Double Competition - Alternate Hardware - External Enclosure Mod

[MTMod]

Hello and welcome.

Because the [url=http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1026958-Competition-Poll]poll[/url] was so close, I've decided to run both competitions at the same time. There will be a competition for alternate hardware uses, and a competition for a custom external hard drive enclosure.

[b]Alternate Hardware Uses Competition[/b]
The goal is to find the most creative way to use old computer hardware for things they weren't meant to be used for. An extremely common example is using hard drive magnets to hang pictures on your refrigerator.

[b]Custom External Enclosure Competition[/b]
The goal is to make the best custom enclosure for an external hard drive. Details are given below, but the basic idea is that you have to build a case out of any material that will hold a hard drive. You can build one yourself or put it in something cool. It's like a jumbo USB mod! If you win, you get a hard drive to put in your fancy new case.

:siren: [highlight][b]Official Rules[/b][/highlight] :siren:

• All entries must be documented with enough supporting media in order to prove the entry is authentic.
• Maximum 3 entries per competition.
• All supporting media must be compressed into a .rar archive and emailed to [sp][e-mail][/sp] and titled in the following format:

Alternate Hardware Uses (insert username here)
External Enclosure (insert username here)
ex. [quote]Alternate Hardware Uses MTMod[/quote]

• All entries must be posted in [b]this thread[/b] in order to be marked as complete.
• All pictures above 1000x1000px [b][i][u]will[/b][/u][/i] be put in img_thumb tags, and all videos must be uploaded to youtube and put in media tags.
• Be original. Any entries that have already been done will be void unless the quality is obviously higher, and it is clear that more effort went into the new entry over the original. (This rule is exclusive to the Alternate Hardware competition)
• Failure to do any of the above may result in disqualification.

[b][u]Deadline[/b][/u]
The competition will end at Midnight, January 1st EST when the ball drops in NYC. Because of the holidays some people may not have as much time or money to complete entries. Hopefully a month and a half will be long enough.

[b]Prizes[/b]
The winner of the External Enclosure competition will receive a 7200rpm 250GB SATA HDD with converter board for USB and AC power. As I type this, the drive is assembled and functioning properly.
Pictures and dimensions are here:

[url=http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/8582/drivedimensions2.png]Back of drive - screw locations[/url]
[url=http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/4930/drivedimensions1.png]Side of drive - screw locations[/url]
[url=http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/8707/boardimensions2.png]Conversion board measurements #1[/url]
[url=http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/6033/boardimensions1.png]Conversion board measurements #2[/url]

[url=http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6678/drivedimensions3.png]Entire assembly side[/url]
[url=http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/9871/drivedimensions4.png]Entire assembly top[/url]

[url=http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/5815/connectionscloseup.png]Conversion board closeup #1[/url]
[url=http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8633/connectionscloseup2.png]Conversion board closeup #2[/url]
[url=http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3947/components.png]Overview[/url]

Alternatively, if anyone wants to make an enclosure based on hardware they already have, the prize will be a Steam gift with a maximum of $20.

The winner of the Alternate Hardware Uses competition will receive their choice of an item from Newegg with a maximum price of $20 (including shipping).

International winners will be gifted Steam content with a maximum value of $20.

Good luck to you all!

[alphaspida]

What is this?

[Big D Duchovny]

[QUOTE=alphaspida;26363647]What is this?[/QUOTE]

It's a contest.

[alphaspida]

[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;26363822]It's a contest.[/QUOTE]

What I see is:

Rules
Deadlines
Prizes

Tells me nothing.

[MTMod]

[QUOTE=alphaspida;26363647]What is this?[/QUOTE]

[IMG]http://static.facepunch.com/fp/ratings/book_error.png[/IMG]

[Big D Duchovny]

There isn't much to describe, either make an entry with alternative hardware uses or make a external hardisk enclosure.

[MTMod]

Added descriptions for those of you who somehow missed the last two threads and can't use common sense.

[Babnux]

Using old computer parts to make a laser already, should be fun :frogc00l:

[MTMod]

[QUOTE=MacTrekkie;26367609]Using old computer parts to make a laser already, should be fun :frogc00l:[/QUOTE]

Nice. Burning laser?

[superbird]

I have an idea for the external hard drive, but i dont have the sata to usb or the power things....

[kaze4159]

MTMod will give you those

[heavy2]

The only thing I have is a stick of DDR ram that doesn't work. :saddowns:

Where can I get old computers? I want one but I don't know where to get one.

[TheGuru]

Is it just a coincidence that all the measurements are exact multiples of a quarter of an inch?

It would be better accurate to have them to the nearest 1 or 2 millimiters

And also the location of any screws that allow it to actually be fixed to the enclosure?

[MTMod]

[QUOTE=TheGuru;26381089]Is it just a coincidence that all the measurements are exact multiples of a quarter of an inch?

It would be better accurate to have them to the nearest 1 or 2 millimiters

And also the location of any screws that allow it to actually be fixed to the enclosure?[/QUOTE]

Believe it or not, the measurements are indeed that convenient. I'll double check them, though. There are also ten holes for screws, and I'll get you those measurements as well. It probably won't be until tomorrow, though, due to work/school.

