VOGONS


Show us your retro computer cases

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Reply 220 of 233, by Errius

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OK, interesting, your system is a NC440BX then, which is the N440BX in a Columbus II case
There's also a NA440BX, which uses the Astor case

I believe the difference between the Columbus and Columbus II and Astor and Astor II cases is just that they take different motherboards. They're otherwise the same.

Mine is missing the drive cage, which is unobtanium now. I had to mount the hard drive in one of the 5.25" bays instead.
The white plastic fan casing at the bottom also broke off in transit (I guess plastic gets brittle with age) so I had to secure it with twist-ties.

ETA: add links

https://web.archive.org/web/20000815081703/ht … is/Columbus_II/
https://web.archive.org/web/20130908074845/ht … ~1/columb~1.htm
Another poster has uploaded the product specification here: Re: NEC Proserva V Plus (dual socket 7 system) (have a lead on multiple of these)
It's also included in this official archive about the Columbus II and Astor II: https://downloads.bl4ckb0x.de/downloadcenter. … .com/18389/eng/

Last edited by Errius on 2024-08-11, 23:18. Edited 2 times in total.

Is this too much voodoo?

Reply 221 of 233, by KT7AGuy

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Errius wrote on 2024-08-06, 15:42:

The white plastic fan casing at the bottom also broke off in transit (I guess plastic gets brittle with age) so I had to secure it with twist-ties.

The careful application of two-part epoxy can repair and reinforce brittle old plastic. Go very slow. A little goes a long way.

Start slow. Use toothpicks. Use barely just enough epoxy to bond the broken pieces together, no matter how fragile it may be. Then wait at least 24 hours. After it cures, use a little more to build up and strengthen the repair. Repeat. Repeat again. You'll eventually build up a layer of epoxy that is stronger than the plastic it has repaired.

I've done this with the cracked front panel of my NetVista A40. It works, but patience is required. When I repaired my A40 front panel, I did it from behind to conceal the epoxy and the repair job. Unless you take the front panel off, you would never know it's broken and held together by epoxy.

Bonus: cured two-part epoxy can be sanded and finished with primer and paint. Wait at least a month before doing this. You need to give it lots of time to REALLY cure. If you can be patient, wait 90 days before sanding, primer, and painting. Six months is even better. The waiting is worth it.

If you have brittle old plastic that you suspect may crack in the future, be proactive now! Start applying thin layers of two-part epoxy to reinforce it before it breaks. Of course, you may not want to do this for external pieces that may be subject to aesthetic consideration. Use your best judgement.

For example, I've also got an old Antec Solution SLK???? case, much like this one:
https://www.newegg.com/metallic-bronze-antec- … N82E16811129117

See those two USB ports on the front? They're held on by two very small and fragile plastic clips. Even when it was new I knew that they would break eventually, so I took action and proactively reinforced them with great globs of epoxy behind the panel. I'll never be able to remove those USB ports, but that's the point; I also won't be able to crack their attachments either.

Reply 222 of 233, by Errius

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Thanks for the info. I have several old computers with issues like this. Your solution sounds more practical than 3D printing a whole new part.

Is this too much voodoo?

Reply 223 of 233, by KT7AGuy

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3D Printing is also a valid solution. If I had that resource available to me, my response may have been different.

I'm old and stuck (see what I did there?) in my ways.

Reply 224 of 233, by willinliv

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Picked up these two from a neighbour, a Dell XPS Generation 5, and another containing a Celeron. I really like the Celeron case, something space retro about it. Yet to test or clean them

Reply 225 of 233, by tudoric91

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Hello Gentleman,
It was very nice to found that are persons who still love retro PC. I see in your quote this retro PC case, which I found that it is a German Brand case, and I am very interested to found what maker or where I can find exactly the same. It was my first PC, at the late 90's, I remember it had a AMD-K6-2 processor. Please if you have more information about this case specific case, will be very appreciated to share with me.

Thank you!🙏🏻

front.jpg

Reply 226 of 233, by rain

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Here some At cases

Reply 227 of 233, by devius

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tudoric91 wrote on 2025-05-08, 04:07:

I see in your quote this retro PC case, which I found that it is a German Brand case, and I am very interested to found what maker or where I can find exactly the same. It was my first PC, at the late 90's, I remember it had a AMD-K6-2 processor. Please if you have more information about this case specific case, will be very appreciated to share with me.

I have a very similar one but with 3x 5,25" drive bays. It doesn't have any kind of manufacturer info that I can see. Seems to be a generic beige case.

Reply 228 of 233, by Intel486dx33

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lady_quietbottom wrote on 2021-05-17, 22:08:
386_junkie, I know it's been 6 years, but what can you tell me about the case https://www.vogons.org/download/file.php?id=19525& […]
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386_junkie, I know it's been 6 years, but what can you tell me about the case file.php?id=19525&mode=view on Show us your retro computer cases

I am trying to track one down and don't even have a name to go on.

Thanks

Hey, that was my first computer case back in 1993
These were popular because they were small mini towers as they were called.
Also they were inexpensive at about $35

Reply 230 of 233, by tudoric91

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devius wrote on 2025-05-08, 13:53:
tudoric91 wrote on 2025-05-08, 04:07:

I see in your quote this retro PC case, which I found that it is a German Brand case, and I am very interested to found what maker or where I can find exactly the same. It was my first PC, at the late 90's, I remember it had a AMD-K6-2 processor. Please if you have more information about this case specific case, will be very appreciated to share with me.

I have a very similar one but with 3x 5,25" drive bays. It doesn't have any kind of manufacturer info that I can see. Seems to be a generic beige case.

Thank You a lot for replying to my topic. The case it is the same dimensions? Can you please provide a picture? Thank you!

Reply 231 of 233, by tudoric91

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kixs wrote on 2025-05-08, 16:39:
Probably around 70% of my AT cases: […]
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Probably around 70% of my AT cases:

5rjrSfe.jpg

BYRMTFW.jpg

Yes Sir, Thank You for replying to my topic. I saw the Case, it is the same as I want. I apologise to writing you here, but unfortunatelly, this site cannot allow me to write a private message to you. I am from Romania. Are there any chances to send it here?

Reply 232 of 233, by devius

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tudoric91 wrote on 2025-05-08, 20:37:

Thank You a lot for replying to my topic. The case it is the same dimensions? Can you please provide a picture? Thank you!

It's this one, and it's a bit taller than regular baby AT cases but it's also AT despite looking more like ATX, so it fits the topic 😄

The attachment IMG_20141028_145903.jpg is no longer available

Reply 233 of 233, by kixs

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tudoric91 wrote on 2025-05-08, 20:41:
kixs wrote on 2025-05-08, 16:39:
Probably around 70% of my AT cases: […]
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Probably around 70% of my AT cases:

5rjrSfe.jpg

BYRMTFW.jpg

Yes Sir, Thank You for replying to my topic. I saw the Case, it is the same as I want. I apologise to writing you here, but unfortunatelly, this site cannot allow me to write a private message to you. I am from Romania. Are there any chances to send it here?

No problem.

Make some more posts on the forum and you will get a permission to write PMs.

Visit my AmiBay items for sale (updated: 2025-03-14). I also take requests 😉
https://www.amibay.com/members/kixs.977/#sales-threads