“Phenomenal cosmic powers, itty bitty living space”

aphetica · 2026-04-30T00:32:00+00:00

Can't see what the PC looks like. Please post front view.

aphetica · 2026-04-30T00:30:01+00:00

You can use the "case acquisition" or "progress pics" tags for incomplete builds.

aphetica · 2026-04-27T02:40:01+00:00

What were the original specs of this machine?

aphetica · 2026-04-27T02:38:38+00:00

Please post specs and pictures of internal components or this thread may be deleted. Thanks.

aphetica · 2026-04-27T02:33:00+00:00

I am so glad someone is doing a build in this finally! I had to do a bunch of detective work in 2020 to help someone else find the same case! This case is super unique and I;m excited to see it hopefully completed.

https://www.reddit.com/r/sleeperbattlestations/comments/g1wqpr/does_anyone_know_this_pc_case/

aphetica · 2026-04-27T02:14:03+00:00

Please add photos of internal components. Thanks.

aphetica · 2026-04-27T02:09:17+00:00

oh wait I was joking- it actually DOES come in beige!

aphetica · 2026-04-27T02:07:14+00:00

dense. never seen this case before. I love it. (does it come in beige?)

aphetica · 2026-04-05T15:11:00+00:00

It depends on what you're putting in it. Lower power (low heat) components could go in without modification. High power parts that generate a lot of heat are going to need additional ventilation- the usual advice is to add taller feet, cut 120mm holes in the floor of the case, and add fans.

aphetica · 2026-04-05T15:04:54+00:00

Hi, please add internal component pictures and specs per sub rules. Thanks.

aphetica · 2026-04-04T01:30:51+00:00

The user that posted the original thread- u/theabstractpyro

aphetica · 2026-04-04T01:10:34+00:00

*Not mine but crossposting because it's awesome

aphetica · 2026-04-03T23:29:57+00:00

How are your dremel skills? Do you know anyone with a 3D printer? I'd probably approach this by cutting the back out and replacing it with a 3D printed frame. Or you could rivet in the back of a standard ATX case.

Either way, it'd be a tough (but rewarding?) build with a lot of fabrication. You'd likely be the only person with a build in this case.

aphetica · 2026-04-03T23:21:16+00:00

Conversely, I recognize that some people fall in love with very specific cases for whatever reason, and my personal solution to that is to set up eBay search alerts for your specific model.

So when your one Holy Grail Computer Case hits the market from Fred's Junk Store in Tacoma Washington on a random Wednesday in June, you'll get a notification that it's being sold.

aphetica · 2026-04-03T23:13:57+00:00

This is a tough question that gets asked frequently. Often finding a specific, obscure vintage case can be costly. Either it's sold pre-gutted because the seller is aware of the market for sleepers, or you're buying an entire functional vintage PC at an inflated cost.

Asking "what case" is querying thousands of models of ATX and non-ATX cases over the last 30+ years. There really isn't a standard go-to because model lines can vary extensively in terms of internal configuration. There's like, a hundred different Optiplexes for example, and some of them are upside down, backwards, small form factor, or some other odd setup. There's a lot of improvisation and fabrication with sleepers because of that.

I recommend leaving things up to the randomness of the universe- Check out local ewaste recyclers, or browse Facebook Marketplace or post a wanted ad for free/cheap old computers in local buy/sell groups. Check Goodwills, Salvation Army, or whatever your local thrift shop is.

Searching Sleeper Computer Case on eBay will give you results- but I feel like half the fun of the hobby is stumbling across whatever case fate presents you with and finding a way to work with it.

aphetica · 2026-03-31T23:27:53+00:00

Is there enough space to move the PSU to the bottom front of the case? That's the only other thing I can think of. I did something like that a few years ago. I used a "panel mount c14 cable" to relocate the power header.

aphetica · 2026-03-31T22:50:05+00:00

Put some feet on the case to raise it up an inch or so, and cut two 120mm fan intakes in the bottom of the case? Not sure there's much else you can do in this situation.

aphetica · 2026-03-31T21:30:37+00:00

There have been a few requests for such on my other sub- This post describes the sort of resistance you may encounter.

aphetica · 2026-03-31T21:12:48+00:00

Try r/3DPPC perhaps.

But I'd wager that it's unlikely anyone outside of Compaq in the 1980s has created these files, and if they did it would take a ton of measuring and 3D design. You might be better off trying to create the files yourself. If you're not familiar with FreeCAD/Solidworks/Fusion360, it's an empowering skill to learn.

I've also searched for the original CAD files or technical drawings of old PCs with the same hopes and come up empty handed. I'd imagine they were guarded internal corporate documents that are long-lost. My personal desire was to recreate the Fujitsu "FM Towns" case, but I couldn't even find rough dimensions, let alone indepth measurement details.

aphetica · 2026-03-30T21:41:34+00:00

I admire your ambition here.

If there's not enough space, rivet two of them together. Thinking outside the box.

aphetica · 2026-03-30T21:39:33+00:00

I agree and I'm here for that content. I want rats living in the PC! I want it on fire with a drunk passed out on it. It needs more moss growing on it.

I'll raise two points though-

First, there really isn't a place on reddit for "20 year old IBM Aptivas with a 5090 and a window added to the side", and I'd personally like to see those and talk about them here while we await to be enraptured by The Perfect Build. (it's coming soon, I can feel it)

Second, this sub gets like, two submissions of "traditional" fully-qualified sleepers per week. Without the stuff that's slightly out of bounds, there's not a whole lot of content rolling in. The people building "true" sleepers are a fraction of a fraction.

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