multi box PC cases?

[RobinGBrown]

Hello All

Does anyone know of anyy PCcases that can house multiple motherboards?

e.g. I want to have a 3 monitor and 1 keyboard setup with each monitor run by a separate PC

Software isn't a problem and it's easy enough to get 3 PCs sat next to each other but I'd really like to have a case that houses all the PC components in just one box. Obviously it'd be a big box but perhaps not as big as all that as there are quite small form factor motherboards out there that should be capable of running WoW.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[Freddie]

I think they are made for certain kinds of server motherboards but I've never seen one for ATX boards (the kind we use for home PCs). I just Googled for about ten minutes and found a lot of people saying the same thing, so if anybody makes one, it's not very well advertised. :)

Even if you can find one I don't think it would save much space because the video cards would require an offset between the boards which is nearly the same as the width of separate cases. You might save an inch per motherboard but the tradeoff would be a tangled mass of cables and increased complications due to heat.

I think the best thing is inexpensive separate rackmount cases, which is what I use. You can stack them on top of each other -- you don't even need a rack -- so the whole pile is very compact. I bought a very decent one from Newegg last year for $60.

[Tsunami]

what would you use for a power supply? a single motherboard needs 500+ watts. 3 motherboards would require 1500 watts. I don't think they make something that big for a pc. plus you would run into heat issues, not to mention a fire hazard. also pc's are not the most reliable computers, so 1 problem will take the whole system down. I think you are much better off with 3 seperate computers.

[moosejaw]

You may need to make it yourself or commission someone to make it for you. There is a user on these boards who is in progress on a 5 in one box setup. He lives in SE Asia as far as I can tell. Find that thread and start brainstorming.



Edit: Found the thread. He recently posted to it. 6 Mini-ITX boards + 1 ATX in a single case ('http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=14858')

[spannah]

I though about this before as well, and whatever I searched for was not that great and way overpriced.

Something that I have been observing is the trend on IGP (Integrated Graphics Processor) as inexpensive alternatives for discreet/hardware multiboxing. Take into account that WoW, even with the recent upgrades, is not intensive when compared to some of the newer titles out there.
Now check out this review and the gaming performance:
The IGP Chronicles Part 3: NVIDIA's GeForce 9300 ('http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3432')

The 9400's are just around the block supposedly. throw in a E2200 Intel CPU and 2 GB of DDR2 800MHz and it should be reasonably fast. Also for a system like this a 400 Watt Power supply should be more then enough.
When it is all said and done each "alt" PC should be no more then $500.

Ok, enough theorycrafting :D

[Coltimar]

Ideal for multiboxing.

http://www.poguedesign.com/images/blade.jpg

Go farm 15-20K of RL money and you are set.

[Herc130]

You may need to make it yourself or commission someone to make it for you. There is a user on these boards who is in progress on a 5 in one box setup. He lives in SE Asia as far as I can tell. Find that thread and start brainstorming.



Edit: Found the thread. He recently posted to it. 6 Mini-ITX boards + 1 ATX in a single case ('http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=14858')

Actually I live in Hawaii USA and the big build will only be a single computer with massive water cooling. Putting all my ITX boards in it was going to make it too cramped, was not what I originally planned ( I had a brain fart or a wild hair up...) and would have detracted from the main reason why I am making such a case...so I bought 6 small ITX cases.

Mountainmods does make back plates that pretty much makes many of their cases support two mobos. I am not sure if they have one that does 3 mobos, but you can talk with them and they can probably custom make one for you.....because I think they do have cases big enough to support 3 to 4 full ATX mobos, you might saccrafice space for radiators, but if you weren't worried about water cooling, that is a non-issue.

http://www.mountainmods.com/computer-cases-ascension-c-21_85.html

Personally, after thinking it over, I thought my 6 builds in 1 case was limiting placement, but three should be no problem.



what would you use for a power supply? a single motherboard needs 500+ watts. 3 motherboards would require 1500 watts. I don't think they make something that big for a pc. plus you would run into heat issues, not to mention a fire hazard. also pc's are not the most reliable computers, so 1 problem will take the whole system down. I think you are much better off with 3 seperate computers.

I am not sure what the OP has planned, but I would assume 3 mostly seperate computers....just in the same case. A single PSU for 3 motherboards would require 3 20/24 pin main connectors, P4 connectors and other things and how much wattage you need depends on what you are running....my alt computers will be using 240w PSU's, but I am sure it can get by with 120w's. Not that a 500w+ PSU is much more expensive then lower wattage PSU's in innitial purchase price, but getting way more wattage then you need is inefficient and will cost you more $$ to use then getting one that is @20% over the wattage you need. Anyway, I don't think I have ever seen a single PSU with connections for more then 1 mobo, so I'd think the OP will be getting three seperate PSU's for each build.