Steampunk Frankenstein by Dana Mattocks

One heavy PC...

As I entered the finishing stages of this build in December 2008 I discovered a slight swaying movement in the frame caused by the tremendous load of all the brass and other hardware. I can only estimate that it all weights well over 180kg, so I immediately started work creating a strong welded base frame that would prevent any tipping or unwanted sway.

In the end a welded frame complete with clevis assemblies, 3/8in thick tab mounts and wheels was the answer. I incorporated a full dolly wheel system and 16 wheels so it can also be rotated. Moving this project from the garage to its final resting place next to my desk in the house took over half an hour and I had to remove several doors of their hinges to get the PC through openings and around corners. Thankfully my brother was able to give me a hand.

When the project neared completion a few months ago, I posted some pictures of it on the forums but with the optical drives still in their ugly black plastic state. This turned out to be a mistake and there was quite a bit of backlash with people complaining about them. Since then, I’ve modded both drives so they fit in with the Steampunk finish. I hope that those who were disappointed with me are happier with these final results.



Mounting the computer hardware seemed to take a great amount of time. After I’d installed everything, despite the Steampunk Frankenstein’s size, there was very little room left over to use. If you’ve dabbled with water-cooling, you’ll know that it can be quite expensive. This was certainly the case for me as I was using two loops each with a triple 120mm radiator, pump and numerous water blocks.

I’ve found the benefits of water cooling to be simply wonderful though. I love playing demanding games with my new computer and what’s more, the temperatures now maintained at near room temperature levels even during long periods of game play. I’m currently using two battery backup surge protectors to protect the system from the lightning storms that are regular occurrences here in Arizona.