Turning my Ex-Employer’s Logo into a Gaming PC
Key Takeaways
- Converted an old NCIX store sign into a functional wall-mounted gaming PC.
- Custom liquid cooling was utilized to manage heat inside the tight enclosure.
- The build serves as a nostalgic tribute to Linus's former employer and early tech roots.
In a unique and nostalgic DIY build, Linus Tech Tips has tackled a project close to home by transforming the old physical storefront sign of NCIX, his former employer, into a fully functioning, high-end gaming PC. NCIX was a massive Canadian computer hardware retailer where Linus got his start before the company eventually went bankrupt. Securing the iconic illuminated sign provided a rare piece of tech history, prompting the team to figure out a way to repurpose it rather than let it gather dust.
The build process began with disassembling the large, plastic-and-metal sign to evaluate the interior space available. Fitting modern high-performance PC components inside a housing originally designed just for lighting elements is no small feat. The team had to carefully measure clearance depths, plan airflow routes, and modify the internal frame to securely mount a motherboard, graphics card, power supply, and custom water-cooling loops without compromising the exterior aesthetic of the classic logo.
Thermal management is always a critical challenge when cramming powerful hardware into non-standard enclosures. Because the sign has limited natural ventilation, the team engineered a custom liquid cooling solution using slim radiators and carefully routed tubing. This ensured that the high-end processor and GPU could sustain heavy gaming loads without thermal throttling, all while keeping the wiring and plumbing neatly tucked away behind the display panel.
Beyond the technical engineering hurdles, the project holds significant emotional and historical weight for anyone familiar with early Canadian tech retail culture. NCIX played a massive role in shaping the online tech review and retail landscape, and seeing its logo reborn as a blazing-fast custom gaming rig is a fitting tribute. The finished wall PC maintains the authentic look of the storefront sign when powered off, but brilliantly illuminates with custom RGB lighting and operational hardware when turned on.
In conclusion, turning the old NCIX sign into a custom wall PC is a masterclass in creative modding and tech nostalgia. It bridges the gap between the channel's humble beginnings and its current status as a tech media giant. The project successfully demonstrates that with enough ingenuity, almost any vintage object can be given a second life as a high-performance computer.
The story
Linus acquires the old physical sign from NCIX, his defunct former employer, and decides to turn it into a custom wall-mounted gaming PC. The team meticulously guts the sign, plans the hardware layout to fit modern components, and installs a custom water-cooling loop. Finally, the finished sign PC is mounted in the office, looking like a normal vintage sign until it lights up and boots into a powerful gaming system.
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