FusionMods

This is where every mod starts. Now not all mods are built into a case, some are done in toasters, and microwave, and so on, and some are even fully custom built cases, but the majority are done from older computer cases and even some current ones.

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Links: Toaster1 - Toaster2 - Microwave

If you’re new to modding, but a computer enthousiast, the best route to go is to take an old computer that you have sitting in your attic. Most people have atleast one that has been retired, but since they spent so much on it back in the day, they couldn’t deal with simply throwing it away.

If you don’t have an old computer and want to buy a new case, don’t get one thats a crazy premod. The reason I say this is, windows are common, and easy to put in. Most the time if it comes with cool lightup areas, it’s lighting up their logo. And the last reason is, you’ll be spending a lot more for their premod, and you don’t even get to put any of you’re own ideas into the design.

So if you’re going either route here’s some tips for picking the case, first make sure it’s ATX if you’re digging it out of the attic. lol there’s not much point in modding a computer case if you won’t be able to put anything current into it. Second, ignore the color, thats the easiest problem to solve. Lastly, an all metal case is perfect since it provides a good solid ground to do some work on it.

This is a great started case. It’s under $25, has a nice aluminum body, but i’ll bet it’s still thin enough that you can cut though it like butter. It has 4 bays, and a cool looking front fan vent.

The tools, you’ll want a dremel. I’d reccommend avoiding the battery power dremels just because you won’t get enough work time out of them.

Now to start the modding. Suprisingly, almost anything you’ll even decide to mod a computer with, can be found at your local hardware stores. Places like Ace, Home Depot, and Lowes all have what you’ll need.

The basic ideas are always paint. Come up with a nice color theme. A lot of people will do the outside of the case, but it always looks incredible when you take the time to paint the inside frame of the case as well, just make sure you save this till after you do some cutting.

One of the most common mods is putting a window in your PC. I say this is where you can get creative. Don’t do that borring square cut, etch something in there that’d take some time and make it your own. Also, don’t feel limited to just putting a window on the side, get creative, add a window the your PSU, add a window to the top of your case.

To keep from getting into a post dedicated to a full window modding post, I’ll just show some supplies, ideas and other cases I’ve seen. These all touch on the basic principals.. Painting, lighting, windows, they are all some pretty sweet cases, and I think the perfect way for me to wrap up this post.  

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Here are some of the links from above…

Mesh window with Fan
Air Supreme EvO
Project Celtic Dragon PSU
Monster Rig
Tribal Server
Fire PC

And as a final note, I’d love to see any mods you guys might have done. Also, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate. I’ve been modding for many years now and have maintained an active part in the tech community, so I can likely field any questions you might have.

I hope you guys enjoyed this post!

In a prelude of a new CPU Cooler Review, I thought I’d just jot down some thoughts on the topic of upgrading coolers.

I’m finishing up a review of the Transformer 6 CPU Cooler, which is one massive CPU cooler. This one has a pretty logical design for being as large as it is, and do far, while I haven’t checked the comparison temps, it looks like it’s running great.

Here’s a few shots

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The only downside I’ve come across is that this cooler is large enough that it requires a back plate. In all honesty I prefer having this kind of structural support, these things can put a fair amount of weight on your motherboard, but it does mean you have to almost disassemble your full computer. With this being the case, I decided it was also time to clean everything too. It doesn’t happen often, but I have had fans actually stop working from getting too gunked up with dust before. Seems like the small HD cooler fans are always the first to go for me.

There was a small concern in the back of my mind that the cooler might run into the case or the graphics card, but everything went together perfectly. It also looks awesome. The fan lights up as well, just adding to the overall effect. Once I publish the product review I’ll give you the pics, but I don’t want to give away too many spoilers.

In the pics, you can also see my previous cooler from Xigmatec. This was also a very large CPU cooler with an upright 120mm fan, but this current cooler has a 120mm fan, as well as 6 heat pipes, and it looks like it’ll get better heat dispersion.

The big difference between the two is the direction of cooling. Coolers that blow to the side are nice since you can almost always find a case that has a fan on the back of it, but not all of them are built to vent air inside from the side panel. Luckily mine has two massive 230mm (I believe thats the correct size) fans built into the side panel. The xClio wind tunnel is a win of a case. Excellent toolless design as well btw

Hope you guys like this short preview. Feel free to shoot my any questions you might have on the topic too. And if you love your PC, please never use that lame stock cooler they send you, lol

Gathered from the FusionMods.Net case Ranking system, the top mods this week are…

Batmobile Tumbler PC — By batfan06
Score: 80.43

Vote: http://fusionmods.net/?theCase=dispCase&caseID=49
Discuss: http://fusionmods.net/index.php?theCase=viewThread&threadID=132

