Modding pc cases: Case Modding Gallery | TechPowerUp

modDIY Home Page — PC Modding, Case Mods, Custom Cables

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A beginner’s guide to case modding

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Building a PC is easier than ever. Even if you’re a complete newcomer, you can follow a guide like ours and have a PC up and running in a couple hours. But building that PC is just step one. Step two is making it beautiful.

If you lust after a PC that exudes style (and dazzling lights), it’s time to dip your toes into the world of case modding. It’s not as complicated as it sounds. Modding can be as involved as building custom parts, or as simple as a new paint job.

Either way, case modding can quickly become addictive. Once you start, it’s difficult to stop. To ease your way into the modding world, here are some of our favorite components and techniques for blinging out your PC—no major case surgery required.

GPU

The GPU takes centre stage in a gaming build, so making the right choice is a critical first step to creating the look you want. Some GPUs are easier to modify than others. The MSI GTX 960 4G is a great choice for modding thanks to its LED logo, which will brighten up your system. With coloured glass paint , you can change that glow to fit your rig. And if you want to get more advanced, you can buy a single 12v LED online for as little as a dollar, then re-wire the graphics card’s LED with the LED of your choosing.

The second modifiable element here is the cooler; simply remove the screws to release the cooler for painting. Any paint will do, but use automotive spraypaints for best results: they’re tougher and withstand heat more effectively than Plastikote paints.

RAM

There are some crazy RAM modifications out there, but matching your RAM color to the rest of your build is a good starting point. We recommend the Blitz series from Avexir . Avexir Blitz has LED-topped RAM available in a wide range of colours and includes a random flashing sequence. It’s easy to remove the top casings just by taking out 2 screws. The sides can be removed with a butter knife. If you have the white LED sticks, then changing the LED colour is again achieved by gently touching the LED with some coloured glass paint and letting it set. For painting the side panels, we recommended a gloss finish to reflect the motherboard and LEDs.

Motherboard

Armour-plated motherboards are ideally suited to modding. The Asus Maximus Formula , or the Asus Maximus Hero pictured above, is a good example: just remove the armour and you’re ready to paint. Another benefit of armour boards is the gap between the board and the back-plate; this provides space to fit some cool LED strips. Just slide the LEDs in that game on the right and bottom sides of the board and you have some awesome backlighting. Glow-in-the-dark or UV reactive paints can also give your motherboard a distinctive look. Just make sure to match your colours!

LEDs

Internal lighting and under-glow case lights really add life to your computer. Our personal favorites are the Bitfenix Alchemy LED strips, which are bright and available in waterproof and magnetic varieties.

The most common placement for LED strips is inside the case at the top and bottom. Colour choice is crucial, because the colour can make or break the overall look of the project. Avoid the common mistake of using too much of the same colour. Select contrasting or complimentary colours instead. For example, pair white LEDs with an entirely orange internal setup; the white light provides a brighter highlighting effect on the orange elements rather than becoming too intensely orange. With a black or white build, we recommend using RGB LEDs so you can change the lighting with the touch of a button.

Watercooling

Liquid cooling your PC leaves you wide open to customization. Choices include: what tubing to use, hard-line (rigid) or PVC; what colours of fittings and coolant; which fittings; and what reservoir is best suited for your project.

Mayhem’s Aurora coolant is popular among modders, and for good reason: it’s fascinating to look at. Aurora contains fine glitter that creates an aura in your system, reflecting the colours of your LEDs. Although the Mayhem Aurora looks great, it shouldn’t really be used as a permanent coolant, as it gradually blocks the pump over time. If you want a permanent coolant, we highly recommend the Mayhem Pastel range. They have vibrant and iridescent colours that really stand out.

Cables

Savvy, stylish cable management is a key part of any custom PC build. You can customize cables yourself, but that means a major investment of time and dollars into specialized tools. We like CoolForce Nanoxia cables: they’re excellent quality and available in a rainbow of colours, including multi-coloured versions.

For example, in a blue PC build with white RAM, the best cables would be a matching blue and white. Without coloured braided cables, your modded PC will look unfinished; it’s easy to underestimate the visual value of braided cables.

If you decide to do the cables yourself, you will need the following: braided sleeving, a pin remover tool, heat shrink, and a heat gun. Here’s a guide to check out. But if you’re just doing a single build, buying some gorgeous cables is the way to go.

Paints

Painting the case and/or components is a pivotal part of PC modding, but it can be a challenge. Your first priority is to prime the component you plan to paint, following the instructions for the best primer for the paint you have selected to use (usually printed on the can). We always recommend using car/auto spray paints as they provide the best finish. Don’t use a brush, as this will leave you with visible brush strokes and an amateur finish. Once you’ve primed and painted your parts, we suggest using a 2K clear coat finish (clear lacquer) to seal and finish the job.

Decals / Stickers

So you’ve got a pretty epic looking computer, using good branded components, and want to add that extra flourish to the look. Why not try your hand at making your own logos or graphics (or our old reliable fallback: flaming skulls) for the case? You’ll need a roll of vinyl (available on eBay or on Amazon at whatever length or colour you want) and a scalpel to cut it with. Simply draw your design on the back of the vinyl and cut it out. Practice (and patience) makes perfect here, since cutting vinyl isn’t quite as easy as it looks.

Time to start modding

Once you’ve put together a case mod plan using some of the elements above, all that’s left is to dive into the actual work. If that still feels intimidating, though, never fear: there are plenty of guides to modding out there! Check out the how-tos at Modders Inc. or the wealth of instructive guides at Instructables to pick up some pro tips.

A note on affiliates: some of our stories, like this one, include affiliate links to stores like Amazon. These online stores share a small amount of revenue with us if you buy something through one of these links, which helps support our work evaluating PC components.

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case modding: Tips and ideas

The days when the computer case served purely as a place to store hardware components are long gone. With individual lighting and other freely selectable components, users can transform their cases into real objects of art. Case modding is the buzzword here. Modifications in the hardware do not only bring optical, but also performance advantages. This article will show you how much you can individualize your computer.

Case modding

Case modding (from English “case” = housing, English “modification” = change) mainly upgrades the visual appearance of the computer housing. Mostly, powerful hardware and eye-catching lighting is used for this purpose. The goal of a modder is to let the computer shine in an individual style. Nevertheless, the performance of the system should not be neglected.

Component selection

To make your computer shine in the right light you need the right selection of components. To do this, define the desired performance requirements before you buy it. This article will introduce you to all the necessary components and show you what options you have for the subcomponents.

Mainboard and CPU

Free view of the core components, thanks to intelligent cable routing.

Since the processor is considered a non-visible component, your selection here should be exclusively performance-oriented. The situation is different for the motherboard: It is clearly visible in a case with a glass side panel and should not only meet your requirements, but also be visually appealing at the same time. More and more manufacturers are opting for black PBC boards with visually appealing cooling even for entry-level models under 90 €, like the MSI B450M Mortar Max. You can even get motherboards with integrated RGB lighting, like the MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk. The lighting can be customized via software at a later time.

Working memory (RAM)

Pefect in Sync: CPU cooler and RAM in unison.

The RAM is known to be plugged directly onto the motherboard and thus clearly visible from the outside. RAM from various manufacturers like the TOUGHRAM Z-One RGB have therefore not only featured maximum performance for quite some time, but also LEDs that can be directly addressed via software, giving you even more leeway for individual design.

Water cooling

An eye-catcher even without lighting effects

Case modding can be water cooling by the most complex and spectacular component in the entire system. The so-called custom water cooling (from English: “custom” = tailor-made) is particularly popular with modders, because with it special and unique effects. Circulating cooling fluids, which are provided with color pigments, make the heart of every case modder beat faster. With their water cooling kits, manufacturers like Thermaltake offer you the opportunity to create and assemble a water cooling system yourself that is customized specifically for your system.

The cheaper alternative to a custom water cooling system is the AIO (All-in-One) water cooling system. Thanks to easy installation, this solution is perfect for modding beginners. The Silent Loop 2 offers extremely high cooling performance at very low noise levels. In addition, the pump has RGB lighting.

Fan

With the right mesh front, the fans come into their own.

Airflow is the well-built system. Several fans inside the case like it. Because there are numerous models that bring both high cooling performance and unique lighting. Fan systems like the be quiet! Light Wings fullfill all the requirements a modder can have for their fan with sleek RGB lighting and good cooling performance at an extremely low noise levels. You only need to make sure you buy the right size (120mm/140mm) of the cooler so you can build it into your case.

Graphics card

Vertical mounting: How to bring the graphics card to the foreground.

A powerful graphics card is also very important in any gaming setup. Modern graphics cards like the ROG-STRIX-RX6700XT-O12G-GAMING from Asus have by now an integrated cooling system. The size and the look of the cooler can vary depending according to the model. Furthermore, you also have the option to replace the graphics card’s cooler with a custom water cooler and integrate it into the CPU’s cooling circuit. However, if you want to protect yourself in case of a warranty claim and prevent it from expiring in case of a subsequent conversion, you should avoid working on your graphics card. Instead, you can already fall back on a large variety when deciding to buy and stock up according to your taste.

Cases like the Silent Base 802 Window from be quiet! allow you to mount your graphics card vertically. For this, you need an additional riser cable to connect the PCI connector to the motherboard.

Power supply unit

The power supply is usually hidden by the PC case and therefore rarely comes into focus during case modding. However, cases like the MSI MPG Gungnir 110R have their own recess to even put the power supply in the spotlight with a small info LCD. The ASUS ROG Thor, for example an OLED display shows the power consumption in real time. Similar to the motherboard or the RAM, the built-in lighting system can be customized via software.

Case selection

When choosing a case, pay attention to the side panels and cable management.

The choice of enclosure should be made depending on the components inside. When planning, make sure that your chosen case supports all the required form factors. We’ve explained what else you should look for choosing the right PC case in this how-to. It’s important to mention that at least one side panel of the case should be made of glass windows, otherwise the lighting and modding inside will be obscured.

For power users who want to do overclocking (OC), the airflow is an important selection criterion in addition to the appearance. For this reason, many modders prefer so-called mesh cases. Because the air is drawn directly from the front, which shows a optimal air circulation.

The already mentioned Silent Base 802 Window is an all-rounder and combines all aspects mentioned above, such as glass windows, optics, airflow and acoustics. The special thing about this case is its modularity: For example the mesh front can be exchanged for an acoustic insulation. So you can decide yourself between good acoustic insulation and good airflow.

LCD im Gehäuse

Vivid cases are quickly & easily realized with the LCD screen

You can create particularly spectacular and distinctive effects with a self-installed display such as the DEBO LCD 7 HDMI, which you install directly in the housing. The display can show animated images or be used as an info panel, depending on your wishes.

Some tinkering is required for mounting, since most cases do not have room for a display. Therefore, you have to choose between additional display and rear fans. With a powerful ventilation system, front fans are absolutely sufficient. For mounting, you can rely on either double-sided adhesive tape or a proper screw connection. However, you might have to drill holes on your case for a proper screwing. The display also needs to be supplied with power and an HDMI signal. For this you need one USB and one HDMI cable. Each of them must be connected from the display to the corresponding ports on the outside.

