01/02/09 Update... Project 'TroyBoX' - Mini
ITX HTPC / MAME Mod
Having been practically raised on arcade
and console video
games I've wanted to build a MAME system for a really long time, but it always
seemed
like such a waste dedicating an entire PC to just running MAME. I had
originally planned on building a stand up style arcade machine but decided that a
small and modular entertainment PC connected to my living room 46" 1080P LCD TV
would be better. Progress on the build is around 80%... not far now.
I made a five minute video which showcases some of the
features and fine details of the Hellusion mod and covers all the stuff that
just doesn't come across as well in pictures. It concludes with a
brief explanation of the illusion and a demonstration of the "tool free" case removal and reassembly. If a picture is
worth a thousand words then this video must be
worth either a thousand pictures or at least a million words.
My primary goal was to create a worthy follow
up
to my last project
(because good horror normally gets a part two) the only problem is that
sequels as a rule suck, especially horror movie sequels. HellRaiser is
the exception because HellBound is every bit as good as the first movie...
so in the tradition of HellRaiser I set out to create a non-suck sequel
mod. I'll
accomplish this by completely concealing the
computer using an optical illusion to make the whole thing appear as
though it's nothing more than an empty box containing a levitating
HellRaiser puzzle cube.
The HellRaiser mythos is cool and quite scary, there are a few good HellRaiser tribute
mods out there already but they all either pay homage to or try to
emulate the look of the puzzle box, the box is cool... but it isn't
scary. I wanted to build a
monster, but didn't want to base
the design on any existing HellRaiser characters and instead
sketched out a design of what I imagined a case modder turned cenobite
would look like. The machine is completely water-cooled with many
custom details and features including remote controlled animatronic UV
eyes, 3D oven formed acrylic windows and a laser array shooting out of
the head.
AKA Jeffrey Stephenson... The
Slipperyskip Interview
I thought it only fitting to invite one of my long
time modding heroes and a true case mod god to a Q&A session. Jeffrey
Stephenson (aka: slipperyskip) is one of the founding fathers of modding
and the hands down master of miniature computer modification. He takes
time out of his busy schedule to answer my questions... you can file this one
under "Best. Modder. Interview. Ever."
You have by now probably seen many different drive stealthing guides on
a lot of other mod sites with difficulty ranging from fairly easy to
downright ludicrous. This guide is guaranteed easy and will show
what I consider to be the hands down absolute best way to stealth a
drive. The end result looks awesome, is entirely functional,
completely removable and (unlike a lot of other mods) will not void your
warranty.
If you have more
than one light in your case and are tired of having to reach around to
the back of your case to turn them on or off you need to read our latest
how-to guide. We show a very simple and affordable mod that adds
functionality and class to a 3.5" floppy bay cover, plus the guide
contains a template layout for up to four switches.
This was my first go around with 6" LCD modding and the finished
mod resides in my daily driver PC MOBY2.
Having a small LCD in the computer case that can be used as a secondary
display without having to mirror your main monitor opens up a lot of
possibilities, it works so well that I have added a 6" LCD monitor
to every mod I've done since. Making a six inch monitor fit into
and slide out of a 5.25" bay is no easy feat... but it is really
sweet, if you decide to build one for yourself then this guide should
help.
There are a lot of really cool bay devices on the market, whether they
have a finish similar to your case or are completely different - as in
the case of the Zalman fan controller I used - this super simple guide will show
you how to make it precisely match the rest of your case. The
Zalman ZM-MFC1 is transformed from something ordinary into something
awesome with an easy mod that takes just over an hour to do.
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not be copied or used without permission.
"Mod It Til It Bleeds!", "got mods?" and "I Mod, Therefore I Am." are TM
ARTbyTROY,
all rights reserved.
