The Cooler Master Sneaker X PC case is now a fully-fledged gaming rig

Posted on 06/10/2023 by Gabriel Moss

Cooler Master is getting extra creative with its case designs lately, and it’s all thanks to mods. Back in February 2022, we reported on a Cooler Master case shaped like a giant shoe that was initially invented by a modder named JMDF during Cooler Master’s 2020 Case Mod World Series competition. At some point along the way, Cooler Master decided to lean fully into the sneaker aesthetic – and now we have Sneaker X, a fully-fledged Mini-ITX gaming desktop that represents the inevitable logical endpoint of designing computers to look like footwear.

Designer: JMDF and Steve Chiang (via Cooler Master)

Cooler Master’s design ethos is made clear in its official Sneaker X video, where it’s shown just how intricate this truly ridiculous-looking desktop needs to be in order to function. The interior is packed with components that look difficult to keep cool given how little airflow is allowed to exist between them. However, an exposed side-vent plus the open roof of the chassis (which unfortunately doesn’t provide enough room for an actual human foot) both likely help heat rise out of the computer’s internal components. There’s also a complex-looking integrated AIO water cooling system connected to a single RGB intake fan on the right side of the case. Yes, you read that correctly: there’s only one visible case fan in the entire build.

The Sneaker X comes in two models, with a few shared technical specifications between them. Every Sneaker X ships with a custom Z790 ITX mobo containing 32 gigs of DDR5 RAM (which, according to an Amazon listing, runs at a base clock of 5600Mhz), a 2TB PCEe 4.0 NVME storage drive, an Intel Core i7-13700K CPU, and the proprietary Master Liquid PL360 Flux “Sneaker Edition” cooling system, all powered by a Cooler Master V850 SFX Gold PSU.

That all sounds great on paper, but for a base price of $3499, the Sneaker X is probably not every PC gamer’s first choice. The base model includes a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 with 12GB of VRAM, whereas the $3799 edition bumps that GeForce RTX 4070 up to a far more powerful GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. You can now buy either PC from Cooler Master’s website to make your sneaker collection a little more high-tech.

The post The Cooler Master Sneaker X PC case is now a fully-fledged gaming rig first appeared on Yanko Design.

Alienware shaves plastic weight off their new Aurora R16 Desktop for a sleeker look

Posted on 03/08/2023 by Gaurav Sood

Alienware is no stranger to outlandish PC case designs and something subtle is not their ball game. Or is it? The Dell-owned brand has this time around broken notions with a new mid-tower desktop PC chassis that looks nothing like an Alienware would, if the information was not revealed to a neutral geek.

With some criticism for the Aurora R15 desktop PC regarding the cooling capabilities, Alienware has released the Aurora R16 PC focusing on this loophole. What’s surprising is the quaint look that is there for a purpose, and it grows on you the more you work on it. Gone is the very alienesque case that now gives way to a more traditional PC aesthetic which die-hard Alienware proponents might find hard to gobble down.

Pros:

Compact form factor that weighs less
Ample ports on the front for power users
Aggressive pricing to take on the competition

Cons:

Conservative chassis design
Number of fans could fall short while high-end gaming
Proprietary motherboard and server-style power unit

Designer: Alienware

Click Here to Buy Now!

There’s a refreshing design language dubbed “Legend 3” with a squarish shape and an interesting approach to improving the overall acoustics and thermals. The final chassis design thus has 20 percent lesser noise, 10 percent lower CPU and 6 percent reduced GPU temperatures. The beefy form factor is shaved off to reduce the overall volume by 40 percent without sacrificing the internal volume (25.2 liters) which is the same as the predecessor. The ultimate goal is of not being, “impeded by plastics” for optimized airflow.

The Aurora R16 measures just 16.5 inches tall compared to the 20 inches of the R15. Also, the single glowing LED Stadium light loop is a toned-down version of their previous builds. Although the swanky curves are gone, Alienware has retained the signature see-through plastic panel. On the brighter side, there’s much better cable management, and Alienware claims to have added large airflow vents on both front sides and top. This is assisted by the single 120mm intake behind. To keep things running smoothly with intense graphics processing, there’s the option of adding a 240mm liquid cooling radiator paired with 120mm fans on top.