You can define the display as a second monitor via the Windows settings. If you want to use animated images as desktop background, we recommend the paid software Wallpaper Engine from Steam. The software library is regularly expanded by the community with free wallpapers.

However, if you prefer a system information display such as CPU utilization or GPU temperature, instead of wallpapers, you can also fall back on AIDA64.

There is a large community behind the software that provides free templates that you can customize within the software.

Everything in view! Easily monitor the PC status via LCD screen

If you want even more individuality, you can use a 3D printer to print and install a case for the “naked” display panel, for example.

Sunny prospects for a calculator with WOW factor

Conclusion

Case modding requires a lot of work and precise planning. However, if you enjoy tinkering and place a lot of value on aesthetics and individuality at your work or gaming place, you will have a blast, where creativity knows no bounds. You can find a variety of options to customize your PC in the reichelt online store.

The tools you need for PC modding!

Titan Rig’s Modding Series is back! It’s been a long break, but we’re back with new PC modding content. In our first installment we went over some of the history of PC modding – side panel windows, sleeved cables, vinyl graphics and the evolution of PC lighting from cold cathodes to today’s amazing addressable RGB.

History is fun to read and we can learn a lot from it, but the Modding Series is changing its focus to the now. It’s time to get our hands dirty.

The “About Me” Section

Some background on the author: I’ve always been a maker and tinkerer. I’ve built my small shop up over the years, adding tools when I needed them and (more often) when I just wanted them. I’ve been modding PCs since 2006, when I foolishly dove off into the hobby with what was then a Small Form Factor case – the Ultra Microfly. That mod turned out so badly that I’m still the only person that ever saw it.

In the years since my modding game has improved. I was first-place winner in the Bethesda-themed category in the Modders Inc competition at QuakeCon 2014. I’ve had my work on the cover of CPU magazine and I even had the privilege of having a scratchbuild case on display in the Cooler Master suite at CES in Las Vegas.

Some of my previous mods…

If you’re interested in getting into PC modding, stick with us. We’re going to show you how to do a lot of stuff.

If you’re already a PC modder, stick around anyway. We’d love to hear your input on our series, and maybe your experience can help some of the new guys.

We’ve got some great content lined, but first things first – the basics.

Modding – Do I Have What It Takes?

“You can make a computer look like that?!”

I’ve run into a few people over the years that wanted to get into PC modding when they saw it was a thing, but didn’t think they had the time or the money or the tools or the workspace to do it.

I can’t help with time or money, but I can tell you that some great mods can be done with basic tools and a fairly small workspace. If you have the itch, don’t let those two things stand in your way.

“PC modding” is a broad term, so I can’t really go into everything you’ll need, but below is a list of the most basic tools that can get you started.

There’s a link along with each tool. These are suggestions based on my own experience — I’ve used them myself and I feel they’re worth the asking price but consider these a starting point. Do your research and buy the tools you want and need.

Note: All of the images below are of my tools, taken in my shop. There may have been some post processing involved.

The Basics

Hammer

These come in a huge range of sizes and shapes. Your basic claw hammer is a good start. Remember – a hammer can be a craftsman’s tool, no matter how big it is.

Screwdriver

Self-explanatory, but if you only have one make it’s one of the types that hold different bits. Screwdriver bits are cheap and will give you a universal fit.

Hacksaw

This is a surprisingly universal tool. With the right blade you can cut almost anything. From notching panels to cutting screws to a specific custom length, the hacksaw is your friend.

Utility Knife

All around tool, good for cutting foam, tape, string, wire ties, Velcro, and anything else that gets in its way. Serves as a wire stripper and scraper in a pinch also. Added features like onboard blade storage are a plus.

Protip: Make sure the knife you get feels good in your hand. The better your grip the safer it is.

Wire Cutters/Strippers

Many of these also come with thread gauges, screw cutters and crimpers. While the first two uses are fine, the crimping function can be… finicky. If you can afford it at all, buy dedicated wire crimpers. They’re pretty much always better and less frustrating to use.

Files

Hacksaws and Dremels are great for cutting metal but not so great at making a smooth edge. Files can smooth and straighten a cut edge in short order. I find myself using my mini files more often than my full-size, but they both have their place. Round-faced files are a plus for many applications.

There are a lot of different kinds of files, and they differ in ways other than their shape. For more information on files than you ever thought you’d need, check here.

Drill

This is the only power tool on the “most basic” list, and I only include it for its extreme utility. A lot of PC cases are assembled with rivets, and you’ll want a drill to get those out.

Drills are even more useful as powered drivers than they are as drills. Put a screwdriver bit holder where the drill bit goes and you can turn screws at ridiculous speeds.

Cordless drills are very portable but batteries only hold a charge for so long. Corded drills are typically more powerful and never run out of juice. Either can be had very affordably and even the cheapest will be an excellent addition to your tool collection.

Only What You Need

You don’t have to have all of these to get started – modding is as subjective as it gets, and you’ll be able to add tools as you need them.

A note on tool quality: Your tools don’t have to be expensive. They can be, and if you shop carefully many more expensive tools will last you a lifetime, but it’s not necessary. Even the most bargain-basement tools have their purpose.

As far as handheld tools go, my personal collection is mostly mid-range in price, with a couple of high-end pieces that I used to use daily and several examples of the super cheap.

One advantage of super-cheap tools is the ability to modify them to a specific task with little expense. I have a few wrenches that I’ve bought and cut off at a specific length for a specific job.

The Next Level

While they’re not necessary, a few power tools and more advanced (and expensive) hand tools can save you a lot of time if you can afford them.

Dremel

This is a name brand but it’s universally understood when mentioned. With the vast array of bits, cutters, sanders and accessories available for it, the rotary tool is a toolbox all its own.

Buying these as a kit is almost always cheaper than buying the tool and then buying all the accessories later.

Here again – brand name isn’t necessary. I own a Dremel and a cheap unbranded corded rotary tool, and both serve the function.

Sander

Belt sanders, palm sanders, detail sanders, random-orbit sanders – they all save you from having to sand by hand, and that’s a good thing. Which one you get depends on the job you need to do.

We’ll go over sanding in another installment. Yay!

Hot Glue Gun

Surprisingly useful tool – get one with a power switch if possible and go for the highest wattage you can afford.

Multimeter

For checking continuity and voltage in electrical work. The kind of work we’re doing in PC modding doesn’t need the accuracy or sensitivity of a Fluke. Mine are all super cheap and serve the purpose well.

Analog vs Digital: Digital meters are easier to read, but an analog meter’s voltage and current functions will work even without batteries.

Soldering Iron

More advanced electrical work can require this. Standard sleeving and custom power wires won’t, but it can still be used.

You don’t need an advanced soldering station. Try to find an iron with adjustable power and a temperature display, and make the wattage as high as you can afford.

Cordless irons are great for heavier work – like on a train for instance – but the butane-powered heat is difficult to control and they have an exhaust hole under the soldering tip that shoots out unbelievably hot air, making them not only difficult to use in smaller spaces but dangerous.

Jig Saw

Swiss Army knife of saws, there are multiple types of blades available for the jig saw to cut metal, plastic and wood.

Heat Gun

Essential for bending hard tubing, also useful for removing factory stickers and paint as well as shrinking heat shrink in electrical work.

As with most heat-related tools, buy the highest-wattage unit you can afford. Bonus if you can find one that will stand vertically on its own.

Bending Tools

Anything from simple tube inserts to full-on kits with mounted mandrels and measuring tools, these are extremely helpful for bending hard tubing for liquid cooling. Also included are pipe benders typically used for copper tube.

Metal brake

Used to bend sheet metal in straight lines, they come in a wide range of sizes. These are really only justified if you plan on folding a lot of metal. One or two jobs can be done on a workbench easily enough.

Moving On Up

If you’re like me at all, making stuff is a thing even outside PCs. The tools below are extremely handy and save a lot of time but may be prohibitively expensive for some.

Table Saw

The workhorse of the shop. Mine is a 10-inch model from Rigid and it’s amazing – for the price. Table saws have a HUGE range of price and size. Smaller jobsite saws (read: on wheels) and be had for under $150 US, while the giants can cost $10K or more.

With the right blade, a table saw can cut a lot of different materials, from wood to aluminum to steel.

Tip: Running a smaller blade on a 10-inch table saw not only improves torque applied to the material but results in less waste as the blades are much thinner. Blade deflection can be an issue.

Router Table

I didn’t mention a handheld router in the above section because while it’s a handy tool its use in PC modding is pretty limited. If you flip it over and mount it in a table it becomes a MUCH more useful addition.

Drill Press

Drilling straight holes is often important, and while drill guides will get the job done, a drill press will always be faster and more accurate. If you ever have to drill dozens or hundreds of holes, you’ll appreciate the utility of this tool even more.

Drilling is only one use for the drill press. Sanding drums, wire wheels, grindings stones – all of those and more fit into the chuck on a drill press. Consider it a stationary vertical rotary tool.

Honestly, this is one of those tools that I didn’t know how badly I needed until I bought one.

Sandblaster

While it does require the addition of an air compressor to your shop, nothing’s faster for stripping paint and rust, and they can do amazing etching work if your material is properly masked. You don’t have to spring for the enclosed cabinet model like I have either. If you can work outside a handheld unit is very affordable – just know that the media you use (sand, glass beads, etc) is lost in one use this way.

HVLP Paint Gun

High Volume Low Pressure — this tool also requires an air compressor to work. With some practice you can get excellent and fast paint results with one of these – just have an area ready as overspray can be a problem.

Airbrush

Even if you’re not artistic at all, an airbrush will serve the same function as the HVLP paint gun for smaller jobs, like PC cases. Airbrush paint is some of the best paint I’ve used also – expensive but it goes a long way.

This tool also requires a compressor, but a much less expensive, smaller and quieter version.

The Top of the Line?

I’ve managed to add a couple of incredibly useful tools to my shop in the last few years. These are industrial computer-controlled machines that cost a few thousand dollars, but they can do things that nothing else can.

Even the smaller consumer-level versions are amazing tools, capable of cutting everything from wood to plastic to aluminum copper and brass. Precision is the name of the game with these tools, and the nature of the cut you make is limited only by the shapes of the bits you have on hand.

The learning curve for using one of these machines effectively and efficiently can be steep. Not only is there CAD and CAM software to learn, you’ll also need to learn about happy things like bit geometry, workholding, flute count, feed rate, offsets, toolpaths, and chipload.

The more you know!

A perfect complement to the CNC router. Not as versatile as it can’t cut metals or offer true three-dimensional work, it more than makes up for it with speed and ease of use.

No dust, no chips, no workholding, no ear-splitting noise – just clean beautiful cuts and engravings made by an invisible beam of energy.

Be Safe!

I can’t end this list without a few basic safety rules. In general, the tools listed above get more dangerous as you go down the list. Any of them can injure you and some can kill you – some more easily than others.

• Always utilize any guards and/or shields that a tool is equipped with. Blade guards and viewing shields are there for a reason. You will see some of my tools without guards in the course of this series – this is for clarity in the photo only

• Safety glasses are a must. Your eyeballs are an unfortunate combination of soft, squishy and extremely important in day-to-day life. Protect them! While most prescription eyeglasses are made of polycarbonate — the same stuff in safety glasses — they don’t offer the same degree of protection since they’re rarely as large or have side coverage.

