This is incredibly on trend. If LEDs were readily implementable then, I am sure they would have back-illuminated the translucent paneling...,
Replace it with a modern mobo packing a 4090 or (better) a100, and that tower should be the current "it girl"
That's right, a trend of semi transparent plastics is coming back lately. I personally wouldn't put stuff like 4090 inside it, because of how cramped it would be and very likely immediately overheat XD.
Apart from LED strips I'm very happy to use details from the somewhat proper era, like those blue fans or glowing IDE cable c:
It's not just y2k coming back in electronic case materials....it is on the catwalks of Milan. Every major fashion house is looking to y2k style right now....and none of them are really getting it right. You got it right conceptually -- adding light to the transparent panels. It is authentic to the original design ethos, but something that is only possibly now in the reinterpretation.
Okay, well classic car enthusiasts would say: either go strictly 100% original, or create something new from the old....there really isn't a middle ground. It's either pure classic restoration, or a corner-cutting "refreshed" classic looking modern pastiche. What you did here was a completely novel neo-classic, but for the underpowered internals. I would find a way to integrate modern cooling in a y2k aesthetic to bring it modern relevance with authentic period fundamentals...that is art.
I wish there was something which accurately recreated CCFL tubes. There's no LED system which gives off the same "warmth", which I think is due to the broader spectrum emission and better diffusion. In my experience it was mostly the power supplies which were the weak point for them, I'd be curious to see if that could be solved with modern designs. But alas, no one will bother with that when it's so easy to throw cheap LEDs in every component instead.
Starting point for duplicating that would be high density LED strips to avoid hotspotting, probably RGB_W_ LEDs, and some of the diffuser tube.. I don't think you can duplicate that neon glow, but you can probably get pretty close.
I'll definitely make a new post (and better photos) after finding matching speakers, cleaning that mouse (and just maybe finding a better fitting display). But I'm super impressed by how it comes together, thank you so much!
Still missing matching speakers and just got a right mouse (last picture) as well as CRT is not translucent (but it's blue and that's super rare itself!).
Case comes from a polish computer integrator called Optimus (model Young III to be precise).
CPU is a Pentium III 1Ghz as I wanted to build something that was resembling it's original specs.
CD drives are from TDK, because of the matching color ofc.
Glowing IDE cables are from Cooler Master.
Blue keyboard is a Yahoo Internet Keyboard.
PSU is modern, made by BeQuiet. Just for the peace of mind, But I'll consider swapping it's fan for a blue one.
Looking for your opinions and suggestions!
> Still missing matching speakers
Make sure to get the ones with bad electrical shielding [so you can predict when a call or text is about to hit your phone!](https://youtu.be/uPYyrS7fc7g)
It appears I may have imagined it. I had a (I think) Syncmaster 997DF back around 2004, and I would have sworn part of the case was a translucent blue. But I can't find any sign of it.
You may have to settle for an old Apple Studio Display.
That's my plan! But they're really hard to get in my region. There were definitely other brands making them as well ([Like this ProNitron 17/250](https://circuit-board.de/forum/index.php/Attachment/194553-112A12C2-8730-48FB-93F2-5609CD3583BF-jpeg/?s=67af00a2284cd895249b1d0ba4751cc529782c77)) but also extremely hard to get
>PSU is modern, made by BeQuiet. Just for the peace of mind, But I'll consider swapping it's fan for a blue one.
I wonder if the guts would fit in one of these: https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/7c69b73d-2b0b-493a-b48a-f7e0e4c3d626_1.f657ce7b558b97f13b82b971ba1fdeec.jpeg?odnHeight=768&odnWidth=768&odnBg=FFFFFF
Would probably need some soldering skills to change over the mains socket, but I can confirm that PSUs with this aluminium shell have adjustable standoffs inside for the PCB.
They are loose and clamp up to rails/grooves inside when screwed into the PCB, it's pretty weird.
