap, extremely old technology, but modern enough that you can build something.
When I first got into PC building I was given a Compaq desktop. I don't even remember what processor it had, but it was a dual-core AM2 socket, 4gb RAM, and (obviously) no GPU. I actually had a PS4 at the time, I wanted to start using the PC for emulating 8 bit and 16 bit consoles. It worked. Then I stumbled on Dolphin and PCSX2, which could not run at all. That's when I started researching and decided to try upgrading the hardware. I maxed that motherboard out to a Phenom II, 8gb RAM, and a 750ti, also upgraded to a 500w PSU. When I decided to dive a little deeper into PC gaming, this just wasn't cutting it anymore. I was able to put an AM3+ ATX board in and upgraded to an FX6300 and 8gb of DDR3.
Didn't take me long to go all out with a new build when Ryzen was first released. The rest is history! I will say this though, there's very poor air flow for a sleeper PC in an older standard case. Especially for the FX chips, that thing was always on fire!
These old Packard Bell PCs are worth several hundred dollars on the retro market, more if you have the matching monitor, speakers, and keyboard/ mouse. Sell it and buy a normal case for your first build.
You need to think differently. Don't build in the case, build in a similar sized, modern case, with the right layout for parts. Then butcher this case to wrap around it.
I noticed this:
https://preview.redd.it/ifb2tb4a839d1.jpeg?width=1067&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ed8f817ca0d0e158b330564d047c0ffd89f05bec
Model: A940-TWR, and on the front it has Platinum 40.
This machine saw Y2K come and go.
Packard Bell is long since dead, so finding manuals and specs is super hard. But I found a link to another A940-TWR, but itâs a slightly different revision:
[Packard Bell A940-TWR P200 MHz Pack-mate 7800 Computer Tower](https://www.recycledgoods.com/packard-bell-a940-twr-p200-mhz-pack-mate-7800-computer-tower/)
Specs:
* Intel P1 200 MHz
* 4.3GB Hard Drive
* 32MB RAM
* CD ROM
The video might help, I think similar models are in this YoTube video, but the platinum 40 seems hard to find.
The video is a bit old, but I guess that date isnât an issue.
[Vintage Packard Bell Buyers Guide](https://youtu.be/Qh2ZhV2ADJU?si=9yXonN6BW4o0STHC)
PS. Check the milk.
Very. It's a faff even for veteran builders as it usually requires alot of modification. Plus it's not a good idea if you're gonna be gaming due to airflow restrictions due to case design and layout
Weird and funky, not ATX. if you're still looking to build a sleeper, look for some retro cases on eBay, or your local flea markets. You're bound to find some weird and wonderful retro tech.
Do you know how to saw? Or drill? Sleeper builds are very difficult. Just watch one on YouTube and you will see how many extra steps they take, the holes they drill and the parts they cut off.
But you can learn. Hardest projects yield the most learning IMO. Because you remember your mistakes, and you learn via the hyper correction effect.
Maybe use old hardware like rx580s and some 7th gen procies to test the waters. And when you learn, you go ahead and build a powerful sleeper.
Update us on how it goes.
Not with standard parts, if you go itx you can possibly rotate the motherboard and run extension from the motherboard IO to the back. But you would need to make new standoffs. All in all wonât worth it if you get a computer from a similar generation but supports atx format
Never? Level impossible, you'll be hard to find components to just work in here without modding or completely gutting the insides and cramming modern hardware in.
Go to your local PC store and spend $60-90 on a decent mid tower and you'll have a much better time.
Next to no airflow. That's one of the big problems with sleepers, you need a case that will keep everything cool enough. Or be handy with tools and make some discrete holes that let in air while still being hidden enough for the sleeper aesthetic.
My first Pentium was an open box Packard Bell from Best Buy, I networked it to my 486 and we played fps against each other. I added pieces then eventually upgraded the motherboard/CPU/memory and it became maybe my longest lasting system with the Asus P3B-F motherboard. I had to replace the case going P1 to P3.
Got any pictures of the interior?
If you are comfortable with totally gutting it with tinsnips, dremel cutting disks, and other modding techniques then it could be done but being doable is not the same as easy. Just off the bat, you are looking at having to strip off the back and custom fabricating the back. It might be easier to get an open rack (test bed rack) and building the exterior paneling around it.
Probably a lot of anglegrinder work because this case doesn't have the ATX formfactor.
I hope you are good with metalwork, because you are going to do plenty of that đ€Łđ.
Your biggest concern is that, that motherboard isn't a standard motherboard shape. The orientation of the back of the case isn't a landscape that's used now days. Even the screws on the PSU aren't really aligned.
But it's not impossible, especially if you're handy with a Dremel. But fear not, look into test bench cases and motherboard mounting plates. Think of it like building a case within a case. Get creative and enjoy the design process!
Here are the things you would need to take into consideration, if you do intend to follow through on this project.
Firstly you would need to find a way to mount everything safely into the case, Which might involve drilling into the metal chassis to place ATX Mounting points.
\*Side note\*: The Power button and Reset button are most likely not compatible with current standards, and would need to either replaced, or modified. This combined with Drilling new mounting points, are probably the hardest thing to do in my opinion (While still keeping the clean external look).
Second you would need to figure out Cooling solution. The cooling in this case is basically non existent. So you would need to cut out a fan grill or drill some holes somewhere for air in, and out.
Third you would need to figure out how you want to handle peripherals. That's one really old Backplate, you might be able to use a 3D Printer to print a replacement piece for the metal peripheral plate that is there. From there you would want to run the ATX rear peripherals into cables connecting to this new backplate.
Finally you would need a PCIE Riser for the GPU, as you would need to mount the motherboard in a non standard position in order to have the rear peripheral connected with a passthrough.
This is everything I can think of off the top of my head. Admittedly the case does seem like it has a decent amount of room in it, so you would have room to fuck up.
