Massive metal case muzzles, cools Xbox 360

Want to put a lid on the high-pitched roar of your Xbox 360? Well, you'll probably need something like this: a hulking, cooling fan-equipped aluminum case that only Iron Man could love.

I don't blame Lian Li—a respected Tawainese manufacturer that's been making computer cases for more than 20 years—for the metal monstrosity that is the PC-XB01, slated to arrive in August for an as-yet unspecified price.

No, I blame Microsoft, which rushed out a console that's so noisy and prone to overheating that it takes an iron lung to keep the thing reasonably quiet and Red Ring of Death-free.

Anyway (deep breath) ... behold the XB01. Discovered by the bloggers at Boing Boing Gadgets, the brushed-aluminum case measures 16.3 by 9.8 by 6.3 inches—or, as BBG notes, about four times the size of the 360 console itself.

Armed with a jumbo 120mm cooling fan in the back, foam soundproofing, and holes for an optional water-cooling system, the XB01 promises to muzzle the 360's deafening optical drive without causing a full-on hardware meltdown.

Here's the thing, though (besides the size issue): The PC-XB01 isn't just a metal cover for your existing Xbox console. Rather, it's designed for do-it-yourselfers who aren't afraid of cracking open the Xbox 360 and installing its bare components in the XB01's hollow shell.

In short, unless you know your way around a motherboard, you might want to wait till your 360 is out of warranty before trying this little weekend project.

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Make your 360 quieter, cooler, four times the size [Boing Boing Gadgets]