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PC case modding...

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:47 pm
by 444 FED
Since I seem to think I don't have enough projects, and want to add yet another one to my already long list of incomplete/slowly working on projects, I've been wanting to come up with a creative case for my PC, will probably not use it until I get a new MoBo, so there's no real rush for it.

Well I've tried some searching with mixed results. Most Google search results show me websites where you can buy case "modding" parts. :roll: Not even close to what I want.

I have found thebestcasescenario.com, which has some pretty creative cases on it, and have known about mini-itx.com for a while. It's the idea of these cases that I want to go with on my endevour here, something from scratch, something unique.

So I'm looking for some inspiration, for some sites that have other cases pictured, maybe even some details on the more complex mods, like remote controlled doors and lighting and such.

I have a few ideas in mind, but want something that won't take up a lot of room, but would still be a conversation piece.

I am leaning towards a picture frame design, where the PC hangs on the wall, in front of my desk. Not reall pretty, but keeps it out of the way. Have also thought about building a shelf that housed all the parts, that way it can serve another pactical purpose than just surfing the net. ;) :lol:

I can't find any amplifier cases large and thick anough to house everything, unless I use all onboard stuff, whihc I don't want to do, since I do want dual monitors.

Hey what about taking a CRT monitor, replacing the screen with an LCD, and using the back half to house the PC, would be sort of like an iMac, but for Windoze. :lol: call it the iDoze?

Give me some suggestions, ans links to sites if you have any.

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:57 pm
by fuzzysnuggleduck
Unique and case modding are hard to put in the same sentence.

People have been doing this for a long time trying to be unique so it's hard to get ideas from people involved that haven't already been tried.

Not saying it's impossible, but as I'm sure you know a lot of things have been done to death and I understand you don't want something that's been done before.

Look around your place. Is there anything dead or not being used that could house a PC? Finding old items is often one of the coolest ways to build a custom PC instead of sitting around thinking about what is cool.

If the PC is decently powered, cooling is also an issue.

Of course, I realize I haven't been helpful in the least, I'm just babbling.

I was going to build a mini-ITX system into an SGI O2 case that I had but I realized that this was never going to happen so I gave up and got rid of the case.

Cigar PC cases are popular because they look nice. NES and other such cases are done to death because of the geek factor. Home theater stuff, too, for the integrated look.

Hmmmmm.[/i]

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:15 pm
by Wakeup
http://www.computerpoweruser.com/editor ... F80c11.asp

One of my friends Nathan "clamdip" husky placed in the case modding contest...

There was a case mod winner that won 2500 in cash.
His was called the Autopsy computer case (Not my buddy's case). It is featured on the front page of the computer power user mag which you might be able to see in the link above. I'll see if I can get some pictures. The autopsy case, had included fiber optic cables that lit up, and water cooling for veins of one arm in the manekin just to give you some ideas of what was in it. Pretty cool looking. I didnt get a good view of it just pictures. Pretty sweet...and hard to beat. Very unique.

Re: PC case modding...

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:19 pm
by Wakeup
444 FED wrote:Since I seem to think I don't have enough projects, and want to add yet another one to my already long list of incomplete/slowly working on projects, I've been wanting to come up with a creative case for my PC, will probably not use it until I get a new MoBo, so there's no real rush for it.

Well I've tried some searching with mixed results. Most Google search results show me websites where you can buy case "modding" parts. :roll: Not even close to what I want.

I have found thebestcasescenario.com, which has some pretty creative cases on it, and have known about mini-itx.com for a while. It's the idea of these cases that I want to go with on my endevour here, something from scratch, something unique.



So I'm looking for some inspiration, for some sites that have other cases pictured, maybe even some details on the more complex mods, like remote controlled doors and lighting and such.

I have a few ideas in mind, but want something that won't take up a lot of room, but would still be a conversation piece.

I am leaning towards a picture frame design, where the PC hangs on the wall, in front of my desk. Not reall pretty, but keeps it out of the way. Have also thought about building a shelf that housed all the parts, that way it can serve another pactical purpose than just surfing the net. ;) :lol:

I can't find any amplifier cases large and thick anough to house everything, unless I use all onboard stuff, whihc I don't want to do, since I do want dual monitors.

Hey what about taking a CRT monitor, replacing the screen with an LCD, and using the back half to house the PC, would be sort of like an iMac, but for Windoze. :lol: call it the iDoze?

Give me some suggestions, ans links to sites if you have any.
Oh and as far as modding a monitor...knew a kid who went to the same lan party as the link suggested above in my first post (PDX LAN).

He made a cube case with two rigs in it. one AMD and the othe rinte. Modded half of it green, the other half blue. Cut AMD insignias and intel on the respective sides etc. Was pretty sweet. But to go with he modded a monitor cut windows, added fans and lights to the monitor as well. Was really sweet looking. He was a metal fabricator. And had made alot of emblems and fan grils and such for Danger den and such. Brilliant kid, just too bad tho, he committed suicide a year ago ish....


Was too bad, he was going to make me a PG ZOPTOP for my Battery and a license plate frame. But he killed himself....suxors
he was really good!

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:40 pm
by Wakeup
in fact one of the modded cases was done....twelth picture down...
http://www.gruntville.com/phpBB2/viewto ... d3638bd0ba

Says: Powered by intel etc...and has a bunch of emblems on it...those were all waterjet cutted or something like that.

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:18 pm
by Wakeup
http://www.dangerden.com/forums/viewtop ... ght=malice

In one of the pictures there's a computer case with a danger den Fan grill...the kid that killed himself made it.

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:56 pm
by 444 FED
I saw this one a few years ago, and is basically what started me on thinking about doing something like. At the time I only had a laptop, so it didn't make sense to build a case like this for a lap top. :lol:

http://www011.upp.so-net.ne.jp/kat/

He has a few other cool PC cases:

http://www011.upp.so-net.ne.jp/kat/

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:03 pm
by Wakeup
Ya that maya human case looks similar to Autopsy. However Autopsy had the lights and the water cooled to go with.
Awesome to see an arm with veins in the inside. One vein red...one vein blue....watercooling the system and all those lights etc.

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:21 am
by joyride
Check out Xoxide forums, they may have some suggestions or lead you to some cool cases.
http://www.xoxideforums.com/
There is a lot of standard case swapping mods, but there are also some really creative ones.

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 3:07 pm
by rlockwood
bit-tech.net forums has a good project logs section

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 6:31 pm
by 444 FED
joyride wrote:Check out Xoxide forums, they may have some suggestions or lead you to some cool cases.
http://www.xoxideforums.com/
There is a lot of standard case swapping mods, but there are also some really creative ones.
I was looking at that site last night from you posting it, some pretty coll cases, I especially like the MAX PC case. :)