Does anyone just build for fun?

[Smoblikat]

Like, you dont need a computer, but you put one together, mod the case, paint it, etc...

Just for fun?

I have a pretty sweet main PC, but recently finished putting together a HAF 912 build, I gave it an AWESOME paintjob, cut out the side panel in a fashion I have never seen anyone do to this case before, put LED fans and cold cathode bars, and finally mounted a transparent acryllic window on the side panel. Only because I had the parts lying around and wanted to build. Now I am planning on buying another case, and building a third computer.............just because I have all the parts

 

[Sleepingforest]

...I think many of us don't have the experience (to make it look good,) extra parts and tools you do.

But the project does sound really cool! Can you post some pictures?

 

[T_Yamamoto]

I don't have money.

Actually I do, I just happen to be a high school student.

 

[Charlie98]

I built my desktop PC because I needed a replacement for my old Dell, I could have just as easily bought another at MicroCenter but chose to build one... and found it quite fun. I built my HTPC just for fun and as a practical experiment... I didn't really need it and it was a hard sell to my wife. I don't have the skillz or imagination to build a showy one, I'm far to practical for that, but I enjoy picking and poking the parts nonetheless.

 

[skipsneeky2]

Took a gateway dx series case,one popular with the dx 4000 series and took out the older phenom one stuff,slapped in a core i5 2500 and 7850,then cut the mesh on the side perfectly round to fit in a 140mm noctua fan,cut the mesh in the rear and slapped in a 80mm antec.

The case itself doesn't look that bad with the mods,and both fans on medium nothing really overheats.

Have highly considered a whole new case just for styling purposes but honestly have a hard time justifying purchasing one,biggest issue is the ugly noctua fan and the fact the case can only fit up to a 10'' gpu,besides that no other reason for a new case i guess.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

nope, id much rather use the computer than fiddle with it

 

[radtechtips]

I don't have money.

Actually I do, I just happen to be a high school student.

Same here. But i do enjoy the experience of building things. I have my main rig which i build without mods. Im going to do a mod build with some old parts i have just for fun

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Same here. But i do enjoy the experience of building things. I have my main rig which i build without mods. Im going to do a mod build with some old parts i have just for fun

I mean, if I had a drill, and a cutter, I'd go all out.

 

[radtechtips]

I mean, if I had a drill, and a cutter, I'd go all out.

Luckily my dad has tools that i can use. Drill press, scroll saw etc

 

[Smoblikat]

Just bought a dremel, will post pics of my new rig when I get home from work.

 

[radtechtips]

Just bought a dremel, will post pics of my new rig when I get home from work.

Awesome tool!

 

[vbuggy]

Nope. I build when I find I have no other good choices - mostly in terms of quiet rigs.

 

[ArsenalGear]

I built my parents a PC a few years ago, but last year I built them a new one and left the old one at their house to collect dust. I rediscovered it two weeks ago and the lightbulb went off that I could have some fun with it!

Athlon 64 X2 3200+
2x1GB DDR2
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum (nForce3)
GeForce4 MX440 AGP (VGA-only)
80GB WD 7200 IDE
Antec TruPower 430W
Creative SoundBlaster Live!

I brought it home with me, removed all the components and threw away the case because it was a wreck after the modding I'd done. I bought a $20 Thermaltake case from MicroCenter and a Seasonic X650 KM3 for $80 (awesome Newegg deal last week). The TruPower still works but 1) it's modded with LED fans that are way too loud, 2) doesn't have SATA connectors and 3) horribly inefficient by today's standards. Kept the CPU, RAM and mobo. I wish the vid card had digital-out but I'll live. I took an Agility4 SSD from my main machine (since I'm on a Sammy 840 now) and installed Win8 Pro.

System works fine, but there's no Win7 drivers (let alone Win8) that support the GeForce4 and nForce3, so Windows installed basic ones. I'm stuck at 1600x1200, but whatever. There's no driver for the Live! card either and Windows didn't have one to my knowledge, so I got the Realtek AC'97 driver installed for the onboard setup and luckily that worked. No spare K/M so I decided to just remote into it using LogMeIn.

I'm not sure yet what I'm planning to do with this rig, but it was fun building from "scratch" and at least I have a back-up in case my main goes down. I have a spare window pane that I could cut into the side panel, but Dremels don't like thick steel too much so I'll have to borrow some tool from someone.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Yes, I build for fun. Which unfortunately leads to a surplus of computers that I need to get rid of. Preferably in a way in which I don't lose money.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I used to build for fun like that. Mod cases, fans, yea yea....Now, I'm more worried about stability than aesthetics.

 

[TheReaWarmonger]

...I think many of us don't have the experience (to make it look good,) extra parts and tools money you do.

But the project does sound really cool! Can you post some pictures?

:whiste: If I had money to throw away, that's all I would do is build nice looking gaming rigs (maybe even establish my own tech community around it).

 

[Smoblikat]

Apparently I just got home from work...........

Let me know what you think.
Specs:
HAF 912, heavily modded
Corsair H50 with P/P CM Sycleflow 120mm blue LED fans
G skill blue LED RAM cooler
CM Megaflow 200mm blue LED fan
2 CM 120 blue LED front fans
HD 4870X2, HD4870 1GB
PCPnC 750w (sliencer MKII)
8GB Gskill RAM
ASUS M4A89GTD pro USB3
Logysis dual 12" cold cathodes
Custom transparent blue arcyllic window
SSD, 2X160gb HDD's RAID0
Ph2 X6 1055T @ 4.0

 

[yvesj]

i am 69 now and i do build computer to pass the time .
it is a very good thing to do when you dont have much to do like me .
right now i have 3 on the go running .
2 window7 and one vista .
my fester one is 21 secs on a complite retart .my other 2 are 32 secs ..
not bad for a pass time .
in 2 years i build about 9 of them .

 

[mfenn]

Sweet paintjob! :thumbsup:

 

[aigomorla]

<--- used to be a independant reviewer for watercooling and cpu.

would that count?

hardware was mostly sponsored too.

 

[WT]

I built maybe 8 PCs over the past year, all refurb or used parts bought on several forums. Sold almost all of them over the past 5 months - last 2 being sold this weekend. Most were quad core builds, but I took pride in every one.
I had a good $1600-2000 in parts lying around, so its nice to finally clean off the shelves, but now I find that I don't have anything left to build. Back to buying again ... I bought 2 boards and 2 chips already this week. Trying to swing a deal on a third combo that should keep me busy until mid-June.

 

[Gillbot]

I don't paint so much, but the rest yeah. I was sponsored too.... By my wallet.

 

[Smoblikat]

Sweet paintjob! :thumbsup:

Thanks!

It was actually an accident..............I was planning to just paint the inside but I got some blue on the outside, so to cover it up I made stripes

 

[mfenn]

Thanks!

It was actually an accident..............I was planning to just paint the inside but I got some blue on the outside, so to cover it up I made stripes

Haha, don't tell people that! It looks really good IMHO.

 

[radtechtips]

Haha, don't tell people that! It looks really good IMHO.

mfenn's humble opinion is pretty high! The paint job looks awesome! I usually go for red, white, and black, but that blue and black look sexy!

PS. what kind of blue is that?