Case modding
Today the business of "modding" computers and their cases is a hugely profitable endeavor, and bespoke DIY competitions are commonplace.
Others make it look like or appear to be something else, like a teddy bear, wooden cabinet, a shelf mounted on a wall, or antique equipment such as a Macintosh Plus or an old Atari 2600 video game console.
This type of modding, as the name suggests, involves modifying the PC components themselves for a perceived improvement in appearance.
A riskier modification is installing hard drive windows which show the platters and mechanism, which must be done in a clean room without significant dust.
This finish cannot be compared to automotive paint or powder coating (see also: § Less common modifications), but it is a simple way to change the look of a case.
These types of mods will typically void the warranty of the device, as this requires opening up the computer to do them.
To avoid warranty issues, skins or stickers can be purchased, which are easily removable from the casing.
Others include air ducts, water cooling,[15] filtering, sealing openings to make airflow over hot components instead of escaping near where it entered, or even the adding of a tank of pressurized carbon dioxide or liters of mineral oil to the case.
These modifications are often performed by overclockers looking either for better cooling for particularly hot components and/or noise (sound) reduction.
Some fan modifications are merely a show of technical modding skill or talent and have no functional purpose.
[16] Hardcore overclockers often install cooling systems for the sole purpose of achieving performance records.
Such systems may include water cooling, phase change materials, thermoelectric/Peltiercoolers, and even liquid nitrogen.
More elaborate finishes can be crafted by using a combination of techniques, such as chrome plating with a transparent color coat.
When mixed with a paste catalyst the filler hardens in a short period of time and can be sanded, ground or cut to a desired shape.
Lacquer based Spot Putty is often used to fill smaller imperfections before the application of primer.
Many websites and companies feature contests for case modders, awarding prizes and accolades to the winners.
When the Nintendo 64, Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 were released, many chipped them, styled them, and added additional cooling; some went as far as changing the hardware itself.
Many modders found that altering the interior of Xbox 360s was difficult due to absence of a power cable (normally in a PC, this cord attaches the hard disk drive to its motherboard).
