Contest #2 - "Ugliest Case" - Sponsored by Thermaltake

[Rob Williams]

It's Techgage's Birthday, so it's only fitting to give away some free stuff! Throughout the month we will be unveiling new contests, so stay tuned to our official contest page (http://techgage.com/article/techgage_2_year_birthday_contest).

We want to see the very worst of the worst computer cases currently in use. Whether you’ve botched a case mod and never repaired it, or your case has survived a fall off its desk, or it’s held together with duct tape, or else it’s just mind-numbingly bland, we want to know why we should give you a shiny new silver Thermaltake Armor case.

Post your photo entries in the contest thread for all to see, with a maximum of two entries per entrant. Then we’ll narrow the entries down to five finalists, and randomly select one of those five as the contest winner. More details can be found at the bottom of the page.

Prize

The winner of this contest will win a gorgeous silver Armor case from Thermaltake. Included are 11 5.25" drive bays, plenty of fans, blue LEDs and a built-in drive bay accessory box. You can read a lot more about the case and see our evaluations in our review here (http://techgage.com/article/thermaltake_armor_va8000b/).

http://deathspawner.net/guess_the_game/ttarmor.jpg

Contest Details
Enter before 12:00AM, March 31, 2007
Contest open to visitors in Canada and USA (Sorry Europe and others)
‘Ugly’ cases can include damaged cases, botched case mods, ‘ghetto’-rigged cases, or goofy/ugly stock cases.
Only photo entries accepted (Can be uploaded via forum)
No more than two entries per entrant: If you have more than two ugly cases, you can only enter two in this contest.
This must be a case that you own. If the case belongs to a friend, then get them to enter the contest, or sell you their ugly case.
Images must be no larger than 1024x768 pixels, and in .jpg, or .png format. Conversely, the image needs to be large enough that we can see what it’s a photo of. (Please no webcam shots)
No more than 4 photos per entrant (not 4 per entry, but per entrant).
Five (5) finalists will be judged by Techgage staff
Contest winner will be selected at random from five finalists
The prize will be shipped within five business days of the end of the contest.
No one likes a sore loser – if you don’t win, don’t complain. We’ll delete forum posts that complain after-the-fact about the contest rules or the way judging was handled. We know ugliness can be a subjective thing, but it’s our contest, and we can do what we want.
Forum membership is required for verification of e-mail address and contest entry submission. You will never receive e-mails from our forums.
Void where prohibited; residents of Canada may be required to answer a simple math question.
No Bull Policy: Don’t muck around with us when it comes to these contest rules, or you’ll be disqualified. We’re dead serious about this. It’s our contest, and we can do what we want.

Post your entries in THIS thread. Only entries posted in this thread will be considered. Good luck to all who enter!

[Sapientun]

Well this is the ugliest case in my house:

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8074/homecomputer0301ai2.th.jpg (http://img443.imageshack.us/my.php?image=homecomputer0301ai2.jpg)

Come on, you guys can surely beat that! :p

[DarkSynergy]

What be the specs on that beige beast you have there?

[Enigmachine]

Finally a contest worthy of my godlike modding skillz! :)

Here's my current masterpiece: Worst Case scenario!
From the back:
http://enigmachine.com/images/WorstCaseScenario-back.jpg

and the front (woohoo, sex-ay!):
http://enigmachine.com/images/WorstCaseScenario-front.jpg

Personally I think it looks a bit like Johnny #5 on some sort of impressionistic drugs. :)

It runs Ubuntu 6.10, Edgy Eft, isn't it adorable?

It actually started life out as this, but my cat proved that design unreliable...
http://enigmachine.com/images/temporaire/HotGlueCase.jpg

Cats are such great engineers... Not to mention how much fun their static-electricity-powered fur is in there :)

[Rob Williams]

Holy shit.

[werty316]

http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c312/werty316/Misc/th_DSC02287.jpg (http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c312/werty316/Misc/DSC02287.jpg) http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c312/werty316/Misc/th_DSC02296.jpg (http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c312/werty316/Misc/DSC02296.jpg)

As you can see, modding using your fist doesn't quite work.

What is visible: front panel is cracked.

What is not really visible: top cover has a warped shape from hand clubing, the two side speaker covers are bent in due to oh so many punches, and the open space where a ROM and floppy drive should be are in heaven because they broke themselves ah ha ha.

All of this is due to a frustration of how slow this thing is.

For my second entry, I have a special case mod I did when I was in college and you all will love it.

[Sapientun]

What be the specs on that beige beast you have there?
It's so old I have no idea lol
I think it's a Pentium 133 mhz? or worse? X_X It's still kicking well for playing some old DOS games (say Ultima 7 wheee!)

[CoolAlex]

burned case from my schools' basement:

[madmat]

Alex, I hardly think that a burned out PC from your school qualifies. I'll let Rob make the call on that but you might want to try something a bit more yours.

[Rory Buszka]

This must be a case that you own. If the case belongs to a friend, then get them to enter the contest, or sell you their ugly case.


@Coolalex -- if that case is yours, then, cool. If you can lay your hands on that burned-out case, that's also cool. But if it's not your case, it can't win the contest.

[(cf)Eclipse]

*shrug*

might as well enter, i've had some amusing designs in my time :confused:

http://www.eclipseoc.com/image/ghetto/cold-setup.jpg



built a case and added some much needed cardboard :D
http://www.eclipseoc.com/image/DSCF5870.jpg

[madmat]

Read the rules (cf)Eclipse, "No more than 4 photos per entrant (not 4 per entry, but per entrant)." and "No more than two entries per entrant: If you have more than two ugly cases, you can only enter two in this contest."

