Cool Computer Cases

Maybe I need to get a life, but I really love cool computer cases . OK, not maybe. I definitely do need to get a life. Still, don’t you just dig a computer that looks like it’s hiding a transformer inside and might get up and wipe out the whole neighborhood at the least provocation? I know I do.

Personally, I think the coolest computer cases are the tricked out clear acrylic computer cases with all the lights and color coordinated components inside. There are so many ways to customize them that you can drive yourself crazy just trying to decide. You can build a machine that is totally unique and is literally unlike any other computer on the entire planet.

When I was building my latest one, I decided to go all out and accessorized it to the hilt. Surprisingly, the total cost was about the same as if I had purchased higher end metal case that you really can’t do that much with. There are some interesting high end metal cases out there, but they don’t make you want to just start at them, and they certainly don’t command the kind of attention that a clear acrylic case does when it’s all lit up.

The one that I got came flat and I had to put it together, but no big deal there. It just had a bunch of thumb screws and it went together very easily. I didn’t even need any tools. The edges and corners are all nicely rounded so no sharp edges. I was impressed with the way the corners and edges were laser machined and how tightly the whole thing fit together.

I got the cathode lights in red and used deep blue for the inside components like the hard drive and cables. The red lights make them a really eerie purple color when the room lights are low. The fans are lit up too, only those are blue instead of red. This thing has fans are everywhere too. There is one up top, a great big one in front and then another fan in the back. It also gives a nice offset against the red and purple. I covered them with some sexy chrome fan grills that have a twist pattern to them.

Not sure why I went with blue, but it doesn’t look half bad. It sort of makes the machine look a bit more complicated I suppose. Anyway, the lights turned out well I think. I got a toggle type switch with one of those military style switch covers that you have to flip up in order to access the switch, aviation style.

The only downside to this project is that as soon as you are done, you want to start on another one right away to see what else you can come up with.  That can turn into an expensive hobby for those without a lot of self control. Still, I suppose I’ll stick with this one for a while and maybe my friends will start asking me to build computers for them. That way I can scratch the itch on someone else’s dime. Sounds like a pretty good plan to me.