**** PHINIX NANO TOWER **** Smallest and most powerful mITX rig !!!

[phinix_mike]

nice.

amazing

I'm missing something here...

Wait, I know!

Bees!

Lol, rename it to 'The Hive' Phinix :P

Looks good mate.

What are the yellow heatsink fin's that wrap arounf the side there on the botton of the render?
Are they just there for looks and made out of yellow perspex?

I think some, say 6mm perspex would be excellent to use as a mounting bracket under the pump, either clear or even yellow would look good too.
Or you could just use some aluminium thats been pressed up to sit the pump on, now having a small amount of highly polished, mirror like finish on it would also look sweet.
Add just a bit of bling to the inside, hay.
But I don't like the idea of having the pump look like it's just hanging. That to me would really give me the feeling that it is unstable and not quite finished.

Let us know what you come up with mate, really all come together now.

Thanks guys!

Small update today..

This weekend I was trying some cable sleeving



I have to say It took me a while to understand that cable sleeving tool for PSU ATX cable....

Before I figured out that it supposed to be pushed to the end before you pull the wire, I managed to rip out one of the wires



I hope I will be able to fix it. maybe will solder it or something... any suggestions?

OK. Here's some photos of my ATX 24pin cable extension.







Final result is ok I think. One side is better than other; it's ok cause the mobo plug is fine, other one will be hidden in "power chamber" anyway, but still doesn't look that bad I think...



As my first 24pin mod I say it looks ok


Then I had to sleeve two SATA cables - that job was sweet and easy.. I love doing those cables...



Here's is my technic to make this process a lot easier - I taped SATA plug and this way it was really easy to push it through the sleeve..



Here's final result:



Because I will be using power cable extensions for everything (don't want to loose warranty on brand new PSU), so SATA power cables will be also sleeved:



Here's next to 24pin cable:



Finally, the whole gang... Also 8 pin CPU power cable extension, which I did last week.



I still need to do GPU power cable extensions - 6 and 8 pin, but don't have them yet...
That would be it... Soon will add bigger update.. I hope....

[woffen]

A very nice job and that color is looking superb!

[GregSG]

Love the yellow!

[Vinas]

Your ATX plug came out a lot better than my first attempt! Nice choice on the color, I think it will work really well and is a welcome change!!!

PS your photobucket account has exceeded its bandwidth!!! People must really be looking at your log!

[phinix_mike]

Your ATX plug came out a lot better than my first attempt! Nice choice on the color, I think it will work really well and is a welcome change!!!

PS your photobucket account has exceeded its bandwidth!!! People must really be looking at your log!

Thanks. Yep, people keep looking at my log, that is why I created third photobucket account! Those cables are on new one Other should update on 20th of every month, so don't know why they still unavailable.

[phinix_mike]

Guys, I would like to hear your opinion on design of side panel.
Window I want to cut out supposed to be small but still showing all insides. I'm not sure if I should go with simple square hole or with hex edges, then smaller or a bit bigger one.
Here's hex edge window, smaller and bigger option:



Now, we have different cover options. These will be cut out form thin 1.5mm aluminium and will be mounted with rivets, adding some nice touch
Which option is best in your opinion? First is most simple, then second and third with biggest number of pieces...



Don't worry about main window panel behind - covers will also be cut with those hex shape edges so they will macth panel behind them, with small 2mm gap. I just sketched those quickly to visualise the ideas.

[aka_GK]

I do prefer first window rather than second, but I would like to see it more assymetrical and natural without straight lines of honeycombs at all

[phinix_mike]

I do prefer first window rather than second, but I would like to see it more assymetrical and natural without straight lines of honeycombs at all

OK, do you mean that right side where it goes down straight? I will make it more assymetrical in a minute...

[aka_GK]

OK, do you mean that right side where it goes down straight? I will make it more assymetrical in a minute...

yeah, exactly!

inspired by the nature

[phinix_mike]

Would this be better? Because f the size of the hex sahpe (30mm wide) its hard to make changes in that area - I don't want to go any more above or below cause other level middle panels would be seen.

[phinix_mike]

Wait.. I think this one is better... I didn't like that two sticking out hex shapes on the right...

[kgtiger]

Really like the yellow sleeving, if that sleevings from Nils then we both have the same.

As for the cut out for the window I feel a more assymetrical honeycomb look would be excellent to see.

However I guess you just need to ask yourself,
Do you want the window to stand out and be a focal point
or
Do you want the view of the hardware inside the case to stand out?

A more simple cut out would standout less.

As always, I am interested to see what you do next mate, well done.

[phinix_mike]

Really like the yellow sleeving, if that sleevings from Nils then we both have the same.

As for the cut out for the window I feel a more assymetrical honeycomb look would be excellent to see.

However I guess you just need to ask yourself,
Do you want the window to stand out and be a focal point
or
Do you want the view of the hardware inside the case to stand out?

