Where can I get hardware & accessory mods? (Not related to cases)

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
I'm looking for mod info on for more than just cases & cooling.
For example, drive mods (Like faceplates, LEDs & windows like on the Pioneer DVD mod), keyboard (Ie, black keys/black keyboard cover, added "functions" etc) and more. Is there some place that covers more of these types? So far, I've only seen the DVD Window mod for the slot-loading 16x Pioneer drive, the ThorTek black faceplates for Plextor drives, a kit for adding "string lights" beneath the keys on a MS Natural Keyboard Elite (Yes, I know all kits suck).

I'm working on my own "black keyboard" mod with a really nice method of getting black keys without ever painting them (because they don't sell replacement keys!).
Heh, I don't even have a black or colored case, I'm only obsessing over this because of my friends miss-matched rig (He's gonna love this!).

Oh yeah, I may be wrong: Does anyone sell replacement "aftermarket" bezels (Other than ThorTek's limited selection) & parts (Like keyboard keys) that can be customized? Heh, Dreamcast, Playstations & even Game Boys have had easy-to-find custom 3rd party replacement housings for years!

(Edited due to excessive ugly yellow things...)
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
Well, found an interesting hard drive mod on BP6.com, but damn is it ever risky!
I just hope some HDD manufacturer picks up on this & makes a standard model with a window like this before everyone kills their disks!
So other than the standard case/cooling mods, I still only have a couple other mods including drive LED changes, painting, DVD window mod, & HD window mod... There's got to be more!

What about hardware mods that aren't for fashion?
I've performed the Promise Ultra66 ATA66 controller to FastTrak66 RAID controller mod.
Heh, I've even done some EEPROM hot-swapping to get rid of an OEM HP Pheonix BIOS on a OEM HP board & replace it w/ the Award BIOS from the boards manufacturer (Asus). I can't stand seeing "HP"'s logo in a non-HP PC :)
Any other "something for nothing" mods like the Promise one?
Any other "customization" mods like the BIOS swap?

Oh yeah! BTW, I heard of an open source program that would allow you to flash one BIOS w/ another manufacturer's BIOS. Anyone have any more info on it?
 

helloedchen

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2000
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www.gideontech.com
just to mention my stand on modding drives with windows...it makes no sense...how many times are you gonna stare at the top of your drives :)

but that's just me...
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
It's not supposed to be useful or convienient as far as I can tell...
It's all "fasion" anyway... Heh heh...

Oh yeah, & about the keyboard:
I've seen some nice black keyboards (Yes, I have visited colorcase.com already too) but the problem is replacing a better keyboard with one of those just because it's black. That's what modding is all about I do believe...
But a mod like I'm working on can just be slapped on & pulled off.
Meaning people that can't do it theirselves could just buy one of these...
So far, the best black keyboard I've seen is the IBM keyboard w/ 2 USB ports like the MS Inet KB Pro @ Directron.com. Perhaps they should carry that one.