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AT-AT PC Case Mod: and you thought it was just geeky on the outside

Steve Dent — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:02:00 EST

This isn't the first Star Wars-themed peripheral we've featured. Not by a long shot. Not even today. It's not even the first AT-AT case mod we've had, but we can safely say it poses the most danger to the alliance. With a mini-ITX mainboard, Intel Core i7-2600K CPU and 8GB of RAM, this walker might actually have enough brains to avoid a harpoon and tow cable, and with elaborate watercooling the Hasbro plastic shouldn't get scorched either. The icing on the imperial cake is weapons and interior that light up with the touch of a remote. Want to see how modder Asphiax made it happen? Then pewpew the source link.

AT-AT PC Case Mod: and you thought it was just geeky on the outside originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AzTtec PC case mod takes the Thermaltake Level 10 GT back in time

Donald Melanson — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 05:24:00 EST

The Thermaltake Level 10 GT PC case is quite a sight on its own, but it's also proven to be popular among case modders, who have taken things to some considerable extremes in the past year. One of the most impressive to date is this so-called AzTtec mod by bit-tech.net member dmcgrath, who's ditched the usual LEDs and gaming inspirations in favor of something that makes even steampunk look thoroughly modem by comparison. To do that, he carved the enclosure you see above by hand out of a material called Balsa Foam, and then proceeded to painstakingly paint it and adorn it foliage and other tiny details. Hit the source link below to examine it up close.

[Thanks, Antony]

AzTtec PC case mod takes the Thermaltake Level 10 GT back in time originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 05:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Call of Duty case mod has spinning gatling gun, energy drink fridge (hands-on)

Zach Honig — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:38:00 EST

We've had our fill of Ultrabooks and tablets at CeBIT, so now it's finally time to move on to the crazy stuff. This over-the-top case mod was awaiting unsuspecting attendees at the far back end of the China pavilion, of all places, and only caught our eye (or ear, rather) thanks to its squeaky gatling gun. It seems that this case first made an appearance at the Taipei Game Show last month, and has now landed on German shores, making a miraculous pass through EU customs to settle here, hidden amongst a hodgepodge of accessories on the outskirts of Hannover. This Thermaltake Level 10 GT chassis was modded by Brian Carter, and is highlighted by a six-barrel rotating gatling gun. There's a bazooka up top where the handle would be, a .50 caliber cartridge on the side and a combination energy drink / hand sanitizer compartment just below. Yes, hand sanitizer. The rotating (and rather noisy) gatling gun makes our hands-on video a must-watch if you're looking to get the full mod experience, so jump past the break and check it out.

Gallery: Call of Duty case mod hands-on

Continue reading Call of Duty case mod has spinning gatling gun, energy drink fridge (hands-on)

Call of Duty case mod has spinning gatling gun, energy drink fridge (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wooden Aerodyne PC makes you want to live in Rapture

Daniel Cooper — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:21:00 EST

If we were blessed with a fortune, a mansion and a butler, the first thing we'd do is contact Jeffrey Stephenson -- maker of truly beautiful art-deco wooden case mods. He's produced another stunner with the Aerodyne: a fanless mahogany case with Rocketeer-style accents and a radio grille (picture after the break) we'd expect to hear Andrew Ryan barking out of. Unlike his other mods, the amazing Mr Stephenson is planning a small run of these cases for people to buy, so the only thing left to ask is -- can anyone lend us a tenner?

Continue reading Wooden Aerodyne PC makes you want to live in Rapture

Wooden Aerodyne PC makes you want to live in Rapture originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bit-tech's Mod of the Year contest underway: finally, something you're comfortable voting on

Jason Hidalgo — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:02:00 EST

Like ponies to little girls, we always have a soft spot for mods here at Engadget. Who could forget Angel OD's liquid-cooled Wii, for example? Or Peter Brands' Frankendesk of a PC, the L3p D3sk? Well, it seems like we're not the only ones whose fancies got tickled by these things, as both made the list of nominees for bit-tech's Mod of the Year 2011 competition. The contest is serving up its biggest field to date with 25 projects. Entries include a PC that doubles as a mini Warhammer Dreadnought and another computer encased in a Star Trek Intrepid Mark II Class starship replica. If your tastes lean more toward the older than old school kind, Jeffrey Stephenson's got one of his wooden mods included in the bunch, as well. Naturally, you can check out the rest of the entries (and cast your votes) at the source below.