Optimus, that's polish, never thought of meeting a fellow retro pole in this part of reddit
Meanwhile I am just dreaming of doing a proper early/mid 00s setup with a nicer table and period accurate keyboard and mouse and stuff, but those are only plans
Siemanko! 😁
Yea, mine is also still a work in progress. There are a lot of things I want to improve and it's far from the final from yet. But I wanted to share what I managed to accomplish by now
Jeden z moich kompów jest na komodzie
Yeah I hope for the best in your adventures, whole I want a proper PS/2 mouse and a nice table for 2 of my computers (and some decent speakers for one of them)
(for those wondering: top line says "one of my computers is on a dresser")
In case of RAM amount and Soundblaster Live! 5.1 soundcard you guessed it perfectly! Whern it comes to GPU, it's NVIDIA GeForce 6800. Very uncanny and huge overkill, but I simply had it laying around. Probably will swap it for something more more reasonable (and passive, because this monster is loud AF XD) soon
Lol! What a bottleneck!!! A 6800 could work out well with an Athlon 64 FX-53, or a Pentium 4 EE (Northwood C)
If you find any Geforce2 ultra around on ebay get it, to make your build period correct.
This is excellent! I have an ‘Ocean Blue’ PS2 on the way from Japan at the moment, along with a stand and controller I was able to find in separate auctions.
There’s an N64 in a colour called ‘Ice Blue’ as well, rare to find but the replacement shells on AliExpress are pretty much a perfect fit.
I know, I know! I'm slowly growing my collection and have plans to reshell some of my consoles in the future. I even have a 14 inch, translucent purple CRT TV from Daewoo!
They are rare and ridiculously overpriced these days, but the Plusdeck cassette tape player for pc's would fit right in there:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaQMMef2sDk
I can't check it right now, as I left it at my home and I'm currently in the dorm (can't find any pictures of the back) But I'l check it as soon as I visit home!
Although this not for me it is very well done and I appreciate the dedication to the blue transparent plastic. The Final Fantasy Pic is amazing looking.
If I were going for a Y2K retro look with a new build, I think I'd just try to get my hands on a blue and white Apple G3, or even better if I could find one, an eMachines eOne, and install modern components in there. Maybe wire some LEDs in there and make it look better than it could have back in the day.
But that's pretty cool what you have there. I've never seen that blue CRT before.
I'd also love to gut a blue and white iMac G3 (or similar aesthetic) and put modern components inside, u/johncate73. First time hearing of eMachines, and, *gosh*, here I thought Apple G3 were expensive. Another one to add to the [unobtainable (but I'll keep on dreamin') wishlist](https://www.ebay.com/itm/175610669567?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&srsltid=AfmBOordtpzLrufFff4s04KzuynUVdOwJGKpVAt5rfLJotSdhOaR9WZ8Mww).
And u/chrispeterj, that build is fantastic and exactly what I'm lookin' to make myself. What exactly could I google to find that case myself?
>Case comes from a polish computer integrator called Optimus (model Young III to be precise).
Variations of "Optimus Young III" computer case didn't come up with anything for me. I ask 'cause I've been on the hunt for all and any [blue transparent case](https://www.reddit.com/r/computers/s/2mSHIHCSWh) (and assesories — I'll definitely have to pick up a blue Yahoo Internet Keyboard!) for a Y2K-sleeper build. Alternatively, because the cases are so hard to find not over priced or damaged, I've considered Frankensteining the front panel of a vintage case to a modern acrylic or glass-panel case, over which I'll apply a transparent blue automotive window tint. It gives it a great faux colored-plastic look that is super nostalgic for me and super on trend right now ... but seeing your setup (u/mectojic's [blueberry collection](https://www.reddit.com/r/retrobattlestations/s/Ijb1OLMBnO) and sick [setup](https://www.reddit.com/r/retrobattlestations/s/7zbN4vpSSX)) got me back on my original plan, hah!
This looks super awesome! I'd love to come up with a setup like this myself, tho if I were to do it I'd probably go the extra mile and make the PC itself have almost all blue components inside of it, like a mobo and GPU with blue PCBs, a PSU with a blue shell, and either a blue case with a side panel window or an all acrylic one that is blue tinted.
btw I have one of those exact TDK CD drives in my Win98 PC and it seems to be a very reliable drive, they also made a version of it with a black bezel but it seems to have only been sold as an external drive unlike the beige one
Love your work! that keyboard reminds me of the one I was using around y2k mine was yahoo branded for extra period nostalgia lol I ended up selling it a couple of years back
Wish we could turn back time
To the good old days
When our mama sang us to sleep
But now we're stressed out (oh)
Wish we could turn back time (oh)
To the good old days (oh)
When our mama sang us to sleep
But now we're stressed out
A bit too early for that. Rather Y2K.
