Master Cooler Case Mod World Series returns in 2024and the winners have just been announced in two categories – Tower Mod of the Year and Scratch Build of the Year. There are some exhilarating compilations out there this year, not to mention some confusing ones.
With Cooler Master’s tagline “Make It Yours” lighting the way, PC modders around the world are encouraged to innovate in ways we humble PC gamers can only imagine in a fever dream. Created by the best of the best, I’ve collected three of the best from each category below to show what the best PC modders are capable of today.
So if you’re up for fun tower modifications and intricate scratch-builds, this year’s entrants truly outdid themselves with stunning wooden crates and RoboCop droid designs.
Surprisingly, there’s a noticeable lack of Cyberpunk projects this year, which makes me ecstatic. One of the winners even exemplifies my favorite sci-fi aesthetic: retrofuturism, so maybe we’re finally moving away from neon cooling loops and jagged urban seat belts.
Scratch Build of the Year Awards
Picture 1 With 2
First place in the Scratch Builds category Kuan Sheng Wu’s wooden structure Scratch Builds from GS Studio “celebrates Taiwan’s natural resources.” The project, called Taiwan Five Timber, requires minimal exploit of plastic. It includes five different types of wood, all significant to Taiwan’s cultural heritage: Taiwan incense cedar, Taiwan red cypress, camphor, Taiwan fir and Taiwan cypress. The idea is to take us on a “time-travel that connects us with Taiwan’s multi-faceted history.” This is a reference to the influence of the Dutch and Japanese colonial periods, as well as classic Chinese window designs and honoring established folk crafts.
It’s such a attractive structure, although it took me a while to realize that the tank was meant to mimic the shape of Taiwan. When I look at Taiwan on a world map, I now cannot unsee some internal organ.
However, this does not diminish the incredible craftsmanship.
Picture 1 With 2
Secondly, Stefan from Random Design surprised us with a wonderfully rounded mech-looking design called ED-209, based on RoboCop’s Enforcement droid. By placing the graphics card on the back, Stefan managed to make its two fans look like an engine cooling system without blocking them. The AIO radiator pipes and radiator are integrated together to look like part of the droid’s exhaust system.
Amazingly, the design is fully modular, meaning the head and legs can be detached for ease of transport and subsequent design changes. Each part was cast in a silicone mold with a mixture of resin and aluminum powder to make the metal elements look as realistic as possible. I think he hit the mark in terms of realism after parched brushing in the oil and dirt marks, and the droid is also a lot bigger than I expected, as you can see from Stefan standing next to him in the photo. I’m not sure if it’s some sort of Gandalf camera trick, but this thing looks huge – I’m not sure what I expected with today’s graphics card sizes.
Picture 1 With 2
Third place is equally crazy, as Niklas Forsberg of Webhallen makes the W frame. This is an example of the extreme customization available for water-cooled systems that “shows off the components in a very dramatic way”, i.e. a giant W. I assume the W stands for Webhallen.
The idea is “not to hide cables or tubes, but instead highlight them within the main structure of the frame.” It’s a clever way to let those attractive pipe curves take center stage without getting in the way of other elements, while still representing the design collective.
Tower Mod of the Year Awards
Picture 1 With 2
When it comes to the Tower Mod category, we’re looking at no less impressive feats. First of all, Explore Modding RETROFUTURE – yes, it needs to be shouted – aims to be “an interactive sci-fi machine where every time you look at it you can find a cool new detail.” Using the Cooler Master Qube 500 Flatpack PC Case as a base, it pays homage to retrofuturism with features that emulate design principles from the 1960s and 1970s.
It retains the original Cooler Master case handles, as well as the circular grilles/vents for accessories and modules, and blends them into the design as they are vital to “the overall functionality and design identity of this case.” It’s a fascinating design, full of science fiction intrigue, featuring tiny screens on the front and a minuscule model of Venus embedded in a sphere on the front. Why? Because it’s nippy, that’s why.
Picture 1 With 2
Tim Malmborg of Timpelay takes second place in the Tower Mods competition with his Project-STAGE, which, to be straightforward, looks like some sort of transforming boombox drone. It was designed around Masterframe 700 testbench, although it has been completely rebuilt using original parts.
He even mounted a Samsung Freestyle FullHD projector on the back, so it’s not just a desktop computer, but almost a complete set in itself. Not to mention the three sets of Ground Zero stereo speakers mounted on either side of the main frame instead of the cooling wings that made the base frame rock.
Picture 1 With 2
BOX 37 is the third design by Rúben Ferreira, which is characterized by an “extension of the cross-section of the case at the front” as well as a mechanism to raise the GPU cooler to provide it with access to cooler air from the outside.
Basically, the GPU sits on top like a giant antenna-like device with hexagonal holes. It has some amazing 3D printed features and a fantastic on/off switch.
