Everyone knows you can build all sorts of amazing things with Lego—but did you know you can build a computer? Well, Mike Schropp can.
The computer geek and Lego fan wanted to build a computer to help with scientific research. The computer is connected to IBM’s World Community Grid project, where it lends its processing power to researchers, helping to speed up complex calculations. Schropp made a few rules for himself for this project: he would be as energy efficient as possible, and the whole thing would cost less than $2000.
The final product has three complete systems working around the clock for the World Community grid. It’s got eight fans, and just a single power supply. And, of course, it is encased in Lego.
Says Scropp, “I’ve been addicted to Legos for longer than I can remember, so when the opportunity comes up to work on a new project of some sort the question that invariably arises is, ‘Can I use Legos?”