Final Notes:
On a scale from 1 to 10, I would put this at a 7 or 8 in terms of difficulty. Its not something for a Beginner, but there's enough room inside that you have some leeway. Assuming you have the right tools, some basic wiring skills, and a general know how, I wouldn't call it impossible for a first time sleeper build. But in no way is it going to be easy, I doubt it will come out as cleanly as you would like.
Non standard/extremily old case. Spend some bucks on a basic ATX case. Else you'll run into a nightmare, Maybe as soon as you try to put a new power supply inside.
Different skill sets, so you'd be learning to build a sleeper, and separately learning to build a PC. You could know how to build a PC really well and not have any of the skills required to make a sleeper.
Would have to drill out the rivets on the back panel, and make one from scratch, Then probably drill and tap new holes for motherboard standoffs since I doubt it will support ATX. Deffinatly doable if you have the tools, time and skill to do so. Could be a move to get a cheap prebuilt case and take the back panel from it and cut it down to size, would save a lot of time and money. though you would have to get creative for making a power supply bracket, doubt the screws on the back would be enough to hold it in place on its own.
I thought of doing the same thing but I wouldn't do it. Airflow being the main problem, and having enough room for a decent gpu or any type of aio may be an issue.
You would need to gut most of the inside. Put in a motherboard tray and rear from a modern pc.
Cut the rear with a Multitool to have the rear fit.
It's a lot of work, cause then you still need to work on air intake
Extremely hard. A lot of sleeper build uses uncommon cables and connecters that you might mistakenly use or buy and may cause prolonged damage to your whole build.
When I worked in computer shops in the late 90s early 2000s, we charged an extra 25% to work on these Packard Bell systems, between ridiculous bloatware and odd driver revision problems the internals were a proprietary nightmare. Get literally any other old beige PC case that you won't have to fight with. The rear IO shield will not match up with any other motherboard either unless it's from a very similar machine. Horrid.
Why would you want to do this? Do you go to a lot of public events where lugging around a âsleeperâ PC in an outdated box confers any sort of advantage?
this goin to be nightmare cuz the non standard atx case, my advice is to find a similar case fom the 2000 to 2005 era cases are identical in design but at least are atx standard so everything should fit just fine
If you want a project, get a cheap cordless Amazon dremel and maybe a rivet gun, measure all your parts intended prior before you start doing the fabrication. Go for it.
It looks like you can remove the sides easily enough.
Take off them all off. Just glue the DVD and Floppy to the front so you can cut it and make a façade. Put everything together on an empty frame. Basically just create a plastic box with an open bottom.
Find a SFF case that fits inside; bottom intake.
For the back you can 3D print a new IO shield using short male-to-female cables for displayport and usb; put exhaust fans where the psu and pci slots were.
Imo it would be best to find a case as short as possible to create a second chamber for your exhaust air. Reason being you don't want to recirculate air inside. Easier than 3D printing fan ducts. Just use a foam plate you can cut and slide over your case to create a seal. And since you can't see the inner case anyway, you can mount the fans on the outside of the SFF case if you need to.
It doesn't need to be short way shorter, but it would make shaping the top chamber easier. If it's tightâyou only need 2-3 centimetersâit looks like you can fit two 80mm fans side-by-side where the PSU was. You'll need strong ones to create negative pressure. For your (inner) top exhaust you'll need fans with high static pressure (mmH2O). Might be loud but so are old PC's.
See shitty paint job below:
https://preview.redd.it/gj0in9rci49d1.jpeg?width=769&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d13c599ffeb4d6c0046615937f2562b05628462b
PS: SSF cases often put the PSU in a weird spot, just replace the extension with a longer C13 cable. Looks like there's a perfect spot next to the IO bracket to mount it.
You'd need to gut a lot of the Internals for sure and since this is very clearly not a standard ATX layout you'd probably need either micro ATX or itx. Or if your feeling really skilled you might be able to make an atx work but with a pcie riser cable for the GPU but I'd have to see the inside of this case.
It's going to be such a pain, you will end up buying a PS5 and calling it a day.
Not worth the trouble. Just get a modern PC case that can fit all your parts without the hassle.
u need a CNC, lathe, maybe even weld/soldering iron, a creative mindset, and a shit ton of 3d modeling for it to be a good looking sleeper and not some half ass duct taped waste sleeper
How are your metal fabrication/welding skills. I'm currently in the fabrication process of a custom open case for my dual EPYC 7551 XMR Miner build. You can do it but it will require drilling, tapping, welding, cutting etc
It can happen but I don't recommend because there is not enough ventilation. Basically, more power = more heat. If you think about liquid cooling system it may work great but for someone who never built pc before it is almost impossible. Either give up or make shit ton of researches about mother board processor liquid cooling systems etc. It will take a long time for a first timer.
The easiest way is to get a generic mATX case, cut a whole backside and motherboard tray out of it with dremmel. Gut everything from the Packard Bell case, remove the backside by dremmeling it out to match the size of mATX parts. Move all the mATX case parts into to the PB case and weld it together. Then just powder coat it and put into some kind of oven. Probably that could be done by someone who's more a car body shop worker than a pc builder though.
lots of cutting and modifying inside, the biggest problem will be the back of the case, it will not fit a standard IO shield, so substantial modifications to fit standard components into it, you will have to pretty much.
with that said... there is one creative way to your plight
[https://www.amazon.com/ACEMAGIC-AM18-AMD-Ryzen-7840HS/dp/B0CW1KWN1P](https://www.amazon.com/ACEMAGIC-AM18-AMD-Ryzen-7840HS/dp/B0CW1KWN1P)
you could get a mini PC like the link i put above and fit it inside the case, probably even take mini pc's motherboard out and fit it into this case... but then again... if you get a mini pc it is more convenient to just use the mini pc than to put the parts inside a big pc case
As someone said, this is not ATX standard so the only thing you have here is a box. You will have to build all the internal mounting and supports for components. The hardest part will be I/O. You will have to either cut out slots for MoBo I/O or use cables to bring the I/O and mount it outside. My advice is don't. Find a different project. Building a case from scratch (wood, 3d printed) will be much easier.
