Wood motherboard tray??

[Saibot]

I've noticed for alot of custom case mods, people generally dremmel out the motherboard tray from some old case they dont want... But i was actually wondering... why people dont use WOOD?

I'm starting my own custom case mod and i need a motherboard tray. Unfortunately, i dont have an old ATX case lying around (i got afew crappy BTX cases ), so i thought of drilling holes into a piece of plywood and mounting a motherboard onto it.

Just wondering... What are the advantages/disadvantages of using a piece of wood as a motherboard tray? Is it because theres no clearance between the wood and the mobo so that air doesnt flow through? or is it because the screws serve as grounding points for the mobo?

[bojangles]

Risk of fire? I dunno. I think aluminum and steel provide much better support for your electronics with minimal thickness, which is why people prefer it over wood. That is why cases are made out of it in the first place.

I wouldn't use wood, personally. Sounds too sketchy for me.

[Saibot]

actually, on another forum, someone pointed out the fact that wood soaks up water O_O

well... i guess the quest for a crappy atx case for under 10 dollars begins!

[Silvgearx]

well, i have my rig running on a wooden board for over a month now, no fire or leakage yet

I have seen people have there PC in drawers

[Phobia]

There was someone on here (at least, i think it was on here) who was making a whole case out of wood. I don't think that it would soak up enough water to risk damaging your parts.

[3 of 7]

I am wondering about the mobo mounting holes that have traces going to them, there must be a reason they are grounded..

[Silvgearx]

hmm interesting facts 3of7

i always though the black cables from the PSU helps with the grounding

[MpG]

There shouldn't be any issue with a wooden motherboard tray. Or if there is, keep it quiet, before my tray hears about it.

No real disadvantages come to mind. Similar to a non-metal case, you have a potential EMF issue, depending on whether there's anything sensitive nearby. I understand that some jacks on the back of the motherboard need the metal tines grounding them, although I'm not sure about the specifics, since I haven't run into issues with anything I've plugged in yet.

If you're trying to put it in a case, you'll have trouble getting the wood thin enough to have the proper height so that the expansion cards slot in properly, although this is obviously a moot point on an open bench.

Edit: Oh yeah, can't think where it was, but 3oh6 posted a pic of his benching "board", and if memory serves me right, it was completely metal-free. Not styrofoam free, however.

[Silvgearx]

wow really nice MpG

are those 140mm fan holders there?

and i find that on an open bench with blowing fans, it has lower temps and lesser noise

[MpG]

Thanks. It's drilled for 120mm fans, but the holes are large enough that I could drill for 140's easily enough. As it's turning out, a pair of 800rpm fans is keeping my chipset and memory dead cool, so I don't think the upgrade is going to be needed.