Raspberry Pi 4 case - Retro tower desktop

thingiverse

A retro style beige Raspberry Pi 4 tower case. It has a working power button, LED, and IO activity LED. The SD/microSD card can be inserted like a floppy disk to swap between different operating systems. It also has 2 HDMI ports, audio jack, and USB-C power on the rear of the case. There is space for a 40mm exhaust fan and a 40mm or 50mm front intake fan. There is also enough space for a large cooler like the ICE tower. NOTE: There is now a slightly improved V2 of the case. Changes: Added version of case that is 1.5cm taller Increased hole size for push button Added hex cutout to use the included nut for a push button Moved wall ridges to prevent interference with tall connections on GPIO #Parts needed (links at the end): Micro SD to SD Card extender: 1 Micro HDMI to HDMI Adapter Cable: 2 Panel-Mount USB-C Extention Cable: 1 40mm 5V fan (for exhaust): 1 Low-Profile CPU Cooler or ICE Tower Cooler: 1 SPST Momentary Mini Push Button: 1 5mm LED with resistor: 1 3mm LED with resistor: 1 \#6-32 UNC thumbscrew (standard PC case screw): 2 \#6-32 UNC screw or M3 screw (standard PC case screw): 6 various wire/header connectors (for connecting fans/LEDs/power button) Optional: Front 5V 40mm/50mm fan: 1 (note: I've not needed this even when overclocking the Raspberry Pi) Noctua NF-A4x10 to replace CPU Cooler fan: 1 Panel-Mount 3.5mm AUX Male to Female Extension Cable: 1 (note: pre-made cables may be too long and should be shortened.) #Assembly instructions #### Prepare all parts note: any places that require screwing plastic parts together can be replaced with glue if you are way too confident/lazy. * Print out all parts with whatever material/color you would like. * (optional but helpful) Use a thread tap on all screw holes #### Start Assembly * Tap threads for push button. If you don't have a tap, you can use the push button to create the threads. You may need to use a file to help make sure the push button fits if you don't have a tap. * Press fit 3mm LED into the main case. Glue can be added, but the press fit should hold it fine. * Press fit 5mm LED into the main case. Glue can be added, but shouldn't be needed. * Put SD card extender in the SD card tray and attach to the case with screws or glue. This may require a long screw driver that can reach through the fan grill or a very short one that will fit in the case. This is easer to do before anything else is in the way. * (Optional) Attach front fan with screws * Screw/Glue in front panel. Make sure LEDs are visible and the push button does not get stuck. * Put HDMI adaptors in the HDMI holder, but don't mount it in the case. #### Connect wires to the GPIO Header * (Optional) Make a simple splitter for the CPU/Case fan(s). I have the fans connected to 3.3V (pin 1) and ground (pin 9). The fans can use a 3.3V or 5V pin for power and any unused ground. * The push button goes across pin5/pin6 (polarity doesn't matter). * The power LED goes to pin8(+) and pin14(-). * The GPIO LED goes to pin37(+) and pin39(-). * Connect all wires, connectors, and micro SD card extender to the raspberry pi before carefully placing it in the case. At this point all cables/extenders should be connected to the Raspberry pi, but not the case. (note: if using the ICE or low profile heatsinks, they should not be attached at this point) #### Finish Assembly * Use the brass spacers/mounts/standoffs from the cooler to screw the Raspberry PI to the case. These 4 brass pieces should now be going through the Raspberry Pi's mount points into the case. * Add thermal paste or the thermal pad to the processor and attach the CPU cooler with the included screws. * Screw in the HDMI Holder. * Screw in the USB-C extender * Screw in the Audio jack * Attach the rear exhaust fan. * Slide the side panel on and add thumb screws #### config.txt setting * (Optional over clock setting -- Use at your own risk) \# overclock arm_64bit=1 hdmi_enable_4kp60=1 over_voltage=15 arm_freq_min=100 arm_freq=2350 gpu_freq=750 gpu_mem=512 * Enable GPIO LED and IO activity LED \# Additional overlays and parameters are documented /boot/overlays/README dtoverlay=act-led,gpio=19 enable_uart=1 * Enable the power button: https://github.com/Howchoo/pi-power-button https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YHN83NJ or https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06X3Y4BBB https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07K21HSQX https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B075R7QBQD https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NEMGCIA https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07V35SXMC or https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07ZV1LLWK https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B075LDGHHS/ or any similar button https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B08G4WXFX1/ or https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B08G4XC341 https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07X622RJN or (preferably) make your own. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R9KN46J (these fans work well, but are a bit loud even at 3.3V) https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CQPJJXY or https://www.walmart.com/ip/3ft-3-5mm-Mini-Stereo-TRS-Male-to-Female-Panel-Mount-Extension-Cable/248859634 or make your own https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01C3RFHDC Although this case was made from scratch, I was inspired by this case by nilly667: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4362798