Latest News: AVP Requiem Gaming Machine Update
* AVP Requiem is a movie-theme case that's based on the recently released Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem movie. This is a 2007 holiday build that was mostly finished before the start of 2008 - the hardware was complete but the painting is still a work in progress. Check out some pictures below, and for more details, follow this Mod Nation forum link where I have my work log.
Recent News: Gaming Power Upgrade for OsbornAgain
* OsbornAgain just received a videocard infusion, gaining an eVGA Geforce 8800 GT Super Clock card after I extracted the older BFG 7800 GT Over Clock card. The new card fit easily into the PCI-e slot and now there is plenty of clearance between the VGA cooler and the nearby optical drive. Check out the pictures below.
* Scan-a-Tron has been included in CPU Magazine's Mad Reader Mod article in the October 2007 issue. Also, PC Magazine's on-line ExtremeTech Build It / Case Mod department has a custom review of Scan-a-Tron.
Welcome to my site. I am Big Al and my hobby is case modding. I've been doing this since I built my first computer back in 2000. Previous to that I owned several "normal" computers, starting with an Osborne Executive in 1983, and then a few Pentium computers by Packard Bell and Compaq. Case modding, if you've never tried it, is a blast. The basic steps aren't all that difficult, but when you take case modding to the next level it will become a big deal. I'm somewhere in-between those levels, and what I have on display below depicts my handiwork, from the latest "Semper Fidelis project" to the original "Globe of Retribution" machine.
To help out my friends and to support the community, I also do reviews on products and services offered to consumers, mostly via the Internet.
You can find most of my reviews at FastLaneHW and Velocity Reviews.
If you need to contact me, please send an e-mail to:
Ride of the Patriots - Rolling Thunder 2007 (exe)
Ride of the Patriots - Rolling Thunder 2006 (exe)
U.S. Botanic Gardens "Orchids in an Art Deco Garden (exe)"
Philadelphia Flower Show (exe) Infinity Customs
AMD Athon 64 X2 3800+, eVGA 8800 GT Super Clock and 2 GB of tasty DDR2 RAM
This project is almost complete; it's up and running with a mid-level videocard (MSI 8600 GTS OC). The case mods were built for a great Marine and good friend of our family - Lt. Col Greg Davis. The modded case was presented to him on his 50th birthday (late April 2007), and now we are awaiting final funding for either one or two videocards - perhaps one or two nVidia Geforce 8800 GTs. Money is tight, just like it is with the government due to the war effort. Stay tuned for updates this holiday season as Greg wants to have the machine completed before the year is over.
Scan-a-Tron is fabricated from an HP ScanJet 6100C Scanner, an HP Pavilion ze4145 Laptop, and a custom Laser-Etched Window Made by Hyperkore Computers.
AMD Athon FX62 (2.8Gz dual-core), dual eVGA 7900 GT's in SLI on an Asus Crosshair motherboard
Upgrading bottom motherboard in "Printer-to-Computer-Deja-Vu" machine.
Vista Beta 2 Upgrade for the Printer-to-Computer
Color scheme change and some new parts for the Globe of Retribution
Laser-etched window in Sun X-Terminal keyboard
Antec VCool Device Product Review
Hyperkore Laser-Etched Window Review
Cooler Master AeroGate 1 Review
HyperKore HK-Xtreme Gaming System Review
OsbornAgain was developed from the original Osborne Executive CPM computer (circa 1983).
Download Extreme Tech's interview, without pictures here.
Sun X-Terminal Mod
Printer-to-Computer
Download the build history of the printer-to-computer here.
Printer-to-Computer-Deja-Vu Winner of Bawl's Hot Mod "Out of the Box" contest in February 2005!
Download the build history of the printer-to-computer-deja-vu here.
Thanks for stopping by!
Ride of the Patriots - Rolling Thunder 2007 (zipped)
Ride of the Patriots - Rolling Thunder 2006 (zipped)
U. S. Botanic Gardens "Orchids in an Art Deco Garden (zipped)"
Philadelphia Flower Show (zipped)
Think Computers
Fast Lane Hardware
Velocity Reviews
Pro-Clockers
The Mod Nation
If you click on the link found in the title for this project, you will be taken to The Mod Nation forums, which is a very well respected forum site for computer modders like myself. You will be in the link for this project worklog, and there are plenty of additional pictures there to look at.
Scan-a-Tron has been included in CPU Magazine's Mad Reader Mod article in the October 2007 issue. You can also see Scan-a-Tron on ExtremeTech here!
Download the build history of Scan-a-Tron here.
Velocity Reviews Forum link: here.
Big Al himself gets interviewed on 01-26-06 by Extreme Tech! Here's the link.
Maximum PC Magazine Forum link: here.
Download the build history of the Sun X-Terminal Mod here.
Winner of Maximum PC "Rig of the Month" (ROTM) in February 2005 issue!
Winner of PC Extreme magazine "Mod of the Month" in issue 26!