The Vashaun Elite — By vashant
Score: 80.00

Vote: http://fusionmods.net/?theCase=dispCase&caseID=127
Discuss: http://fusionmods.net/index.php?theCase=viewThread&threadID=1824

Wall-E — By Frenkie
Score: 78.33

Vote: http://fusionmods.net/?theCase=dispCase&caseID=115
Discuss: http://fusionmods.net/index.php?theCase=viewThread&threadID=1797

The Machine — By Frenkie
Score: 76.67

Vote: http://fusionmods.net/?theCase=dispCase&caseID=68
Discuss: http://fusionmods.net/index.php?theCase=viewThread&threadID=580

R2-D2 PC — By TheGreatSatan
Score: 75.83

Vote: http://fusionmods.net/?theCase=dispCase&caseID=26
Discuss: http://fusionmods.net/index.php?theCase=viewThread&threadID=764

Now that I’ve shown you the top ranked mods for this week on FusionMods.net, I’d love to see some mods you guys might have!

This is on topic you almost never see. This isn’t any new ground for computers, but typically you only see it as a necessity. This is one are I have thought about before but sadly never attempted

Just Recently, DeathStarChris, one awesome designer, and one heck of a modder has done a really smooth job of mounting a PC into a van.

Here’s the original posting from FusionMods.Net…

Start with a new 2008 Ford Van.

Buy Mobile ITX PC.

Install behind passenger seat.

Work with his existing Ram-Mount stand for laptops.

Fabricated a steel post with VESA mount to mount the 15″ Elo touchscreen.

Configured all the Bluetooth input devices. (Keyboard, Mouse)

And finally load OS and configure MS Streets and tips with GPS tracking to navigate your butt around using the touchscreen. I also connected audio to his existing Pioneer audio system as well.

I also lettered his van to match his website that I built.
MasterBlasterPlumbing.com

This is comfortably the best wall-e case mod I’ve ever seen. This is the kind of detail and time involved that you almost never see and really only goes to some of the more famous mods out there.

This wall-e Case Mod is a fully mobile mod. While it’s not powered with motors, all the parts move and function exactly as they should. I’d have to think that putting in motors for basic movement wouldn’t be a huge problem, and that could be a remake down the road (something many of us do with our mods).

So I’ll stop wasting your time and let you all see exactly what you’re missing!!

Full Article: wall-e Mod

Here’s a few image I hope you can all enjoy

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This is one of the cooler articles I’ve seen in the modding world. MaximumPC did an excellent guide on building a multi-touch PC yourself. Theirs was done while attempting to hold a budget, but I’ve gotta think it’ll only be a matter of time before you see some really flashy designs taking off based on their design.

Full Article: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/maximum_pc_builds_a_multitouch_surface_computer

Maximum PC’s Multitouch Surface Computer from Maximum PC on Vimeo.

While I’m still working on my house to get it to the point that i can start networking, I thought I’d share some cool stuff with you. FusionMods, this blog and the related site is really about tech of all levels. As such, the site originated purely as a modding site, and while it’s expanded into all facets of tech, we still appreciate our roots. I thought I’d share some cool mods with you guys. A number of our members have been published, so their work does attract a good level of attention. The type of work also ranges from all areas, wiring, cooling, metal work, painting, and of course, some of them get into programming as well.

I grabbed ten mods from the site that I though would be excellent to show you some of the areas of modding.

Plexy Selfmade PC – by peenieman

by Pennieman

This a full custom mod. You don’t get to see these as often as you’d like, but they’re always awesome. This is almost pure plexy. Though it’s hard to tell in the pic, this case is much smaller then it looks.

Project Celtic Dragon PSU – by BCModder

by BCModder

This is just a component mod. For those not too familiar with PC building this is the power supply. This distributes the power to everything in your PC. This mod shows some extremely crafty metal work, a great paint job, as well as some nice lighting if you follow the link.

Monster Rig by Bio-Hazard

by Bio-Hazard

I think the picture really just says it all

Batmobile Tumbler PC — By batfan06

By batfan06

This is a mod that is becoming more and more common. This is also far more challenging. This is taking an already existing item and placing a computer inside of it. Oddly enough, I think the two most common items I’ve seen this done with has been the original Nintendo consoles and toasters (told you it was odd).

Wall-E — By Frenkie

By Frenkie

This is one of the most challenging types of mods, but a lot of fun at the same time. This is a full custom build, but it’s built to look like something else. This is similar to the batmobile PC, but in this case, you’d be building the batmobile as well.

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I hope you guys have enjoyed these.