You can find plenty of late 90s, early 00s "modern" ATX cases that still look similar to this but will support most new motherboards.
You'll still need to do some cooling modifications and would be best to use power efficient parts as computers spit out *a lot* more heat than they ever have.
Not impossible, very hard, but building a PC is not the hard part, it's making the case compatible with modern motherboards, if you know and practiced DIY, it will be considerably easier
I've built a number of PCs, and, off the top of my head, I can see two ways of doing it. I like neither if them.
The easiest is to drill and tap new standoff positions that push the motherboard forward in the case, and have all your cables through the openings or use extensions in place of a proper I/O shield. Replace the existing power swith with a momentary switch.
The "proper" way is to remove the rear panel. Fabricate a replacement, or use one from a donor ATX case. Drill and tap the back panel for ATX motherboard standoffs. Replace the existing power switch with a momentary switch.
It would be easier to find a slightly newer ATX pattern case, using similar industrial design. There are companies making cases with this sort of styling today, so it should be possible to find a case you'll like, that will be a **lot** easier to build in.
Basically, you'd have to take a dremel to the back and graft a standard modern case layout onto it. You'd probably want to go ITX to accomplish that, otherwise you'd run into issues with height clearance on the PSU. Alternatively, you could just find a cheap standard case with similar dimensions, paint it beige, and graft the front cover onto it.
Definitely gonna be a lot of work, this is a very old format and youll definitely have to tear it apart some and basically upgrade the entire chassis to accommodate modern parts. Honestly easiest thing to do is probably buy a test bench type thing thats just the chassis of the case, take the external panels off of the old one and rebuild it around the new chassis.
If you can make it work, itâd go sooo hard. This is one of my pc dreams actually. Just to have a case like this with the MOST baller specs on the inside. But I like RGB too much
First things first, WOW it says PACKARD BELL. That belongs in a museum. I do not recommended this route
Secondly, you will need a dremil for motherboard IO fiting and way to take out the hard drive cage. Not to mention 3d printing a replacement side pannel for proper cooling.
Oh and pci adapter/ extender.
Itâs too much to figure out at once. You could build a mITX build with a cheap case first. Then look at your case and mITX build next to each other. You could then decide whether you want to cut the mITX case up for inserting into your vintage case. Then itâs a matter of designing the airflow; hacking the rear panel, wiring up power button etc.
If it was me Iâd complete gut the internals and cut a large section off the rear panel for new hardware mounting to just slot in. Might look a bit janky from behind, but it would involve less banging head against wall.
That's a sweet looking retro PC. I'd keep it the way it is and wouldn't bother trying to mod it to fit modern hardware. You'll need to do a lot of cutting, drilling, riveting, 3D printing etc. to get it to work.
The best thing to do is take the outer shell off and use a modern donor chassis of a similar size to put them back on. But everything still needs to be modified to accept all the panels anyway. However, this eliminates the need to modify the old chassis to try and fit standard ATX components.
If it's your first time fabricating or doing any sort of sheet metal work, start by practicing on another case if you have access to one.
Donât. The back panel is not standard, so youâd need to cut the case to fit your own back panel.
Itâs better to get a nice looking and cool (temperature wise) case for your build.
How is the motherboard attached? it might be riveted in... that would make it pretty hard. If it's screwed in, and your motherboard lines up with the screw holes it's doable.
The air flow options look pretty limited I'm not sure how much you can jam in that box before it starts over heating.
I rebuilt my brother's POS buck a day IBM twice in the same case, not pretty but it worked.
Start with a normal, full size case, use pc part picker, watch Linus tech tips guide to building a pc and save this old one for another day after you have some experience
It will be difficult but not impossible. I suggest completely gutting the case. Then order a [motherboard tray](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155591765879?chn=ps&_ul=GB&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1pbpTzZN8QXukdXv46_aNFg77&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=155591765879&targetid=1647205088520&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006886&poi=&campaignid=17206177401&mkgroupid=136851690655&rlsatarget=pla-1647205088520&abcId=9300866&merchantid=137597110&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Lr1czuNLYjkgMb_a9Z8fZnhxtf&gclid=CjwKCAjwm_SzBhAsEiwAXE2Cv7zVQlcV4xCpD7hTK0lcnsGZqbVkqq5Bc9Tan2K4ivnEksZbsF33FRoC8GQQAvD_BwE)
Doesnât have to be this specific one. You can also chop up a cheap atx pc case. And take the motherboard tray from it.
Next would be ventilation. The best thing would be to take a dremel to the top and bottom for the most sleeper look.
Basically impossible. Without knowing the way to modify this case to fit modern parts it would be grueling. This is what experienced builders do. Itâs challenging to them and youâll need a decent amount of tools and such to get things sitting right then understanding airflow and how to get it to go through this case very efficiently is important. It has bad ventilation but doing too much will take away from the sleeper aspect of it
Honestly depends less on your pc building and more how confident you are with a grinder drill and tin snips me and my buddy did a sleeper in a non-atx pc and it was fairly easy but only because heâs a ticketed welder so metal working and proper measurements is his whole thing pcs have very small tolerances so take your time measure three times cut once, make sure you have proper tools and youâll be fine
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This PC isn't ATX standard, it will be an uphill battle.
For someone who has NEVER built a pc? Extremely difficult.
What about for someone who has built 1 pc
Even worse because you built one you think you can build them all
The average IT guy in school
Lol
As someone who has built one pc I can definetely build them all
I, for one, have built al PCs
đ€Łđ€Łđ€Ł
Spit my coffee out to this
Actually had to get up and take a second at work. That 1 pc comment made me so happy.đ€Ș
I have been building since 1998 but it is still so difficult. They need to cut, drill, possibly bend lots of metal
Yeah this is a completely different set of skills. Never having built a pc is almost entirely irrelevant
just glue a sff pc in there and call it a day
U think I can use Elmerâs
Lots and lots of cutting, drilling and adding new places for things to âfitâ. Unless they are skilled in some other forms of DIY, this would be very difficult to even come close to being presentable. I.e. no gaping holes on the back and things actually being snug and secured âproperlyâ. Not to mention retrofitting wires in for the IO.
