ION Cube case mod wins NVIDIA design contest
By Donald Melanson 
posted Nov 13th 2009 2:24PM
posted Nov 13th 2009 2:24PM
We haven't seen a ton of ION-based case mods just yet, but it looks like NVIDIA itself has kick started the scene in a pretty big way with a case mod design contest, and it's now crowned a winner. Built by Bill Owen of Mnpctech.com, the so-called ION Cube draws on a few fairly obvious influences, and makes use of a combination of CNC milled sheets of aluminum and laser cut pieces of acrylic which, combined with the rest of the build, apparently took over a hundred hours to complete. On the inside, and one of the impetuses for the contest, is the ZOTAC ION ITX 330 motherboard, which is intended for small, low-power systems just like this (and less flashy ones, too). Head on past the break a video, and hit up the link below for a look at the build.
Sweet!!!
Can I buy one of these? It'll look slick next to by my Elite 360 and PS3...
i can't find jason
very nice, but it must be expensive, can you see this one, is cheaper and its very nice too, http://www.assismatica.pt/detalhe_produto.aspx?produto=Funtwist-Giada&idProduto=109558&catalogotipo=novos
Reminds me of the dashboard on the orignal Xbox.
The winner by far for sure!!!
Yeah, I'm glad I didn't put any time into trying to win this contest...
This is a cool mod but total BS that he should win. I mean the guy has a million bucks worth of shop tools. They need to have class divisions for this kind of stuff. I mean, give me a million dollar work shop and I bet I can make something just as good maybe better. They need a home workshop class and a pro class.
Just is not fair to the REAL DIY ppl. The ppl that make stuff with nothing but a jigsaw and drill, not people sitting in million dollar Westcost Chopper shops.
I give mad props to all the people who did'nt even get mentioned that did a kick ass job!
I think you missed a spot, you can still add more neon/LEDs to the base.
Talk about some serious detail. Fits their image perfectly.
CNC laser cutters are fun. :)
Nvidia found the Allspark before the Intelacons got their hands on it.
I'm thinking borg cube
We are Ion. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.
Intelacons, amazing comment!
Transformers! Intel Inside!
This would be a case to have! Taking pre-orders?
yep, $42,000 per.
you can buy them here
www.wasteyourmoneyinafinancialcrisis.com
Green Cube makes me think of:
"Strength is irrelevant. Resistance is futile. We wish to improve ourselves. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service ours."
The Borg.
Aw, shucks. You appear to be drastically late.
Built*
:)
THE TRASFORMER CUBE !
Wait, after all that work there isn't an IO plate? So many good mods don't do this for some reason, it would have even looked nice if they anodized it black/green.
Don't Look For A Reason... Look For A Way Out.
I think he was inspired by this little gizmo:
http://www.adafruit.com/blog/2008/06/page/2/
Want.
Anyone remember those Rock City cube computers from about ten or so years ago? ...this looks like an updated 'TRON' version.
No fair! It is obvious his dad helped him with that! : )
We are ion. You will be assimilated. Resistance is..... OH NO! FULL SCREEN FLASH!
I don't understand why people call these case mods? It's a scratch built case, there's no "Modding" going on here.
"Mod" and "Modding" are such abused words.
Like "pre-modded" cases, it's not pre-modded if you bought it like that.
It is if the person you bought it from modified it from when they bought it.
I want to start a trend of antimodding, you take something thats been modded, then unmod it.
I'd be the Chairman Mao of the computer hardware world...
But can it play Crysis?
Bit unfair, the guy has a laser cutter, and just slams the thing with nvidia logos, not quite a respectable contest IMHO if that's how you win.
read
http://www.nvidia.com/object/ION_case_mod_contest.html
PEZ 'Dispensor'
jason51873, it's total BS that you should win. I mean you have tens of dollars worth of shop tools. They need to have class divisions for this kind of stuff. I mean, give me a tens of dollars work shop and I bet I can make something just as good maybe better. They need a home workshop class and a bum class.
Just is not fair to the REAL DIY ppl. The ppl that make stuff with nothing but mud and empty bottles, not people sitting in their parents' basements.
Seriously jason51873, cry moar. If you don't like the rules then don't enter. To suggest that there was no way pure creativity and a small budget couldn't have bested this winner is ridiculous.
PPL... read the article. This is a sponsored contest with the design submitted by an average Joe DIY'er and built by a pro level modder. MNPCTECH did this with skill and experience... not from millions in machinery. They are also VERY active in the modding community and have posted dozens (hundreds?) of useful tutorials, posted worklogs on all their projects, participate in modding podcasts and devote a great deal of their time to show people how to mod at this level. Anyway, actually visit the sites of the people involved and you'll find a lot of neat stuff!
very nice, but it must be expensive, see this cheap ion, very nice too http://www.assismatica.pt/detalhe_produto.aspx?produto=Funtwist-Giada&idProduto=109558&catalogotipo=novos
Very interesting. I just had finished my own built with the Zotac N330 Ion chipset. I got my casing from ebay from this user tattoo4electronics. Sick looking case too... Using acrylic, not only dirt cheap and looks good.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-ITX-ATX-Acrylic-Case-ASUS-Zotac-N330-ATOM-M350_W0QQitemZ320446642483QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLaptops_Nov05?hash=item4a9c1bb933#ht_6950wt_1165
Oh also if you want to see the casing click thru below for pictures.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2517/4057829648_04b0869d73_b.jpg
I really enjoyed this contest, it gave the average joe a chance to submit a design and watch it come to life. I really hope this kind of contest catches on, maybe with higher end products next time? Congratulations to Bill Owen and cheapskate (the designer, who oddly isn't mentioned?) on their amazing design and execution.