Cyberpunk-style computer from an old dot matrix printer: how an IT guy from Ukraine assembles custom PCs and designs cases for them in the style of "Gypsy" and "Violin"

How the sale of a MacBook sparked a hobby that had been waiting to be realized for over 20 years

Denys Osadchyi became interested in custom PC building and modding during his student years, when he bought his first computer in 2003. But it only grew into a full-fledged hobby in the spring of 2025.

«I sold my MacBook and decided to return to Windows after 8 years of using Apple technology — I felt that I missed that „freedom“ of hardware. I wanted to make something incredible and cool, just like a work PC, so that it wouldn’t just stand under the desk, but would inspire. And then everything took off and grew into a full-fledged hobby: I started making custom builds for various topics and launched a TikTok channel,» says Denys.

 

 

 

Denis’s entire background came in handy for this hobby. While still at school, he became interested in carpentry and metalworking, microelectronics, and even won the regional labor training Olympiad.

«That is, my hands already 'remembered' how to work with the material. All of this perfectly combined with my professional design thirst: I want to create not just boxes, but new things, to embody art in such a utilitarian form as a PC,» says the designer.

«Gypsy», «Violin» and a cyberpunk PC in the case of an old dot matrix printer

During his hobby, Denys collected about 10 devices: from a light custom with a simple body painting for a giveaway among TikTok subscribers, to serious projects that can last several months.

The styles are also very different: from gloomy gothic-informal to bright cyberpunk, and even eclectic retro-kitsch — the «Gypsy» collection, where there is a lot of gold and carpets.

The longest project, which took about 2 months of painstaking work, was a PC in the style of «Violin». It was also one of the most difficult projects: Denys decided to stick pink rhinestones on each wire of the power cables. This jewelry work took 4 hours without breaks.

«In general, everything is done on a creative drive. There is nothing I „don’t like“ to do, it’s just that some processes are quick, while others — like grinding or fitting — require patience,» the designer explains.

A real engineering challenge was the cyberpunk PC in a case made from an old dot matrix printer.

«An incredible amount of metalwork: we had to cut metal, invent a custom mount for a modern video card, mount the monitor on a hinge. Fitting the parts took a lot of time, because we had to cram powerful hardware into an old, cramped case. From a manual standpoint, it was the hardest, but also the coolest challenge. And the reaction from people was worth it: everyone on Reddit and TikTok wrote that they had never seen anything like it. Creating such a unique thing is a thrill,» shares Denys.

He also had experience with a PC in a modified case from an industrial computer that used to be in an ATM. According to the designer, the difficulty of this project was that it was necessary to assemble everything in a horizontal format and think about how to properly place the water cooling. In addition, he made a project in a case from an old media server for surveillance cameras.

Denys draws inspiration for his design from fantasy films and the works of other enthusiasts on Reddit, sometimes ideas appear spontaneously.

«I’ve been a science fiction fan since childhood. I love to watch what futuristic devices, strange interfaces, and shapes they use. I’ve always wanted to bring it from the screen to reality. Ideas often come spontaneously, literally before bed: I lie down and think about what kind of cool PC I could build, how to beat this or that shape. This is important for a TikTok channel, because the visuals should be catchy from the first second. I also get a lot of inspiration from viewing the works of other enthusiasts on Reddit — sometimes you come across simply brilliant solutions there,» notes Denys.

«This is not a story about business success, but rather about a desire for creative fulfillment that hardly pays off financially.»

At the beginning, the hobby required a significant investment of money to purchase tools, a 3D printer to create unique parts, and materials for painting. Denis buys the components himself or has them sent to him by friends and followers on social networks.

In addition, Denys often uses used components as a matter of principle. Not only because it is cheaper, but also because he is close to the philosophy of reusing — giving electronics a second life in order to harm the environment less. But the designer emphasizes that he always looks for premium quality: top power supplies, interesting rare cases, which he then fully services, cleans, and sometimes restores.

 

 

 

Now Denys is trying to break even on his hobby expenses. To do this, he started selling kits after filming content for TikTok, or he disassembles them and reuses the components in new projects.

«Selling such collections was not the primary goal. Unfortunately, people’s financial situation, the war, and rising component prices encourage them to buy something as simple and cheap as possible to get performance. Rarely is anyone willing to overpay for original work and exclusivity. That’s why sales are very tight,» explains Denys.

During all this time, 2 PCs were sold to cover the costs of the following projects: «Gypsy» (25,000 UAH) and «Altushka» (30,000 UAH). According to Denys, their cost is actually the price for the hardware, excluding the work on customization.

«In social networks, in addition to praise, I also encountered hate: they say, „the price is too high“, „why pay for the design“, „I’ll collect it cheaper“. But this is a separate category of people. Those who are „in the subject“ praise me for my creativity, unconventional vision and skill. I received a lot of positive feedback on Reddit, and even the manufacturer Cougar noted me in Threads, which was very nice,» the designer adds.

Plans include a PC for military needs

Denys is currently considering the idea of ​​making a PC out of an old air purifier. «They often have really weird, futuristic designs that fit my aesthetic perfectly,» he says.

In addition, there are plans to develop a PC case for military needs that would withstand extreme operating conditions.

«My friends and I often do „good-bye“ builds for the military in regular office buildings, but they don’t live there for long. I would like this PC to be as durable, reliable, and mobile as possible. Modern laser cutting and metal bending technologies allow us to create really cool solutions in a short time, so I plan to move in this direction,» Denys shares.

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