Case modding
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Case modding or Case modification is the modification of a computer chassis (often just referred to as the case). Modifying a computer in any non-standard way is considered a case mod. Many people, particulary hardware enthusiasts use case mods to illustrate a computer's power, and for aesthetic purposes. Modified computers are often found at LAN parties where their owners display them.
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History
When personal computers hit the mainstream, most of them came in a case the color of beige. This functional design was often called a beige box Although this served the purpose of containing the components of a personal computer, as time wore on, many users found their computers to be "tacky" or "dull" due to the lack of originality in the case design. So to solve this, some users began to modify their existing chassis or build their own. Later, Case Modification became mainstream when the Apple iMac was released, which went against the beige box design around at the time. in the late-1990s the price of computers fell as well. Since then many computer manufacturers began selling cases that lack the dull beige base color. Case Modification has also opened up a new market for 3rd party computer cases to continue the break from the average case. Beige cases are now becoming harder to find since users enjoy the larger variety of colors and styles of current OEM cases.
Common Modifications
- Window Mod: Putting a window within one of the panels of a computer case. This is most often done to the left hand side panel, and less often to the top panel. This modification is so popular that many of the major case manufacturers offer cases with the windows pre-installed, or replaceable side panels with the window installed. Some companies even offer entire cases made out of transparent materials.
- Lighting Mods: A lighting mod, is done when users put lighting in or on their computer cases. This is done with Cold Cathode Lights, LEDs, or EL Wire lights. The lights are sometimes paired with sound controllers that make the lights pulses with noises or music, producing interesting effects. CCLs come in long tubes, that generally produce a good amount of heat. LEDs come in many cases and forms, most often seen in bars similar to CCLs or within fans, called LED fans. EL Wire, takes the form of a small light rope, often embedded in cables such as SATA cable. Lighting modifications are often paired with window mods, to help show off the components.
- Cooling related Mods: There are many modifications that can fall into this category. The most common one is simply drilling an opening for a new fan. But the modifications vary on the situation and can include air ducts, water cooling, filtering, and the sealing of openings to promote better air flow. These modifications are often done by either overclockers looking for better cooling for the hot components, or quiet computer users, looking for silent cooling. Kits are available, and some companies are selling pre-made cases modified for better cooling; but most modifications are user-made for their particular situation.
- Unique cases: Some modifications do away with the traditional case entirely and use small form-factor motherboards like the Mini-ITX. A modern PC can be installed into a case of older computers, game consoles, or gumball machines. A few take these modifications a step further and modify the connectors, to fit the theme of the box. For example, building a computer in an ammo box and modifying the peripherals to use more rugged connectors seen in older military hardware.
Less Common Modificaitons
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- Peripheral Mods: Some people are not satisfied until everything connected to or associated with their computer is modified to fit their theme. Some peripherals that have been modified are the keyboard, mouse, and screen. They are painted to match the computer, and often the lights are switched for a different color.
- Unusual Cooling Mods: Hardcore overclockers often install cooling systems just to achieve performance records. Such systems include phase-change (works like a refrigerator), or liquid nitrogen. However, these systems are noisy or temporary, very difficult, and quite expensive.
- Case Building: Several people have built entire cases from scratch. Some make it into a work of art. Others make it appear to be something else, like a teddy bear, wood cabinet, or a shelf mounted on a wall. Still others persue a retro look, like a Macintosh Plus or an old Atari 2600 computer.
- Component Modding: This type of modding seems to be getting more popular and may eventually become mainstream. Relatively common is the addition of internal lighting. One popular mod is the relocation of buttons on an optical drive. This is often done in combination with "stealthing," which hides the drive's existance, except when open. Windows have also been installed in CD or DVD drives, so that the disc is viewable while in the drive. A modification that only the most daring modders try is the hard disk window. This is extremely risky because even the smallest airborn particle would cause it to " Head crash." The space between the disc and the read/write device is smaller than a particle of smoke. Consequently, some modders attempt this mod simply for the sake of recognition.
External links
- TheModWiki.org (http://www.themodwiki.org) - PC Mod How-To Guides, Articles, Project Logs, Mod Links, Mod Tools...
- bit-tech.net (http://www.bit-tech.net/)
- Mod the Box (http://www.modthebox.com/)
- Gallery of Modified cases (http://www.bluesmoke.net/viewGallery.php?id=case)
- German Modding Site (http://www.crazy-mods.de/)
- Several illustrated mod walkthroughs (http://case-mods.linear1.org/)
- Mini-ITX.com (http://www.mini-itx.com/)
- PimpRig.com (http://www.pimprig.com/)
- Case mod world (http://www.casemodworld.com/)
- Gallery and mod walkthroughs (http://www.metku.net/)
- Some extraordinary case mods (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/)
- ModCity.Org (http://www.modcity.org)
- How to round and sleeve IDE cables (http://www.corelimits.com/reviews.php?review=4)
Cooling products
Specilised Websites that sell such products include
- Pc Case Gear (http://www.pccasegear.com/) (Australian)
- Below 0 (http://www.below-0.net) (Australian)
- Frozen CPU (http://www.frozencpu.com/) (American)
- Case Cooler (http://www.casecooler.com/) (American)