PC Modders Envision the ‘Future of Innovation’

Three Imaginative Designers Bring their Themes to Life for Top Honors in the Intel® PC Mod Level-up Challenge

A scenic winter lake, a butterfly-winged dragon, and sci-fi fandom were the winning conceptualizations in the 2022 Intel® PC Mod Level-up Challenge, a contest for custom PC case designers hosted by Intel® Insiders Hub. The theme for this latest Challenge was: “Future of Innovation.”

Out of the 37 design ideas that were submitted in the preliminary round of the Challenge, judges in December selected seven finalists to move forward. Those seven competing modders each received a basic white case and a hardware bundle that featured the 12th Generation Intel® Core™ i9-12900K processor. Finalists then had up to six weeks to construct a working PC mod based on the designs they submitted. All seven finalists got to keep the PC they built.

Finished projects were judged on a range of qualities, including:
• Creativity and/or inspiration
• Technical skill and craftsmanship
• Difficulty
• Prominent use of Intel® technology in the build

The top three Challenge winners are as follows:

First place, Craig Ferrie, “Connected,” designed thematically to reflect a wintertime image of an alpine lake. Its color palette rises from dark to light, like the lake itself. Using custom-coded Alexa commands, Craig can control monitoring software, applications, browsers and other functions by voice – even opening and closing vents to adjust airflow. He also painted the motherboard, radiator, fans and other components to blend with the artistic theme. His rear panel was even outfitted with a sheet of hand-cut acrylic filled with epoxy resin to create a water-like effect. The alpine lake was inspired by “Alder Lake,” the Intel code name of the CPU used in this build. For claiming first place, Craig received a $1000 gift card for additional hardware purchases. Read more.

Second place, Constantin Bucataru, for “Blue Dragon,” a high-performance workstation decorated in butterflies and dominated by a magnificent dragon on the front panel. Among the features of Constantin’s build is a “Gamer Wellness Hat” prototype, which includes an infrared CO² sensor, a particulate matter sensor for air quality, an ambient luminosity sensor, and sensors to measure air pressure, humidity, and temperature. These environmental functions are intended to protect the Blue Dragon user as well as the workstation itself. For claiming second place, Constantin received a $750 gift card for future hardware purchases. Read more.

Third place, Brian Carter, for “U.S.S. Innovate,” a Star Trek-inspired mod commemorating the futuristic innovations of the Trek universe that became today’s reality: iPads, smart phone communicators, flat screen TVs, warp drives (OK, maybe not that one) and more. Brian, a modder for more than 16 years, employed 3-D printing (a kind of “replicator”) to fashion many of the add-ons for his 23rd Century tribute, such as the Federation insignia on the front panel that doubles as an on/off switch. As third-place winner, Brian received a $600 gift card for future hardware purchases. Read more.

Join the Insiders Community

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If you like to show off your stuff, then look into our member programs, where Intel provides early access and resources those who like to engage the community. As a leader you'll get regular updates from Intel on upcoming products, be provided opportunities for community engagement with potential sponsorships for speakerships and content authoring. Go To Members Programs. This is your place to create, post and connect! There's a lot here to do, and to get started. We highly recommend you take the first step and create a project.