[Thanks, Antony]

Bit-tech's Mod of the Year contest underway: finally, something you're comfortable voting on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DarwinMachine Type 339 is an anti-boxism statement, and also a PC

Sharif Sakr — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:12:00 EST

Architect and racecar designer Matthew Kim gets much respect for his messed-up PC builds and now he's had a go at the 9-inch-cubed small form factor. The DarwinMachine Type 339 is perhaps less wacky than the Hammerhead, but its chassis exploits the same premium combo of semi-translucent eco-resin and CNC aircraft aluminum and comes with Kim's usual life-time warranty. The internals are decent enough for home theatre or a spot of gaming: a Core i5-2400S alongside a Radeon HD 6570, 4GB, 40GB SSD and 1TB HDD, but ultimately that $1999.00 price tag is all about the (hopefully dimmable) aesthetics.

Gallery: DarwinMachine Type 339

DarwinMachine Type 339 is an anti-boxism statement, and also a PC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Colorware spills its inks on your iPhone 4S, charges dearly for it

Joe Pollicino — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 05:17:00 EST

You didn't think the latest iPhone would be saved from Colorware's paint-dipped hands, did you?
Lo and behold, the company's swatches are currently ready for application on the 4S. Similar to its iPhone 4 treatments, you'll be able to spice up your device -- and its earbuds -- with a mixture of glossy, metallic and soft-touch coatings (excluding mainly the front face, which remains stock black or white). Colorware'll gladly sell you a fresh 16 or 64GB model for a whopping $1,500 or $1,700, respectively, or you can mail yours in to get a Benetton-esque makeover for just $250.

Colorware spills its inks on your iPhone 4S, charges dearly for it originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Oct 2011 05:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dutchman integrates a 4.5GHz water-cooled rig into his d3sk

Vlad Savov — Fri, 20 May 2011 08:14:00 EST

Cooler Master's 2011 Case Mod Competition looks to be the gift that keeps on giving. After serving up a Tron lightcycle and an architectural marvel, it's now playing host to a mod that redefines the idea of an all-in-one PC. Peter from the Netherlands has managed to fit a pretty bombastic set of components -- 4.5GHz Core i7-980X, two ASUS GeForce GTX 580 graphics cards in SLI, over 12TB of storage with an SSD boot disk, and two PSUs providing 1,500W of power in total -- together with a water-cooling setup and the inevitable glowing lights inside one enclosure, which just so happens to also serve as his desk. The three-piece monitor setup is also a custom arrangement, with a 27-inch U2711 IPS panel being flanked by two 17-inchers. Admittedly, this isn't the first water-cooled and over-powered desk we've laid eyes on, but that shouldn't prevent you from giving the links below a bash and checking out the amazingly neat design of Peter's l3p d3sk.

Continue reading Dutchman integrates a 4.5GHz water-cooled rig into his d3sk

Dutchman integrates a 4.5GHz water-cooled rig into his d3sk originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 May 2011 08:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tron lightcycle case mod is totally awesome, 100 percent 3D

Zach Honig — Thu, 19 May 2011 01:58:00 EST

So, we already have a street-legal Tron lightcycle, but why stop there? After weeks of work, Bods Mods just completed its 40-inch long lightcycle PC, complete with ATX motherboard, liquid cooling, and plenty of blue light strips. The designer started the from-scratch custom build in SketchUp, Google's 3D modeling app, followed by loads of foam shaping and Dremel work. Judging by the dozens (if not hundreds) of images posted to the Cooler Master forum, this is one of the most complex case mods we've seen, with incredible details down to the translucent Crucial and SSD logos painted on the lightcycle engine. Bods Mods entered its lightcycle case in Cooler Master's 2011 Case Mod Competition, though the entries themselves are far more exciting than the first place prize: a boring, non-modified case full of components.

