Meet the ultimate AT-AT computer (photos)
Master Dutch modder and sci-fi addict Sander van der Velden saw a Hasbro AT-AT replica and knew he had to put a PC in it. See the geektastic results here.
AT-AT computer: The guts
The sluggish AT-AT vehicle from "The Empire Strikes Back" means a lot to "Star Wars" fans, notably among them master computer modifier Sander van der Velden.
The adventuresome Dutch tinkerer, a self-confessed sci-fi addict, took apart a 2-foot-tall Hasbro AT-AT replica and inserted a powerful water-cooled computer. The results impress, but go a step further with the addition of an illuminated stand and tube lighting inside the lumbering crawler. As you can see in this image, the midsection of the Hasbro AT-AT contains the brains of the computer, with water-cooling blocks covering all the bases on the motherboard. Accessory cabling runs down into the tall legs of the toy.
Click through our gallery to see images of the build process, leading up to the revelation of a truly epic "Star Wars"-themed computer.
A closer look
Van der Velden, who works at a national IT services provider, spent three weeks crafting his "Star Wars" machine. The AT-AT contains a Zotac Z68-ITX (Mini-ITX) motherboard running an Intel Core i7 2600k processor, SSD, and built-in Wi-Fi. The water-cooling system (radiator and XSPC pump) uses water blocks to cool the CPU, GPU, and other components.
"I really enjoyed working on this build, as it combines two of my favorite things: sci-fi and liquid-cooled computers," Van der Velden told Crave.