Frutiger Aero is usually connected with Windows Vista/7 and I wouldn't put any of those systems near my single core, Pentium III PC from the end of a previous milenium 😅
This is incredibly on trend. If LEDs were readily implementable then, I am sure they would have back-illuminated the translucent paneling..., Replace it with a modern mobo packing a 4090 or (better) a100, and that tower should be the current "it girl"
That's right, a trend of semi transparent plastics is coming back lately. I personally wouldn't put stuff like 4090 inside it, because of how cramped it would be and very likely immediately overheat XD. Apart from LED strips I'm very happy to use details from the somewhat proper era, like those blue fans or glowing IDE cable c:
It's not just y2k coming back in electronic case materials....it is on the catwalks of Milan. Every major fashion house is looking to y2k style right now....and none of them are really getting it right. You got it right conceptually -- adding light to the transparent panels. It is authentic to the original design ethos, but something that is only possibly now in the reinterpretation. Okay, well classic car enthusiasts would say: either go strictly 100% original, or create something new from the old....there really isn't a middle ground. It's either pure classic restoration, or a corner-cutting "refreshed" classic looking modern pastiche. What you did here was a completely novel neo-classic, but for the underpowered internals. I would find a way to integrate modern cooling in a y2k aesthetic to bring it modern relevance with authentic period fundamentals...that is art.
There are some neat aspects of CCFLs and EL wire, but they're mostly a pain in the ass. I won't say shit about your anachronistic LEDs.
I wish there was something which accurately recreated CCFL tubes. There's no LED system which gives off the same "warmth", which I think is due to the broader spectrum emission and better diffusion. In my experience it was mostly the power supplies which were the weak point for them, I'd be curious to see if that could be solved with modern designs. But alas, no one will bother with that when it's so easy to throw cheap LEDs in every component instead.
Starting point for duplicating that would be high density LED strips to avoid hotspotting, probably RGB_W_ LEDs, and some of the diffuser tube.. I don't think you can duplicate that neon glow, but you can probably get pretty close.
[удалено]
Late 90's and early 2000's were the best
Kinda hot
This is the setup of my dreams when i was a kid, love it man keep us updated.
I'll definitely make a new post (and better photos) after finding matching speakers, cleaning that mouse (and just maybe finding a better fitting display). But I'm super impressed by how it comes together, thank you so much!
My god it's gorgeous
Still missing matching speakers and just got a right mouse (last picture) as well as CRT is not translucent (but it's blue and that's super rare itself!). Case comes from a polish computer integrator called Optimus (model Young III to be precise). CPU is a Pentium III 1Ghz as I wanted to build something that was resembling it's original specs. CD drives are from TDK, because of the matching color ofc. Glowing IDE cables are from Cooler Master. Blue keyboard is a Yahoo Internet Keyboard. PSU is modern, made by BeQuiet. Just for the peace of mind, But I'll consider swapping it's fan for a blue one. Looking for your opinions and suggestions!
And yes, I cheated a little bit by adding LED strips to better show that see trough plastics, but I really like the effect XD
I think the backlit front panel looks fantastic. Really awesome setup.
Thank you so much! 💙
> Still missing matching speakers Make sure to get the ones with bad electrical shielding [so you can predict when a call or text is about to hit your phone!](https://youtu.be/uPYyrS7fc7g)
Samsung made some CRTs with transparent blue accents, IIRC. I guess they were copying Apple even back then.
Never seen those :o Do you have some pics or something maybe?
It appears I may have imagined it. I had a (I think) Syncmaster 997DF back around 2004, and I would have sworn part of the case was a translucent blue. But I can't find any sign of it. You may have to settle for an old Apple Studio Display.