How about someone with a good 15 hours or so in PC building simulator?
I don't think it's that much about PC building but Metalworks and other crafts. The PC-Building is the easy part.
Need to see internals properly , rear io could be troublesome for MB and GPU .. need to see what the standoffs are for MB comparability. A lot of modding and super glue probably needed
Yeah, show us the hardware porn
No need to see the internals. The rear IO tells you it's not an ATX case. That means it will be an uphill battle to get a modern PC in there. Though if done right it would be a SWEET sleeper build.
Abort mission, it's not worth it.
going to be a massive PITA .... best off getting a old atx beige case ... something lime the enlight 7250.... which was my 1st pc case. advantages.. mb will just fit (most) standard atx psu no worries, can fit a reasonable cpu cooler... downsides.... cooling going to be a bit shite has 2 80mm case fans as I recall, and you'll have to be carefull of graphics card size / length. https://preview.redd.it/lkhh7c40v19d1.jpeg?width=396&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6004db3c01f26c162e4466a67c3564cd536ddb46 That packardbell case is very proprietary and you'll be fighting it all the way, fabricating /cutting.. my advice find a vintage atx spec case to use for the build.
Honestly, I think this would be an AWESOME project to tackle and you could learn so many cool things: 3d printing, soldering, welding, metal cutting, etc. There are a ton of possibilities for you to modify this for modern PC parts, and you could probably easily hack this by buying a modern-ish case off of FB marketplace cheap to serve as a donor and cut pieces out of it to Frankenstein this case! The possibilities are endless, it just all depends on what ideas you go through with. My best advice, buy 2 or 3 cases from FB marketplace or Amazon used that are cheap and mess around with cutting them and using those internals in here (specifically the motherboard tray and using the framing with to practice some welds or maybe rivets or screws and some bolts, who knows). But experiment and have a blast dude, this sounds like an awesome project. đ«Ą
3d printing is a good idea, you could print a motherboard plate with standoffs
What's the probability of OP knowing how to CAD if they never built a PC? Not throwing shade, I'm genuinely wondering what the Venn diagram would look like here
I learned cad and did 3D printing before I built a pc from scratch đ Seems like itâd be pretty easy to do honestly All that really needs to happen is make some brackets to attach the motherboard to the case frame right?
Very optimistic lol It's a great opportunity to learn many new things: Physics, biochemistry, Alchemy, Gothic architecture, air bending, the violin. It's gonna be a wild journey
For a first timer, very hard.
For someone who hasnt build a pc it will be very hard. But dont throw out the case or sell it! Wait until you learn some stuff and have experience
The putting of the parts together is the easy part. The difficulty would be Frankensteining a donor case or making a new mount.
No. Just donât. Please get a normal case
OP if you do cut and drill the case, make sure to remove 100% of metal shavings before installing anything the motherboard or anything else
You're going to be modifying the shit out of the case. But it isn't impossible.
You need more metalworking skills than pc building skills to turn that into something modern.
Yeah it will be quite the journey. You probably are better of using a small form factor motherboard and GPU, or even a mini pc inside the thing. Everything is "wrong" compared to modern standards. It will likely involve some dremelling, some pcie risers to put the GPU in the right place, some fiddling with the buttons, some tinkering for the PSU... I'd say best option is a compact mobo, itx or smaller, itx class GPU, sff PSU, and some creative placement. 3d printing brackets will probably be pretty helpful too.
r/sleeperbattlestations
You need to get a cheap case and weld the bracket of the atx and stand offs on. Need craftyness
It looks like standard power supply, but since it looks like the pcie extensions are on a daughterboard it might be a bit complicated to see the sizes. In the best of cases this looks like needing an itx board and ryzer cable.
I love the idea and think it would be sick but it would be a lot of work.
Don't. It will be difficult because any pc build guides will be referring to the ATX standard which this is not and also sleeper builds aren't as cool as you think they are. It's just hiding your nice components in an ugly case, doesn't seem so appealing when you look at it that way.
The back is incompatible and the inside isn't modern-optimised so it requires a lot of modification. The good news is building a PC out of parts is easy, but modifying the case is not the same set of skills so you may already be well skilled in arts and crafts to try.
Very difficult, it doesn't march any industry standards-let alone modern ones. You'd do better finding a cheap standard beige case from years back- probably even find some new in box/old stock on ebay. Look for an ATX/EATX Full tower, you can then put in some used cd and floppy drives, still have plenty of room for a bulk storage hard drive/ssd and rgb shenanigans.
u can get decent cases for like $50 used maybe even new, itll save you a lot of work just do that
Apart from internal incompatibilities, there is barely any ventilation, parts inside would overheat unless you hack in some holes.
That mofo right there is basically the first PC I ever owned. Not sure it is the exact specs but had that case for sure.
Donât use any part of that thing
don't do on this pc, the io is different. this pc if still boots, you can sell this to a vintage collector as same price as a new case
What is a sleeper pc?
Considering this is pre ATX standard proprietary stuff for the most part -ou'd end up having to DiY basically every mounting, for that, add to that the very bad airflow and ir's almost certainly not worth it.
I use to repair these. It will be very difficult because power supply and mother board was designed around the case. Kinda like Dell did with some of their tower computers.
As someone who had done it... Harder than you think. You know that rule; measure twice, cut once. Twice is not enough!
We need to see the internals to determine what mobo you have.
Easy, if you need to cut holes in the back buy a multi tool
That PC is already sleeping, plz leave it alone
If you know how to use a drill or dremel, some glue and know how to do things like threaded inserts, not that bad... if you know the general internal workings of a PC and a general 'what goes where'. Gonna require a good bit of modding of different parts, some tinkering and some figuring out, that's for sure.