Tron lightcycle case mod is totally awesome, 100 percent 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 May 2011 01:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PC modding takes an architectural twist with Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Usonian

Jesse Hicks — Mon, 16 May 2011 09:07:00 EST

We admit, we're pretty jaded when it comes to PC casemods, having seen everything from the inscrutable Edelweiss to Russian Ark of the Covenant-like monstrosities. Jeffrey Stephenson, though, charmed us with his wood-carved Level Eleven case, and now he's back with Usonian, inspired by the work of famed Fallingwater architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Split-level cantilevered roofs made of teak, mahogany highlights, all that Cherokee Red and Covered Wagon coloring - it's enough to make an architecture nerd swoon. Beneath all that fine styling it sports an Intel Core i7-875K on a Gigabyte Mini-ITX motherboard, with 8GB system memory. There's a 256GB SSD along with a 2TB hard drive, so it's not just built for looks; Wright, after all, emphasized utility over pointless fashion. Still, it's very pretty to look at. More pics in the source link and after the break.

Continue reading PC modding takes an architectural twist with Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Usonian

PC modding takes an architectural twist with Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Usonian originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NES becomes an HTPC, turns your FOF upside down

Michael Gorman — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 03:52:00 EST

Nintendo Entertainment Systems have proven to be fertile ground for the DIY community -- purses, guitars, and belt buckles are just a sampling of the more unusual NES mods out there. We've also seen our share of NES PCs, and now an enterprising Finn going by the name Ana-5000 has crammed a fully-fledged home theater PC into everybody's favorite 8-bit console. An Asus AT3IONT-I Deluxe motherboard with an Intel Atom 330 dual-core processor and an NVIDIA Ion GPU provides the computing power and offers HDMI and VGA ports, six USB 2.0 ports, optical and RCA audio connections, integrated 802.11b/g/n wireless and Gigabit ethernet, and Bluetooth connectivity. Ana-5000 gave the repurposed Nintendo a fresh black and white paint-job to set it apart from your garden variety NES as well. Hit up the Source link for pics and an explanation of the entire mod process if you feel like doing some console recycling yourself.

NES becomes an HTPC, turns your FOF upside down originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 03:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Modder turns RROD-stricken Xbox 360 into PS3 arcade controller, awesomeness

Sam Sheffer — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 13:32:00 EST

In the most recent of Xbox 360 hacks, a modder named Morris has crafted a PS3 controller out of none other than -- as ironic as this may seem -- a dead Xbox 360. That's right, somewhere out there, a PlayStation 3 has slain its mortal enemy, mercilessly gutted the internals and now has a modded Xbox as its eternal slave. The case contains all of the buttons you need to partake in a classic beat-'em-up -- a joystick, the four PlayStation buttons, R1 and R2. There's plenty more to gander at in the source link and enough in the way of detail and instruction to get started on your own arcade stick too.

Modder turns RROD-stricken Xbox 360 into PS3 arcade controller, awesomeness originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DARWINmachine Hammerhead HMR989 gaming rig looks ferocious, can attack your desk for $2,900

Tim Stevens — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:23:00 EST

The giant PC gaming rigs of the last decade are so passé. Hot this year are sleeker, more cut models, models like the DARWINmachine Hammerhead HMR989. It looks like a crazy casemod but it's actually a custom-built rig you can order, priced at $2,899 and sporting a vertically mounted NVIDIA GTX460 graphics accelerator, a 2.8Ghz Core i7-860 processor, a combination of SSD and platter-based storage, and a power supply left hanging on the side. It's all aluminum and resin sheets and lovely, though we could probably do without the blue LEDs.

Gallery: Hammerhead HMR98902

DARWINmachine Hammerhead HMR989 gaming rig looks ferocious, can attack your desk for $2,900 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Calibur11 Vault eyes-on, protecting your Xbox from tactical nukes and stuff

Kevin Wong — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:30:00 EST

Although it won't protect your console from a certain red ring, the Calibur11 Vault will fend off pretty much everything else. Calibur11 claim that the MLG approved plates that latch on to your Xbox 360 increase console airflow, while adding an integrated game interaction through the use of LED / USB lighting effects and the extravagant 3D extremities protruding from the sides of your console. The pieces themselves are interchangeable as well as customizable with colors, decals, nameplates and accessories packs. Calibur11 has several versions of the Vault available, including an MLG special edition as well as an upcoming chainsaw-wielding blockbuster-title special edition sometime in Q3. Calibur11 plans to release at major retailers like BestBuy in March 2011, so we'll have to keep our consoles safe from nuclear attacks the old fashion way till then.