• Ear protection – I had to invest a lot of money in hearing aids to be able to have a coherent conversation due to years of noise damage. Don’t be like me.

• Gloves – Much harder to damage than your skin.

• Loose clothing/jewelry with power tools. Bad plan. Keep it tight and close.

• Repeat after me: Machines. Don’t. Care. They’re amazing, powerful, dangerous tools that will cut/drill/burn/sand/break anything that enters their zone of influence, whether it’s a piece of wood or your head. The tools we use should be treated like they want to hurt us. Let’s keep the blood in your body.

I’ll just leave a few simple reminders here….

You Got This

PC modding requires a set of skills, like anything else. You’ll pick up any you don’t already have along the way. Tools like the ones listed here will enable us to do it.

Stay tuned for the next entry in the Modding Series, where we’ll go over some of the simpler electrical mods we can make and how best to make them.

11 Geeky PC Case Mods

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Custom PC Case Contest| MSI PRO MOD Season 5

ABOUT MSI PRO MOD

Started in early 2015, the MSI PRO MOD is an established hallowed battleground for global modding masters. MSI invites worldwide modders to show their passion, professionalism, creativity and craft to the world through on-line competition.

In MSI PRO MOD S5, you are able to compete in more than one category: Scratch Build and Casemod. We believe that this change will help ensure that the very best modders apply and advance in the competition. Besides, the Special Jury Prize is created separately from the Grand Prize and awarded to the best mod made by using 3D printing parts

To enter the competition, please follow steps below:

Rules

— The motherboard and graphics card assembled in your mod MUST be MSI brand ( onboard GPU is allowed ).
— Your mod must fulfill the “ ARCTIC ” theme requirement.

Steps

1. Create your account on MSI Global Forum. ( Existing members can skip this step ).
2. Create your worklog(s) thread under User Reviews & Modding sub-forum from April 10 to July 10, 2017 11:59 PM ( GMT +8 ).
3. Upload the following in your worklog:
- • Create a new topic and name the subject with 【MSI PRO MOD – S5: Scratch Build】 or 【MSI PRO MOD – S5: Casemod】 in front of your mod entry title,
  
  e.g. 【MSI PRO MOD –S5: Scratch Build】 ARCTIC TOMAHAWK or 【MSI PRO MOD –S5: Casemod】 ARCTIC TOMAHAWK
- • Insert the official banner on the top of your threads. Download the banner file here.
- • Provide the following modder profile in your 1st thread of worklog:
  
  a. Modder Name ( Nickname )
  
  b. Facebook ( or Instagram / Twitter ) URL
  
  c. Country
- • List all hardware configuration of your mod. (model name of MSI motherboard & graphics card must be highlighted.)
- • Concept of your mod entry.
- • Post (1) or more pictures of all the components you are going to use in your mod (make sure all pictures are recognizable).
- • Provide description and photos showing full worklog process (from start to finish).
- • 5 or more pictures of your FINAL mod entry (preferably W600 x h500 pixels in jpg file format) including 1 highlighting MSI motherboard & graphics card (model name specified).
4. Reply the following message under the campaign thread (here) by July 10, 2017 11:59 PM (GMT +8).

‑ MOD entry title
‑ URL of your worklog

Note-

* Update and complete your worklog(s) by July 10, 2017 11:59 PM (GMT +8).

* Before the submission deadline, you MUST complete your mod.

Evaluation Criteria

STAGE 1

July 15 – 19, 2017

The following evaluation criteria are used for judging at the MSI PRO MOD S5:

• Creativity: 35%

• Overall Design: 30%

• Technique: 25%

• Worklog: 10%

* Awarded to the Top 3 place from Scratch Build & casemod.

* Special Jury Prize – Awarded to the 1st place of entries designed with brilliant 3D part.

STAGE 2

July 17 – 23, 2017

On-line Public Vote

* People’s Choice Prize – Awarded to the Top-Rated entry chosen by public vote.

Terms & Conditions

Each participants must agree to the Terms & Conditions before participating in the event.

— MSI PRO MOD S5 is open to everyone worldwide.

— Multiple entries by each individual is accepted.

— Any copyright infringement or piracy is absolutely forbidden. Your designs should be just that – your own case mod and case mod images!

— The selected winners will be announced online.

— MSI may use your mod images with or without any pseudo (pen) name credit.

— MSI has the right to use your mod images and is perpetual. We may use your mod images locally, nationally or globally and such use may be made in any media, information or communication platform currently in use or later developed.

— Usage or reprint of your mod images will be at sole discretion of MSI and the sponsors of this event without compensation.

— MSI reserves the right in its sole discretion, to change, alter and/or modify these rules at any time.

— By participating, you conclusively agree to be bounded by these contest rules and conditions. This is an irrevocable condition of entry.

Scratch Build
Casemod

MSI B350 TOMAHAWK ARCTIC

• Underlined by winning the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD 2017, B350 TOMAHAWK ARCTIC design perfectly illustrates the evolution of this new AM4 generation of MSI motherboards.
• Inspired by the concept of main battle tanks, the design, from its heatsinks to the military-themed PCB print, shows strength and sophistication.

• Enhanced Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound
• Intelligent Vibration System
• Smart Audio Controller
• Enhanced 40mm High Quality Drivers
• Cool LED Light
• Light weight & Self-adjusting Headband Design

INTERCEPTOR DS300

GAMING MOUSE

• Ergonomic Design
• Anti-Slip Rubber Side Grip
• 6 Programmable Buttons
• RGB Illuminated Dragon Logo
• Adjustable Weight System
• Gold-plated Connector & Braided Cable
• Exclusive Gaming Software
• LED DPI Indicator

GK-701 MECHANICAL

GAMING KEYBOARD

• Cherry MX Brown Switch
• Red Backlight
• Windows Key Lock
• N-Key Rollover
• Multimedia Hotkeys
• Anti-slip Rubber Feet
• Ergonomic Design
• Braided Wire & Gold-plated Connector

• Incredible Multi-Core Performance.
• True machine intelligence featuring 8 processor cores, 16 threads.
• Aand Extended Frequency Range (XFR) in the presence of better cooling.

X-Frame 2.0

(White / Blue)

• Test Bench Design for Easy Installation and Removal.
• Dual Orientation with 360 degree Rotation for Maximum Flexibility.
• Newest USB 3.1 Type-C Ultra-High-Speed Transfer Interface.
• Wield the Latest and Greatest Hardware.

be quiet! Dark Power Pro 11

1200W

• Massive power, an overclocking key that switches between powerful four-rail and single-rail operation, world-leading quiet performance with a virtually inaudible be quiet! SilentWings^® 3 fan.
• One of the highest power efficiency certification available — 80PLUS^® Platinum.

• SilentWings^® 3 stands for state-of-the-art technology, virtually inaudible operation and superior cooling.
• A smooth-running 6-pole fan motor.
• An advanced fluid-dynamic bearing.
• A unique airflow-optimized fan blade design.
• A fan frame with funnel-shaped air inlets.

HyperX Predator DDR4 Memory

3000MHz 16GB (4GBx4)

• Fierce heat spreader in black aluminum.
• High speeds and low latencies for extreme DDR4 performance.
• Intel XMP-ready profiles optimized for Intel 100 series chipset and X99 motherboards.
• Lower power consumption than DDR3.

Hyper X Predator

PCIE SSD 240G

• Highest performance speeds with large capacities.
• PCIe interface with multiple form factors.
• One-brand solution for top-of-the-line performance memory and SSD components.

• Underlined by winning the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD 2017, B350 TOMAHAWK ARCTIC design perfectly illustrates the evolution of this new AM4 generation of MSI motherboards.
• Inspired by the concept of main battle tanks, the design, from its heatsinks to the military-themed PCB print, shows strength and sophistication.

• Two large 40mm drivers for quality audio
• Extra lightweight and Self-adjusting headband
• High Quality Speakers
• Quick access to volume and microphone

INTERCEPTOR DS200

GAMING MOUSE

• Ergonomic Design
• Advanced Anti-slip Coating
• Multi-function 9 Programmable Buttons
• Gold-plated Connector & Braided Wire
• Exclusive Gaming Software
• RGB Backlight

INTERCEPTOR DS4200

GAMING KEYBOARD

• Special Membrane Switches with Mechanical Feel
• Gaming Mode and Anti-ghosting Capability
• Multi-color Animated Backlighting
• Water Resistant (spill-proof)
• Ergonomically Designed Wrist Rest

• Smooth Gaming and Advanced Multi-Processing Performance.
• The fastest 6-core desktop processor you can get with 12 threads for advanced gaming and multi-processing ability.
• And true machine intelligence to analyze and adapt to your needs.

• 270 degree Wide-angle Visual Effect.
• Unique In Win LED Logo.
• Super Speed Transmission USB 3.1 Type-C.
• Versatile HDD Mounting Position for Optimized Functionality.
• Excellent Cooling Support for Better Airflow.

• Straight Power 10 raises the bar for systems that demand whisper-quiet operation without compromising on power quality.
• SilentWings^® 3 fan
• User-friendly cable management and powerful GPU support
• 80PLUS^® Gold power efficiency

• SilentWings^® 3 stands for state-of-the-art technology, virtually inaudible operation and superior cooling.
• A smooth-running 6-pole fan motor.
• An advanced fluid-dynamic bearing.
• A unique airflow-optimized fan blade design.
• A fan frame with funnel-shaped air inlets.

HyperX Savage DDR4 Memory

2800MHz 16GB (4GBx4)

• Speeds up to 3000MHz and low latencies deliver exceptional DDR4 performance.
• Intel XMP-ready profiles are optimized for Intel 100 series chipset and X99 motherboards.
• Lower power consumption than DDR3.
• Asymmetrical, stylish die-cast aluminum, low-profile heat spreader.

• Performance — incredible speeds for enhanced productivity.
• Unique design — stunning red casing to give an edge to the latest PC hardware.
• Slim — 7mm thickness to fit in most desktops and notebooks.
• Fast and easy migration — all-in-one kit available with premium HyperX accessories, including a handy multi-kit screwdriver and USB 3.0 enclosure for easy installation.

• Underlined by winning the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD 2017, B350 TOMAHAWK ARCTIC design perfectly illustrates the evolution of this new AM4 generation of MSI motherboards.
• Inspired by the concept of main battle tanks, the design, from its heatsinks to the military-themed PCB print, shows strength and sophistication.

IMMERSE Gh20

GAMING HEADSET

• Detachable Microphone
• In-line 3-Button Controller with Microphone
• Powerful 13. 5mm Dynamic Driver
• Earbuds with Ear-Hook Design
• Tangle-free Cable Design

INTERCEPTOR DS100

GAMING MOUSE

• Ergonomic Design
• Advanced Anti-slip Coating
• Multi-function 7 Programmable Buttons
• Gold-plated Connector & Braided Wire
• Exclusive Gaming Software

INTERCEPTOR DS4100

GAMING KEYBOARD

• Extra Slim and Light Design
• Integrated Wrist Rest Design
• Multimedia Hotkeys
• 19-Key Rollover
• 7 Colors Backlighting
• Braided Wire and Gold-plated Connector

• High-Performance Gaming and Processing.
• Featuring 4 processor cores with 8 threads for high performance gaming and processing.
• With true machine intelligence to analyze and adapt to your needs.
• And extended frequency range (XFR) in the presence of better cooling.

