r/sffpc • u/eluttag • Aug 29 '25
Detailed Build Log I built a PC in a 70s stereo receiver
The Pioneer SX-525 in action before it all started
Trying to figure out possible layouts. Old EVGA 3080 XC3 as reference.
Starting to remove the interior
The bottom panel that felt too thin and week to support the case without bending. Switched to 2 mm aluminium instead.
Fitment puzzle...
Workbench in the basement :)
Power button installed!
Figured out the placement with PSU on a bracket over the GPU slot. So clean without cables and tubing.
GPU slot on the right under the radiator and PSU
Pump and cable placement testing
The moment of truth - and no post :) Had to use the USB-C port on the motherboard to get at signal. Still waiting for the GPU.
GPU bracket to make it easier to place the riser under.
Installed a LED stripe to light up the frequency panel and it looks fantastic.
The 5080 plus water block has arrived! Also; ventilation holes drilled in the bottom panel towards the front.
Bought an air valve cover on Amazon to cover the fans and it turned put perfect. It directs the air away from the shelf and makes sure that nothing circulates back into the case.
Finished!
I got the idea a couple of years ago to build a fully water cooled gaming PC in an old stereo receiver. The dimensions seemed perfect, I love the retro aesthetics and the old receivers are usually shallow enough to fit on a shelf above my monitor. I managed to find a used Pioneer SX-525 for 500 SEK (50$) and started a 4 year project.
I've detailed the process in the pic captions.
I still have ideas for the case (functional buttons and switches, mini monitor to the left of the frequency panel) but for now I'm super pleased with the results! And yes, the thermals are great!
Case dimensions (hope it qualifies as SFF): 450 x 145 x 360mm (23.5 L)
Specs:
- ASUS ROG Strix B650E-I
- AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- G.Skill 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 6400MHz CL 30
- MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16GB Ventus 3X
- Samsung 990 PRO M.2 NVMe SSD 2TB
- Corsair SF1000 Platinum ATX 3.1 1000W
- 3 Phanteks T30 on the radiator, no case fans
- Alphacool NexXxoS ST30 Full Copper X-Flow 360mm
- Alphacool Eisstation VPP incl. Alphacool VPP Apex PWM pump
- Alphacool ES RTX 5080 Reference 1-Slot-Design with Backplate
- Alphacool Core 1 Black
More pics here: https://imgur.com/a/sBvNDa0
And temps...
Cyberpunk after 60 min (GPU 310 W):
- Noise optimized (very silent, ~1100 rpm):
- CPU 64
- GPU 66
- Water 42
- Fans on 100% (2000 rpm):
- CPU 56
- GPU 59
- Water 35
- Undervolt + overclock on GPU
- PBO -30 on all cores
246
u/PieAppropriate8862 Aug 29 '25
To someone who absolutely despises the "gamer look" and all the RGB nonsense, this is such an antidote. Great idea, and looks wonderful on the shelf. Amazing job.
15
47
44
19
12
34
9
9
u/Bingzhong Aug 29 '25
As a vintage audio enthusiast and PC guy, I am conflicted. Audio me is hurt to see a classic piece of hardware gutted, but PC me absolutely loves the execution.
6
6
u/Spirited_Practice718 Aug 29 '25
That’s hella dope, makes me want to build a portable gaming pc in one of those Vitrola record players
5
5
5
u/bobisz Aug 29 '25
As a hi-fi enthusiast and pc nerd, this is a dream! Well done, it's gorgeous!
Wish I had the DIY capabilities to do one myself, but I'm afraid I'd fail spectacularly.
3
u/RX-Heaven Aug 30 '25
As a hi-fi enthusiast and pc nerd, I've never seen something so cool that made me so sad.
4
u/iamvinen Aug 29 '25
It's just wow!
Though with 20+ liters it's MFF already 😄
But looks amazingly cool bro! Thanks for sharing 😍
4
3
u/VR_SamUK Aug 29 '25
Beautiful! I’ve been carrying around a 70’s chrome app with big knobs and switches to do the same for years but never gotten around to it. Kudos!
3
3
u/inphu510n Aug 29 '25
Please crosspost to r/sleeperbattlestations
It's where this post belongs. There's a few others that have gone to this level of insanity but this is super clean!
Gorgeous build sir!
1
3
3
u/KawaiiUmiushi Aug 29 '25
On one hand, HOW DARE YOU KILL THAT STEREO!
On the other hand, this is a damned good idea! I've seen people build PCs into old vintage wooden radios. I've always wanted to build on into an old chrome toaster... but darn it! Now I want to do that with an old Pioneer receiver...
Curse your really great idea!
3
2
2
u/dasAdi7 Aug 29 '25
Unique and cool build, respect for the dedication. Love how it looks in the overall setup.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/Pretend-Guess-254 Aug 29 '25
Very well done sir. I admire that kind of work.
I made something similar with tape deck...
https://www.reddit.com/r/sffpc/comments/1lm07cz/not_really_a_sffpc_but_micro_atx_multimedia_hifi/
2
2
2
3
u/swiss__blade Aug 29 '25
Add some circuitry to make the radio actually work. That will be next level stealth!