Gallery: Calibur11 Vault Xbox 360 case eyes-on

Calibur11 Vault eyes-on, protecting your Xbox from tactical nukes and stuff originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Modder creates robotic Level 10 case, intimidates fellow gamers in the process

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:56:00 EST

Thermaltake's Level 10 chassis is not only pretty bad-ass in its own right, it's also inspired Stephen "LeatherFace" Popa to do a little case moddin'. The outcome of all this, Rog-R, is described as a "remote operating gaming rig," and it features a remote control, motorized base, and robotic arm: just the thing for playing really, really dirty at your next LAN party. Hit up the source link to get a closer look.

Modder creates robotic Level 10 case, intimidates fellow gamers in the process originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 mod mirrors the infinite regress of adulthood (video)

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 08:32:00 EST

You inhale deeply and step onto the middle rung of the corporate ladder. You return home dazed, alimony unpaid, dishes piled up like a pie in the sky that turned out to be miles too high. You grab a bag of chips and pull up a seat in front of the Xbox Infinite 360 mod. You crawl inside. Lost in a haze of alcohol soft middle age, you exhale.

Continue reading Xbox 360 mod mirrors the infinite regress of adulthood (video)

Xbox 360 mod mirrors the infinite regress of adulthood (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DIY casemod features fins, automatically vents your rig

Sean Hollister — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 07:31:00 EST

Truly epic casemods grace the humble pages of Engadget from time to time, but here's a spoonful of liquid awesome you might actually be able to try. Using an off-the-shelf fan controller, servo motor and Arduino board, plus some water-cut styrene parts he farmed out to an online shop, user SXRguyinMA outfitted his NZXT Tempest Evo case with a rad robotic cooling system. When the Arduino detects the temperature changing, it automatically actuates the servo to raise or lower the louvers accordingly, and the rig features a pair of supercapacitors that can store enough power to close the vents even if power is lost. There's also the all-important little red button to instantly make jaws drop. Video after the break, full worklog at our more coverage link.

Continue reading DIY casemod features fins, automatically vents your rig

DIY casemod features fins, automatically vents your rig originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honey, Daryl Brach shrunk the Cray-1 supercomputer

Tim Stevens — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:29:00 EST

The original Cray supercomputer, the Cray-1, is an iconic piece of computing history, so big it had a ring of padded seats around which engineers could sit and contemplate esoteric questions of life whilst the machine humming behind them answered the more finite ones. This semi-hexadecagon shape has been brought back to life, scaled down quite a bit, by case modder and woodcrafter Daryl Brach. The original 5.5 ton behemoth is now a desktop-friendly size, and though those seats are now too small for human behinds they're still leather-covered and padded, hiding a pair of DVD-ROM drives connected to not one but two motherboards. We're not sure what other hardware Brach populated the thing with internally, but given that original Cray-1 had 8MB of memory to work with we're guessing this modern version would have no problem computationally wiping the floor with its inspiration.

Honey, Daryl Brach shrunk the Cray-1 supercomputer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini Altair 8800 looks authentic, runs Windows 7 (video)

Tim Stevens — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:18:00 EST

It was just a few weeks ago that we lost Dr. Henry Roberts, the pioneer whose company created the Altair 8800, and while this project isn't exactly a tribute to the man it is at least a sign that his legacy lives on. Bob Alexander had always wanted an 8800 of his own, but now that he could afford one didn't want a gigantic blue case filling up his life. So, be bought a repurposed Altair 680, little brother of the 8800, and set about stuffing it with an Intel Core i5-650 processor on a Mini-ITX motherboard with 4GB of RAM, 80GB of SSD and 500GB on platters. That's all standard fare, but the front of the case pulls it all together, a custom-made, USB-powered circuit board with LEDs that turn on and off similarly to how the 8800's would. Those blinkenlights and the rest of the project are demonstrated after the break, but sadly there's no word of whether Kill the Bit is playable.