101 (White)

COMMING SOON

be quiet! Pure Power 10 | 700W CM

• Pure Power 10 offers peerless dependability and best-in-class features.
• Exceptionally quiet operation
• Stable operation thanks to DC-to-DC power conversion technology
• Modular cable management
• 80PLUS^® Silver certification

• Airflow-optimized blades that operate below 19. 2dB(A) even at maximum speed, durable rifle bearing technology, and up to 80,000 hour lifespan.
• Outstanding reliability and quiet operation at a great price-for-performance ratio. The ultimate reason to put well-known be quiet! silent cooling in your PC.

HyperX FURY DDR4 Memory

2400MHz 16GB (4GBx4)

• Optimized for Intel’s 100 series and X99 chipsets.
• Cost-efficient high-performance DDR4 upgrade.
• At 1.2V, low power consumption compared to DDR3.
• Stylish, low-profile heat spreader in signature FURY asymmetrical design.

• SandForce^® SF-2281 controller for SATA Rev 3.0 (6Gb/s) performance.
• Affordable upgrade maximizes system investment.
• Entry-level SSD with consistent HyperX^® branding.
• Cool, rugged and durable, with no moving parts.

• Underlined by winning the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD 2017, B350 TOMAHAWK ARCTIC design perfectly illustrates the evolution of this new AM4 generation of MSI motherboards.
• Inspired by the concept of main battle tanks, the design, from its heatsinks to the military-themed PCB print, shows strength and sophistication.

• Enhanced Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound
• Intelligent Vibration System
• Smart Audio Controller
• Enhanced 40mm High Quality Drivers
• Cool LED Light
• Light weight & Self-adjusting Headband Design

INTERCEPTOR DS300

GAMING MOUSE

• Ergonomic Design
• Anti-Slip Rubber Side Grip
• 6 Programmable Buttons
• RGB Illuminated Dragon Logo
• Adjustable Weight System
• Gold-plated Connector & Braided Cable
• Exclusive Gaming Software
• LED DPI Indicator

GK-701 MECHANICAL

GAMING KEYBOARD

• Cherry MX Brown Switch
• Red Backlight
• Windows Key Lock
• N-Key Rollover
• Multimedia Hotkeys
• Anti-slip Rubber Feet
• Ergonomic Design
• Braided Wire & Gold-plated Connector

• Incredible Multi-Core Performance.
• True machine intelligence featuring 8 processor cores, 16 threads.
• Aand Extended Frequency Range (XFR) in the presence of better cooling.

X-Frame 2.0

(White / Blue)

• Test Bench Design for Easy Installation and Removal.
• Dual Orientation with 360 degree Rotation for Maximum Flexibility.
• Newest USB 3.1 Type-C Ultra-High-Speed Transfer Interface.
• Wield the Latest and Greatest Hardware.

be quiet! Dark Power Pro 11

1200W

• Massive power, an overclocking key that switches between powerful four-rail and single-rail operation, world-leading quiet performance with a virtually inaudible be quiet! SilentWings^® 3 fan.
• One of the highest power efficiency certification available — 80PLUS^® Platinum.

• SilentWings^® 3 stands for state-of-the-art technology, virtually inaudible operation and superior cooling.
• A smooth-running 6-pole fan motor.
• An advanced fluid-dynamic bearing.
• A unique airflow-optimized fan blade design.
• A fan frame with funnel-shaped air inlets.

HyperX Predator DDR4 Memory

3000MHz 16GB (4GBx4)

• Fierce heat spreader in black aluminum.
• High speeds and low latencies for extreme DDR4 performance.
• Intel XMP-ready profiles optimized for Intel 100 series chipset and X99 motherboards.
• Lower power consumption than DDR3.

Hyper X Predator

PCIE SSD 240G

• Highest performance speeds with large capacities.
• PCIe interface with multiple form factors.
• One-brand solution for top-of-the-line performance memory and SSD components.

• Underlined by winning the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD 2017, B350 TOMAHAWK ARCTIC design perfectly illustrates the evolution of this new AM4 generation of MSI motherboards.
• Inspired by the concept of main battle tanks, the design, from its heatsinks to the military-themed PCB print, shows strength and sophistication.

• Two large 40mm drivers for quality audio
• Extra lightweight and Self-adjusting headband
• High Quality Speakers
• Quick access to volume and microphone

INTERCEPTOR DS200

GAMING MOUSE

• Ergonomic Design
• Advanced Anti-slip Coating
• Multi-function 9 Programmable Buttons
• Gold-plated Connector & Braided Wire
• Exclusive Gaming Software
• RGB Backlight

INTERCEPTOR DS4200

GAMING KEYBOARD

• Special Membrane Switches with Mechanical Feel
• Gaming Mode and Anti-ghosting Capability
• Multi-color Animated Backlighting
• Water Resistant (spill-proof)
• Ergonomically Designed Wrist Rest

• Smooth Gaming and Advanced Multi-Processing Performance.
• The fastest 6-core desktop processor you can get with 12 threads for advanced gaming and multi-processing ability.
• And true machine intelligence to analyze and adapt to your needs.

• 270 degree Wide-angle Visual Effect.
• Unique In Win LED Logo.
• Super Speed Transmission USB 3.1 Type-C.
• Versatile HDD Mounting Position for Optimized Functionality.
• Excellent Cooling Support for Better Airflow.

• Power Zone provides the winning combination of superior performance, rock-solid stability, and advanced cooling.
• Its offers a fully modular cable management, top safety features, and deep standby compliance.
• The PSU is designed for powerful operation even at 50° C and is ideal for overclocking thanks to a massive 12V rail.

• SilentWings^® 3 stands for state-of-the-art technology, virtually inaudible operation and superior cooling.
• A smooth-running 6-pole fan motor.
• An advanced fluid-dynamic bearing.
• A unique airflow-optimized fan blade design.
• A fan frame with funnel-shaped air inlets.

HyperX Savage DDR4 Memory

2800MHz 16GB (4GBx4)

• Speeds up to 3000MHz and low latencies deliver exceptional DDR4 performance.
• Intel XMP-ready profiles are optimized for Intel 100 series chipset and X99 motherboards.
• Lower power consumption than DDR3.
• Asymmetrical, stylish die-cast aluminum, low-profile heat spreader.

• Performance — incredible speeds for enhanced productivity.
• Unique design — stunning red casing to give an edge to the latest PC hardware.
• Slim — 7mm thickness to fit in most desktops and notebooks.
• Fast and easy migration — all-in-one kit available with premium HyperX accessories, including a handy multi-kit screwdriver and USB 3.0 enclosure for easy installation.

• Underlined by winning the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD 2017, B350 TOMAHAWK ARCTIC design perfectly illustrates the evolution of this new AM4 generation of MSI motherboards.
• Inspired by the concept of main battle tanks, the design, from its heatsinks to the military-themed PCB print, shows strength and sophistication.

IMMERSE Gh20

GAMING HEADSET

• Detachable Microphone
• In-line 3-Button Controller with Microphone
• Powerful 13. 5mm Dynamic Driver
• Earbuds with Ear-Hook Design
• Tangle-free Cable Design

INTERCEPTOR DS100

GAMING MOUSE

• Ergonomic Design
• Advanced Anti-slip Coating
• Multi-function 7 Programmable Buttons
• Gold-plated Connector & Braided Wire
• Exclusive Gaming Software

INTERCEPTOR DS4100

GAMING KEYBOARD

• Extra Slim and Light Design
• Integrated Wrist Rest Design
• Multimedia Hotkeys
• 19-Key Rollover
• 7 Colors Backlighting
• Braided Wire and Gold-plated Connector

• High-Performance Gaming and Processing.
• Featuring 4 processor cores with 8 threads for high performance gaming and processing.
• With true machine intelligence to analyze and adapt to your needs.
• And extended frequency range (XFR) in the presence of better cooling.

101 (White)

COMMING SOON

be quiet! Pure Power 10 | 700W CM

• Pure Power 10 offers peerless dependability and best-in-class features.
• Exceptionally quiet operation
• Stable operation thanks to DC-to-DC power conversion technology
• Modular cable management
• 80PLUS^® Silver certification

• Airflow-optimized blades that operate below 19. 2dB(A) even at maximum speed, durable rifle bearing technology, and up to 80,000 hour lifespan.
• Outstanding reliability and quiet operation at a great price-for-performance ratio. The ultimate reason to put well-known be quiet! silent cooling in your PC.

HyperX FURY DDR4 Memory

2400MHz 16GB (4GBx4)

• Optimized for Intel’s 100 series and X99 chipsets.
• Cost-efficient high-performance DDR4 upgrade.
• At 1.2V, low power consumption compared to DDR3.
• Stylish, low-profile heat spreader in signature FURY asymmetrical design.

• SandForce^® SF-2281 controller for SATA Rev 3.0 (6Gb/s) performance.
• Affordable upgrade maximizes system investment.
• Entry-level SSD with consistent HyperX^® branding.
• Cool, rugged and durable, with no moving parts.

AMD Ryzen5 1600X Processor

PRO-1 (Red/White)

Unicorn Destroy Mod

By St.Jimmy’s PC Modding

PIPELINE V2 «PV2»

By Paulo Reis aka EVILPT

ARCTIC HORROR

ARCTIC DIMENSION

By Hamman Chronicle

PROJECT ARCTIC

By Mark Cruz

Project V1

By Alex «Gaijin»

Project Arctic mountain

By Edwin

MSI USS Dragon-1

By RandomDesign

MSI Space LAB

By RandomDesign

Arctic Scavenger

By GOF JozhClassified

Master of Ice

By Technology and Gaming

Arctic Scavenger Controller

By GOF

Dave Cathey

• Gigantea — 2nd place of «Tower Mod» category in Cooler Master Case Mod World Series 2016.
• F3 — 2nd place of «Tower Mod» category in Cooler Master Case Mod World Series 2015.

• Obsidian — 1st Place of «CaseMods» category in DCMM 2011.
• Obsidian — 3rd Place of «Cases on the move» category in DCMM 2011.

• Minions — The 3 Most Incredible PCs of April 2014 — Forbes.
• Skyline GT-R — 1st place in Bit-Tech Rig Of The Year 2013.

• Infinity Gauntled — 2nd place of «Germany’s most beautiful Beauty Case» category in DCMM 2016.
• Infinity Gauntled — 1st place of APAC region in MSI PRO MOD S4.
• Infinity Gauntled — People’s Choice award in MSI PRO MOD S4.

#MSIPROMODS5

We are glad to invite four well-known professional judges to create modding demostraction built with MSI AM4 gaming motherboard. “ ARCTIC ” is the assigned subject for this competition. So, stay tuned for upcoming MSI PRO MOD S5! Show your professionalism to the world!

Special thanks to our hardware supporters:AMD, be quiet!, HyperX and IN WIN.

MSI Russia

By {{blogList.blogAuthor}}
|
{{bloglist.date}}

Do you want to do something special with your play equipment? So that your computer looks like Batman’s car, lights up like a Christmas tree, or just makes an impression at a computer party? These days, instead of the usual, unremarkable computer case with powerful hardware, it’s common to own cool computer hardware that makes an impression. Welcome to the world of case modding, where you can find and build the most beautiful computer case for your most precious hardware.