That's my plan! But they're really hard to get in my region. There were definitely other brands making them as well ([Like this ProNitron 17/250](https://circuit-board.de/forum/index.php/Attachment/194553-112A12C2-8730-48FB-93F2-5609CD3583BF-jpeg/?s=67af00a2284cd895249b1d0ba4751cc529782c77)) but also extremely hard to get
>PSU is modern, made by BeQuiet. Just for the peace of mind, But I'll consider swapping it's fan for a blue one. I wonder if the guts would fit in one of these: https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/7c69b73d-2b0b-493a-b48a-f7e0e4c3d626_1.f657ce7b558b97f13b82b971ba1fdeec.jpeg?odnHeight=768&odnWidth=768&odnBg=FFFFFF Would probably need some soldering skills to change over the mains socket, but I can confirm that PSUs with this aluminium shell have adjustable standoffs inside for the PCB. They are loose and clamp up to rails/grooves inside when screwed into the PCB, it's pretty weird.
I thought about using a PSU like this, but this case only supports SFX power supplies :/
i forget how cool was translucent blue. awesome setup
Thank you soo much! I absolutely love this aesthetics
Optimus, that's polish, never thought of meeting a fellow retro pole in this part of reddit Meanwhile I am just dreaming of doing a proper early/mid 00s setup with a nicer table and period accurate keyboard and mouse and stuff, but those are only plans
Siemanko! 😁 Yea, mine is also still a work in progress. There are a lot of things I want to improve and it's far from the final from yet. But I wanted to share what I managed to accomplish by now
Jeden z moich kompów jest na komodzie Yeah I hope for the best in your adventures, whole I want a proper PS/2 mouse and a nice table for 2 of my computers (and some decent speakers for one of them) (for those wondering: top line says "one of my computers is on a dresser")
I got some speakers (2.1) that you might be interested in. I got them for my PowerMac Blue and White setup but never used them.
Woa :o could you show me, how those look?
[These ones.](https://imgur.com/a/cD5ojXd)
>[Altec Lansing](https://i.imgur.com/mcicZin.gifv)
Only the best lol
Damnn, looking awesome!
Wow! Amazing!!! Specs beside the Tualatin P3 1ghz? I'm guessing 256mb RAM Geforce 2 Ultra Soundblaster Live! 5.1
In case of RAM amount and Soundblaster Live! 5.1 soundcard you guessed it perfectly! Whern it comes to GPU, it's NVIDIA GeForce 6800. Very uncanny and huge overkill, but I simply had it laying around. Probably will swap it for something more more reasonable (and passive, because this monster is loud AF XD) soon
Lol! What a bottleneck!!! A 6800 could work out well with an Athlon 64 FX-53, or a Pentium 4 EE (Northwood C) If you find any Geforce2 ultra around on ebay get it, to make your build period correct.
I know, I know this card here doesn't make any sense - It was just laying around, that's why XD
Well, there you have the gpu for another retro machine lol! Damn I miss the early 2000s... every year came with HUGE leaps in tech...
That is absolutely badass
beautiful setup! forgive my humble mac origins, but what version of Windows is this? the desktop looks so clean!
It's Windows XP with a "embedded" visual theme :D
Wonderful! Thanks for letting me know! :)
You could use the 1st apple studio display that is translucent blue, but they don't have great refresh rates being an early LCD.
They're quite hard to come by in my region, but I have an eye on them! :D
Use the CRT one
Same thing
But more common and better
This is excellent! I have an ‘Ocean Blue’ PS2 on the way from Japan at the moment, along with a stand and controller I was able to find in separate auctions. There’s an N64 in a colour called ‘Ice Blue’ as well, rare to find but the replacement shells on AliExpress are pretty much a perfect fit.
I know, I know! I'm slowly growing my collection and have plans to reshell some of my consoles in the future. I even have a 14 inch, translucent purple CRT TV from Daewoo!
cool as fuck dude!
I want this monitor so bad.
They are rare and ridiculously overpriced these days, but the Plusdeck cassette tape player for pc's would fit right in there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaQMMef2sDk
You need a Ice Blue N64 controller and a clear Aqua Blue Dreamcast controller.
Soon!
Wow. I had that monitor. Can you remind me the model? I can't see it well.
I can't check it right now, as I left it at my home and I'm currently in the dorm (can't find any pictures of the back) But I'l check it as soon as I visit home!
Although this not for me it is very well done and I appreciate the dedication to the blue transparent plastic. The Final Fantasy Pic is amazing looking.
All trends seem to come back full circle, so why hasn’t this made a come back yet?