Continue reading Mini Altair 8800 looks authentic, runs Windows 7 (video)

Mini Altair 8800 looks authentic, runs Windows 7 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Master Chief's bullet-riddled Xbox 360 case mod auctioned off for charity

Sean Hollister — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 05:03:00 EST

Sure, Kim Kardashian and Russell Crowe signed airbrushed Xbox 360s bearing their likeness for the David Peachy Foundation's "Konsoles for Kids" charity auction, but Weta Workshop co-founder Richard Taylor built his donation into a badass diorama. That's Halo's Master Chief venting the console with his trusty assault rifle, sending chunks of circuit board, capacitors and LEDs out the other side. According to its eBay seller, the PAL system's still fully functional, and ships with controller, cables and a full warranty. Auction lasts till April 24th; bidding is presently at $810 AUD.

Master Chief's bullet-riddled Xbox 360 case mod auctioned off for charity originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 05:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zenith 5-S-29 radio case mod explained in excellent, water-cooled detail

Vlad Savov — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:10:00 EST

The trusty old desktop rarely gets the love it deserves these days. Losing gamers to consoles and casual users to laptops, it's left only with a loyal band of enthusiasts, but what a gorgeous bunch they are. Gary from the Bit-tech forums has put together the above case mod, inspired by the styles of early 20th century electronics, and reminded us all that big can be beautiful. He's managed to fit an entire water cooling setup inside, while leaving no detail undocumented in a thorough, pic-heavy walkthrough of the project. We'd have considered the stunning wooden case enough by itself, but Gary has taken care of the little touches as well, as exemplified by the spare PCI slot covers matching the external construction. Hit the source link for images of the build and the insides laid bare.

Zenith 5-S-29 radio case mod explained in excellent, water-cooled detail originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kratos casemod can bring 'God of War' to your desktop... if you really want that

Laura June — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:59:00 EST

Well, this is disturbingly creative. Seriously, is there much more to say about this Kratos casemod? Well, Greek mythology and video game fanatics alike should be pleased yet horrified with this one. We certainly were. Video is after the break.

Continue reading Kratos casemod can bring 'God of War' to your desktop... if you really want that

Kratos casemod can bring 'God of War' to your desktop... if you really want that originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel announces Core i7 Custom Desktop Challenge winners

Donald Melanson — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:34:00 EST

Well, you know Intel just wasn't going to let NVIDIA have all the fun with its casemod design contest, and after a few weeks of voting, the chipmaker has now announced the winners of its own Core i7 Custom Desktop Challenge. Not surprisingly, there are a few familiar cases among the winners -- including the lovingly crafted Mission-style PC casemod and the OS Xbox Pro (deserved winner of best video) -- but there's also plenty of designs we haven't seen. That includes the Best in Show winner from modder "Duck," whose fire engine red system pictured above uses dry ice cooling to allow for overclocking up to 5GHz, and the boombox mod from jj_sky5000, which won the award for best creativity. Hit up the link below for a closer look at those, and the rest of the winners.

[Thanks, Jeffrey]

Intel announces Core i7 Custom Desktop Challenge winners originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cygnus X1 PC casemod mixes otherworldly design, old world charm

Donald Melanson — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:36:00 EST

We've seen plenty of PC casemods that look more like a traditional piece of furniture than a computer case, and plenty that take a decidedly more modern approach, but we haven't seen many that combine the two as effectively as this so-called Cygnus X1 built by Attila Lukacs. As you may notice, the top of the case bears a striking resemblance to some of Alienware's latest rigs, but it seems that might not be the source of Atilla's inspiration, as he actually started building the case way back in 2008. Of course, the real eye-catcher is that beautiful, hand carved wood casing (made West Australian Jarrah), which actually swings open on both sides -- no small feat when each panel weighs about ten pounds. Eager to see more? Then hit up the link below for a thorough account of the complete build process.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Cygnus X1 PC casemod mixes otherworldly design, old world charm originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MacBook inhabits a Linksys router after ill-advised casemod