In this article, we will introduce you to the important information you need to know about case modding, as well as give you some tips on how to get started. If you’ve dreamed of doing case modding but didn’t know where to start, read on and make your dream come true! 🙂

Before you start. ..

The first thing you should know is that there are three types of case modding:


Case mod	Casecon aka ‘scratch build’	Pre-mods
Casemod or Case Modification is the most common. This is nothing more than a modified computer case, where the standard case is taken as the basis.	Casecon, Scratch Build or Case Construction is the most time-consuming form of case modding. For this type of modding, you design and build the case completely from scratch, from the bottom of the case to the front of the case.	The last kind of modding is Pre-mods, this is a case made in the factory and ready to use.

So what is Casemod?

Case modding or modification of the case, this is a change in the original shape of the case in several ways. You can implement as many options as you want, such as changing the color, adding a side window, using special lighting or cables. As mentioned above, there is the most extreme kind of modding — Casecon (or creating a case from scratch). In this case, you have to completely create your computer.

Gamers were the first to start case modding. They were driven by a simple desire to overclock their systems. Thus, in order to improve cooling, modification of the case was required. It started with regular fans and extra holes for them, and then transformed into the use of liquid cooling systems, where several key components, such as the processor and chipset, were cooled with water. Over time, this became more and more popular and gamers increasingly sought to make their systems unique. Thus, case modding was born.

Here’s what you can do!

In this article, we will focus mainly on the variation of case modding called ‘Casemod’ and introduce you to the different modification options available to you. On the Internet, you can find a huge number of different materials that will help you. We will only tell you about the most key aspects of modifying hulls.

Window

Most modifications have a window in the side of the case. With this modification, all components installed in the system unit become visible. This is one of the popular options for modifying the case. After all, you want to show the insides of your PC.
Tip: In most cases, a piece of transparent plexiglass is inserted into the hole made. Here’s the best way to do it: make your own stencil or use a vinyl sticker like shown HERE. Insert into the side panel of the case and that’s it!

LED Fans
Cool fans with cool lighting make your gaming system even cooler. There are a wide variety of shapes and colors to choose from. And it’s a quick way to modify your PC case.

CCFL’s
This looks like the neon lights known from car tuning, but can also be used in a computer case. Thanks to the various forms of illumination of various lengths, you have a huge choice of options for making your case glow. Now, thanks to the use of LED backlights with low power consumption, you do not need to think about installing an overly powerful power supply.

Liquid cooling
What is a case mod without proper cooling? For gamers, cooling is an important factor in getting the best performance out of their components. Gaming equipment needs good cooling because conventional fans won’t get the results you want. Liquid cooling is a great option and is used by many case modders. You can use cool fans combined with a liquid cooling system to get an even more amazing case mod.

Cable Management
Once you’ve got the lights and fans installed, you may find a bunch of cables in your case that you won’t like. Cable management is also an important element of case modding. Properly distribute the free space inside the case so that all cables are hidden. Use mesh or heat shrink to make your cables look more presentable. It’s called sleeving.

Competitions and LAN parties

There are several types of case modding competitions. We can roughly divide them into two categories:
– Local, held at the venue of the event and only there. A good example is the DCMM event at Gamescom.
– Online is a competition where participants compete online and perform a case mod at their home. MSI Pro MOD is a good example.

You can also always do modding just for fun. Give your corps a name! Most of the time at LAN parties, modders like to share pictures of their beautiful, modified cases. This is a great place to get useful tips on case modifications as well. Do you see the fashion case in this photo now? 😉

Pro tips

This is just a small part of the big world of case modding. So much can be done. Just think of, for example, using screens inside the case, hand crafting your logo, adding custom buttons to the case, or even modifying your mouse or keyboard!
For more information about case modding, visit the website:
http://www.bit-tech.net/modding/case-mod/

website and read how to upgrade a video card:
http://gaming. msi.com/en/article/pc-gaming-101-how-to-upgrade-your-graphics-card

Looking for inspiration?

Want to see some really cool case mods? Look! All mods are made on MSI hardware. More information about new case mods every week here: https://www.facebook.com/PlanetMODs

		At the gates of Doom Modder: Mooz Magazine
		MSI Gaming Dragon Modder: Soccer Video
		LEGO Mod Modder: Aribarambo Worklog Video
		ENT Modder: Balazs Szabo Magazine
		Steam cuc Modder: Bertrand Cucmag Magazine Video

Modding as it is / Overclockers.ua

The beginning began…

You can’t say exactly when modding began to form now. If we describe with the word modding what happened decades ago, then it turns out that the source of everything lies in the installation of additional fans on the system unit. Then no one thought about the beauty and aesthetics of their gray boxes, it came later. People just needed additional cooling for processors and other important devices that were starting their megahertz growth. In the end, it all started with ordinary holes … holes that were called blowholes and gave rise to a whole art of curly cutting of cases.

Blowhole (blowhole) — a hole cut in the computer case or other element for a fan. They can be either a standard diameter of 80 and 120 mm, or another, for example, 40 mm.

Of course, there was not much beauty in this: a hole in the middle of the system unit, there is a black fan with winded dust and other tinsel in it. The «upgrading process» standard for any direction began, from a simple technical improvement to a modification that combines beautiful features and moments. The coolers began to be illuminated with diodes of different colors, and at the initial stage, enthusiasts went through a lot of options for the location of the «lights». To protect this miracle from the fingers of evil younger brothers / sisters, noses / tails and paws of pets, it was decided to use special gratings. The first grills were not distinguished by beauty and innovation.

Grill (Fan grill) — a grid covering the cooler from all-round interventions and giving a more decorative look to the blowhole.

Further, again, no one knows who, but a man with straight arms and a bright head came up with the idea of making not just small blowholes, but entire windows in the system unit. There were no curly or complex windows at the beginning of the modding movement, only straight and strict forms on the side cover. Naturally, there was no point in leaving such a window uncovered. And if this is a window, then it must have had glass in it. Someone tried the usual silicate, but it had many disadvantages: heaviness and fragility did not allow it to spread in the «window» business. Transparent plexiglass or plexiglass was ideal. Well, then, as always, the aesthetics deepened, if there were already backlit coolers, then why not highlight all the insides of the system unit, since now they are clearly visible. And the modders began stuffing the insides of the computer with LEDs and neon lights.

The symbol of modding has become the main tool of all modders — the dremel. This is a universal hybrid grinder with a drill. The correct name is a straight grinder. Used in any application, collet chuck rotation speed up to 35000 rpm. The Dremel is named after BOSCH’s first mass-produced «Dremel» tool.

In principle, this was the beginning of modding as an independent direction, going along with the then developing overclocking, tweaking and other computer-related things.

Modding like a word

What is modding and what is it eaten with? There are a lot of different answers to this, perhaps, not a difficult question. Beginners and people who have heard about it for the first time interpret this word in their own way — as a derivative of the word «Fashion», and Dremel gurus and ordinary modders in a completely different way.

And yet, how can one describe this word? First of all, modding is the creativity of one person or group of people. It is the art of making any modifications to a computer or peripherals to give them technical enhancements or aesthetic beauty. But this is only a description of the general term, if you dig deeper, then modding itself can be divided into types:

Case modding is familiar to all of us windows, blowholes, lights, etc. etc.
Custom case modding — creating a case from scratch from any materials and any shape. This subspecies of modding is the most complex, interesting and sometimes expensive. But the game is worth the candle: custom hulls have always been valued higher than ordinary serial hulls that have undergone modding.

Ghetto modding is also a modding of its kind, but performed poorly and very poorly, due to the presence of crooked hands, or the young age of the modder. It can also be called a very cheap or very simple mod.
Pre-modded — these are already modded factory cases that are mass-produced.

Peripheral modding also stands apart.

In addition, there are styles in modding. Some of them are autonomous and are present not only in modding, while others have no independence and are an integral part of modding.

Briefly about some of them:

Engraving — can be hand or laser. The essence of both is to apply a pattern of any complexity to the plexiglass, it can be just a logo or a full-fledged picture. There is also a variety of engraving on metal. Usually it is made on aluminum. «Glass» for greater showiness is illuminated by LEDs or neon.

Airbrushing is a fine art style stemming from the use of the airbrush as the artist’s primary tool. System units painted in this way always looked very impressive.

Ordinary painting can also be done professionally, but it does not give such scope for imagination and is mostly one-color. If we take spot painting, then it has become fashionable to apply tracks on boards with a fluorescent marker on a liquid basis and highlight them in UV. Phosphor paints also came to the service of the modder — invisible in ordinary light and luminous in UV, and paints «charging» with daylight and giving it away gradually in the dark, according to the principle of phosphorus.

Pyrography — means «drawing with fire», but simply — burning. Can be used on wooden materials and theoretically on acrylic. The same engraving, only done by a burner.

Rounding — decoration of wires, something, and there are plenty of them in any case. They are usually rounded with tubes, various braids. Ghetto option: use electrical tape. Usually, along with the round, there is a molex mod immediately.

Molex — a standard four-pin connector from the PSU. Sometimes also called a three-pin connector from a cooler.

What can be done with a regular white contact, you ask? Usually this is painting in a different color or lighting from the inside with LEDs.

Fanbus and reobas — a mod that was popular at the origins of modding. How many of these things have been done in the history of modding, no one can say. Currently, factory models have long been available, so it makes sense to collect them yourself only for the sake of moral satisfaction. The essence of these devices is to regulate the voltage supply from 0 V to 12 V to fans or neon. The main difference between them lies in the principle of voltage regulation itself. On the reobas there are knobs that turn smoothly and, accordingly, also smoothly raise / lower the voltage supply, and on the fanbas there are toggle switches that can turn the fan / neon on or off completely. They are usually inserted into a 5 or 3.5-inch bay.

The LCD display has also been a popular mod ever since the beginning of the modding movement. The text LCD display is usually inserted into the same 5-inch bay and connected to the LPT port. Thanks to different programs and plug-ins, it can show various information: whether it is the temperature of the processor, the name of the song in Winamp, or the name of your cat.

Information can be displayed both line by line and in crawl line format. In today’s environments, graphical LCD displays or even miniature LCD monitors up to 17″ can be installed in the side wall of the case.

Custom Grill is a mod that will be popular as long as there is air cooling. Now there are many options and technologies for the manufacture of decorative gratings. These are standard metal ones, from plexiglass, from active UV plex, electroluminescent, mirror, voluminous, and whatever.

Noise insulation — this moment has become more and more important over time. There were more coolers in the system, and with them the noise also increased. The hardware in the computer is also not silent, modders began to solve this problem very quickly. At first, they used improvised materials from auto and other industries, then the experiments left, giving way to factory developments. For devices, sound insulation is made on the basis of silicone. For the case, it’s more difficult, professional kits include vibration-damping and noise-absorbing self-adhesive parts, and from them the system unit is covered from the inside.

There is also the so-called «aquarium modding». To combine the incompatible is the fate of all extreme modders. And what could be more incompatible than water and voltage in a computer. There are not very many such mods, but they are beautiful in beauty. Aquariums, unless of course no one will swim there, are usually filled with a mixture of glycerin and water, illuminated with slowly flowing air bubbles, this sight is mesmerizing.