Alienware Aurora R16 desktop is available in a standard version loaded with Intel AX210 Wi-Fi 6E, a 500W 80+ Platinum power supply and 12-phase voltage regulation, two memory card slots and two M.2 SSD slots for up to 64GB of DDR5-5600 RAM and up to 8TB of PCIe Gen 4 storage. As an option, you can also go for a 3.5mm spinning hard drive and an optional 1000W 80+ Platinum power supply. The price of the variant with 13^th Gen Intel Core i7 and GeForce RTX 4070 GPU is going to be $1,750. This is going to be cheaper than the $2,200 R15 for the same configuration, so a better deal in every aspect for power users.

The post Alienware shaves plastic weight off their new Aurora R16 Desktop for a sleeker look first appeared on Yanko Design.

Open-air COUGAR Cratus PC case – Duality of aesthetics and functionality at an eye-watering price

Posted on 14/04/2023 by Gaurav Sood

There are run-off-the-mill PC cases and then there is this exorbitantly priced gaming PC case by COUGAR Gaming. The PC component and peripherals brand incepted in 2007 by a bunch of passionate gamers has again broken the set norms for PC case design with something that you’ll either absolutely love or completely hate. Just like the alien-inspired one by AfterShock PC.

Meet the COUGAR Gaming Cratus, an open-air PC chassis with state-of-the-art cooling technology to keep even the most demanding processor, CPU or GPU at optimum temperature during extended runs of modern graphics and performance-intensive gaming titles. Available for $500 this one is sure not affordable, but the question remains – do you really need to spend that much on a premium PC case when you can add another $99 to grab the GeForce RTX 4070 GPU?

Designer: COUGAR Gaming

The case design alone is an eye-opener in its own right, designed like an inward-curved roll cage crafted out of a steel tube frame for incredible strength and stability. This openness is balanced with curved tempered glass panels on the front and side, lending the owner one the coolest view of a high-end functional PC in works.

That alone is not the USP though – according to COUGAR, the PC case boasts industry-first revolutionary innovation employing heat convection principles to orchestrate optimal thermal performance. This is achieved with the angled interior layout wherein the motherboard is angled slightly upwards. Therefore, the I/O is slightly higher than the board to direct the cyclical current of hot air rising and cool air falling for the best airflow a PC could get.

Cratus has support for nine fans if you want to invest in a high-end water-cooled setup, two 360mm radiators and a 280mm radiator on the front. You can load high-performance hardware including E-ATX motherboard, 460 mm graphics cards, two 3.5″ HDDs and three 2.5″ SSDs. On the top of the case is the customizable accented lightbar that goes all around and gives you the freedom for a built-in LED controller or in-built motherboard 5V aRGB connections for total integration with the PC’s other lighting setup.

No matter what internal components you opt for, the routing of cables will be clutter-free courtesy of the 45mm storage space in the hinged cover that’ll urge you to show off the unobstructed clean build. One thing to keep in mind though, the case comes barebones and doesn’t include any components like coolers or power supplies like the HZXT H1 which is priced at $350.

The post Open-air COUGAR Cratus PC case – Duality of aesthetics and functionality at an eye-watering price first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Toilet Has a Gaming PC Built Into Its Tank

Posted on 03/08/2022 by hite

Discontent with just bringing a portable gaming system like a Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch into the bathroom to play games while on the can, YouTuber Basically Homeless went and assembled a full-fledged gaming PC in the tank of his working toilet. He then mounted a monitor on the wall right in front of the toilet so he can play Counter-Strike while taking a global offensive. And they say dreams don’t come true!

