Sunday, May 8, 2011

Why Get A Transparent Computer Housing?

By Owen Jones


What is a clear computer casing and what might it do for you? Well, before we commence talking about the translucent computer case, permit me to inquire you something: what does your computer?s housing mean to you? I can even inquire: what does your computer signify to you? I ask this as your reply will establish what you want for your computer and its housing or case.

Most individuals have always been happy enough with the basic, average light-grey housing that comes as bog-standard with the preponderance of computers. A number of have never even thought about it. But then there are others who have thought about their computer?s case a lot and who would like something individual for their computer.

A number of of these people were good at metalwork, others at woodwork and a few at glassware and there are some truly fantastic, innovative, home-produced housings out there. Especially among the gaming community. However, we are not all so talented with our hands, but that does not signify that we have to be stuck with the grey computer housing.

The easiest choice, if you want a custom computer casing is to construct one out of acrylic - the sort of substance used to construct the majority of fish tanks. You can buy and easily cut sheets of acrylic for the sides and bond them all together with acrylic resin. That may appear tricky, but it truly is not. In the beginning you would have to research the architecture of a normal computer case and then just copy it in acrylic. You can construct a clear computer casing in a weekend.

Or you might buy a clear computer case kit. These kits arrive in flat-packs just like most kitchen furniture and can be easily assembled according to the instructions with a screwdriver. No cutting, no measuring, just a little gentle screwing.

And I signify gentle, as the screws that come with the see-through computer case packs are typically made of acrylic as well and will snap easily. It is the only part of the construction process that requires a warning note, because you don?t want to have to drill out a busted screw, do you? That would only put a downer on your fun.

So why would anyone wish for a translucent computer casing? I imagine that there are loads of explanations. A few individuals may just want to be different and others may want to show that they can assemble or even construct such a housing. However, the transparent computer housing also has artistic and functional advantages. At least the good ones do.

On the Aesthetic Front: hobbyists add neon lights and small LEDs that flash on and off or just glow eerily, possibly activated by some occurrence, like a hard drive coming to life. These displays are called ?themes? and are normally red or blue, but can be almost any conceivable colour. Then you can add coloured fans (or paint your existing ones). You already have at least one fan in your casing and probably two or three.

On the Practical Front: lots of people like to see what is going on inside their computer housing and it is neither practical nor safe to remove the cover all together. Furthermore, making your own transparent computer casing permits you to include more fans as over-heating is the prime cause of hardware failure. The more fans the better.

A transparent computer casing would also allow you to observe whether a fan has failed, which would result in over-heating in a normal housing and certain hardware malfunction, whereas you would see it happening through your clear computer case and replace the fan before serious injury and loss of data can occur.




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