Wired Case Mod Roundup

Here's an extreme case mod idea by Dancin_Santa · 2003-09-12 20:33 · Score: 5, Funny

Small, light, inconspicuous, and doesn't have any extraneous crap sticking out of it.

Oh, the iMac G4? Damn, I thought I had a surefire winner there!

Re:Here's an extreme case mod idea by cosmo7 · 2003-09-13 01:14 · Score: 2, Funny

Remember to switch opinion when the idea is adopted by the mainstream, cf: the mouse, WIMP interface, multiple monitor support, track pads, not beige, USB, etc.

Funny by Amomynos+Coward · 2003-09-12 20:34 · Score: 2, Interesting

The funniest casemod I have seen was a FlexATX sized mobo stuffed inside an old vacuum cleaner. With the small old fan it actually also souded like one.

Re:Funny by Anonymous Coward · 2003-09-12 20:57 · Score: 3, Funny

Yeah, you're right! The GeForce FX was hillarious!
Re:Funny by TeknoHog · 2003-09-13 00:47 · Score: 2, Funny

a FlexATX sized mobo stuffed inside an old vacuum cleaner.
Did it use Windows for suction?

--
Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.

coffee machine by product+byproduct · 2003-09-12 20:34 · Score: 5, Funny

Now the cd-rom drive REALLY doubles as a coffee cup holder.

Re:coffee machine by benpeter · 2003-09-12 20:59 · Score: 3, Insightful

Doesn't anybody else think that the idea of a hot liquid co-habiting with expensive electronic equipment is mildly misguided.
And the modder's wondering why whenever he brews a cup of the good stuff his machine locks up...
Re:coffee machine by LanceTaylor · 2003-09-13 01:04 · Score: 3, Insightful

In addition, I think that the steam from the new pot brewing is going to cause problems with his drives that are located above it.

Marketing by sinjayde · 2003-09-12 20:34 · Score: 4, Insightful

It would be great to see some of these cases marketed. I would be more than willing to pay a reasonable amount of money for one of these cases, as they look very cool indeed. Of course I guess that would defeat the point of these guys going to the huge amount of trouble to create these impressive cases, but still, there has to be some money to be made there, if marketed correctly.

Re:Marketing by Anonymous Coward · 2003-09-12 21:11 · Score: 5, Insightful

If these cases were marketed this would set their appeal to zero. The point is having something different from anyone else because you designed and built it (and had a lot of fun doing it), not because you spent more than anyone else is going to spend to buy it.
Thet's the exact reason why a real motorcycle lover would never buy a Harley Davidson today.
Re:Marketing by EpsCylonB · 2003-09-13 00:41 · Score: 2, Interesting

There are some interesting cases availiable, for instance I have an iTee case. There are interesting cases out there to be had, saying that while I am not completely unsatisfied with the i-Tee I am not sure I would buy one again, there are lots of great design features but also lots of little niggles.
Re:Marketing by cbreaker · 2003-09-13 03:44 · Score: 2, Interesting

I dunno. I lean more towards the simple box that sits on the floor or desk over these monstrosities.

I do like the brushed aluminum cases; they are nice looking boxes and disperse heat more effeciently. I have a nice looking CoolerMaster case for my main workstation, it's all aluminum, easy to work with, and has a green plexiglass door in the front.

That's about as far as I like to go with case styles.

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- It's not the Macs I hate. It's Digg users. -
Re:Marketing by TheFlyingGoat · 2003-09-13 05:02 · Score: 2

While I agree with the concept of your post, I disagree with the HD analogy. I've lived within 30 miles of Milwaukee my whole life and LOVE the machines. I've never been able to afford one until now, since the prices are falling now that the 100th aniversary is past. So, for a real HD lover, today is one of the best days to get a bike. :)

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You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. --Winston Churchill

Still waiting... by PakProtector · 2003-09-12 20:35 · Score: 5, Funny

...to see Gabe and Tycho make a computer inside someone's hollowed out skull. Any PA fans in the house?

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Edward@Tomato - /home/Edward/ man woman
man: no entry for woman in the manual.
"Qua!?"

Re:Still waiting... by jade42 · 2003-09-12 21:55 · Score: 3, Funny

Hmmm, but the question is: who's skull should it be?

I have it! John Romero's.

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Brought to you by the Artificial Idea Factory.
Re:Still waiting... by netsharc · 2003-09-12 22:24 · Score: 3, Insightful

How about Darl McBride's skull, and those from other SCO execs?