A more simple cut out would standout less.

As always, I am interested to see what you do next mate, well done.

Well said mate - that is what I'm thinking too: I like more asymetrical version, it adds more chaos to the shape. Window I want to achive is window that looks more dramatic, doesn't have to be big, cause more important is its shape, not what it shows inside. Small chaotic window will still show the guts, if someone wants to look inside he will see what PC has inside, but first look is more important here - first thing you gonna see is the agressive shape of the window, aluminium covers with rivets surrounding it, then second thing will be lights inside the case and at last, all the insides when you look inside through the window. I'm thinking I may even use black tinted acrylic for this window! If I add enough leds inside I may go for tinted cause you will still see all the guts, but they will be "more hidden and mysterious" for first look
I hope you know what I mean

[aka_GK]

I like the last one and another idea for you is to put single honeycomb somewhere nearby main window like in natural hives, it will add even more assymetry to the window

[Bill Owen]

Agreed, I cannot wait to see this finished!

[phinix_mike]

Well, in this case you will like my latest design



It would look like this...



Here you can see thickness of top covers... 2mm aluminium.

[kgtiger]

Do you plan to have the top 2mm piecs of aluminium made out of 3 pieces, so there is a small gap between the joins.
Then have the 3 pieces glued/rivited down onto perspex?

I do like this one by the way.

[phinix_mike]

Do you plan to have the top 2mm piecs of aluminium made out of 3 pieces, so there is a small gap between the joins.
Then have the 3 pieces glued/rivited down onto perspex?

I do like this one by the way.

I actually gave you guys wrong thicknesses. Main panels have 2mm and top covers have 1.5mm. Outside 1.5mm covers will have small 5mm gap between, it will look nice like that, me thinks
Yep, covers will be riveted to main one, acrylic window will be glued from the inside with double sided 3M tape.

[phinix_mike]

Here's the right side panel. This one has bigger window to show graphic card. ALso, chaotic hex shape edges to add some dramatic character to the panel





What do you guys think?

[aka_GK]

For some reason I don't like those two hexes in the bottom hanging outside of the main bunch.
And yeah, you can call me bore but there is some kind of symmetry in the right side :
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_>
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Overall your design is very cool

[phinix_mike]

For some reason I don't like those two hexes in the bottom hanging outside of the main bunch.
And yeah, you can call me bore but there is some kind of symmetry in the right side :
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_>
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Overall your design is very cool

I know, but you see, I cannot do a lot there cause don't want to show the insdes on the right. That would be radiator fans. I want this windows show the gpu only. That is why I dont have much options on that side.
But its like it supposed to be - a bit boring compared to left side. See, the case will be standing on the right side of the desk, that is why left side must be more interesting then right. Besides left window will show all the interesting parts, where right side is most of it covered by graphic card.

[phinix_mike]

I couldn't help myself... had to try it out on the Tower.... Don't mind the colors, I only tried them out to make some contrast for outside cover panels...

[kgtiger]

WoW that does really have a look all of it's own, I really do like the yellow heat fins at the bottom just wrape around the case, very cool.
Is there any chance you could also do a cut out on the top as well, I feel by having the side look so good the top might just look a bit plan.
As it is now, it's just a blank canvas thats just begging for some attention, hay.
As the case is only small you will be able to look into it quite easily when it's sitting on the desk.

I also like the darker outside colour with the bright yellow ripping throught the edges.

Well done mate this is going to look sweet when it's all done and dusted.

[phinix_mike]

WoW that does really have a look all of it's own, I really do like the yellow heat fins at the bottom just wrape around the case, very cool.
Is there any chance you could also do a cut out on the top as well, I feel by having the side look so good the top might just look a bit plan.
As it is now, it's just a blank canvas thats just begging for some attention, hay.
As the case is only small you will be able to look into it quite easily when it's sitting on the desk.

I also like the darker outside colour with the bright yellow ripping throught the edges.

Well done mate this is going to look sweet when it's all done and dusted.

Thanks man!

Top is a bit of problem.. see, there is 120mm fan right below, so I wanted to make some nice top hole, but thing is design I made is pretty expensive. I made two different solutions: one is with cut out rectangle and fit it with small eye mesh, like Lian Li TJ07 case top, flash, no screws. Second one is drill out about 200 small holes in hex shape groups, straight drilled in this acrylic top. Not sure if I mentioned, top is mde of 10mm thick clear acrylic. It will be apinted matt black. There will be thin long hole for cd on the front too.

Now, if you have any idea for top, please show it, cause I'm running out of ideas...

[kgtiger]

I think the first one "with cut out rectangle and fit it with small eye mesh, like silverstone TJ07 case top, flash, no screws" would be excellent mate.
If you could paint the fan blades yellow that would look perfect!
To me at least.