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Date |
: Dec 20th, 2001 |
| Category |
: Hardware |
| Manufacturer |
: Various |
| Author |
: Jin-Wei Tioh |
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Black & Decker RTX
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Say hello to the brand new dremel - Black & Decker's RTX. A rotary tool is most definitely a must in a case modder's toolbox, and the RTX is among the best (if not the best) rotary tool out there. $50 will get you a kit with the RTX tool, a 55 piece accessory assortment and a carrying case. If that's not enough, the RTX is compatible with parts from other rotary tools up to 1/8". It looks sleek and flashy, with a rubber grip up front, and weighs less than the average dremel. Featuring Black & Decker's Flip-Lock design; you simply turn the unit off, flip the lock back, loosen and replace the bit, tighten the collet nut and throw the lack back forward. The RTX will not start if the lock isn't down, a good safety feature.
Spec wise, the RTX is on par with other rotary tools. One minor grouch though is the higher minimum speed, which may cause a problem when attempting to cut softer materials such as plastic. Nevertheless, a great gift for a techie, whether he / she be a seasoned case modder or not.
Purchase Black & Decker RTX |
DIY Case Badge Kit
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Case modding is a whole new phenomenon that has slowly gained momentum in the past year or so. It is now most acceptable to paint/chrome your expensive aluminum case, add perspex windows, a fanbus, a couple of blowholes, or even add neon lights or GloWires. Some have even constructed their own custom (and usually perspex) cases from scratch, or converted briefcases for the purpose. Hell, even automakers are catching on. Flame decals, racing stripes, spoilers, neon accent lights - they're on the way. It's all about customizability and individuality.
So you've done everything to your case. However, one thing you might have overlooked is the case badge. Sure, you can now purchase your favorite company's or site's case badge for roughly US$4 a pop, but wouldn't it be great if you could achieve real customization? That's where the DIY case badge kit from MultiPlayCity comes into play.
Order the kit (which includes enough material to make 6 case badges), and just follow the included instructions. If you're short on graphical ideas, just visit our Cool Case Badge Gallery and download one. Voila! Now you have yourself a professional looking case badge, fully indistinguishable from commercial badges. The best part? You're only paying US$8 for 6 badges, compared to US$4 for a commercial one, and you get to print whatever you want. If you already have a modded case, this is a definite must have! Very Highly Recommended!
http://www.phamcomputer.com
http://www.coolpc.com.au
http://www.ev-web.at
http://www.argus-pc.com
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Silver Mesh Rounded Cables Silver - IDE, Floppy
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Rounded cables are one of the latest crazes on the 'net. After case modding really took off around the middle of 2000 (thanks in part to our buddies over at Virtual Hideout), it became quite acceptable to paint/chrome your case, add neon lights, perspex windows or even laser/plasma cutting patterns onto your case. While some of these are just for vanity, some do serve the crucial purpose of improving airflow in the case. Modern processors are incredibly efficient at producing heat, and for optimal system cooling, both air intake and output must be adequate.
Rounded cables provide a neat solution the problem of airflow restriction by reducing the clutter in a computer. While we have reviewed their rubber-sheathed rounded cables, HighSpeed PC's silver mesh rounded cables (though functionally similar) are much more stylish in appearance. A rounded IDE cable lists for $17.99, and a rounded floppy cable lists for $13.99. Get an entire set of cables for your techie in mind (2 IDE and 1 floppy) for only $49.97.
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GloWire, Lazer LEDs
Does your computer look absolutely, drearily BORING? Spice it up with something from GloWire. Trace out a cool looking design on your case with some GloWire, or stick on one of their ultra-bright, high-intensity Lazer LEDs just for the heck of it.
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The GloWire is an electroluminescent wire. It emulates the glow of neon, but with the flexible versatility of thin wire for ease of application. GloWire (the company) was established by Jim Beal and has been around for about two years now. They have more or less become synonymous with EL cables. With it, you can potentially add all kinds of special effects to a computer case. Typically, it is used to line plexiglass window mods and ventilation holes. Some unconventional uses include stringing it under your keyboard, or even your video card (as our buddies over at ipKonfig have done). Installation is straight-forward for the most part. Place the wire where you want, and apply some form of adhesive (eg. super glue, wire ties). The wire hardly generates any heat, so that is a non-issue. After mounting the wire, simply connect the driver unit to a spare Molex connector from your system's power supply, and plug in the GloWire. GloWire carries several driver models - the unit we received only had a 3-way switch; off, on, and flashing. The GloWires come in multiple colors, and the basic kit with a 12V driver unit, 5 foot section of GloWire and an accompanying instruction sheet goes for $24.95.
While carefully adding a length of GloWire can do wonders for your case, there's another nifty widget that you might want to consider - the Lazer LEDs. These are basically high-intensity LEDs, much brighter than your normal, everyday variety (like those on your floppy and CD-ROM drives). GloWire sells them either in a 3 light spread pattern or a cluster or 4 LEDs. Installation is even simpler than the GloWires; stick the Lazer LED unit in a particular location with some adhesive, and just plug it into a standard Molex connector. One idea is to install it at the top of your case, and have it illuminate your computer's front bezel (looks good on ours). Another is to use it as a floodlight for the inside of your case. The Lazer LEDs are available in blue, green, white, red and amber, and the casings are available in black, chrome or white. Each costs roughly $15-$20. When used properly in conjunction with a length of GloWire, your case will really stand out from the crowd, especially at night. :)
We currently have a few kits of both in-house, and they definitely make superb, funky additions to your case, albeit at a slightly expensive cost. This would make a very good gift for techies who dig case modding. Keep a sharp eye on our Cool Case Gallery - you just might spot an good idea or two on how to use these products.Very Highly Recommended!
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Purchase GloWire
Purchase Lazer LEDs
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