But modding is not only alive with aquariums, the computer case was combined with a coffee maker, washing machine, made from a wastebasket, you can’t remember everything.

A little about the so-called easy mods, these are the simplest types of mods for beginners. The very first mod is the replacement of standard LEDs with super bright and original colors in the CD drive, HDD indicator, Power, keyboard and other places where they are installed. This is where the majority of modders started their journey. Here you do not need to have any abilities, elementary knowledge of physics, a pair of resistances and a soldering iron, that’s all.

Stealth mod (stealth mod) is a traditional mod aimed to «hide» computer elements that stand out from the overall design (for example, a white CD-ROM in a black case).

Carrying handles is an important mod if you need to constantly move your computer or go to a LAN-party.

LAN-Party is a very fun and useful pastime of real computer scientists, the essence of which is that a group of people with computers and a local network between them gather in some room for a while to get moral and aesthetic pleasure by playing network games. games and the exchange of software, movies, music over a local network. Here there is an exchange of experience and showing each other their mods.

Illuminated winglets — Not the most popular mod. But those who are interested can try to make it at home. The essence of it is in the room inside the thumb screw of a miniature LED and connecting all this garland to the PSU.

Of course, this is not a complete list of all modifications, each modder selects and invents something exclusive and original for himself. That’s why modding is good, because it’s simply impossible to meet two identical cases / things.

Peripheral modding

Monitors, printers, scanners, card readers, speakers, power supplies and, of course, keyboards and mice — this is the main springboard for work. Modding of mice and keyboards can also be attributed to easy mods , there is nothing complicated there, backlighting, replacing standard diodes, painting, changing the external shape.

Complete modifications of power supplies are very popular, perhaps, after the case, this is the second element in the number of various mods. What can be done with it? Well, firstly, this is the round of wires described above, cutting through windows of various shapes and lighting them, replacing the fans inside the PSU with low-noise and beautiful ones, of course, painting. Custom power supplies look very nice, for example, completely made of transparent plastic.

There would be a desire and direct hands, and what to mod, there are no questions about this, because there are a lot of «naked» untouched elements of the computer industry around.

Currently…

If in its inception modding was at the level of ordinary people and enthusiasts, now it has become very commercialized. If earlier modders tried to do everything themselves, now the manufacturing companies do everything for them. The so-called Acryl cases (completely transparent plexiglass cases) have appeared for a long time.

Cases with windows already made and all kinds of modding baubles. Fans and coolers of almost any illumination and size; grills made of metal, UV plex, of any complexity and shape; fluorescent paints, phosphors, special markers; a huge selection of lighting elements; what can I say, even if the illuminated screws and light legs are made in series. Large manufacturers of computer hardware are also not far behind. Now, much more attention is paid to appearance than before, this is a beautiful textolite on the boards, and trendy backlit fans. Companies very quickly jumped on the wave of modding and took advantage of all the experience of creating mods from movement enthusiasts, providing modders with everything that could be dreamed of. Modding began to lose its main advantage — exclusivity. In addition, even though the modder’s imagination is limitless, there are very few original solutions. Now you won’t surprise anyone with a beautifully carved curly window or a high-quality stealth mod. Modding now is, first of all, projects on a specific theme with a pronounced concept, and not just a «Christmas tree» with a dozen neon lights. And, of course, custom cases.

What will never be made in the factory is the original custom, which is nowhere else in the world. This is the prerogative of professional modders. Yes, with the development of modding, it has its own pros, many of them united in teams. Several modding studios have been formed that accept orders for the manufacture of any case. So, during this time the world saw a large number of exclusive projects made specifically for some kind of exhibition or presentation.

Mobbing

Currently, a new trend in modding has appeared, one might even say an offshoot — Mobbing. Mobbing is the same modding, only all manipulations are done with a mobile phone, hence the name. This direction is young, so a large number of modifications, like with computer modding, have not yet been invented. While mobbing includes changing the backlight, screen, airbrushing, gluing rhinestones. Using the phone as an auxiliary device: flashlight, router, alarm, etc. The most popular mod is the usual painting in a car repair shop.

Of course, this direction will develop further, the desire to look exclusive has always been above all in a person, and now everyone has a mobile phone.

The only difference from modding is the price of the object. Making modifications on very expensive models of phones will come to mind only to the most desperate mobbers. Perhaps this is the only thing that can hold back the development of mobbing as an independent direction.

And then what?

It is unlikely that we will have to wait for some kind of revolution in the modding industry. The production of ready-made modding solutions will continue to increase, and there will be fewer and fewer real Dremel masters. Already now you often meet individuals with stock cases, stuffed with all sorts of gadgets, bought in the same store. And they honestly call themselves modders, forgetting that a real modder is the one who makes his own mods.

Although who knows; a younger generation of modders is growing, who had and still has something to learn from and something to watch. It was the founders who had no examples before their eyes and therefore everything was done for the first time. But if in the West everything is more or less good, then in the CIS the situation with modding is much worse. To make a decent mod, comparable to the creation of Western colleagues, you need to invest a lot of money in it. And the main contingent of modders we have is students or people without a main job. In addition, although there is a lot of any jewelry in online stores, sometimes, especially in small towns, it can be very difficult to find the necessary material or element for a future project.

In conclusion, I would like to say that as long as we have people making their own unique projects, modding will live, maybe it will live its small life, but very proud.

The material was prepared with the support of Modnews.ru, one of the largest modding portals in Runet.

TOP10 modding projects for February (42 photos + 3 videos)

Apple Watch Ultra is easier to replace than to fix. iFixit dismantled the smartwatch and showed the layout of the parts (video)0418

iFixit experts disassembled the rugged Apple Watch Ultra to assess the difficulty of opening the case, replacing the battery and screen of the device. The conclusions were not particularly comforting for future watch owners: according to engineers, the gadget is easier to replace than to repair.

Crashed a car to check the security system of the new iPhone 14 (video)

Bloggers have spectacularly tested the crash alert feature of the new iPhone 14 Pro. Not a single blogger and iPhone were hurt, unfortunately, which cannot be said about the car.

Smart household appliances brand VIOMI comes to Russia

VIOMI smart home appliances will start shipping to Russia in the third quarter. Viomi Technology Co., Ltd is one of the technology leaders in China’s Internet of Things (IoT) home market, with products sold in more than 60 countries worldwide.

Xiaomi has released a new Vortex Wave washing robot vacuum cleaner with a unique brush and two water tanks (4 photos)

The popular Smartmi brand from the Xiaomi ecosystem has launched the production of a new category of equipment — robotic vacuum cleaners with technologies that have no analogues on the market.

Cyborg cockroaches were created in Japan to explore hard-to-reach places (2 photos)

A group of scientists from the Japanese research organization RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research presented their latest development. They created a controlled hybrid of the Madagascar cockroach, which is controlled remotely using a wireless module.

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Odnoklassniki

A selection of the most interesting modding projects found on the net. Each work has an author’s text…

1. The idea to stylize a computer as a lamp device of the 40s-50s visited me quite a long time ago. At the same time, I wanted not just to cram dial indicators and toggle switches into the case, but to make it functional. Well, if possible, add a grotesque, of course — for example, due to the size and number of lamps. All measuring heads perform a very specific role — they can be used to control 5 voltages in a computer, the intensity of air cooling, hard disk activity and processor power consumption. It is possible directly from the front panel to smoothly change the speed of the fans, reset the BIOS settings, enable or disable the beep and backlight, and output any voltage from the PSU to the current-collecting terminals. The case, named «Iron Felix», is not tied to one configuration of iron, and its filling can be easily and painlessly changed, as in a regular factory case.

2. The body was made for half a year. the skeleton from the ATX corps was taken as a basis, the rest was done manually. Material: 1mm aluminum sheet, plexiglass (various thicknesses), aluminum profiles, lots of black paint…the engraving is present everywhere, even on the cover of the DVD box…because. It was made for a long time, there are small scratches (whoever is observant will find it). I enjoy reading criticism. Thank you for your attention)

3. The most compact game controller for game consoles has been created. It can be put in any pocket, because the thickness of this device is one printed circuit board.

4. In the front part there is a 240 mm CBO radiator, in the upper part there is a DVD drive, above it is a model of the engine camshaft, an MP3 player is built into the control panel, the purpose of which is to reproduce the sound of a running engine.

6. T.K. I am limited in time for everything about everything, it took about 2 years. With the help of my hands, all the iron was deprived of the guarantee.

7. Fully custom housing, integrated bluetooth, LCD, touch power on/off, size 225x245x50mm, super quiet, consumption up to 25W. Main application — HTPC

8. Home NAS server. 10 HDDs. The total volume is 20 TB. Fully custom

9. Project «S-machine». The work on the case is almost completed, the final touches are left. But, unfortunately, now I do not have, neither time, nor money, nor material. For this reason, I post a photo of an almost finished case. Rate. Z.Y. Work on the link, on the forum of this site.

10. The idea to create a device with a twist for old technology (not steampunk) has been around for a long time, and now I decided (thanks again to Lesha) to realize this idea.

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modding PC design NAS

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Masterpieces of world modding / Sudo Null IT News

For many years, my main hobby was computer modding. I followed all the news, helped maintain thematic resources, and even created several works myself (one of them can even be found on Habré).

As a result, a lot of materials have accumulated on my computer, including those that have disappeared from the Internet over the years. Today I want to talk about modding projects that seem to me the most beautiful, original or important for the development of this subculture.

There are a lot of collections on this topic on the net, but they, as a rule, simply pile up different pictures, and it’s good if there are at least the names of the works. I tried to approach the issue more thoroughly, and for each project I gave not only the name, but also the nickname of the author, the year of creation and a link to the worklog (diary of works) — if it has survived. To find some photos in good quality, I even had to dig up such antiquity as disks-appendices to computer magazines.

My selection is as subjective as possible, and, of course, it does not include everything worth talking about. But if you like the idea, there will definitely be future releases. So let’s go!

1. Pyramid

Author: Gup (Henk Hamers)
Year: 2010
Worklog

Unusual custom (that is, a building created from scratch) based on the Stargate movie. It is equipped with a mechanized front panel, behind which is hidden a display that displays the parameters of the computer. Thanks to the successful lighting and painting, the case looks no worse than the scenery from the movie.

2. FuG-01/ET

Author: Sheyr (Marcin Krup)
Year: 2005
Worklog

This case mod in the style of old German hardware is better known simply as the «Wolfenstein Case Mod». Perhaps now it does not look as impressive as it was at the time of creation, but then the combination of aged metal, complex painting and original retro details made it stand out among the timid crafts, where all modding was reduced to cutting a window in the side wall. Personally, this corps is especially dear to me because it was he who prompted me to try my hand at this business.

Short interview with the author in Russian

3. Recycle Your Computer

Author: BeWize (Alexey Chistov)
Year: 2004
Worklog

When the new Mac Pro came out a few years ago in a cylindrical body, only the lazy did not joke that it looked like a trash can. But everything new is a well-forgotten old! The unusual case, made from a real waste paper basket, won first place in the competition of the magazine «Home PC» and gave rise to many imitators. Again, no problems with the removal of heated air …

Photo report from the exhibition

4. The Weapon of Mass Destruction

Author: G-gnome (Peter Dickinson)
Year: 2005
Worklog

This is a real bomb — both in appearance and in the effect it has made in the modding community. Be sure to check out the worklog, since it contains photos. It’s just a hymn to metalworking.