You'll need to cull through those and pick the ones to keep so that you're within the rules.

[the_dope_chaud]

hey y'all
I heard of this contest and thought I had the perfect entry...
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/594/photo022zo8.th.jpg (http://img162.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo022zo8.jpg)
I only have this picture for now but rest assured I've got my other three coming up. And If I understand correct, we can have 2 entries so my labor of love AM2 sytem might participate to show its ugly face. Its in a black standard case, yet the insides beg too be shown. By the way in the cardboard box is a Pentium 3 866 with a geforce 2 gts, 512 megs of pc-133 and a 80 gig WD hdd.


so here goes:
this is the inside of my carboard box
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/7348/photo011vb8.th.jpg (http://img253.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo011vb8.jpg)

and this is my regular, everyday rig.
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/6151/photo002hz9.th.jpg (http://img337.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo002hz9.jpg)

as you can see, I've spent some time and money on my baby, and the only place I cheaped out is the case...
its an antec slk3000b, standard black tower. I would love a case with a side window, and as you can see, I already have cold cathodes and led fans to turn this mother out!!!

*update-I now have my final picture- here it is...

http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/3148/photo020sf3.th.jpg (http://img453.imageshack.us/my.php?image=photo020sf3.jpg)

[the_dope_chaud]

btw, my rig is:
asus m2n-e mobo
3800+x2 AM2 @ 2.4
2 gig kingston 533 ddr2
asus 6600 (bfg 7600gt oc coming from ncix)
WD 160gig sata2 +WD 40 gig backup IDE

[Rory Buszka]

I moved some posts from this thread to the discussion thread, in order to clean up this thread.

[tomato]

Here's a case from my computer graveyard :p :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/rogue_tomato/oldcase02.jpg

Wow, that brings back memories :o

[moon111]

This case is indeed currently in use. It's been modified unlike any case mod I've seen so far. Functionality was put way above aesthetics. Basicly a piece of ¼" plywood was cut and fitted to a thread rod going through the case. When weight is applied to the back, this releases the trap door. An old floor vent was added more for getting light inside then air. Don't need to be getting bite by a hidden black squirrel. Currently I'm rethinking the trigger mechanism.

Being a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, not only was I just bugged about the shoot-out loss to Montreal, but knowing that I was a computer buff, this Hab's fan just had to show off his brand new... Thermaltake Armour! If the Leafs are the ones to make the playoffs and I were to win this contest... that would be the ultimate last laugh.


Case currently in use -check.
Entered before deadline - check.
Canadian entry - check
Damaged, botched, goofy, ghetto-rigged and just plain ugly - check, check, check, check, and check.
Photo entry -check
One entry - check
4 images resized to 300 x 225 - check
Calculator ready in case math question is involved. -check.
Techgage can do what they want - check.

[the_dope_chaud]

nice case, but I have a question:
if I understand right, this is an animal trap? Or a fonctional computer? I dont really get it....

[Rory Buszka]

I think it's for catching varmints.

[werty316]

This is what happens when computer meets plow; you gotta love those college days huh.

http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c312/werty316/Misc/th_58a8fd03.jpg (http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c312/werty316/Misc/58a8fd03.jpg) http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c312/werty316/Misc/th_ccf59043.jpg (http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c312/werty316/Misc/ccf59043.jpg)

[moon111]

nice case, but I have a question:
if I understand right, this is an animal trap? Or a fonctional computer? I dont really get it....

It's a fonctional computer. :rolleyes:

[truman]

lol here is my lil p2 333 slackware box hehe nice case. The magic to turn this comp on is.... .... .... .... a Knife and the little Blue Disket tray between the 2 hard drive I LOVE IT !

Codename: Slackbox

[cooldude1561]

i think i have a good one
heres mine
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/2849/cimg2005ay7.jpg
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9990/cimg2014sd9.jpg
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/953/cimg2016hm5.jpg
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3366/cimg2018sh8.jpg

[slugbug]

Here's my first entry. An old school Baby AT Case with one piece cover.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b167/slugbug55/Picture017.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b167/slugbug55/Picture018.jpg

[slugbug]

Check out the custom ventilation holes on the top of the case.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b167/slugbug55/Picture019.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b167/slugbug55/Picture020.jpg

[RaM]

I know it's a bit of a long shot, but I think this is one of the most boring cases still in use. My son certainly agrees. The real beauty of it isn't on the outside, though. Check out the fan that looks like a north bridge fan. It's my CPU fan... Intel 1GHZ from the mid to late 90's. Some of you guys beat me by far on that, but the sad part is it's still my only system. With 512 Megs of mind-bendingly fast PC133 SDR SDRAM and only the largest dual 30 gig hard-drives available, this is my uber gaming machine :cool:

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/3141/img4902np7.th.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img4902np7.jpg)

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/3569/img4904sm0.th.jpg (http://img261.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img4904sm0.jpg)

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/121/img4909ce3.th.jpg (http://img261.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img4909ce3.jpg)
Just to give you some perspective on my brilliantly efficient CPU fan

[MakubeX]

That's right...

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/Makubex_GB/28b8c78a.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/Makubex_GB/0170dc63.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/Makubex_GB/098c08a7.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/Makubex_GB/29be5fcc.jpg