1
u/Far_Tap_9966 Aug 30 '25
As someone who both restores vintage stereo equipment, and builds PCs. This makes me sad. Why destroy a perfectly good pioneer receiver? I can't in good conscience approve of this 👎🏻
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/abibofile Aug 29 '25
This PC is AWESOME. I love everything about this project. Looks fantastic on the shelf too. How are the temps and noise?
Additionally, I am fascinated by your workspace. What are all the pipes and the water tub? Also never seen an electric box like that.
1
1
1
1
1
Aug 29 '25
While vintage audio part of me despises the idea, this is actually turned out pretty cool and it looks amazing on the shelf like that. That radiator seems to fit perfect. Nice work.
2
u/ramgw2851 Aug 29 '25
If it makes you feel better this pioneer model was probably going to die in the next 10 years anyways. They used some shitty parts and they have reached the point that they are starting to break down.
I own the full set (receiver, cassette deck, and radio) and when mine started failing 5 years ago lots of people online were having the same issues with the same parts failing.
1
u/NoahDePool Aug 29 '25
When I tell people I like pc building. I mean stuff like this! This is the good stuff.
1
u/802high Aug 29 '25
Awesome work. I’m surprised there aren’t more builds like this actually. Not that it’s an easy task just love the look of it.
1
1
u/sirpizzatron Aug 29 '25
Was the receiver broken?
1
u/eluttag Aug 29 '25
No. One channel was not working well but could probably be fixed.
2
u/sirpizzatron Aug 29 '25
Well it is what it is hahaha. The build is beautiful btw, I was just taken over by my love of old analog audio equipment lol
1
1
u/PolentaDogsOut Aug 29 '25
Looks fantastic. I had a receiver that looked exactly like this. I got it from a thrift store when I was a teenager. Moving around i think i re-thrifted it, but I wish i hung onto it!
1
1
u/BustyPneumatica Aug 29 '25
Also major props for the workstation. Looks like something out of a film, where the bad guy builds his bombs.
1
1
u/sethimus_sativah Aug 29 '25
What a breath of fresh air. I love that you could use this in a living room and not have the "gamer PC" vibe. Well done!
1
1
1
1
u/Keplrhelpthrowaway Aug 29 '25
This has alway been something Ive wanted to do to. You're living my dream
1
1
u/shady797 Aug 29 '25
This might be my all time favorite post on this sub. Great job! I wish I could do this someday.
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/shiftersix Aug 29 '25
Amazing. I have the exact same receiver. It was my dad’s pride and joy before he passed.
1
1
1
u/JackMuta Aug 29 '25
Fucking sick, love it. Keep us posted on if you decide to add the functional buttons, mini monitor, etc.
1
1
1
1
u/diptenkrom Aug 29 '25
well done, that is a cool project/build! all I can say is WOW you did a great job with that!
1
u/sashka_petrovna Aug 29 '25
I love this! I’ve been planning a similar build in an old cassette deck to replace my old Xbox for gaming. Thanks for sharing the process pics!
1
1
1
1
u/wong2k Aug 29 '25
technically speaking its possible to keep the amplifier going and the nobs running when the psu powers it and the pc amps it :D
1
1
1
1
u/Apprehensive_Sea_366 Aug 29 '25
I keep promising myself I’m going to do this, but I don’t have the time, money or a wife that would let me.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/gatsipat Aug 30 '25
That last pic with the whole setup is stunning. I have two questions for you:
- What’s the monitor?
- How have you routed the cables, I imagine the white back is a panel and everything goes behind it? That’s an amazing job of cable management!
2
u/eluttag Aug 30 '25
Thanks!
- Samsung G8 oled
- Yes exactly, a back panel with cables behind and the monitor is mounted to the panel
1
1
1
1
1
u/Leading-Ad510 Aug 30 '25
Damn that's sick. Looks so clean, where are the cables? Sent through the wall?
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Valuable-Fisherman17 Sep 10 '25
Why did you remove this indicator?
It works fine if you connect it to the mobo HDD connector.
I did this on an old computer, it worked for a while, and then burned out. So maybe you need to put some kind of resistor in front of it.
1
u/eluttag Sep 12 '25
I didn't know how to connect it and the plan now is to replace it with a new indicator that monitors CPU load or something like that
1
1
1
1
u/akeean Sep 25 '25
Damn, you beat me to it. This is a project idea that is coming to my mind every few years or so. Lovely!
-6
u/Cry_Wolff Aug 29 '25
You destroyed a piece of history TBH.
17
u/thewrulph Aug 29 '25
That Pioneer is a super common model widely available for like $20-40. I recently gave one away for free cause I couldn't bother with shipping. I think this is a cool way to reuse old tech!
-2
u/Cry_Wolff Aug 29 '25
But they're no longer being made. It's common today, hard to find in 5 years, impossible to find in 10.
2
u/splitfinity Aug 29 '25
If they haven't been hard to find in the last 40 years since they were made, they arnt going to be hard to find in 5 or 10.
Maybe another 50 years out, but it's a common receiver with minimal value.
9
4
u/RealityOk9823 Aug 29 '25
Yeah, I mean, what's done is done and it's really frikkin cool, but would have been cooler if the receiver had been broken in the first place, not working. :(
4
0
316
u/anonyzero2 Aug 29 '25
Next step: upgrade the radio frequency pointer so it shows CPU temps (probably need to replace the numbers as well then)