[QUOTE=Superbird;26378031]I have an idea for the external hard drive, but i dont have the sata to usb or the power things....[/QUOTE]

:suicide:

[TheGuru]

Neat then :v:

I might give this a crack, I need the storage that badly, I'm living off 200 gb :frown:

[Babnux]

[QUOTE=MTMod;26377763]Nice. Burning laser?[/QUOTE]

Indeed, in two flavors: 405nm blue-violet from an XBOX 360 HD DVD player and red 650nm from a busted 24x DVD+R burner :woot:

Obviously the 650 will be more powerful since as a DVD [i]burner[/i] I can safely pump more power through it without fear of it melting. The 405 will be more interesting to look at, but when both of them are burning straight through CD jewel cases I don't think color is going to matter.

The 405 diode is going to be cooled by an old CPU heatsink from some pentium 4 at my school with a hole drilled in it and the driver circuit will be cooled by a small northbridge sink.

The 650 will be cooled by a powered Intel stock i7 870 LGA 1156 sink(since I got a hyper 212+ yesterday. Only now considered using the stock fan, was going to just hit it with a sledgehammer.) with a hole drilled through it and it's driver will be cooled by another northbridge sink.

I am thinking of putting 750mw-ish through the 650 and around 200mw through the 405. Both are going to be powered by old computer PSU's salvaged from dead computers at school.

__________________________________________________

As far as the hard drive goes, I have a NERF Recon that I absolutely hate as a NERF gun, but it looks to be about the right size for the HDD. The USB ports will be hidden under the slide :laugh:

:siren:IDEA:siren:
Make the magazine for the gun capable of accepting HDDs(toolless), therefore making a detachable hard drive chassis. The power converter can be positioned to be able to just connect right up with the hard drives. This is gonna be good.

[editline]29th November 2010[/editline]

Just measured the gun. I just have to cut a couple bits of plastic off the edges around the magazine hole and a standard 3.5" drive will fit. According to your dimensions, the converter should fit right in, too, once I remove the gun parts of it. This is gonna be so great!

[editline]29th November 2010[/editline]

The SATA board and HDD don't [b]have[/b] to fit together in the enclosure, right?

[editline]29th November 2010[/editline]

Also, can we get some close up shots of the SATA board? Specifically the connectors.

[MTMod]

[QUOTE=MacTrekkie;26397899]Wall O' Text[/QUOTE]

As long as the drive functions, it counts. An example of something that wouldn't count would be a stand that just holds everything up.

I'll get you guys some detailed photos... but it might have to wait another day. I've got classes all day tomorrow and I have to study for a huge test during my breaks.

[MTMod]

Update time.

New, precise measurements are available. I'll update the OP.

[url=http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/8582/drivedimensions2.png]Back of drive[/url]
[url=http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/4930/drivedimensions1.png]Side of drive[/url]
[url=http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6678/drivedimensions3.png]Entire assembly side[/url]
[url=http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/9871/drivedimensions4.png]Entire assembly top[/url]

[url=http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/5815/connectionscloseup.png]Conversion board closeup #1[/url]
[url=http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8633/connectionscloseup2.png]Conversion board closeup #2[/url]

[GWMCOCD]

Put the HDD in a ammo box.

[Babnux]

[QUOTE=GWMCOCD;26437710]Put the HDD in a ammo box.[/QUOTE]

Measured it out, won't fit. It's just going to go in the magazine well.

[editline]1st December 2010[/editline]

So the connectors on the board cannot be moved at all?

[MTMod]

If you feel like making a separate housing for the board, then I'll measure that out as well.

Also, there's no way to attach it other than adhesive.

[ineedateam1]

Im adsummeing i can enter more then once right? i have a few ideas

[Babnux]

[QUOTE=MTMod;26441668]If you feel like making a separate housing for the board, then I'll measure that out as well.

Also, there's no way to attach it other than adhesive.[/QUOTE]

Adhesive?

My entry is will be done in 30 minutes. Without the need to fabricate/attach screw posts, I don't need to modify the gun at all besides remove the innards.

[MTMod]

[QUOTE=ineedateam1;26443069]Im adsummeing i can enter more then once right? i have a few ideas[/QUOTE]

Did I forget to add that rule to the OP? My bad. Maximum entries is 3 for each competition.

[QUOTE=MacTrekkie;26443752]Adhesive?

My entry is will be done in 30 minutes. Without the need to fabricate/attach screw posts, I don't need to modify the gun at all besides remove the innards.[/QUOTE]

Yeah there's no way to mount the board other than some sort of adhesive. There are no screw holes.

[Makuuta]

I'm surprised that noone posted this yet but

all the way across the sky?

[MTMod]

[QUOTE=Makuuta;26454797]I'm surprised that noone posted this yet but

all the way across the sky?[/QUOTE]

Sure.

I'm surprised that no one seems to want to participate.

[drummerundrcovr]

[QUOTE=MTMod;26455414]I'm surprised that no one seems to want to participate.[/QUOTE]

school.

[Babnux]

[QUOTE=MTMod;26455414]Sure.

I'm surprised that no one seems to want to participate.[/QUOTE]

I do! :buddy:

[Libertas]

Oh good, I'm heading home from school this month, and guess where all my old crap is? :D

I'm in.

[MTMod]

[QUOTE=drummerundrcovr;26455661]school.[/QUOTE]

A lot of people are in school.