PC modding frequently leads the way in our computing hobby. It sits among the giants that make this community so great and continues to push through advancements and product tweaks into the industry itself. Vertical GPU mounts? Modders did that first. ITX liquid-cooled cases? Modders did it. Liquid-cooling in general? Modders did it (with household plumbing parts, would you believe?).
But there’s more to it than that. It’s an intricate art form, a way of showing off your personality and building something unique to you. The hardware might be obsolete in a few years from now, but ask any of those modders what build they’re most proud of, and it’ll bring back a flood of memories from yesteryear, now outdated by the superior chips of today.
For the extreme enthusiast, a PC is akin to a custom car. Unique, special, filled with memories of good times and more. Since its conception, the modding scene has grown into a behemoth compared to what it once was, filled with competitions and extreme professionals, and all sorts of amateur enthusiasts. It pits the best ideas against one another, with a ton of free hardware on the side, sponsorship, travel, and more.
So then, you want to start modding, going to events, showing off your latest builds on global social media channels, and work with the best hardware manufacturers in the world? Well, so did I back in 2019, and I didn’t have a clue where to start.
My interest in building computers was with me way before I even thought about pursuing it in a more formal fashion. I mean, there’s no training course you can enroll in and no books to guide you. It’s been a different journey for every single person who has ever become a relatively well-known modder. It takes a lot of hard work and, at some point, luck may step in and help you along the way as well.
Today though, let’s start with the basics, go over how to get started and hopefully, by the end of reading this, you might have a clearer idea of how you can get involved in the modding scene too.
Getting to know yourself
My life is average; I’m married and have two children, a mortgage, and all the responsibilities that come with everyday life. There are bills to pay every month, activities and days out to go on with the family, and the small matter of