The construction of the toilet PC basically involved reducing the tank’s water reservoir to a small well he built out of plexiglass, then adding all the computer components to the dry area of the tank outside the plexiglass well. He also added lights, built a window so you can see inside, and included an exhaust fan to keep the PC cool and reduce humidity inside the tank. Now he just needs to add a mini-fridge, and that bathroom will be complete.

So, if you were wondering what home improvement project I’ll be tackling this weekend, the answer is this: a gaming PC toilet. Probably immediately followed by repairing a massive leak, then next weekend, replacing the water-damaged drywall and carpet in the basement.

[via Kotaku]

Cooler Master builds a Sneaker-shaped PC case delivering raw computing power inside a shoe

Posted on 17/02/2022 by Gaurav Sood

Cooler Master has done the unthinkable this time. Going over and above its image of designing contemporary utility PC cases, the company for its 30th anniversary has created a very unusual case in the shape of a sneaker. Wait… what?

Called Sneaker X, this custom-designed case mod is developed after a design submitted by modder JMDF for the company’s Case Mod World Series in 2020. A perfect delight for the eyes, this PC case with all the LED lighting and computer innards will really appeal to all the sneakerheads out there irrespective of their Nike or Adidas bias.

Designer: Cooler Master

Breaking the bounds of a traditional PC form factor, the Sneaker X is a blistering entrant in the sneaker culture that every fan would want to flaunt. But sadly, this sneaker is not for the feet – instead, it’s for beefing up your blockchain, adventures in the metaverse, or maybe a safe journey in burning millions on a seemingly useless (crypto miners don’t get offended) NFT.

Cooler Master has shared little information about what the Sneaker X will be compatible with. Moreover, the images don’t do enough justice to explain the size of the case, which if we believe is in tune with the JMDF’s design, should be sizeable enough to accommodate all the fancy innards you have to throw at it. As Cooler Master gives out, the custom-designed case would be able to accommodate some of the high-end GPU and CPUs to maybe allow gamers, crypto-maniacs, or a sneakerhead in you to design the PC as you’d want. After all that geek adventure, you still have the immaculate shoe shining under the desk!

There are no details yet about how the Sneaker X will be priced, but it is going to go on pre-order in Q3 of 2022. For now, just stack it against the super sexy GeForce RTX 3080 powered sneakers by NZXT, and decide for yourself which one is cooler out of the two!

The post Cooler Master builds a Sneaker-shaped PC case delivering raw computing power inside a shoe first appeared on Yanko Design.

This sci-fi transparent PC case is a hypnotic symphony of beastly performance and killer looks

Posted on 21/09/2021 by Gaurav Sood

The visual intrigue of this sci-fi PC case is such that it promotes long hours of productive sitting at the desk sans any distractions. That’s how cool this futuristic machine looks and feels.

A desktop PC case is akin to a spoilt geek’s obsession that needs to look and function like the absolute best on the planet. Isn’t that what all we content creators long for? A computing machine that houses a monster performer on the inside and on the outside, looks absolutely badass to the core. Designer Alex Casabo gives me more than one reason to crave a PC case for my desktop setup that’s as geeky as his creation.

He calls it the Crystal PC Case Concept, and I wish it could adorn my desk one day. The USP with Alex’s design is the sublime combination of computing power with futuristic aesthetics that will escalate any workspace into a productive den. Such is the magnetic ambiance of the concept. All the internal components like the motherboard, RAM, GeForce RTX 3090 graphics card, SSD, etc. are immaculately arranged in a distinct pattern for a clean look. The four heat-dissipating fans – two on top and two on the rear – designed to operate with minimal noise without compromise in active airflow give the innards depth perception.

Keeping with the sci-fi theme of the PC, the designer includes a built-in display on the CPU to keep a check on temperature and clock speed. The Crystal PC Case in part attributes its namesake thanks to the crystal clear case covering with cut-out vents for airflow on the top and rear – in line with the fans. The matte back and gray color scheme is contrasted by the uber-cool blue, green, orange and red LED lights adorning the telemetry display, component indicators, and fan lighting. Just imagine how cool it will look with a blue and green bias light setup for the accompanying monitor in conjunction with color-changing LED lighting for the home office setup!