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:32:00 EST

Apple products are known far and wide for their design. Linksys products, on the other hand, are not. That's why this latest laptop mod strikes us as a little odd. When a technically-proficient gentleman named Tyler wanted to get his hands on "a working, genuine" Mac as cheaply as possible, he did what any self-respecting (and frugal) geek would do: he scrounged New Egg and eBay for MacBook parts. Why he would then turn around and cram 'em into an old router is, quite frankly, beyond us. Had he asked, we would have suggested something a bit more classy: perhaps a flashing pyramid? Why not a Timex Sinclair ZX81? Or maybe even a toaster? That said, this achievement -- while puzzling -- certainly seems to have been pulled off with not a little technical skill. If you're curious to see how it all went down (including copious step-by-step pics) hit the source link. And prepare to scratch your head in wonderment.

MacBook inhabits a Linksys router after ill-advised casemod originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 Elegant Edition shows Microsoft how it's done

Vlad Savov — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:37:00 EST

You know, we've pretty much all been enamored with the Zune HD's industrial design, but one unintended consequence for Microsoft was that it made its console look even more childish and toylike. It was inevitable, then, that a group of industrious Swedes would take up arms against this injustice and right the world with their Elegant Edition mod. Featuring three 120mm cooling fans, an aesthetic borrowed straight from the 1980s, and absolutely no shame about its bulk, this mod is cooler than the original in both the literal and colloquial sense. We'll accept no arguments to the converse. Better still, if you're willing to part with some cold hard cash, these fellas will build one for you too. We've got a few less glamorous shots of the redressed box after the break.

Continue reading Xbox 360 Elegant Edition shows Microsoft how it's done

Xbox 360 Elegant Edition shows Microsoft how it's done originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OS Xbox Pro casemod build video is mesmerizing

Nilay Patel — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:44:00 EST

We've certainly seen plenty of hackintoshes in our time, but Will Urbina's OS Xbox Pro is also one of the cleanest casemods we've ever seen. Built so that Will can run Final Cut Pro for his job as a video editor, the machine is based on an EFI-X hackintosh dongle, and inside it sports an 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550s paired with an NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT card, 8GB of RAM, an 16GB SSD, and four traditional hard drives: one each to boot Windows 7 and OS X, and two 500GB 7,200rpm drives in a RAID0 array for video editing. Will says his total parts cost was under $1,500 for a system that matches a $4,500 Mac Pro, but that obviously doesn't include the value of his time -- which, judging by the totally captivating build video, should be plenty expensive. Check it below.

Continue reading OS Xbox Pro casemod build video is mesmerizing

OS Xbox Pro casemod build video is mesmerizing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Neptune's Trident case mod honors the god of liquid cooling

Tim Stevens — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:31:00 EST

What do you do if your Battlestar Galactica case mod has conquered Earth and space with its awesomeness? Why, you conquer the seas, of course. Brian Carter is back with this Neptune's Trident mod, a lovely blue thing with three separate cooling loops, one for each of the three EVGA GeForce GTX260 video cards inside. The result? A powerhouse for sure and something that we think would look quite appropriate in Tron Legacy. You reading this, Mr. Bridges?

Neptune's Trident case mod honors the god of liquid cooling originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ION Cube case mod wins NVIDIA design contest

Donald Melanson — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:24:00 EST

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.

Continue reading ION Cube case mod wins NVIDIA design contest

Filed under: Desktops

ION Cube case mod wins NVIDIA design contest originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mission-style PC casemod easily slides into your La-Z-Boy collection

Darren Murph — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:08:00 EST

Jeffrey Stephenson is to case mods what Benjamin Heckendorn is to console mods. There, we said it. After watching the former pump out wood-grained mod after wood-grained mod, Sir Jeff has issued yet another -- wait for it -- wood-grained mod. The black walnut mission-style side table is actually a full-blown PC in disguise, with a standard ATX mid-tower within that's equipped with an Intel Core i7 CPU, NVIDIA graphics and dual stage temperature-controlled exhaust fans. He notes that it'll be available next Spring for those with fine tastes, though we're sure he'd customize it to fit your living room suite for the right price.

