Wired Case Mod Roundup

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Posted by michael on Friday September 12, 2003 @08:30PM from the computers-should-be-used-and-not-seen dept.

tpurcell writes "With the popularity of case modding, here is Wired's round-up of some more extreme mods. From a V8 engine to a 3 burner coffee pot, make way for some great cases."

39 of 172 comments (clear)

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!
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.
1. 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...
2. 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.
1. 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.
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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"Qua!?"
1. 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.
  
  --
  
  Brought to you by the Artificial Idea Factory.
2. 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!
3. 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...
4. 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.
  
  --
  Patriotism is the opium of the masses
5. 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.
  
  --
  Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
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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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 ?
1. Re:Caffeine Machine by LordLucless · 2003-09-12 20:56 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  You're right, should swap over to AMD.
  
  --
  Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
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!
1. 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.
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.
1. 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.
another mod by selderrr · 2003-09-12 20:51 · Score: 5, Informative

the frozen case

--
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...
1. 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.
there are more examples by mantera · 2003-09-12 20:53 · Score: 5, Informative

see more of these mods
Re:Funny by Anonymous Coward · 2003-09-12 20:57 · Score: 3, Funny

Yeah, you're right! The GeForce FX was hillarious!
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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1. 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!
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!
1. 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).
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.

--
IANAL, but I play one on /.
1. 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?"
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!
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".
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!"
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!