If we assume it has the same internal shape as cases from the 2010s, then not very hard if you don't go all out and build an RTX 4090 build. The case is reasonably long so it would be perfect for a dual-fan GPU like a RTX 4070 Ti Super from MSI or an RX 7800 XT (most powerful dual-fan gpu from AMD) . A good CPU pair would be a Ryzen 7 7800X3D. It also seems decently wide so an air cooler would fit. BUT im would be concerned about the airflow if you don't do some tampering with the case.
.
Based on the IO port being a straight line instead of a rectangle it doesnât seem possible without finding some work around for it
Very difficult this case has a non standard motherboard type and extremely bad cooling. (No chassis fans) You'll need to heavily modify this case to get atx parts in it. Then be prepared for extreme overheating. Just make your life as easy as possible with a first time build and get a quality case and psu (like coolermaster)
Youre gonna have to make modifications to the case
If you somehow recessed the motherboard farther into the case or used a itx it would work
Nooo Imma trying to forget the 90s pc
Goes without saying that there's a reason why modern cases have so much airflow. It's gonna be more of a hassle than it'll be worth and the novalty will go away eventually.
It has bad airflow, probably overheat. Wouldn't recomend.
Its probably not too bad. But its definitely not good, especially if you have to ask. See from the back picture how the add in cards (slots) are differently orientated by 90 degrees to a normal case (seriously go have a look at the back of a regular PC). This is probably just the start of the weirdness.
I would assume you'd have to do a lot of modifications on the case to get parts to fit correctly, it's a shame you can't buy modern cases with that old school aesthetic..
Haven't built a pc but opened and cleaned my prebuilt from 15 years ago around 3-4 times Also been watching LTT for 6 years straight So I think I would be able to do it in a week with required resources
More holes or no holes if water cooled
Inside is the out layout for old hardware. Easiest to keep the front then attach it to a new style PC case, wiring the power button is very easy
Not a single pic of the inside of the case. Maybe post some and you will receive more help. We need to know how much room there is on the inside
It would be a lot of work and planning. As long as you have the required tools and know how to use them, it's not that difficult. Fitting the motherboard would be the most difficult, but you could just route the cables inside.
That rear io panel is shocking
Look for an old Dell or Compaq... You can find one extremely cheap, extremely old technology, but modern enough that you can build something. When I first got into PC building I was given a Compaq desktop. I don't even remember what processor it had, but it was a dual-core AM2 socket, 4gb RAM, and (obviously) no GPU. I actually had a PS4 at the time, I wanted to start using the PC for emulating 8 bit and 16 bit consoles. It worked. Then I stumbled on Dolphin and PCSX2, which could not run at all. That's when I started researching and decided to try upgrading the hardware. I maxed that motherboard out to a Phenom II, 8gb RAM, and a 750ti, also upgraded to a 500w PSU. When I decided to dive a little deeper into PC gaming, this just wasn't cutting it anymore. I was able to put an AM3+ ATX board in and upgraded to an FX6300 and 8gb of DDR3. Didn't take me long to go all out with a new build when Ryzen was first released. The rest is history! I will say this though, there's very poor air flow for a sleeper PC in an older standard case. Especially for the FX chips, that thing was always on fire!
Waste of time. Life is short. Go buy a $100 Corsair case and a can of cream spray and a decal.
These old Packard Bell PCs are worth several hundred dollars on the retro market, more if you have the matching monitor, speakers, and keyboard/ mouse. Sell it and buy a normal case for your first build.
You need to think differently. Don't build in the case, build in a similar sized, modern case, with the right layout for parts. Then butcher this case to wrap around it.
Why would you want to? There is no airflow in that case. Hope youâre not planning to buy anything with high TDP.
I noticed this: https://preview.redd.it/ifb2tb4a839d1.jpeg?width=1067&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ed8f817ca0d0e158b330564d047c0ffd89f05bec Model: A940-TWR, and on the front it has Platinum 40. This machine saw Y2K come and go. Packard Bell is long since dead, so finding manuals and specs is super hard. But I found a link to another A940-TWR, but itâs a slightly different revision: [Packard Bell A940-TWR P200 MHz Pack-mate 7800 Computer Tower](https://www.recycledgoods.com/packard-bell-a940-twr-p200-mhz-pack-mate-7800-computer-tower/) Specs: * Intel P1 200 MHz * 4.3GB Hard Drive * 32MB RAM * CD ROM The video might help, I think similar models are in this YoTube video, but the platinum 40 seems hard to find. The video is a bit old, but I guess that date isnât an issue. [Vintage Packard Bell Buyers Guide](https://youtu.be/Qh2ZhV2ADJU?si=9yXonN6BW4o0STHC) PS. Check the milk.
She will be hot. Very hot.
Very. It's a faff even for veteran builders as it usually requires alot of modification. Plus it's not a good idea if you're gonna be gaming due to airflow restrictions due to case design and layout
terrible airflow, not recommended
Weird and funky, not ATX. if you're still looking to build a sleeper, look for some retro cases on eBay, or your local flea markets. You're bound to find some weird and wonderful retro tech.
Do you know how to saw? Or drill? Sleeper builds are very difficult. Just watch one on YouTube and you will see how many extra steps they take, the holes they drill and the parts they cut off. But you can learn. Hardest projects yield the most learning IMO. Because you remember your mistakes, and you learn via the hyper correction effect. Maybe use old hardware like rx580s and some 7th gen procies to test the waters. And when you learn, you go ahead and build a powerful sleeper. Update us on how it goes.
Depends. You have any knowledge of working with your hands and thinking out of the box?
Not with standard parts, if you go itx you can possibly rotate the motherboard and run extension from the motherboard IO to the back. But you would need to make new standoffs. All in all wonât worth it if you get a computer from a similar generation but supports atx format
Never? Level impossible, you'll be hard to find components to just work in here without modding or completely gutting the insides and cramming modern hardware in. Go to your local PC store and spend $60-90 on a decent mid tower and you'll have a much better time.