Filed under: Desktops, Household

Mission-style PC casemod easily slides into your La-Z-Boy collection originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox Micro makes the Wii look overweight

Vlad Savov — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:08:00 EST

Welcome to Micro Saturday at Engadget! In the absence of hard hitting stories and shocking exposés, we thought we'd turn to the lighter -- and thinner -- side of the news. Enter the Xbox Micro, a 1-inch thick celebration of all that is good and holy about the world of DIY mods. It took six months to make, with a few clever design decisions along the way, but it looks good enough to make even the ninja-black Wii suck its gut in. Comparison pics with the original behemoth are after the break, and hit the read link to see the exposed guts of this little beauty.

[Thanks, Matt and Jesse]

Continue reading Xbox Micro makes the Wii look overweight

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Xbox Micro makes the Wii look overweight originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Edelweiss PC casemod goes above and beyond insanity

Laura June — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:15:00 EST

Sure, these days, it can be pretty hard to get super-stoked over a casemod... after all, they're basically a dime a dozen. We're always impressed with the crazy ones though, and this one over at Million Dollar PC -- the Edelweiss (possibly named after our least-favorite song and flower), really takes the crazy and turns it up to 11. We're not even sure what's going on, to be honest, but we can assure you of this much: we're really, really fond of it. Two more shots after the break.

[Via Case Mod Blog]

Continue reading Edelweiss PC casemod goes above and beyond insanity

Filed under: Desktops

Edelweiss PC casemod goes above and beyond insanity originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SNES PC Case Mod scores endless style wins; can never bring back your childhood

Paul Miller — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:22:00 EST

Face it, not all mods are created equal. Take this SNES PC Case Mod, for instance, built by quangDX and DuPPs (their real names? we think not). Sure, they could've just crammed some PC guts in there and called it a day, but with love, care and some Lego spacers, they've crafted a true piece of art. The gutted Super Mario World cartridge acts as a slot-loading CD drive, there's a perfect lineup of connectivity in the back, and the real piece of magic: USB extenders disguised as regular controller plugs, and a reworked SNES controller to plug into 'em. The main guts are courtesy of an Acer Aspire One, and even the webcam and mic have been crammed into the front of that poor shredded cartridge. This is how it's done, folks.

[Via Gossip Gamers]

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming

SNES PC Case Mod scores endless style wins; can never bring back your childhood originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ECS stuffs Atom, ION and Blu-ray into a vase for all the right reasons

Paul Miller — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:26:00 EST

This is really more of what we'd expect out of some slightly deranged basement hacker, not a company like ECS at a major tradeshow, but we'll take any entrants in the burgeoning "nettop in a vase" space we can get. To be serious for a moment, this is actually a pretty interesting illustration of the future afforded by small, low-power components: ECS has stuffed a full Intel Atom 230 system, including NVIDA ION graphics, 1GB of RAM, a 2.5-inch HDD and a Blu-ray drive into what looks like a family heirloom. There's even room for a couple USB ports, Ethernet and HDMI plugs on the bottom, which keeps the main body uninterrupted other than the tray-loading drive. Basically, we're floored.

Gallery: ECS stuffs Atom, ION and Blu-ray into a vase for all the right reasons

Filed under: Desktops

ECS stuffs Atom, ION and Blu-ray into a vase for all the right reasons originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insane Russian casemod shamelessly puts good taste to bed once and for all

Laura June — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:31:00 EST

We see plenty of wild casemods around here -- staying on the pulse of what's new with the cool kids is part of our jobs. We've never really seen anything like this one, however. We don't know a terrible lot about the case -- just that it's made of what appears to be solid evil dipped in bronze, and lit by the blood of a terrifying hellbeast. Regardless: it's going to look great in your living room... once you convince Satan to sell it to you for a reasonable price, that is. One more terrifically horrendous photo after the break.

