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.
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
Printer:
Qidi X Max
Rafts:
Supports:
Resolution:
Infill:
Filament brand:
LEE FUNG
Filament color:
Wood
Filament material:
ABS
Notes:
You may not need supports, but it can help for the long overhangs.
screenshot-www.thingiverse.com-2022.02.23-15_22_12-a3cc45d1
screenshot-www.thingiverse.com-2022.02.23-15_23_03-3e9d81ad
screenshot-www.thingiverse.com-2022.02.23-15_23_41-3e9d81ad- https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5215750
- Xavior93
- Raspberry_PI_4_Retro_Case_SD_Tray-203fdc4d
Raspberry_PI_4_Retro_Case_SD_Tray-203fdc4d -
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