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"How much weight can it hold?"

Started 6/15/2007 by Peter Robert Green in The Lounge Forum      (7 posts)  

7/26/2005 (3:46 am) by Whiskers    

(1964 Posts)

Hey guys, I've got an older ATX desktop case, 1/4 inch sheet of plywood, and a 17 inch CRT monitor on it. The question is how much weigh are these desktop cases designed to support? Its a few years old, definately NOT a Theater ATX case, its an Antec steel case, complete with a middle support bar. I've had the monitor sitting on it for several months, but have had the sheet of plywood on for extra support. Is the case strong enough on its own to withstand the weight of a 17 inch CRT monitor?

I'd definatly never try this with those tiny desktop cases that I've seen HP put out... :P


7/26/2005 (11:30 am) by Peter Robert Green    

Peter Robert Green
(1260 Posts)

In the olden times, when only real geeks had tower cases, we all had our 14" monitors sitting on top of the case.

Although I think the gauge of the steel has slightly declined, the span of the case has also been reduced as cases have become smaller. Also, the way a case bolts together, it forms a fairly rigid structure, and can bear a good load.

We also had Dell GX150s (IIRC) at work for a couple of years, supporting 15" monitors.

I think you could dispense with the plywood, but watch for buckling as you ease the weight of the monitor onto it.

It is natural for there to be some give in the box, so you might see the top bow down slightly. The problem is when either (1) a crease forms, which allows the box to crumple rapidly as the crease deepens and spreads across the surface or (2) where the steel is deformed beyond its elastic limit, when it just keeps on stretching.


8/1/2005 (12:51 pm) by Peter Robert Green    

Peter Robert Green
(1260 Posts)

I notice that the next item in the index for The Parlor is about becoming a computer engineer. Should we refer him to this topic, and suggest he study bending moments?

There are computer engineers and computer engineers...



8/2/2005 (1:22 am) by Whiskers    

(1964 Posts)

Chuckles, perhaps. Design a case that can withstand a 22 inch CRT monitor. Parts for it would be the metal from a sherman tank. Sturdy, durable, and bullet proof :P


8/4/2005 (1:48 pm) by Peter Robert Green    

Peter Robert Green
(1260 Posts)

I hear that the US military in Iraq is scavenging all the bits of sherman tanks they can get so as to bomb-proof their hummers...


8/4/2005 (5:11 pm) by Whiskers    

(1964 Posts)

Actually they are are blast, well mine proof, in a sort. The military humvees have blast shields under then, which weighs a great deal. The civilian versions dont have blast plates are are much lighter, but have the same engines, allowing them to go much faster than the military versions, but however they have a govenor on them to cap their speed. (of course in theory you could remove the govennor......


8/5/2005 (12:18 pm) by Peter Robert Green    

Peter Robert Green
(1260 Posts)

According to Time Magazine a few weeks ago, some of them are blast- (well, mine-) proof. A lot have had to be upgraded in the field, and that hasn't contributed greatly to military morale.

Of course, no one would be so uncouth as to disable the governor on a civilian Humvee, would they?