Raspberry Pi 5 case - Retro tower desktop

A retro style beige Raspberry Pi 5 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

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

- Add header pins to jumper J2 (right between USB-C connector and HDMI-0). These are for the power button.

- Tap threads for all screws. You may be able to tap threads by forcing the screws into the holes.

- 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).

- 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.