And if you run GNU/Linux on them, then it would be an interpretation of "Linux is our intellectual property!" blather they've been puking out.. :)

So who wants to come head-hunting at SCO?

--
What time is it/will be over there? Check with my iPhone app!
Re:Still waiting... by paulcammish · 2003-09-12 23:14 · Score: 5, Funny

...who's skull should it be? I have it! John Romero's.
You have John Romeros skull?!?!
I think he might be wanting that back...
Re:Still waiting... by EkiM+in+De · 2003-09-12 23:57 · Score: 3, Funny

Removing their skulls will make no difference; the SCO execs seem to be rather headless at the moment anyway.

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Patriotism is the opium of the masses
Re:Still waiting... by gmhowell · 2003-09-13 03:47 · Score: 3, Funny

I think he might be wanting that back...

Why? He doesn't carry anything useful in there. He could be reprogrammed with a small computer to say things like:

I'm hungry.
I'd like a cup of tea.
Look at the tits on my girlfriend.
I'm gonna make you my bitch.

A very simple computer at that.

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Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
Re:Still waiting... by FyRE666 · 2003-09-13 05:21 · Score: 2, Informative

Hmmm, but the question is: who's skull should it be?

I would have said Darl McBrides', but the bone is probably so thick you'd have trouble fitting anything larger than a single 186 CPU in there...

Actually, that explains a lot...

--
Code, Hardware, stuff like that.
Re:Still waiting... by Little+Brother · 2003-09-13 05:34 · Score: 2, Informative

Darl McBride. Of course, we'd have to use a crusoe processor, as a pentium and cooling system wouldn't fit.

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Little Brother, watching the watchers

Personal favorite by afidel · 2003-09-12 20:42 · Score: 3, Interesting

My personal favorite was a single board computer and CDROM stuffed into a model funnycar, you would lift the hood to insert or remove the CD's.

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There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.

Caffeine Machine by perttu · 2003-09-12 20:44 · Score: 5, Funny

Do the dual P-III CPUs produce enough heat to keep the coffee warm ?

Re:Caffeine Machine by LordLucless · 2003-09-12 20:56 · Score: 5, Funny

You're right, should swap over to AMD.

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Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face

A more appropriate title would be by arvindn · 2003-09-12 20:44 · Score: 2, Interesting

Weird Case Mod Roundup :-)

Took so long it was obsolete... by tinrobot · 2003-09-12 20:47 · Score: 5, Funny

The shiny aluminum one is my favorite...

SPECS: 350-MHz Intel Pentium II, 256 Mbytes RAM, 4-Gbyte Ultrawide SCSI hard disk

COST: $84 in scrap aluminum, abrasives, screws, and LEDs; $1,800 in computer components

TIME: 100 hours over two years

By the time he finished it, the computer was obsolete. Right on!

Re:Took so long it was obsolete... by Bios_Hakr · 2003-09-13 00:35 · Score: 2, Funny

Hope that thing was ATX compliant...

--
I'd rather you do it wrong, than for me to have to do it at all.
Re:Took so long it was obsolete... by The+Almighty+Dave · 2003-09-13 01:57 · Score: 3, Funny

He should have made the case first. Then the computer components would have cost him less than a couple hundred dollars.
Re:Took so long it was obsolete... by mesach · 2003-09-13 04:52 · Score: 2, Funny

WHAT? that thing was obsolete the day he bought it. C'mon you know better than that.

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moo.

Subtle case mods/Hidden wiring by Anonymous Coward · 2003-09-12 20:47 · Score: 5, Interesting

Has anyone seen any case mods with really clever design in them, such as subtle quiet simple cooling, or my favourite, hidden wiring?

The objective behind auto hidden wiring projects is to have as little or no wiring, cabling, tubing or piping visible. When you get inside the car or look under the hood you see JUST the engine, and nothing else. It looks empty and oversimplistic. Often needing some awesome innovation in just moving parts about.

I'd like to see more of the same in case design. Seeing an open case with edges smoothed, and a motherboard just sitting there with barely a cable or lead running off haphazardly to a bunch of drivers powered by more power leads just thrown about. Having those cables routed impeccably tidily looks stunning.

I've been working on one for a few months after thinking the idea over. It's slow going, I don't have the time to get it done quickly, but it should look quite stunning when it's finished.