It is noteworthy that many of the parts were made by hand.

5. Zenith Antique 5-S-29 Radio

Author: Gary Voigt
Year: 2010
Worklog

“Attention, attention! New York speaking! All radio stations in the United States of America are working! . . ”You may have thought that in front of you was a computer built into an old radio. This is not so: not a single historical thing was damaged during the creation of this mod. The author made a copy of the retro radio model he liked from scratch, and even managed to place a powerful computer with a water cooling system inside. This approach can only be applauded.

6. Cosmos Cruizer

Author: Boddaker (Brian Carter)
Year: 2015
Worklog

This is the most recent work in my collection, but its author is a very respected “old school” modder. This time he took the body of the Cooler Master Cosmos II and turned it into a kind of hot rod car. New side walls were modeled from fiberglass, thanks to which the border between the outer and inner parts of the hull is erased.

7. Orac³

Author: G-gnome (Peter Dickinson)
Year: 2004
Worklog

I can’t even believe that this futuristic project was created 17 years ago! It takes the idea of cable management to the absolute — and this at a time when the use of rounded cables was already considered a sign of a good mod.

The author has created an excellent example of cyberpunk style, which even today would be shameless to use as a decoration for a game or movie.

Author’s render:

Worklog in Russian

8. Fire Sound System

Author: Strannik (Alexey Leontiev)
Year: 2008

Just as Michelangelo, looking around a block of marble, could see the future sculpture in it, Alexey Leontiev, looking at old fire extinguishers, saw in them … speakers! The sound quality, according to the creator, turned out to be quite decent, so through them you can run not only a recording of a fire siren, but also incendiary music. And I think I know which Scooter song the author turned on first!

9. Gray Tower

Author: Grizly
Year: 2011
Worklog

Another interesting work from our compatriot. The project is made in an atypical art deco style for modding and resembles American skyscrapers of the 30s. The workmanship is excellent, despite the fact that this is the author’s first case.

10. Project Mars City

Author: Crimson Sky
Year: 2007
Worklog

In the decades since the first Doom was released, many casemods have been created in the style of this iconic game. But the masterpiece from the master Crimson Sky remains unsurpassed to this day.

General outlines, small details, painting, moving parts… there is simply nothing to complain about.

I don’t think I’m exaggerating if I say that the history of modding is divided into two periods — before «Project Mars City» and after.

Conclusion

It so happened that in my selection were mostly projects created ten to fifteen years ago. It should not be concluded from this that “it was better before”. In modern modding, there are also enough excellent works, and the level of their execution is only growing every year.

It just seems to me that a certain “canon” has already formed today, and most projects are similar to each other. But the end of the 2000s and the beginning of the 2010s — it was a time of unbridled flight of fantasy and bold experiments. Therefore, many works of that time are able to surprise today. What modding projects do you like the most?

What is PC case modding? Relatively recently, a huge number of decorations for the chassis became available to the buyer. Previously, there were no colored coolers and highlights on the components, so many decided to mod the case.

Definition

Modding is the modification of an electronic device. This is done to improve the appearance, and sometimes the technical component. The most commonly used modding of the PC case and peripherals. If they work with changing the appearance of a mobile phone, they use the concept of «mobbing».

The term appeared thanks to the English word modify, which means “modify”.

Terminology in modding

As mentioned earlier, it is the PC case that is most often modified. Modding is not the only concept that is used in this process. The modified body is called a «casemode». In this case, they take the usual chassis in the store, and then remake and decorate it at home.

Sometimes users prefer to make their own case. In this case, it is called a «custom case». If the user works with a monitor, keyboard or mouse, then these devices are called mods, and the specialist himself is called a modder.

Beginning of history

The computer case modding was discussed at the end of the last century. Although there is no exact date of origin of this process. The idea itself somehow arose simultaneously among specialists from the United States and Western Europe. A couple of years later, modding appeared in the CIS countries.

There is an assumption that the first changes happened when someone decided to make a hole in the case for efficient operation of the cooler. Of course, now such a decision seems strange, because almost all models have the necessary holes for the normal operation of the cooling system.

At that time, such devices had to be made independently, since normal CO was only in expensive server stations. But case modding is not just an improvement in the technical parameters of the system, but also creative work on the appearance.

At the end of the 90s of the last century, websites began to appear in the USA, which contained detailed instructions on how to modify the case. Added to similar resources and a gallery with examples of other users’ work. Many began to be inspired, and someone even decided to make money on it.

Modding in the CIS

In the CIS countries, modification of the PC chassis appeared a little later. In 2001, you could already find sites that also helped enthusiasts work on the look of their computer. Such resources did not last long for people. Many understood the principle of modding, it only remained to turn on the fantasy and do something extraordinary.

So, in 2004 there was a peak of modification. From that moment on, the industry began to develop. In addition to information resources, commercial sites began to appear. On some they sold all the necessary parts for modding the case with their own hands, on others they offered a similar service for money.

Development of modding

Of course, now such a process is of little use, since it takes a lot of time and money, while it is much easier to spend finances on an already finished product. In addition, a huge number of bright, unusual cases are sold on the Internet. They can shimmer with different colors of the rainbow, blink and spin.

Unusual chassis shapes or materials are available. Particularly popular are LED backlighting, a transparent sidewall and water cooling with bright tubes. Fans of different colors are also often used. The power supply or video card can glow.

At the height of its popularity, you could buy all sorts of lights, stencils and other accessories for modding. It was possible to buy a kind of constructor, which already contained all the necessary details. It was enough just to put everything together.

Modern Modding

Of course, body modding is not as popular these days as it used to be. But many enthusiasts continue this business because they cannot find the desired design in the online store. Modders use their own slang, which not everyone will understand.

Those who have been modifying devices for a long time can now create unusual designs for the equipment we are used to. Some gadgets take on a brighter and more attractive look, and some can become very unusual and change beyond recognition.

Many devices have lost their usual white and black colors. Modders felt that not all users are conservatives. Many are ready for experiments, which means they just need bright colors.

What do they do with computers?

But since modding is more about modifying the PC case, this should be given more attention. Modders spend a lot of time reworking the familiar chassis that houses all the components of the system. They try to make as many changes as possible so that the user has not just a boring gray box, but an artsy “robot”.

Specialists cut out the walls to make them transparent; additional sensors and regulators are built in. They work with the installation of a water cooling system. They try to remove unnecessary system noise.

The modding of the old case also includes decorations. Therefore, various patterns or drawings appear, spraying, stamping, carving and much more.

Directions: design

During the existence of this trend, a couple of directions have already been formed that can describe the general style of the finished product. Of course, all these topics are rather arbitrary and case modding can be very individual. Nevertheless, some types of changes can still be distinguished.

For example, the post-apocalyptic has become popular. So, the buildings began to be converted into equipment that allegedly survived a nuclear war or other global catastrophes. Many modders are inspired by popular games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Fallout.

Also used is the popular high-tech, which many people love so much for clear boundaries and a certain minimalism. PCs began to look ultra-modern, futuristic. This trend appeared thanks to the film «Tron».

Steampunk computers have an unusual look. This trend brought the era of steam and Victorian England. Modders began to use leather and brass elements. Sometimes gears or tubes appear in the design, which could be found in the design of a Stirling engine or a steam engine.

Many users prefer DIY themed PC case modding. So they manage to make their computer unusual and individual. To do this, someone uses their favorite films or series, computer games and books as an example. Someone can take as an example protagonists or antagonists, and someone can use music.

Advertising has become another area of modding. Usually such cases are made to order. One of the manufacturers offers all the components for the system, and a case is made under its logo or brand. In this case, corporate colors, names and graphic elements are used.

Sometimes you don’t need a case for cool modding. Some modders have come up with a direction — embedding. In this case, instead of the usual case, unusual equipment is taken, where all the components of the system are built. In addition to equipment, you can take any item, the main thing is not to forget about safety precautions. In this case, the components can be in a soft toy, a microwave oven, or in one of the pieces of furniture.

«Ghetto» is a trend that made modders look for various trash. In this case, they try to make the body intentionally sloppy. Of course, unsuccessfully assembled PCs, which seem ugly and awkward, can also be attributed to this style.

Directions: technical equipment

Home Theater Personal Computer is a great theme for modding an old PC case. This modification has the main task — the creation of a silent system. Usually the computer in this case is used as a home theater. The changes mostly concern passive cooling.

Another direction is technical modding. One of the most popular. In addition to its modern appearance, such a case receives the best technology. Often this type of modification is called a «shopmod». Modders are working on increasing the performance of the cooling system. Although initially all this should be in conjunction with the selection of system components.

It will be difficult to achieve good results if there is weak hardware inside. Therefore, to begin with, the purchase of powerful parts is thought out, and after that — installing them in the case. In this case, overclocking is not always used. Emphasis is placed on providing excess cooling inside the chassis. Therefore, in some cases, you have to sacrifice appearance. It is also worth adjusting the noise level.

What is used

As already mentioned, depending on the design idea, you can use a huge number of accessories to mod your computer case. But there are some tricks that turn out to be quite familiar to this process.

For example, modders often do painting or airbrushing. This largely affects the appearance of the case. Many also work with engraving. Sometimes the chassis is pasted over with a film or cable braid is used, the so-called rounding.

To improve the technical component, water cooling and the installation of various regulators and sensors can be used. In some cases, backlighting, artificial aging and changing the shape of the case become popular.

Materials for processing can be aluminum, steel, plexiglass, wood and much more. If you go to a specialized store, you can find special figured ventilation grilles, fancy screws and nuts, backlit ribbons, unusual buttons and toggle switches.

Modding is an art

Of course, it’s hard to deny that this is an absolutely creative process, if we are not talking about technical modification. Nevertheless, understanding and knowing how the system works is also important, since improper installation of one of the components can lead to breakage of all parts. In addition, when using unusual materials, it is important to follow safety precautions.

Modding is not for everyone. Of course, by carefully following the instructions, something suitable can turn out. But like anything else, it takes experience. If it is not there, you cannot count on the fact that the first result will be cool.

non-standard appearance of a standard computer — Ferra.ru

… no one knows when it all started. No one also knows where it happened and who did it first. It is only known that it was a very, very long time ago, when the cases were small and nondescript, and additional fans, and even more so regular places for these fans, could only be found in the most expensive «semi-server» cases, which then cost so much How much does an average office computer cost now. Of course, there were few consumers of such cases, a much larger number of people were the owners of cramped basins, in which, with additional cooling, it was, to put it mildly, tight. And the processors kept increasing the frequencies, and their dissipated thermal power grew accordingly. The coolers drove the same hot air through the radiators, and since no one has yet canceled the laws of heat transfer, processors definitely did not want to be cooled by such air.

Something had to be done. And then someone came up with the idea to cut a hole in some part of the case, and equip this hole with a fan so that the air in the case is updated faster. The moment when this unknown person picked up a hacksaw can be considered the moment of the birth of modding. Unfamiliar word? Read on, you will understand everything yourself.

