ririgg of the monthADVENTURES IN PC MODIFICATION Sponsored by
120 MAXIMUMPC DECEMBER 2006
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is not affiliated with the companies or products covered in Maximum PC. PRODUCED
AND PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.KENNETH KIRBY’S
Hard Drive PC
W
e’ve got so many pieces
of obsolete or nonfunc-
tional hardware lying around the
Maximum PC Lab that we some-
times lose an editor amid all the
clutter (we might as well admit
it: Josh didn’t really quit). So we
take vicarious pleasure in any
project that makes practical use
of old PC parts.
Kenneth Kirby had only five
dead drives when he conceived of
the HD PC, but after paying a visit
to his former college instructor
of PC repair, he had more drives
than he needed to cover a case in
shiny platters.For his winning entry, Kenneth Kirby wins a $500
gift certifi cate for TigerDirect to fund his modding
madness! See all the hardware deals at http://www.tiger
direct.com, and turn to page 116 for contest rules.For his winning entry, Kenneth Kirby wins a $500
gift certifi cate for TigerDirect to fund his modding
madness! See all the hardware deals at http://www.tiger
direct.com, and turn to page 116 for contest rules.Sadly, the platters don’t spin when the rig is
powered. Kirby didn’t think to do that until after
the case was built, at which point it would have
meant starting over.Since building the HD PC, Kirby has made a
case entirely out of motherboards. Next up,
a PSU-encrusted enclosure.There are 18 drives in all; fully
loaded, the rig weighs 32 pounds.Kirby fi rst screwed the drives to a
sheet of mesh, and then bolted the
mesh to the shell of a Micro ATX
case. He then constructed a steel
and Plexiglass frame to fi t around
the structure and to keep the drive
platters clean and protected.Access to the interior is only possible
through the back, so Kirby keeps his tin-
kering to a bare minimum.Hard Drive PC
tional hardware lying around the
Maximum PC Lab that we some-
times lose an editor amid all the
clutter (we might as well admit
it: Josh didn’t really quit). So weproject that makes practical useKenneth Kirby had only five
dead drives when he conceived of
the HD PC, but after paying a visit
to his former college instructor
of PC repair, he had more drives
than he needed to cover a case inThere are 18 drives in all; fully
loaded, the rig weighs 32 pounds.Kirby fi rst screwed the drives to a
sheet of mesh, and then bolted the
mesh to the shell of a Micro ATX
case. He then constructed a steel
and Plexiglass frame to fi t around
the structure and to keep the drive
platters clean and protected.