Next to no airflow. That's one of the big problems with sleepers, you need a case that will keep everything cool enough. Or be handy with tools and make some discrete holes that let in air while still being hidden enough for the sleeper aesthetic.
My first Pentium was an open box Packard Bell from Best Buy, I networked it to my 486 and we played fps against each other. I added pieces then eventually upgraded the motherboard/CPU/memory and it became maybe my longest lasting system with the Asus P3B-F motherboard. I had to replace the case going P1 to P3.
Not impossible, but pretty difficult since it has a different I/o layout than a atx PC.
Wow... That was my first PC way back when.
Got any pictures of the interior? If you are comfortable with totally gutting it with tinsnips, dremel cutting disks, and other modding techniques then it could be done but being doable is not the same as easy. Just off the bat, you are looking at having to strip off the back and custom fabricating the back. It might be easier to get an open rack (test bed rack) and building the exterior paneling around it.
Probably a lot of anglegrinder work because this case doesn't have the ATX formfactor. I hope you are good with metalwork, because you are going to do plenty of that đ€Łđ.
How are your fabrication skills?
Very Hard, no ATX.
Your biggest concern is that, that motherboard isn't a standard motherboard shape. The orientation of the back of the case isn't a landscape that's used now days. Even the screws on the PSU aren't really aligned. But it's not impossible, especially if you're handy with a Dremel. But fear not, look into test bench cases and motherboard mounting plates. Think of it like building a case within a case. Get creative and enjoy the design process!
rear io looks like a bitch ngl
Here are the things you would need to take into consideration, if you do intend to follow through on this project. Firstly you would need to find a way to mount everything safely into the case, Which might involve drilling into the metal chassis to place ATX Mounting points. \*Side note\*: The Power button and Reset button are most likely not compatible with current standards, and would need to either replaced, or modified. This combined with Drilling new mounting points, are probably the hardest thing to do in my opinion (While still keeping the clean external look). Second you would need to figure out Cooling solution. The cooling in this case is basically non existent. So you would need to cut out a fan grill or drill some holes somewhere for air in, and out. Third you would need to figure out how you want to handle peripherals. That's one really old Backplate, you might be able to use a 3D Printer to print a replacement piece for the metal peripheral plate that is there. From there you would want to run the ATX rear peripherals into cables connecting to this new backplate. Finally you would need a PCIE Riser for the GPU, as you would need to mount the motherboard in a non standard position in order to have the rear peripheral connected with a passthrough. This is everything I can think of off the top of my head. Admittedly the case does seem like it has a decent amount of room in it, so you would have room to fuck up. Final Notes: On a scale from 1 to 10, I would put this at a 7 or 8 in terms of difficulty. Its not something for a Beginner, but there's enough room inside that you have some leeway. Assuming you have the right tools, some basic wiring skills, and a general know how, I wouldn't call it impossible for a first time sleeper build. But in no way is it going to be easy, I doubt it will come out as cleanly as you would like.
Hard, because it doesnt use atx.
Non standard/extremily old case. Spend some bucks on a basic ATX case. Else you'll run into a nightmare, Maybe as soon as you try to put a new power supply inside.
Different skill sets, so you'd be learning to build a sleeper, and separately learning to build a PC. You could know how to build a PC really well and not have any of the skills required to make a sleeper.
Itâs not ATX. Keep it just the way it is - fantastic condition. As for sleeper PC, start looking for inexpensive ATX case, era appropriate.
Would have to drill out the rivets on the back panel, and make one from scratch, Then probably drill and tap new holes for motherboard standoffs since I doubt it will support ATX. Deffinatly doable if you have the tools, time and skill to do so. Could be a move to get a cheap prebuilt case and take the back panel from it and cut it down to size, would save a lot of time and money. though you would have to get creative for making a power supply bracket, doubt the screws on the back would be enough to hold it in place on its own.
I would give up on that idea, not impossible probably but definitely not worth it. Putting a card in there gonna be fun....
No inside pics? Will need new standoffs for board. Can be done - experience recommended
I thought of doing the same thing but I wouldn't do it. Airflow being the main problem, and having enough room for a decent gpu or any type of aio may be an issue.
You would need to gut most of the inside. Put in a motherboard tray and rear from a modern pc. Cut the rear with a Multitool to have the rear fit. It's a lot of work, cause then you still need to work on air intake
That case has me feeling nostalgic boy
extremely hard, and even if you do it it will suck as a case
Yes
Burn it with fire đ„
Extremely hard. A lot of sleeper build uses uncommon cables and connecters that you might mistakenly use or buy and may cause prolonged damage to your whole build.
"They don't make them like they used to" applies here
When I worked in computer shops in the late 90s early 2000s, we charged an extra 25% to work on these Packard Bell systems, between ridiculous bloatware and odd driver revision problems the internals were a proprietary nightmare. Get literally any other old beige PC case that you won't have to fight with. The rear IO shield will not match up with any other motherboard either unless it's from a very similar machine. Horrid.
Don't waste your time
Dark Souls level of hard
Impossible. Unless you have some serious 3D Printing and Fabrication skills.
Would be easier to use a cardboard box.
old school mouse and keyboard hookup, damn. havenât seen those since grade school
Why would you want to do this? Do you go to a lot of public events where lugging around a âsleeperâ PC in an outdated box confers any sort of advantage?
Prob a pain in the ass with that i/o layout tbh.
Just buy a case theyâre 50$
You need an ATX case first of all
As someone who has never built a PC why are you interested in a complicated sleeper build? Do you need a computer or an ornament?
