Now That's A Case Mod!

Xyth · June 2004

<div class="IPBDescription">Orac 3</div> Wow, the last part of this guys modding article went up today. He has been working on this mod for like a year now, and all I can say is wow. Check it out:
<a href='http://www.bit-tech.net/article/135/' target='_blank'>Orac 3</a>

eediot · June 2004

definitely a very cool case mod, very extensive work done there

mm.. green <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' />

theres a hell of a lot of random clutter though.. i mean, i know its the effect, but there is a lot of stuff inside the case, which is probably why he needed watercooling <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' />

probably very heavy now hehe

thanks for the link =]

Mullet · June 2004

It took them over a year to do that?

.....pfff, it should include a microwave, refrigerator and coffee machine if it took them that long... <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/marine.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='marine.gif' />

Liku · June 2004

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Mullet @ Jun 14 2004, 06:14 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> It took them over a year to do that?

.....pfff, it should include a microwave, refrigerator and coffee machine if it took them that long... <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/marine.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='marine.gif' />  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
Seriously, if that thing doesn't make Waffles, it's not worth it. It's still awesome Sauce.

POOP_Akira · June 2004

That was pretty awesome, altough i almost got cancer of the finger scrolling through all those pages.

AllUrHiveRblong2us · June 2004

The guy uses a little plexiglass and MC cable, and all of a sudden he's a genius. It does look rather good, but it seems like too much. Also, it lacks a hook, a gimmick if you will. It has overall coolness, but there's nothing making it that unique out of all the casemods I've seen. It's not inside anything amusing or something that would make you stop and go "Wait......there's a computer in there?", it's also not especially useful (I have a soft spot for computers that are meant for a specific function, like the emulator machines in old NES cases, or DivX machines in old VCRs). Honestly I think the whole "OMG this is cool it has tubes and glows!" is an overused technique in casemodding, I like the simple novelty or specific purpose machines. All bets are off when you turn off the lights around this machine though, I suppose.

I myself am working on putting a comp into a breifcase, trying to go for the sleek metallic look and just plain functionality over the glowing tubes and wired stuff, but that's just me.

coil · June 2004

Have you actually read the article, or are you just looking at the pictures?

The attention to detail in this mod is absolutely staggering. There are a total of *five* "making-of" articles to read; I'm most of the way through #3 at the moment.

This guy modded *everything*. There isn't a piece of that computer that isn't chrome, clear, neon-green, or black rubber. He stealthed his motherboard, PCI cards, and hard drives. He wanted to make sure everything about this case was exactly as he imagined it, that there wasn't a single element you could point out and say "well, that bit doesn't quite match."

As for the "clutter"... two comments. First, there's a certain elegance to it. For instance, all his power cables run from the PSU to a forward-mounted "junction box", and from there out to the rest of the computer. Myriad cables run between these two boxes, around and between the two roof-mounted reservoirs. The effect is very, very stylish. Secondly, he says througout the logs that he wanted an almost-campy, 70s-era "electronic brain" feeling to the mod - lots of wires, glowy bits, etc.

I think he succeeded, and the total package shows that he's not just a skilled modder - he's an artist.

AllUrHiveRblong2us · June 2004

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (coil @ Jun 14 2004, 09:06 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Have you actually read the article, or are you just looking at the pictures?  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
Yeah, I read it. Doesn't change the fact that I don't like it. It's just too complicated. I'm not saying it didn't take effort, but I don't think it looks good, I personally would not be able to stare at that thing as I did all my computations, I'd go crazy with all that goin on.

EEK · June 2004

I agree it looks awesome, but I also agree that this thing would drive me insane as my computer.

coil · June 2004

Honestly, read the first two or three logs. Before the case gets terribly complicated, it's a lot easier to see just how elegantly he's put it together. Looking at Part 5, it strikes me as cluttered, too. It's only because I know where he started and what he was going for that I can appreciate the clutter.

kuperaye · June 2004

how much ?

airyK · June 2004

Well i think the case looks awesome, but i cant help to think it would be a major pain to work on if any problems arise. Also as a frequent lanner i cant help but think how heavy this case would be, with all the water cooling and chrome effects etc. i suppose this guy isnt taking this case many places or is willing to transport that thing.

Talesin · June 2004

Absolutely beautiful. I can't help but echo kuperaye's sentiment (er.. as I took it, that is). How much did putting this thing together run him? I see no figures, and it's certainly inspiring to see exactly what can be done with a little class and a lot of imagination.

airyK · June 2004

somone posted this link up on slashdot... and the site now fails to load. gg it was slashdoted -EdiT- the site seems to load fine but it takes alot longer to load - it'll be down soon

Ratonetwothreetwoone · June 2004

link dead... i wanna seeee :/

Xyth · June 2004

Yup it's dead :/
Ill see if I can pull some of the images up, brb

Xyth · June 2004

okay here's one, Im going to bed so I figure the site should be back in the morning.

Thansal · June 2004

/.ers know:
<a href='http://members.shaw.ca/infonic/orac3/' target='_blank'>http://members.shaw.ca/infonic/orac3/</a>

MedHead · June 2004

Wow, this is an example of "overdoing it". Cables run from the PSU to the junction box in the <b>front</b> of the computer, and then back to the parts in the <b>back</b> of the computer?! Isn't that extremely counter productive? This thing is so packed with cables it looks messy, and lacks any coolness factor, really. The Half Life 2 mod that was shown earlier had more class than this...

I think it's an understatement to say I didn't think this was a good case mod, hehe.

Soylent_green · June 2004

I don't like it but it could be <a href='http://gallery.xtremods.com//showphoto.php?photo=432&password=&sort=1&cat=501&page=1' target='_blank'>worse</a>.

sheena_yanai · June 2004

nah.. old one.. you have to see all those orac copycats out there..these are real crappy

Cereal_KillR · June 2004

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MedHead @ Jun 15 2004, 07:01 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Wow, this is an example of "overdoing it". Cables run from the PSU to the junction box in the <b>front</b> of the computer, and then back to the parts in the <b>back</b> of the computer?! Isn't that extremely counter productive? This thing is so packed with cables it looks messy, and lacks any coolness factor, really. The Half Life 2 mod that was shown earlier had more class than this...  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
I agree, it's a very impressive job that took a lot of time, it's well done, precise and shows a lot of work.

However, there's nothing "special" apart from "tubez tubez tubez glo" I don't particularily like it even if it's a piece of art that I could never make.

coil · June 2004

The primary criticism that this case has been receiving on the BT forums (what few criticisms there are) is that it's too busy... here's an example, and the creator's response to it:

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (aoLhaTer)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>ive been following this mod for a while now and it is really cool unique stuff

but.....i do have to say that the conclusion has disaapointmented me a bit. i think its too busy (although may have been an objective)
i wouldve attempted to consolidate lines into tubes so theres less running through the case

cool none the less
keep on rockin :thumb:</td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'>

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (G-gnome)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to say 'each to their own' on this one. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' />

My intent from the beginning, and mentioned right the way through, was to have lots of cables, the giant 'electronic brain' look, with cabling being obvious and a feature - lots and lots of twisty writhing cables. I got what I wanted, and would've had even more cables if I had gone with an earlier idea. Also, the original Orac that was the inspiration for the mod was very busy inside. I wanted to capture a little of that vintage BBC workshops feel, and as I mention in the article, the chrome covers hiding the mobo/PCI cards are like mirrors so the reflections of the cables in them add to the perceived number.</td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'>

raz0r · June 2004

SCHWEET!

/me wants

the site is back up by the looks of it

Now That's A Case Mod!

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