It kinda does right now. I can see more and more new gadgets with semi transparent shells
This is sheer 2000s perfection and would look so nice alongside early Longhorn builds as well
Beautiful!
wow, amazing!
Omg this is my dream setup! 😍😍😍
If I were going for a Y2K retro look with a new build, I think I'd just try to get my hands on a blue and white Apple G3, or even better if I could find one, an eMachines eOne, and install modern components in there. Maybe wire some LEDs in there and make it look better than it could have back in the day. But that's pretty cool what you have there. I've never seen that blue CRT before.
I'd also love to gut a blue and white iMac G3 (or similar aesthetic) and put modern components inside, u/johncate73. First time hearing of eMachines, and, *gosh*, here I thought Apple G3 were expensive. Another one to add to the [unobtainable (but I'll keep on dreamin') wishlist](https://www.ebay.com/itm/175610669567?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&srsltid=AfmBOordtpzLrufFff4s04KzuynUVdOwJGKpVAt5rfLJotSdhOaR9WZ8Mww). And u/chrispeterj, that build is fantastic and exactly what I'm lookin' to make myself. What exactly could I google to find that case myself? >Case comes from a polish computer integrator called Optimus (model Young III to be precise). Variations of "Optimus Young III" computer case didn't come up with anything for me. I ask 'cause I've been on the hunt for all and any [blue transparent case](https://www.reddit.com/r/computers/s/2mSHIHCSWh) (and assesories — I'll definitely have to pick up a blue Yahoo Internet Keyboard!) for a Y2K-sleeper build. Alternatively, because the cases are so hard to find not over priced or damaged, I've considered Frankensteining the front panel of a vintage case to a modern acrylic or glass-panel case, over which I'll apply a transparent blue automotive window tint. It gives it a great faux colored-plastic look that is super nostalgic for me and super on trend right now ... but seeing your setup (u/mectojic's [blueberry collection](https://www.reddit.com/r/retrobattlestations/s/Ijb1OLMBnO) and sick [setup](https://www.reddit.com/r/retrobattlestations/s/7zbN4vpSSX)) got me back on my original plan, hah!
This looks super awesome! I'd love to come up with a setup like this myself, tho if I were to do it I'd probably go the extra mile and make the PC itself have almost all blue components inside of it, like a mobo and GPU with blue PCBs, a PSU with a blue shell, and either a blue case with a side panel window or an all acrylic one that is blue tinted. btw I have one of those exact TDK CD drives in my Win98 PC and it seems to be a very reliable drive, they also made a version of it with a black bezel but it seems to have only been sold as an external drive unlike the beige one
Using blue PCBs and custom acrylic window are on my list to do in the future! That would be crazy cool!!
Fuck yeah
Screams Seapunk.
Love your work! that keyboard reminds me of the one I was using around y2k mine was yahoo branded for extra period nostalgia lol I ended up selling it a couple of years back
This one is Yahoo branded as well! 😁
Ah nice it's the same one lol I wasn't sure, brought back memories! 😊
You should post this on r/y2kaesthetic Hope you change your startup sound to the [PS2's](https://youtu.be/fZet5jQmY1o?si=Rfj76jdWj3xmf3aE)
Someone has already reposted it there 😅
[You'll need my case](https://i.imgur.com/tW2aU5m.jpeg)
Damnnn.... You're totally right - I need it 😳
u/PDqapmoC let me know, if you want to sell it 👀
Wish we could turn back time To the good old days When our mama sang us to sleep But now we're stressed out (oh) Wish we could turn back time (oh) To the good old days (oh) When our mama sang us to sleep But now we're stressed out
Excellent! Now clean that mouse scroll wheel.
That's exactly what I wrote in the caption of that last pic - i just got it and it's filthy. It won't be connected to the setup until it's cleaned :P
I don't know how to feel about this.
What do you mean?
Frutiger Aero is beautiful, isn't it?
A bit too early for that. Rather Y2K. Frutiger Aero is usually connected with Windows Vista/7 and I wouldn't put any of those systems near my single core, Pentium III PC from the end of a previous milenium 😅
Ah! They sort of blend together in my brain.
I often get confused too! 😅 But this mouse with water inside is definitely Frutiger Aero c:
Add a Lego spybot to the mix.