Mod of the Month - July 2009

Written by Antony Leather

August 5, 2009 | 10:47

Tags: #aluminium #jigsaw #mod-of-the-year

Companies: #bit-tech #dremel

Project: EMU-atom-NAS

by cmd_
Worklog: Here
Mod of the Month - July 2009 Project: EMU-atom-NAS
It seems small PCs are popular at the moment with forum user cmd_ leading the way with the first of two mini-ITX based mods this month. However, while it's a scratch build like Project: Marshall Amp, Project: EMU-atom-NAS is turning into a very different beast. For starters its primary purpose is to run as a RAID 5 equipped server with three 750GB WD Green series hard drives.

Mod of the Month - July 2009 Project: EMU-atom-NAS Mod of the Month - July 2009 Project: EMU-atom-NAS

Probably one of the best value cases we've seen on bit-tech, cmd_ found it in IKEA of all places and for a bargain-tastic 6 euros! Of course it didn't come exactly as required but this is Mod of the Month after all. An Intel Mini-ITX motherboard with an integrated dual-core Atom CPU is the motherboard of choice along with 2GB of DDR2 RAM.

Mod of the Month - July 2009 Project: EMU-atom-NAS Mod of the Month - July 2009 Project: EMU-atom-NAS

The three 750GB WD Green series hard drives should provide ample storage and fit perfectly into the case in other images from cmd_'s log. Above we can see the motherboard installed too - this one very compact PC but due to the low power draw of the components, hopefully there'll be no heat issues.

Mod of the Month - July 2009 Project: EMU-atom-NAS Mod of the Month - July 2009 Project: EMU-atom-NAS

It's Dremel time! Above we can see cmd_ carefully cutting holes for the PSU fan, power connector and I/O panel. This is one of the joys of scratch built cases! If you can't take a joke you shouldn't have joined...

Mod of the Month - July 2009 Project: EMU-atom-NAS Mod of the Month - July 2009 Project: EMU-atom-NAS

Something we were particularly impressed with was cmd_'s PSU mod. He took apart every cable and applied braiding and heat shrink material to smarten things up a bit. It looks very involved from his pictures but the images above speak for themselves. Time well spent we think.

If you'd like to vote for cmd_'s Project: EMU-atom-NAS head over to our forum.
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