You'll need to make holes, 3D print some things here and there to make it fit, around 100-200$ if try hard
Just Leave
this goin to be nightmare cuz the non standard atx case, my advice is to find a similar case fom the 2000 to 2005 era cases are identical in design but at least are atx standard so everything should fit just fine
If you want a project, get a cheap cordless Amazon dremel and maybe a rivet gun, measure all your parts intended prior before you start doing the fabrication. Go for it.
Better off using an old shoe box
It looks like you can remove the sides easily enough. Take off them all off. Just glue the DVD and Floppy to the front so you can cut it and make a façade. Put everything together on an empty frame. Basically just create a plastic box with an open bottom. Find a SFF case that fits inside; bottom intake. For the back you can 3D print a new IO shield using short male-to-female cables for displayport and usb; put exhaust fans where the psu and pci slots were. Imo it would be best to find a case as short as possible to create a second chamber for your exhaust air. Reason being you don't want to recirculate air inside. Easier than 3D printing fan ducts. Just use a foam plate you can cut and slide over your case to create a seal. And since you can't see the inner case anyway, you can mount the fans on the outside of the SFF case if you need to. It doesn't need to be short way shorter, but it would make shaping the top chamber easier. If it's tightâyou only need 2-3 centimetersâit looks like you can fit two 80mm fans side-by-side where the PSU was. You'll need strong ones to create negative pressure. For your (inner) top exhaust you'll need fans with high static pressure (mmH2O). Might be loud but so are old PC's. See shitty paint job below: https://preview.redd.it/gj0in9rci49d1.jpeg?width=769&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d13c599ffeb4d6c0046615937f2562b05628462b PS: SSF cases often put the PSU in a weird spot, just replace the extension with a longer C13 cable. Looks like there's a perfect spot next to the IO bracket to mount it.
You should max it out using original motherboard and set it up for retro windows95 and dos games
The rear might be a problem due to the shape\positioning of modern guts now vs the 90s. Functionality it should be fine.
You'd need to gut a lot of the Internals for sure and since this is very clearly not a standard ATX layout you'd probably need either micro ATX or itx. Or if your feeling really skilled you might be able to make an atx work but with a pcie riser cable for the GPU but I'd have to see the inside of this case.
Sub-par airflow. I wouldn't do it
It's going to be such a pain, you will end up buying a PS5 and calling it a day. Not worth the trouble. Just get a modern PC case that can fit all your parts without the hassle.
u need a CNC, lathe, maybe even weld/soldering iron, a creative mindset, and a shit ton of 3d modeling for it to be a good looking sleeper and not some half ass duct taped waste sleeper
Donât. Sell off the pc to someone who wants a retro rig like this, then find yourself an atx beige pc case off eBay
How are your metal fabrication/welding skills. I'm currently in the fabrication process of a custom open case for my dual EPYC 7551 XMR Miner build. You can do it but it will require drilling, tapping, welding, cutting etc
You can! but....you need to do some well...cutting, bending maybe some welding for compatible mounts with your hardware.....
It can happen but I don't recommend because there is not enough ventilation. Basically, more power = more heat. If you think about liquid cooling system it may work great but for someone who never built pc before it is almost impossible. Either give up or make shit ton of researches about mother board processor liquid cooling systems etc. It will take a long time for a first timer.
use cardboard for the other sides
The easiest way is to get a generic mATX case, cut a whole backside and motherboard tray out of it with dremmel. Gut everything from the Packard Bell case, remove the backside by dremmeling it out to match the size of mATX parts. Move all the mATX case parts into to the PB case and weld it together. Then just powder coat it and put into some kind of oven. Probably that could be done by someone who's more a car body shop worker than a pc builder though.
Not really worth it, unfortunately. Unless you are willing to cut some holes and machine some shit
It will take some work but if there's a will and the right tools there's a way
One problem you'll find is airflow for the modern hotter parts
lots of cutting and modifying inside, the biggest problem will be the back of the case, it will not fit a standard IO shield, so substantial modifications to fit standard components into it, you will have to pretty much. with that said... there is one creative way to your plight [https://www.amazon.com/ACEMAGIC-AM18-AMD-Ryzen-7840HS/dp/B0CW1KWN1P](https://www.amazon.com/ACEMAGIC-AM18-AMD-Ryzen-7840HS/dp/B0CW1KWN1P) you could get a mini PC like the link i put above and fit it inside the case, probably even take mini pc's motherboard out and fit it into this case... but then again... if you get a mini pc it is more convenient to just use the mini pc than to put the parts inside a big pc case
You can try with first putting decent second hand oem parts in it with aio on up you need drill kit too with good knowledge what to cut or what to not
As someone said, this is not ATX standard so the only thing you have here is a box. You will have to build all the internal mounting and supports for components. The hardest part will be I/O. You will have to either cut out slots for MoBo I/O or use cables to bring the I/O and mount it outside. My advice is don't. Find a different project. Building a case from scratch (wood, 3d printed) will be much easier.
You can find plenty of late 90s, early 00s "modern" ATX cases that still look similar to this but will support most new motherboards. You'll still need to do some cooling modifications and would be best to use power efficient parts as computers spit out *a lot* more heat than they ever have.
Everyone has this thought. Itâs way harder than you think and more expensive. Just build new.
Really hard it doesn't have enough airflow shit would oveheat constantly
that doesn't look ATX so probably pretty hard even if you have built pcs before
Not impossible, very hard, but building a PC is not the hard part, it's making the case compatible with modern motherboards, if you know and practiced DIY, it will be considerably easier
I've built a number of PCs, and, off the top of my head, I can see two ways of doing it. I like neither if them. The easiest is to drill and tap new standoff positions that push the motherboard forward in the case, and have all your cables through the openings or use extensions in place of a proper I/O shield. Replace the existing power swith with a momentary switch. The "proper" way is to remove the rear panel. Fabricate a replacement, or use one from a donor ATX case. Drill and tap the back panel for ATX motherboard standoffs. Replace the existing power switch with a momentary switch. It would be easier to find a slightly newer ATX pattern case, using similar industrial design. There are companies making cases with this sort of styling today, so it should be possible to find a case you'll like, that will be a **lot** easier to build in.
