What obscure and cool parts or items do you have or use in/on/with your computer?

[Fun Guy]

As the title states, what rare, obscure and nifty parts or items do you use in/on/with your computer?

For example, someone just informed me about this cool thingy that allows you to put 4 easy-to-swap SSDs or 2.5" HDDs in one 5-1/4 external bay:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817986007

I would take literally days of searching on NewEgg's website, and you still might not find anything useful.

Rather than do that, I thought we could put together our collective wisdom and experience here, for the benefit of all. :thumbsup:

So, what cool things do you have to go with/in your box?

 

[Essence_of_War]

It's not super new/flashy, but I have an NZXT Grid Fan Hub, and I really like it. Easy to install, can be placed out of the way like behind the motherboard try, and lets you tidily route case fan cables w/o cluttering up the motherboard.

 

[lehtv]

My fan setup is a bit unusual. Four 140mm PWM fans (one being the CPU fan), all connected to a single cable that gets the PWM signal from the motherboard CPU fan header and power from the power supply. I'm probably in the <1% of enthusiast PC users doing this, everyone else is either using non-PWM case fans connected to the motherboard or a dedicated 3.5" / 5.25" fan controller.

And I've a huge edgeless mouse mat that clamps to the edge of the table.

That's it though, everything else is fairly standard.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

As the title states, what rare, obscure and nifty parts or items do you use in/on/with your computer?

I don't know if it qualifies, but the Intel Ultimate-N 6300 in my desktop properly comes closest to being "unusual". Intel never made a desktop version, so mine uses an mPCIe-to-PCIe adaptor.

Other then the NZXT IU01 internal USB-hub I also have in the desktop, everything else is pretty standard stuff.

 

[XavierMace]

I've got a 5-1/4 storage drawer with a Keltec PF9 in it. Does that count? LOL.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Nothing unusual.

I used to buy weird things - had a Kyro 2 GPU for a while.

Now I just build 'em boring.

 

[WT]

Another NZXT IU01 owner here. That thing came in very handy with my Chieftec Dragon full tower case.

I also have an AM2 riser card on an Asrock 939-SATAII board. They are very rare these days.
http://www.ocworkbench.com/2006/asrock/AM2on939SLI32-eSATA2/Picture%205549%20copy.jpg

That box also has a 7950gx2, which are getting hard to find, at least in working condition.

 

[CRA5HMAN]

I have a 3 pedal foot switch. It might not be obscure, but uncommon

 

[mfenn]

I've got a 5-1/4 storage drawer with a Keltec PF9 in it. Does that count? LOL.

Talk about an anti-virus!

 

[Fun Guy]

I don't know if it qualifies, but the Intel Ultimate-N 6300 in my desktop properly comes closest to being "unusual". Intel never made a desktop version, so mine uses an mPCIe-to-PCIe adaptor.

Other then the NZXT IU01 internal USB-hub I also have in the desktop, everything else is pretty standard stuff.

What do you use for your 3 antennas?

 

[Insert_Nickname]

What do you use for your 3 antennas?

One of these:

http://www.amazon.de/Antenne-wireless-kabellos-internet-computer/dp/B0032LUAAY

I also have an AM2 riser card on an Asrock 939-SATAII board. They are very rare these days.
http://www.ocworkbench.com/2006/asrock/AM2on939SLI32-eSATA2/Picture 5549 copy.jpg

Oh, yeah. I remember those. Were impossible to get hold of in Denmark... :|

 

[Carson Dyle]

My fan setup is a bit unusual. Four 140mm PWM fans (one being the CPU fan), all connected to a single cable that gets the PWM signal from the motherboard CPU fan header and power from the power supply. I'm probably in the <1% of enthusiast PC users doing this, everyone else is either using non-PWM case fans connected to the motherboard or a dedicated 3.5" / 5.25" fan controller.

I use several PWM fans in my case, all controlled by the motherboard. Before seeing your reply, my first thought was: In recent years, the single nicest feature of my desktop computer has probably been the control of case fans directly through motherboard fan headers and software.

Mine would actually be:

I insist on have a manual volume control over audio on my system. No fiddlefucking around with finding software volume controls when I need to adjust volume or mute something instantly. Schiit Audio's SYS passive preamp does the job nicely. My computer's audio system consists of a simple power amp and a pair of unpowered speakers. The SYS sits between the computer and power amp, on top of my desk.

 

[lehtv]

I would love to have one of those for my headphones. I used to have a Logitech G710+ keyboard which had a nice volume wheel that did the job, but few other keyboards have a volume wheel.

 

[Fun Guy]

One of these:

http://www.amazon.de/Antenne-wireless-kabellos-internet-computer/dp/B0032LUAAY

Okay, I'm missing something here. What do the 3 antennas plug into?

And, are you in Germany?

 

[Phaetos]

I've got a 5-1/4 storage drawer with a Keltec PF9 in it. Does that count? LOL.

That gives me an idea ......

 

[pauldun170]

TrackIr
http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Okay, I'm missing something here. What do the 3 antennas plug into?

And, are you in Germany?

I suppose what you're missing would be this adaptor:

http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/MP2W Series.html

...and no. I'm not German, but Danish. Its sometimes just easier to source parts from Germany.

 

[lehtv]

TrackIr
http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/

This gear is pretty popular among Star Citizen backers that are playing Arena Commander actively, based on what I've read on the boards. But it's definitely a niche product.

 

[Fun Guy]

Resurrecting this thread because I am finally building my machine. Anyone with unusual and/or especially effective add-ons to your PC, please post them here!!

 

[MrTeal]

My fan setup is a bit unusual. Four 140mm PWM fans (one being the CPU fan), all connected to a single cable that gets the PWM signal from the motherboard CPU fan header and power from the power supply. I'm probably in the <1% of enthusiast PC users doing this, everyone else is either using non-PWM case fans connected to the motherboard or a dedicated 3.5" / 5.25" fan controller.

And I've a huge edgeless mouse mat that clamps to the edge of the table.

That's it though, everything else is fairly standard.

I do something similar with my radiator fans. I have six 140mm PWM fans plugged into a Swiftech splitter plugged into my CPU1 header, and seven 120mm fans plugged into another splitter going to CPU2. The idea is that I can use separate profiles for the two different styles of fans to keep noise consistent, without overloading the board. Those Swiftech splitters are great for the price you pay.

 

[MrTeal]

I would love to have one of those for my headphones. I used to have a Logitech G710+ keyboard which had a nice volume wheel that did the job, but few other keyboards have a volume wheel.

I moved my tower awhile ago and was getting sick of dealing with headphone issues. I didn't want a fixed extension because I wanted the system to detect if headphones were there or not, and I didn't want to have a long cord in the way snaking under my desk.

I just ended up buying a nifty amplifier from Parts Express.

It was a bit of a downgrade in the amplifier powering my speakers but it's so much more usable. It sits right beside my monitor and takes in the line in from the computer and powers the speaker. If you plug in headphones, it cuts the amplifier output. I haven't ripped my cans off my head when the cord gets caught on the arm of my chair since I got it.