Mod of the Month - July 2009

Project: EMU-atom-NAS

by cmd_
Worklog: Here

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.


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.


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.


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...


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.