Re:Subtle case mods/Hidden wiring by Sparr0 · 2003-09-12 21:48 · Score: 5, Interesting

You can build your own ultra-flat replacement connectors for every cable attached to the motherboard and connect them to the BACK of the board, completely hidden. I had to do it once for the power connector because my case was arranged oddly enough that the cord couldnt get to the normal plug.
Re:Subtle case mods/Hidden wiring by hamster+foo · 2003-09-12 21:48 · Score: 2, Informative

I'm not a Mac fan by any stretch, but the G5 has very little visible wiring from the pictures I've seen and has probably the best looking internals of any system I've ever seen. Although, it isn't exactly a mod. =)

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- b
Re:Subtle case mods/Hidden wiring by xyote · 2003-09-13 01:50 · Score: 2, Insightful

That's one of my standard rants. You need power supplies without all that spagetti wiring. This place sells modded powersupplies with removeable cabling (voids the mfgr's warranty though). It would really be nice to have a powersupply with SATA power connectors built in.
Re:Subtle case mods/Hidden wiring by red+floyd · 2003-09-13 03:11 · Score: 2, Informative

just count how many times could light (or electricity) cross a PC case during one cycle of 2GHZ CPU

Easy way to remember. 1ns = 1foot. So during 1 cycle of a 2GHz CPU, light travels 6 inches.

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The only reason we have the rights we have is that people just like us died to gain those rights. -- Cheerio Boy

argh by mantera · 2003-09-12 20:48 · Score: 2, Interesting

That v8 engine is sure ugly.

Does anyone know whether those small mini-itx or via epia boards are any good for clustering? Can i build a linux cluster out of them? It sounds like that could be fun, especially that they're pretty small, inexpensive, consume very little energy, and are quiet.

does anyone have any links about that?

another mod by selderrr · 2003-09-12 20:51 · Score: 5, Informative

the frozen case

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When will I end this grieving ? When will my future begin ?

Monitor mods? by tinrobot · 2003-09-12 20:53 · Score: 5, Insightful

I always see case mods, but the fact of the matter is that most cases are tucked away under desks where people can't see them. The monitor, however, is always on top of the desk, front and center.

I'm wondering if anyone is doing monitor mods. Maybe the high voltages scare people off... but then again, the possibility of deadly shock might make the art of monmodding even more extreme...

I personally would love a monitor that looks like a Philco Predicta...

Re:Monitor mods? by questamor · 2003-09-12 21:11 · Score: 5, Interesting

Applefritter has one that's an original iMac pullled to pieces, and modded into a 21" monitor.

Looks a bit odd from some angles, but it's kind of appealing.
Re:Monitor mods? by baryon351 · 2003-09-12 21:19 · Score: 2, Interesting

I don't know if this was a real apple product released or a true case mod but someone did a widescreen mac SE/30. I can't imagine trying to source one of the widescreen 9 inch displays

there are more examples by mantera · 2003-09-12 20:53 · Score: 5, Informative

see more of these mods

Okay, now take it a step further.... by ChrisHanel · 2003-09-12 21:00 · Score: 5, Funny

I've seen case mods done inside a Millenium Falcon, Ice cooler, Vending Machine, and now an *ATARI*? I bow to the almighty mod gods with one request:

A mod done inside a Commodore 64/128, please! Extra points for turning a VIC-20 tape deck into a firewire drive. :)

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Re:Okay, now take it a step further.... by Cliffy03 · 2003-09-12 21:12 · Score: 5, Informative

How about a "Commodore 64 @933" and an ITX-64

--
In Soviet Russia, Nigel makes plans for you!
Re:Okay, now take it a step further.... by ruprechtjones · 2003-09-12 22:18 · Score: 2, Informative

Don't forget the Imperial Star Destroyer case mod. wow, overkill and too much time on his hands.

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Kip Hawley is an idiot.

Caffeine Machine also Refrigerates by serutan · 2003-09-12 21:20 · Score: 5, Funny

It gets better. According to the Caffeine Machine website the CPU refrigeration system also cools a compartment big enough for a 6-pack of Mountain Dew. Sah-weet!

Re:Caffeine Machine also Refrigerates by rewdy · 2003-09-12 22:00 · Score: 3, Informative

not to nit-pick, but the cpu/mountain dew refrigeration system is being planned for the second version of the caffeine machine, not the current version. either way, i certainly hope he posts a more in-depth page of how it was constructed for anyone wanting to make thier own. i'm thinking about it, so i locally mirrored this page for when i get around to it. it's in russian, but it has enough pictures to answer most questions.