Continue reading Insane Russian casemod shamelessly puts good taste to bed once and for all

Filed under: Desktops

Insane Russian casemod shamelessly puts good taste to bed once and for all originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vertex aluminum pyramid PC case looks better in the forest than on your desk

Laura June — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:18:00 EST

Something about the mystical look of the pyramid must entice and seduce people into shaping PC casemods into them, because this isn't the first one we've seen. This one -- called the Vertex -- is laser cut aluminum, has an LED power indicator, Scythe Kama-Flex sleeved fans, and suspension for the hard drive. The case also comes with a motherboard, power supply, and a DVD bay, plus side-mounted USB, Firewire and audio ports. For $400, one of these can be yours in red, black or blue, but don't blame us if it doesn't make your desk seem less cluttered -- looks like a real space hog to us. There's one more photo after the break... if you dare.

[Via Technabob]

Continue reading Vertex aluminum pyramid PC case looks better in the forest than on your desk

Filed under: Desktops

Vertex aluminum pyramid PC case looks better in the forest than on your desk originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 May 2009 20:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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R2D2 casemod is affordable, convincing evidence of our continued love for old sci-fi epic

Laura June — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:12:00 EST

We'll let you in on a little secret: we find the constant stream of Star Wars-inspired you-name-it to be a little, shall we say... played? That said, this R2D2 casemod is totally, impressively rad. Made from a grabage can, it's obviously a labor of love, and the results are insanely "real" looking -- yup, that's Artoo-Deetoo, hanging out in that guy's humble abode. This droid's got a webcam, speakers, LEDs -- all the good stuff you'd expect from a highly detailed piece of nerdery, and if you're action-oriented, you can make one of your very own for roughly $150. Hit the read link for tons of photos and detailed instructions. One more shot of the little dude after the break.

Continue reading R2D2 casemod is affordable, convincing evidence of our continued love for old sci-fi epic

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

R2D2 casemod is affordable, convincing evidence of our continued love for old sci-fi epic originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliens PS3 case mod is staggeringly ugly to non-fans

Darren Murph — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:52:00 EST

Adding even more credibility to the whole "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" mantra is this... masterpiece / abomination. Inspired by the iconic Aliens films, this completely over the top PlayStation 3 case mod is about as ridiculous as it gets. We're not really told how the modder went about crafting this lovely interpretation, but we are given a few more snapshots to gawk at in the read link -- which you won't visit unless you too are an Aliens freak, but hey, that's cool.

[Thanks, Jeremiah]

Filed under: Gaming

Aliens PS3 case mod is staggeringly ugly to non-fans originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pyramid PC casemod will look really cool on your desk next to your Crysis poster

Laura June — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 11:22:00 EST

Casemods range from the peculiar to the spaceage, but this one -- a pyramid PC case -- kinda takes things to the next level of outrageousness. Weighing in at 7.5 pounds (just for the case) this 25-inch high beast is not exactly compact, with a 19 x 19-inch base. Modder polo360x made it from a customized Luxor pyramid case, and, and in our opinion, it fits in nicely with his home decor choices. Check out another two shots and hit the read link for many, many more, plus a full specsheet.

[Via Geeky Gadgets]

Continue reading Pyramid PC casemod will look really cool on your desk next to your Crysis poster

Filed under: Desktops

Pyramid PC casemod will look really cool on your desk next to your Crysis poster originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SteamPunk Frankenstein casemod sure to anger Luddites

Laura June — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 03:29:00 EST

We see plenty of Steampunk mods around these parts, but this one surely takes things to a new level of insanity. Constructed by D. Maddocks, the SteamPunk Frankenstein PC case mod is monstrously, beautifully cobbled from -- among other things -- a church vent and some cold cathode tubes. When the backlighting is fired up it's quite breataking to behold, though -- at over eight feet tall -- we're not sure we'd like to see it in our own parlor, we can certainly admire the beast from afar. One more daguerreotype after the break, but hit the read link for the whole set.

[Via Slashgear]

Continue reading SteamPunk Frankenstein casemod sure to anger Luddites

Filed under: Desktops

SteamPunk Frankenstein casemod sure to anger Luddites originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Feb 2009 03:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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