Bringing new life to an old PC

John is a gamer, but he thrives as a hardware enthusiast and PC modder. John started this mod by taking an old 1996 vintage Gateway full tower case, gutting the old parts, cutting the case, painting it, and then installing all new components. He wanted a killer gaming rig so he opted to upgrade the existing two BFG 7600GT cards to two EVGA 8800GTX cards. Congrats to John for building his first gaming PC! We asked him a few questions about his gaming rig mod, here’s what he had to say:

"How long did it take to mod your rig, from start to finish?"

Three months, with roughly ten hours of work a week. The most time consuming tasks are painting and custom wiring. Since this is my second mod, I've learned to be patient with the paint process: sanding, self-etching primer, wet sanding, color coats, clear coats, wet sanding, clear coat polishing compound, and finally hand glaze.

"Will you mod a third PC?"

Absolutely! I'm actually in the middle of my third mod right now, with a work log available on my 2geek.org blog. I've modded my PVR (HTPC) system, my gaming rig, and now it's time for my PC at work. I fell in love with the NVIDIA nForce 680i design, so I'll be building another SLI system to serve a dual purpose of 'work PC' and 'after-work gaming rig.' I'll also be utilizing an Intel Core 2 Quad CPU to help crunch through code compiles with Visual Studio. As with my previous mods, it will have a custom paint job.

"What made you select a 1996 Gateway case for this mod?"

I've noticed that many cases these days are designed for optimal cooling in addition to a streamlined manufacturing process. As a result, we see high-quality cases, but without the charm, durability, and modding-potential of the old-school, steel cases of the 1990s. The closest comparison that comes to mind is modern vs. classic autos, where metallurgical durability is sacrificed for better performance. The full-tower, steel Gateway case from 1996 that I used in this mod is built like a tank. It took a barrage of beatings from modding, while losing only a trivial amount of stability. I've cut-out three new fan holes, ripped out two bay structures pop-riveted to the case, and removed the support bar, without the case flinching at all.

"What advice do you have for someone who has never modded before but wants to start?"

Don't give up, and don't rush it. I've run into obstacles in both of my mods so far, and have experienced my share of oversights, set-backs, and disappointments. With a little patience and creativity, I've been able to overcome those obstacles. If you run into your own obstacles, don't ever doubt yourself; take your time and find the courage to take on each challenge with an open mind.

THE SPECS:

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