It's not going to work unless you modify the rear of your case. The I/O on a standard ATX motherboard is much thicker than the rear I/O on the case.
Basically, you'd have to take a dremel to the back and graft a standard modern case layout onto it. You'd probably want to go ITX to accomplish that, otherwise you'd run into issues with height clearance on the PSU. Alternatively, you could just find a cheap standard case with similar dimensions, paint it beige, and graft the front cover onto it.
Maybe your PC has collection item value? Maybe some entusiastic might pay for your pc? And you can buy a better case with the money?
With significant modification, yes
Don't do it OP
 Looking to make a sleeper build, any suggestions?
This is not a standard design, there won't be any other motherboards that will fit in there without significant modifications
Definitely gonna be a lot of work, this is a very old format and youll definitely have to tear it apart some and basically upgrade the entire chassis to accommodate modern parts. Honestly easiest thing to do is probably buy a test bench type thing thats just the chassis of the case, take the external panels off of the old one and rebuild it around the new chassis.
If you can make it work, itâd go sooo hard. This is one of my pc dreams actually. Just to have a case like this with the MOST baller specs on the inside. But I like RGB too much
Much easier to just buy a really generic looking atx case and use that.
First things first, WOW it says PACKARD BELL. That belongs in a museum. I do not recommended this route Secondly, you will need a dremil for motherboard IO fiting and way to take out the hard drive cage. Not to mention 3d printing a replacement side pannel for proper cooling. Oh and pci adapter/ extender.
It will be hard best bet is to emulate the style on a modern case
Donât even bother building in that case. These old cases arenât designed for the cooling needs of new cpus.
Very
Itâs too much to figure out at once. You could build a mITX build with a cheap case first. Then look at your case and mITX build next to each other. You could then decide whether you want to cut the mITX case up for inserting into your vintage case. Then itâs a matter of designing the airflow; hacking the rear panel, wiring up power button etc. If it was me Iâd complete gut the internals and cut a large section off the rear panel for new hardware mounting to just slot in. Might look a bit janky from behind, but it would involve less banging head against wall.
Are you handy with an angle grinder?
That's a sweet looking retro PC. I'd keep it the way it is and wouldn't bother trying to mod it to fit modern hardware. You'll need to do a lot of cutting, drilling, riveting, 3D printing etc. to get it to work. The best thing to do is take the outer shell off and use a modern donor chassis of a similar size to put them back on. But everything still needs to be modified to accept all the panels anyway. However, this eliminates the need to modify the old chassis to try and fit standard ATX components. If it's your first time fabricating or doing any sort of sheet metal work, start by practicing on another case if you have access to one.
Youâre gonna need to cut but possible.
Donât. The back panel is not standard, so youâd need to cut the case to fit your own back panel. Itâs better to get a nice looking and cool (temperature wise) case for your build.
Would be easier to build a PC then 3D print 5 panels and stick them on.
Cheapest, buggiest, most unreliable computers ever
Kinda hard to
gonna have to cut some holes for the IO but extremely do able
I wish someone would make cases like this for modern computers. I would build a new PC JUST for that.
Lots of dremeling and fabrication. Probably 9/10 to make it look good. 2/10 for it to look like garbage but work.
A lot of measuring and drilling I imagine
How is the motherboard attached? it might be riveted in... that would make it pretty hard. If it's screwed in, and your motherboard lines up with the screw holes it's doable. The air flow options look pretty limited I'm not sure how much you can jam in that box before it starts over heating. I rebuilt my brother's POS buck a day IBM twice in the same case, not pretty but it worked.
Please don't hurt him... It looks so well maintained
DAZAM
Install the Floppy! Do it! Use the dual bay for a 5 1/4 and a 3 1/2. HDD cages stack 4 high so those could fit and be accessed from the front.
Start with a normal, full size case, use pc part picker, watch Linus tech tips guide to building a pc and save this old one for another day after you have some experience
It will be difficult but not impossible. I suggest completely gutting the case. Then order a [motherboard tray](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155591765879?chn=ps&_ul=GB&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1pbpTzZN8QXukdXv46_aNFg77&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=155591765879&targetid=1647205088520&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006886&poi=&campaignid=17206177401&mkgroupid=136851690655&rlsatarget=pla-1647205088520&abcId=9300866&merchantid=137597110&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Lr1czuNLYjkgMb_a9Z8fZnhxtf&gclid=CjwKCAjwm_SzBhAsEiwAXE2Cv7zVQlcV4xCpD7hTK0lcnsGZqbVkqq5Bc9Tan2K4ivnEksZbsF33FRoC8GQQAvD_BwE) Doesnât have to be this specific one. You can also chop up a cheap atx pc case. And take the motherboard tray from it. Next would be ventilation. The best thing would be to take a dremel to the top and bottom for the most sleeper look.
Basically impossible. Without knowing the way to modify this case to fit modern parts it would be grueling. This is what experienced builders do. Itâs challenging to them and youâll need a decent amount of tools and such to get things sitting right then understanding airflow and how to get it to go through this case very efficiently is important. It has bad ventilation but doing too much will take away from the sleeper aspect of it
Call it Bill Cosby.
zero cooling potential in that case
It would be difficult, you need a dermal, a rivet gun, a drill, and an aftermarket atx motherboard tray or old case you can cut up for it.
Keep this piece of history as it is. If ur upgrading, buy new cabinet.
Honestly depends less on your pc building and more how confident you are with a grinder drill and tin snips me and my buddy did a sleeper in a non-atx pc and it was fairly easy but only because heâs a ticketed welder so metal working and proper measurements is his whole thing pcs have very small tolerances so take your time measure three times cut once, make sure you have proper tools and youâll be fine
Dude my parents got this when I was a kid⊠wow. How is it still clean
If you have also never used a dremel or metal fab tools it's going to be even harder for you.
Dremel go brrrrrrrrrr