Case mods are the new pornography... by zecg · 2003-09-12 21:23 · Score: 4, Interesting

And this guy here just might be the new Ron Jeremy.

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Loads more mods here by JamesTRexx · 2003-09-12 21:37 · Score: 5, Informative

At mini-itx.com are loads of mods for the VIA mini ITX platform.

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home

My personal favourite by vevva · 2003-09-12 21:53 · Score: 5, Informative

My personal favourite is www.digitaltables.co.uk - a PC hidden away in a very cool retro gaming cabinet.

Case mods == Plastic car body kits by fondue · 2003-09-12 22:10 · Score: 3, Insightful

I would like to see, one day, somebody build a computer case to look aesthetically pleasing, and not like a pile of melted action figures with chrome fins.

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Whole PC in regular PC PSU by Jon+Evans · 2003-09-12 22:33 · Score: 3, Interesting

I think this one is pretty cool. It's built into a PC PSU, which is then installed back into a normal beige case. The case is otherwise empty (apart from a 70's disco ball, as if it wasn't surreal enough already).

Shiny Aluminium, 350 MHz, $1800???? by Nova+Express · 2003-09-12 22:45 · Score: 2, Funny

SPECS: 350-MHz Intel Pentium II, 256 Mbytes RAM, 4-Gbyte Ultrawide SCSI hard disk

COST: $84 in scrap aluminum, abrasives, screws, and LEDs; $1,800 in computer components

$1800 for a 350 MHz Pentium II? Did you perchance ride a short bus to school every day?

"The horrible beige box drove me to it." Uh, I know this may come as a shock to you, but there's a cure for that now. And it is a hell of a lot faster than 350 MHz...

--
Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

http://www.lawrenceperson.com/

Re:Shiny Aluminium, 350 MHz, $1800???? by parkanoid · 2003-09-13 01:45 · Score: 3, Funny

That particular system has been around for a while, at least two years I would say - saw it linked from overclockers.com forums first. Add the two years it took him to make it, and you're back in the PII era.

I personally find it offensive that you refer someone creative enough to create an original, extremely cool and quite functional (aluminum is far better for transferring heat into the outside air than steel) case from $84 worth of junk, as "riding the short bus".

Great if true by Matrix2110 · 2003-09-12 23:08 · Score: 2, Insightful

I love the concepts, but was put off by the non-realistic photographs, I guess I am a cynic.

I got an idea for a simple case mod. by t0qer · 2003-09-12 23:41 · Score: 2, Interesting

Epia boards are so small, you could fit one INSIDE a monitor. Take that Imac!

not too extreme by boarder · 2003-09-12 23:51 · Score: 4, Interesting

Besides the V8 and the Keg one, I wouldn't say these are too extreme. This guy has some real case mods. In my opinion, if you aren't building the case from scratch, it's not really extreme.

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IANAL, but I play one on /.

Re:not too extreme by FroBugg · 2003-09-13 00:26 · Score: 5, Insightful

But if you're building it from scratch, can you really call it a "mod?"

Ummmmm... YEAH by EMDischarge · 2003-09-13 00:31 · Score: 2, Interesting

A little quote from the guy who built the Alien model.

"And it's a tribute to more innocent times, to movies I saw as a child, like Star Wars and Alien."

Um, how old was this guy when he say Alien? I mean, that wouldn't have been a movie I would want my kids to see. At the time I remember it being one of the most damn scary movies I had ever seen...

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Quintus malus puer est.

Re:Ummmmm... YEAH by Andrewkov · 2003-09-13 03:21 · Score: 3, Funny

Um, how old was this guy when he say Alien? I mean, that wouldn't have been a movie I would want my kids to see.
Yeah, good thing he didn't turn out weird after seeing Alien as a kid!

Shit! by Cpt_Kirks · 2003-09-13 01:29 · Score: 3, Funny

These all make my portable mini-itx box, built into a $5.99 Kmart tool box (painted beige, of course), look kinda lame.

Of course, my oldest son still insists it's the coolest thing I've ever built.

D'oh!

This is the legacy of the bongheads by ymgve · 2003-09-13 02:43 · Score: 3, Funny

1970: "Bet I can make a bong out of that!"

2003: "Bet I can make a casemod out of that!"

Sweet Mod by SportyGeek · 2003-09-13 03:01 · Score: 2

This is another sweet case mod. I especially like his silver '90 Pontiac computer chair. http://www.inmodwetrust.com/articles.php?author=1& page=view&id=7

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