Designer: Alex Casabo

Lian Li’s Odyssey PC Case Looks Like a Yacht: Poseidon, Look at This

Posted on 12/01/2016 by Lambert Varias

Lian Li adds to its roster of unorthodox PC cases with the Odyssey, a limited edition yacht-themed aluminum chassis. Anything is indeed possible.

The Odyssey will come in white or silver. It measures about 29″x 12″x 10″ and has room for a mini-ITX motherboard, two 3.5″ drives, two 2.5″ drives and two 12″ GPUs. As you can see the mobo goes on the top level, the graphics cards go on the second level and the drives are mounted on the bottom level. The case will also come with a waterproof LED kit and a controller that goes into the rear of the case such that its knobs stick out for easy access.

Here’s Linus Tech Tips previewing the Odyssey at CES 2016:

Lian Li has yet to say how much the Odyssey will cost, just that it will be limited to 500 units and will be available this year.

[via Linus Tech Tips]

Jedi Star Destroyer PC: Hardware Wars

Posted on 31/12/2015 by Conner Flynn

We’ve seen our share of custom PC cases, but nothing quite as impressive as this Venator Class Star Destroyer. It is named YAZI and was created by asphiax as part of a modding contest by MSI. Contest? That’s no contest. This one wins everything.

This is no store-bought model either. Oh no. This Republic spaceship was built entirely from scratch, which is especially impressive when you look at the detail.

He first modeled the ship it in 3D, then made the pieces using aluminum for the main case parts. For the smaller components, he used a 3D printer, making sure that he got all of the details just right. It looks amazing, especially when fully lit.

[via Slashgear via Nerd Approved]

Lian-Li PC-TU300 Carry-on Luggage Tower: LAN Party-approved

Posted on 02/10/2015 by Lambert Varias

Lian-Li’s luggage-style PC-TU series PC cases have a rugged design and flip handle. The first two PC-TU models could fit only mini-ITX and mini-DTX motherboards, but the new PC-TU300 has enough room for mini-ATX and ATX boards. Not only that, Lian-Li is building on the series’ form with the TC-01, an optional trolley accessory for the PC-TU300.

Watch Lian-Li’s demo video for more on both the case and the trolley attachment:

According to Digital Trends the tower should be available this month. The PC-TU300A will cost $230 (USD) while the PC-TU300X will go for $250, though Lian-Li hasn’t revealed what the latter has to merit a higher price. The TC-01 also has no specific release date or price yet. Keep an eye on Lian-Li’s Facebook page for updates.

[via Digital Trends]

G-Pack Gaming PC Hides Behind HDTVs

Posted on 03/10/2014 by Lambert Varias

Many pre-assembled desktop machines are painted in bright colors and have even brighter lights coming out of them, clearly demanding to be displayed. But if you’d rather have a discreet PC and you’re okay with connecting it to an HDTV, the Piixl G-Pack might be what you’re looking for.

The G-Pack is meant to be sandwiched between a wall mount or stand and the HDTV itself. It can support HDTVs weighing up to about 220lb. and with a display between 37″ to 70″ diagonally, although it can work with a few 32″ HDTVs as well. As you can see its internal components are arranged in a relatively thin but wide rectangular chassis. Its buttons and ports are accessible via a retractable panel.

Piixl claims that the G-Pack’s cooling system is very quiet and won’t interfere with your HDTV’s own vents. The chassis supports practically all GPUs, as well as ITX motherboards and 4th Gen Intel CPUs.

Pledge at least $1,645 (USD) on Kickstarter to get a G-Pack PC. That’s the cheapest variant you can get; there are two higher tiers with beefier hardware. In addition, as a Kickstarter exclusive Piixl is offering the bare G-Pack chassis for custom PC builders, which can be obtained as a reward with a pledge of at least $445. You can find out more about the G-Pack on Piixl’s YouTube channel or on Trusted Reviews’ hands-on article.

[via Trusted Reviews]

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