I’m pleased to announce that Digital Overload will be hosting its first Computer Mod contest this year, sponsored and judged by CPU Magazine! The winner will receive prizes, including a free badge for Digital Overload 2010, and possibly a small editorial feature in CPU magazine.

Entrees must present a functioning case mod, and will be judged on creativity and skill in the following departments:

• 
  

  Technical merit: Creative placement of parts and “outside-the-box”
  changes made to existing components of the case that are likely to have a
  positive effect on performance and/or that make for more efficient use of the
  space.

• 
  

  Artistic merit: Does the case have a cohesive theme or a distinctive
  look, or is it simply a collection of parts thrown together behind a window and
  lighted fans.

• 
  

  Polish: The fit-and-finish portion of the work. This includes clean,
  smooth paint; solid cable management and sleeving/hiding; tight, smooth seams;
  the functionality of the mods (i.e. custom doors and mechanisms); and effective
  use of lighting.

• 
  

  “Wow” factor: Judges’ overall reaction to the mod.

You have two months left until the event, so get cracking on those computer mods!