Staff – September 25, 2018 at 8:57 AM
Everything is upgradeable if you have enough confidence (and the right tools), but you usually don't need guts to take on a gaming rig. Gaming rigs and desktops, in general, are designed with upgradeability in mind: Just about every component can be easily swapped out as technology (or your budget) improves.
But there's one component that's a hassle (at best) and practically impossible (at worst) to replace, and it's a big, visible one: The case. You're basically stuck with the case you picked out when you first built your system — unimpressive aesthetics, cramped disk bays, impractical welds, and all — until you muster up the energy to gut your tower and rebuild from scratch.
Unless you go for an entirely different case in the first place.
Enter: Case Builder, a brand-new modular case system from boutique PC-maker iBUYPOWER. The Case Builder, which just started shipping in August, is fully customizable — front panel, side panels, handles, feet, lighting, and up to seven custom-placed fans — and each module can be upgraded or replaced as needed. It's not breakthrough technology, but a robust modular case system that can stay updated on chassis trends definitely has potential.
At the moment, the only way to get your hands on a Case Builder case is to build an iBUYPOWER system — prices start at $1,199 for an Intel Core i5-8600K processor. The first step of the building process is customizing the case for the exact aesthetics of your choice: a 90-degree motherboard, numbers and sizes of fans, or tempered glass side panels are some of your available options.
Those customization options are just the beginning — more options will be available before the end of the year, according to Brad Soken, a product marketing manager at iBUYPOWER. "We wanted to launch with options for each module," Soken explained in a phone interview. "But we already have a couple of announcements planned." When the new and replacement modules hit iBUYPOWER's store they'll be reasonably-priced, Soken assured. "Ten, maybe $20, plus shipping," Soken said. "This isn't about making money, it's about offering that extra customization."
Eventually, the company wants to add its Snowblind panel to the mix and plans to showcase it at CES. The Snowblind panel is a translucent LCD screen that replaces the component side panel and is customizable via software. The main appeal of this feature is the flashy aesthetic, designed to be unique-looking amongst its peers.
Case Builder is an interesting concept, and it's perfect for the customization-happy DIYer who's not quite ready to break out a soldering iron.
