Case Decoration...

[CyberSurfer]

I'm toying with the idea of painting the case on my computer, probably involving black somewhere....Obviously, grey drives are going to stand out...I have a few questions...

1) Am I right in thinking that it is a stupid idea to paint the front of my external drives, if I can't afford to replace them?

2) I'm probably going to use spray paint for the main colour, but what paint should I use for any decoration on top of that?

3) If any of you have done this before, have you got any tips for me?


TIA!!

[CiberTHuG]

I'm assuming you have a tower case. You can take off the plastic front, as well as the faces off all of your drives (floppy, zip, et al).

Paint these plastic peices outside, away from your computer, and don't let the paint pool or puddle.

Yeap, seen it done before. An entirely black computer.

Wouldn't mind painting mine.

[chenko]

Damn you putting ideas into my head, Everything around me would be black then :) cool!

[CiberTHuG]

ThinkGeek has decals and case lights. Kind of like ground effects for your box.

[chrisjk]

Wouldn't a black painted one cause heat problems?

If there is a good reason why they are creamy-white, I'd say that was it.

[spetnik]

well, compaq makes black cases, and sony, and gateway...

[spetnik]

black would b worse than white if there was sun shining on it. but otherwise, it should b fine.

[chenko]

I saw somewhere someone made a clear case, It had a cooling unit (like that on a fridge) and a pump, passing cold water over the processor....works amazing on a AMD, Ive seen, yep seen....a "1GHz" run at 1.4Ghz on benchmark tests :)

[chenko]

I saw somewhere someone made a clear case, It had a cooling unit (like that on a fridge) and a pump, passing cold water over the processor....works amazing on a AMD, Ive seen, yep seen....a "1GHz" run at 1.4Ghz on benchmark tests :)


.....and Dell do black Desktops and Server, and what colour are most laptops??

[CiberTHuG]

IBM has been leading the way in black cases for everything (ThinkPads, desktops, RS and OS machines).

Anyway... you could paint it any color you want. You could even wallpaper it. I'm surprised that no one has sold a fake wood grain look to match wooden office furniture.

I would like to make a board full of lights. Run hobby grade optic fiber from each of the LEDs on the front of the computers and the back of the NICs to a black board that sits ominously on the wall, blinking. Look like something from some old sci-fi.

[SteveCRM]

I've seen someone do camoflage, looked silly though.

Yeah KB44 sent me a pic of his computer, hes got water cooling :D

[denniswrenn]

it's KB244, and he doesn't have water cooling anymore, he said it wasn't really worth it without a peltier, but those are a lil' too risky...

[SteveCRM]

well he did :p I knew KB44 looked a little short :D

[SurfDemon]

I built a wooden case for one of my little computers. (Kept the metal chassis inside), so that I could put it in the living room for surfing and playing MP3's and it wouldn't look out of place.

Need to put fans in it though..... wood is a pretty good insulator:)

SD

[CyberSurfer]

Thanks, CiberThug, I can indeed take the fronts off my drives :)

I'm thinking along the lines of the attached image, except using stencilled lettering as opposed to airbrushing...

This brings me on to my next question....I'm looking for something fairly unique to stencil onto my case..It can't be smutty or rude, but it'd be nice if it was amusing in some way...Anyone have any ideas?

[chenko]

Once I get my new PC laptop, Im gonna install xeon water cooling on my AMD :D


Jon: CCCCCCCCCCchhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeesssssssssseeeeeeeee

[JungleMan]

Originally posted by chenko
and what colour are most laptops??

owning only a laptop these past 3 years, I have noticed these things get HOT! So much for putting it on your lap when you have shorts on...:eek: :eek:

[scoutt]

originaly posted by Chenko
I saw somewhere someone made a clear case, It had a cooling unit (like that on a fridge) and a pump, passing cold water over the processor....works amazing on a AMD, Ive seen, yep seen....a "1GHz" run at 1.4Ghz on benchmark tests
Actually I read last year when the hottest thing out was an 800Mhz AMD and they put a freon cooler underneath it and clocked it up to 1.2Ghz. in all actuallality it only ran 20-30% better than a regular 800Mhz. On programs it ran 20% more efficient and 30% better over all. It was cooled around -20 degrees (I think) and it ran smoother the cooler it got. personally I don't see any point to it. why do all that just to get 30% more productivity out of it when the human eye won't even notice it.

I will have to look for that article.

I wouldn't have my computer sitting in the sun anyway, so I don't think black as anything to do with it. I have also seen hot pink and other colors like the Imac, all see through. pretty cool too.