JUKEY WinXP Media Centre
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Who doesn't want a Media Box? It's nice to just sit in fromt of the TV and when you realise there is nothing on,
change channels to a computer screen and double-click on a media file or play a DVD.
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Once again I asked around my friends to see what they had in the way of unused parts. This time I put together a Celeron 366 with a video card with TV-OUT (latter replaced by my Geforce2 7700 Delux). I also purchased a slot-loading DVD drive. After installing Windows XP I was ready to build the case.
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This is the TV and Stereo where I wished to setup my media box, as you may see, there are 2 drawers in the black cabinet. I decided that one of these was about the right size for a computer.
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After buying some more chip-wood (easy to work with and light-weight, but not a perfect finish around edges) I measured and cut the basic case.
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Here is the hole where the drawer was. Notice the 2 rails the drawer slid on. I wished to keep these so I could easily replace the drawer at any stage. I also had to remove the backboard of the hole, which was just held by some small nails.
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Here is the motherboard and AGP/PCI cards inside the case. You may see at the back of the box (which is the front of the case) the power supply on the left (the bottom). You may also notice I have 1 of the side groves for the rails.
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Here is the basic case standing upright with the back only showing the input and card connections. You can also see the edge of the power supply at the front as it I wanted to get some air-flow thru it via some holes.
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Here is the view from the top without the side on. Notice the DVD drive mounted on it's side as well as harddrive mounted next to it.
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A finished case frame with the DVD slot at the front as well as a nice bright red LED button. I also added a handle at top for pulling out of cabinet as needed.
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After blowing up the current power spply (which was old and overheated due to bad fan), I purchased a new power supply and instantly took to it with wire cutters. Removing the un-needed power-out socket, I was able to pass thru the cables.
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Here is the case slotted into the cabinet with Windows XP on display. Notice also the small keyboard in front which I picked up for $40 off eBay. It's a IR mini-keyboard with a built-in joy-pad. The receiver is on the top of the TV on the right.
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Time to paint the case with first an undercoat primer, then gloss black paint.
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I also had to paint the power supply where it would be showing. Notice the holes in side for airflow to power supply. The front panel of the slot-DVD drive was also removed and painted after I carefully masked off the slot-fibres.
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Time to put it all back together again. Notice the white power cable running from the power supply to the back. Also notice the 2 5cm fans, 1 pointing on video card to keep it cool and other pointing from back into the case and onto the cpu for better airflow.
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The case is done and looking rather nice. Notice the holes in to top to allow heat to escape.
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And the media box is done and slotted into it's new home. It really blends into the cabinet and looks the part. It also all looks rather cool when running either a fireplace screensaver with stereo crackling noises, or the XP Plus Aquarium screensaver with fish-tank noises.
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