For some, simply putting together a PC from off-the-shelf components isn't enough. The world of PC modding is a deep one. Born out of necessity to push hardware far past its intended use case, hardcore PC enthusiasts have formed intimate relationships with power tools, liquid nitrogen and other things that would make those new to building squirm a bit. For these enthusiasts, the best liquid cooler or best air cooler isn't enough. I consider myself to be pretty handy with hardware, but even I'm not brave enough to execute these 5 PC mods.
5 Sub-zero cooling
As cold as it gets
For most of us, a simple heatsink with copper heatpipes paired with a fan is more than enough to cool our CPUs. Those who want a little more thermal headroom will turn to bigger heatsinks or water coolers with big radiators, but for those who need the absolute coldest environment possible, phase-change cooling is required.
Phase-change cooling, or sub-zero cooling, is an extreme method of cooling your CPU that utilizes an evaporator and compressor system, similar to how your air conditioner or refrigerator function. The repeated cycle of compressing gas and condensing it can do more than just keep your room cold and your food fresh; when used and focused on a component like your CPU, temps can dive as low as -50 degrees Celcius.
Not only is it extremely expensive to run, it's also super impractical for 99% of PC enthusiasts. Phase change cooling is largely reserved for hardcore overclocking, and is often used to break records. Instead of using a dedicated compressor/condenser setup, competitive overclockers tend to rely on liquid nitrogen, which is another method of obtaining controlled temperatures deep into the negatives. When doing sub-zero cooling, you run the risk of developing condensation on the motherboard and CPU, which can result in dead hardware if not managed well.
4 Hardline custom water cooling
Skill and technique are required to pull this off
One of the best-looking PC mods one can make is going with a full custom hardline water cooling system. These builds, while they don't outright provide better cooling than a more conventional system would, do have a higher ceiling in terms of what they're capable of thermally. A custom water cooling system means you can choose the radiator capacity and type of coolant, which can absolutely affect performance.
Besides that, they're just gorgeous. Whether the liquid is clear or opaque, the tubes metal or plastic, the fittings chrome or matte, a hardline build is hard to beat if it's executed well. My personal favorite type is one with brushed copper for tubing. It's difficult to pull off, but maybe one day I'll attempt it.
3 Paint or powder-coating components
Really easy to mess up
While it's not as "hardcore" as some of the other items on this list, painting your PC components can be a time-consuming endeavor at best, and can kill your parts at worst. Taking apart your case to paint some accents on it can be easy enough, and perhaps even taking apart the shroud on your GPU, but improper painting can result in worse temperatures and even void your warranty, especially if the painting involves tearing down the component, which most times it does. Proceed with caution!
2 DIY sleeved cables
Looks great when done correctly
Putting custom colored sleeves on the cables in your PC requires great knowledge of the pinouts for ATX power supplies. Precision is required to cut and strip these cables, and this process can be incredibly time-consuming. Still, the result of a paracord-wrapped PSU cables can look really slick, and add an extra lick of color to your build. Pre-made kits are available depending on what power supply you have, which is a much easier route to take for most builders.
1 Submerged PCs
The most exotic type of enclosure
My personal favorite type of PC mod: the fully submerged PC. This type of build requires some kind of inert liquid (usually mineral oil) inside an enclosure, such as an aquarium. Since mineral oil isn't electrically conductive, you can submerge an entire PC in it, and the result is a fascinating way to cool your PC.
While mineral oil itself is cheap, it's extremely messy, and very easy to mess up. It's viscous, sticks to everything, and as soon as your parts come in contact with it, using them in any kind of dry build is sort of out of the question. Long-term maintenance is also a huge pain, but if you're as into the aquarium look as I am, the result is worth it.
I'm good with my very normal, non-extreme PC
While some PC mods came into existence in order to squeeze every drop of performance out of the components at hand, others are purely aesthetic, and the results of both can be quite stunning. I'm very happy with my conventional air-cooled PC, but perhaps one day I'll build enough courage to execute one of these PC mods.