What is modding? I think that if you catch a dozen different and unfamiliar people engaged in this type of activity in the vastness of the network, then each of them will give their own definition of their occupation. To modding, if you push yourself, you can even include the installation of case fans in their native places. But still, most modders believe that the main task of modding is to give your computer and its peripherals a unique, unique look by . .. yes, by anything — from simple painting and drawing faces on the case wall to crossing the system unit with a food processor. Well, as for the combine, I may have turned it down, but here is a hybrid of a PC and a coffee maker, created by a craftsman from some developed capitalist country — a thing quite well-known on the Internet. Non-standard cooling systems, in general, can also be called modding. That is, modding is an activity, the purpose of which is to make the case, monitor and various peripherals as non-standard and beautiful as possible, different from the appearance of a standard white ATX Miditower box or the same white brick, for example, a printer, as well as actions aimed at improving functionality of all the above devices.

But modding is by no means an exotic hobby of single enthusiasts who are ready to cut or paint something day and night. Now there are entire companies founded by modders that work only for modders and produce only products for modding. I’m not even talking about online communities of modders who periodically arrange offline lan-parties, where they demonstrate who modified what during the reporting period — now this is the norm. You can make your computer non-standard and beautiful without even imagining what a dremmel looks like and how oil paint differs from gouache, and gouache from automotive paint. There would be money. But more on that later. Now let’s take a closer look at the arsenal of modders, as well as the most typical tricks for giving your PC a custom look.

Computer cases, as you know, are usually painted in gray or white, black, orange and blue are much less common. I think that there is no serial case painted in the colors of your favorite football team, or it will take a very long time to look for it. If you ask for a case in an ordinary computer store, painted, for example, like a zebra or like a tiger, then at best you will be politely sent somewhere else (the worst case is a car with flashing lights and orderlies). But «does not exist» for a real modder is not an obstacle, but rather an order akin to «Attack!» Doesn’t exist — so let’s do it!

Typically automotive enamel is used to paint a standard metal body. First you need to carefully remove the old paint. This is not difficult, but rather long and dreary — for more than one hour you will have to fiddle with sandpaper on iron before the surface takes on a more or less decent and clean look. Then the surface is degreased, primed (automotive primer is also used), and finally, the first coat of paint is applied to it. Then, after the first layer has dried, the second one is applied, and the procedure is repeated several more times, depending on the number of layers. After the top layer has dried, the surface is polished and varnished.

The description of the painting process took one paragraph, but the process itself will take more than one day or even more than one week. You can completely sand, degrease and even prime the surface of the case, that is, prepare it for painting, but paint … You can, of course, paint the case almost with a roller, but only the most unpretentious people living in sewer manholes and eating mainly vodka and processed cheese. In order to achieve a more acceptable result, the application of paint should be done using a sprayer — be it a special compressor, or just a spray gun for a household vacuum cleaner. Then it all depends on your efforts and your talent as a painter. The time for complete drying of each layer of paint is several days, while there should not be any dust in the room where such a case dries, otherwise all your efforts will go down the drain, and such a surface will never shine. If you don’t have such a room, and the situation with painting abilities is not very good, but with making money it’s a little better, you can give the body to a car service that carries out body and painting work. There, professionals will do everything for you, and the case will dry in a special drying chamber with an air temperature of about 80 degrees. The effect is guaranteed. The price of the issue is from $ 100 and above, depending on the service.

Painting is wonderful in itself. Especially if the body shines and shimmers with one, two or three colors. But this is still painting, that is, the work of a painter, not an artist. The painter paints and the artist paints. After painting (or instead of it), it is quite possible to depict something on the case. That’s just amateur performance here usually does not end with anything good. The maximum that you can count on is a painting reminiscent of the immortal painting «The Sower», which came out from under the brush of Ostap Bender. Drawing more complex and beautiful canvases requires, firstly, special equipment, and secondly, a special person called an airbrush artist. The price strongly depends on the area and complexity of the painting, as well as on the appetites of the artist, and in each case is determined separately. The drawing can also be simply pasted as a decal — it looks good, but here you are very limited in choosing the desired design.

Primer, sandpaper, compressor and spray gun is the best, but also the most expensive option. There is also an average option, less expensive, less laborious, but also less pleasing to the eye. You buy a can of paint of the desired color, and go ahead … I can’t say that the result is amazing — yes, the case acquires individuality, but it’s almost impossible to achieve the brilliance and chic that you get when painting with a spray gun.

The screws in the case, by the way, can also be changed for colored ones — just so that they do not stand out from the general background.

There are also small-scale cases, painted in non-standard colors, and even with some pictures on the walls. Such cases are produced by special modding studios, which, in principle, are ready to do any work for you and your PC in general, if you had money. We will definitely return to them at the end of the article.

In addition to car enamel, a special phosphor (which is a powder that can be added, for example, to transparent varnish) can be applied to the body, which will accumulate light during the day, and at night — slowly, in small portions, give it out for several hours. Also, the case can be painted with fluorescent paint — then in a simple, visible light, the case will look like a simple painted case, and in the ultraviolet it will glow, and the glow will be very, very peculiar and original. To do this, of course, you will have to buy at least one ultraviolet lamp, but the game is worth the candle, believe me.

Since we are talking about the glow, let’s move on to the second main means of self-expression of the modder — the illumination of the body and periphery. In addition to the already described options with phosphor and fluorescent paint, special neon lamps are used to illuminate the case outside and inside. Most often they are glass (hard) or polymer (soft) tubes, which contain neon inert gas, which provides a specific glow. All of you have probably seen neon signs and neon advertising more than once. Neon lamps can be installed both on the front and side panels of the case, and on peripheral devices, and even on pieces of iron and wires. By the way, you can also paint not only the body — fans paint any other devices, from scanners to coolers.

The standard light bulbs on the front panel of the computer are also subject to replacement — instead of the standard Power and HDD lights, we put bright LEDs, and the case, during periods of hard drive activity, begins to resemble an airplane approaching for landing winking side lights.

Speaking of blinking. Constantly burning lamps are, of course, beautiful, but you can, for example, make them blink according to a strictly defined program, or in accordance with the activity of the output on the sound card. In addition, it would be useful to think about the switch-off of such a backlight — nevertheless, it is far from always needed, especially if you have to sleep in the same room with such a modified case. It would also be nice to be able to adjust its brightness, as well as the speed of rotation of numerous fans — so to speak, turn on the night mode. And this is where a device called reobas comes in handy.

The Reobas is a panel that is most commonly inserted into a 5″ PC bay, or, more rarely, into some other makeshift location. There are several knobs on the panel, each of which is connected to a variable resistance, to which, in turn, a cooler or lamp is connected. Thus, the supply voltage of the device can be adjusted from 0 to nominal, that is, the cooler can simply be stopped and the lamp turned off.

If you do not need any intermediate positions, and you are interested in just “stop and turn off”, as well as the nominal mode, then you can take a simpler device, called fanbus. It no longer has handles on the panel, but toggle switches, and accordingly, a smooth change will not be available to you. But fanbas costs a little cheaper than reobas. All these devices can also be made independently, there would be a desire and several variable resistances.

Another important addition to the «night mode» is the additional noise insulation of the case. To do this, either a special material used for noise and vibration isolation of car interiors, or ordinary felt, which can be torn, for example, an old felt boot, is used. The case is simply pasted over with it from the inside, which leads to a significant decrease in the level of monotonous noise, and dampens vibrations almost completely.

We have already said above that the backlight can be both external and internal. Internal lighting, of course, also needs to be shown. But how? Remove case cover? Not an option — we don’t need extra dust in the case, the appearance deteriorates, and why did we paint it then? Modders have found a more elegant solution — a large transparent window is made in the side wall of the case. Now there are a lot of serial cases with such a window, such cases are produced by Chieftec, Thermaltake, Antec, Supermicro, etc. If you are initially buying a case for modding, then the best option would be to buy a case with a ready-made window. If you are unlucky, and there is no window in your case, it does not matter, no one bothers you to cut it out.

Most often the window is cut with a special tool called a dremmel, which, of course, you can buy, but it is very expensive. It is much easier to use an ordinary grinder for these purposes (if you yourself are afraid, take the body to the same car service where you painted it, they will do everything for you for little money). You can, of course, almost cut the windows with a drill or a hacksaw, but the larger the window, the higher the probability of deformation of the edges. After sawing, the edges are carefully processed, and the window is closed with plexiglass, which can also be freely bought, for example, at the radio market. Between the metal and glass is a rubber seal called molding. In words, everything is simple, but the reality is again much tougher, making a transparent window is a less time-consuming procedure than painting, but still not too fast and easy.

In the West, everything is much simpler — there you can go to the store and buy a special window making kit, which will include a dremmel, glass, sealant, installation instructions, and even a cloth for cleaning glass. I haven’t seen such kits in our modding shops yet.

There are also completely transparent cases, such as the Acrylic Case from Sunbeam Technology (www.sunbeamtech.com) — an expensive, but very beautiful and stylish option for true fans of modding.

Not enough space for additional fans? No problem! Let’s make more. Blowholes (this is what modders call fan holes) are cut anywhere, in any quantity and quite easily. The tools are the same, only the window is much smaller, and there is no need to suffer with glass. After the window is ready, an illuminated fan protrudes into it (by the way, such fans are also mass-produced by the same Sunbeam Technology), and some kind of curly lattice with your initials is screwed on top (made by yourself, or ordered from a company engaged in laser engraving and sharp) A special chic is a transparent window with a blowhole in the center.

But you can improve cooling not only by installing additional fans. Sometimes it is enough to remove natural obstacles in the form of flat cables and other wires, and air flows begin to circulate much more actively.

You can buy special colored tubular loops (from $10 each), or you can cut lengthwise and hide existing wires and multi-core cables in a colored hose. Unnecessary internal partitions can also be removed.

To control the temperature, it would be quite useful to equip the computer with additional thermocouples, the readings of which can be displayed on the liquid crystal display mounted on the front panel (if, of course, there is still room on it). Usually they are made in the form of a 5-inch panel, but there are also options that are «embedded» into the wall. If the LCD is large, then any other information can also be displayed on it — for example, processor load, information about the configuration of the machine, or something like that.

If you are seriously carried away, and the case is no longer amenable to further perversions, you can cut blooholes and transparent windows in the monitor. Then the monitor can be equipped with a cooler, backlit, and even painted. Of course, a monitor is not a case, it costs more, it is more complicated, but it is much easier to make holes in plastic, and attaching something to it is a pleasure. You can also take care of the backlight of the mouse, printer, and even the uninterruptible power supply.

Here, perhaps, are all the basic tools that a novice modder uses when he thinks about turning his computer into something like nothing else. Of course, the arsenal of these tools is much wider — you can, for example, build a case from scratch, or turn an old suitcase into a case, and here everything is limited only by the size of your imagination and wallet, however, even after completing some of the above steps, you will already compare favorably with other gray-white counterparts in the PC. At the same time, it is absolutely not necessary to have direct hands — you can hand over the computer to a modding studio, in which they will do everything you need, according to your sketches and in accordance with your wishes. You can also write to some cool modder who will help you — for money or out of sports interest. You can read more specific guides on painting, lighting, or punching extra holes in the case.

Modding pc cases: Case Modding Gallery | TechPowerUp

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be quiet! Dark Power Pro 11

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