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Summary
YouTuber built a functioning cardboard PC case that handled CS2 without thermal throttling.
It required precise mounting, custom switches, and surprisingly sturdy transit performance.
Making it required a $300,000 industrial CNC, so it’s not exactly a cheap DIY alternative.
Cases are in a strange place with PC builds. Technically, it’s a good idea to get one; it keeps your hardware from getting dusty and dirty, promotes airflow, and just looks really cool at times. However, you don’t need a PC case to get a computer running, which begs the question: how far can you skimp on the materials before a PC case becomes more of a hassle than a help?
If you’ve ever wondered what it’d be like to make a PC case using cardboard, one YouTuber has achieved just that, and it actually works pretty well. However, if you’re hoping for a way to save money on your next PC build, you may be out of luck.
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This cardboard PC case required a $300,000 piece of tech to make
Buying a regular one doesn’t seem so bad now
As spotted by Hackaday, this cool project was the idea of mryeester on YouTube. Mryeester noticed that people were making some pretty scuffed-looking cardboard cases, so they sought to find one that actually looks good and works well. To achieve this, they sent off the plans to someone who goes by the Cardboard Wizard, who then used a $300,000 Kongsberg C64 industrial CNC machine to make the case. Okay, so we haven’t seen it put together, and it already needs a lot of money to make. Great.
Getting all the hardware mounted on the cardboard required some smart drilling and screws, and they even spent some time creating a secret turn-on sequence that requires pressing nine mechanical switches in the right order. Once everything was built, the cardboard case did a surprisingly good job; it was sturdy during transit, and the hardware didn’t thermal throttle while playing Counter-Strike 2. So, there you have it; if you have a spare $300,000 Kongsberg C64 industrial CNC machine sitting around, now you have a cool way to put it to good use.
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