Page 36 - Computer Power User - February 2017

Minerva

his month, as we have at CPU for many years now, we had on the project, during which he worked with wood, copper, old
to choose an overall winning mod from among the winners gauges, antique parts, and gears, along with potentiometers to
T of all of the mod contests we’ve judged at LANFest LAN control the fans and old switches to control the LED lighting.
party events around the country in 2016. The competition was “I built this system because I love building, creating, and
tough, and our top three contestants this time around wound up modding PCs,” Frost says. “I don’t like to adhere to any one
including one repeat Mad Reader Mod winner (the incomparable doctrine. By that, I mean that I don’t follow what is traditionally
Brian “Boddaker” Carter) and two modders who’ve never yet done. For example, the traditional square case. For my girlfriend
won a spot in the feature. and me, modding PCs is just another form of art, and it is all
Our final tallies showed the decision to be unanimous: about getting that artistic vision onto a canvas. In this case, it was
This year’s winner was Christian “hashtag pound sign” Frost’s a steampunk canvas. In addition, I just wanted to see if I could
steampunk-themed mod, Minerva. Frost got a lot of help on actually do everything my mind’s eye was seeing and for me the
this project from his girlfriend, Pixie Williams, and the two more difficult it is to accomplish, the more driven and determined
proudly showed off their work in September at CPULAN 2016 I am to make it all work. Yes, the PC does fill a particular purpose;
in Lincoln, Neb., where it was a similarly unanimous winner. it is my daily PC, but it has also become a great conversation piece
and, for us, artistically pleasing to look at.”
Goddess It’s safe to say they’re not alone; everyone who has seen this
Frost provides the briefest of explanations as to his mod’s piece has been blown away by it.
name, saying only that he and Williams “felt that the name “There are a lot of parts on this machine that are truly
captured the whole artistic side of the machine.” Fair enough, but unique—one of a kind,” Frost says. “We avidly shop antique
in Roman mythology, Minerva was the goddess of wisdom and stores for unique pieces to collect so we can incorporate a lot of
arts, among other things. This also fits the pair’s M.O. these rare finds into our projects. Finding old or rare items that
“It’s really hard to say exactly where the inspiration comes are left behind in old, abandoned farms or houses has become a
from,” Frost says. “In some cases it will be a visual incentive, beneficial hobby of sorts.”
sometimes a thought or feeling. My girlfriend and I have always
been very artistic, so the inspiration mostly comes from within.” The “Steam” In “Steampunk”
Unlike Minerva the goddess, Minerva the mod was not born As you can tell just by looking, this rig took a lot of hard
fully grown. Frost says he spent roughly three weeks working work to complete. Frost rewired his power supply so that

36 February2017 / www.computerpoweruser.com