We made Final Fantasy VII's Buster Sword into a PC.
Presenting the Buster Sword Computer. Made in Puerto Rico by Bandi Tech Computers.
We at Bandi Tech are dedicated to the creation of custom PCs for school, office, gaming, streaming, editing, and other high-end apps. The video shows our, unique custom-made Final Fantasy themed PC along PC builder Kimberly Wolf, cosplaying Cloud Strife. This computer was created for Toys for Tots Puerto Rico, a US Marines Corps non-profit organization who gives out toys to less fortunate children every Christmas.
How did we do what we did? Read to find out!
Oct 2020 - Angel from Toys for Tots comes into our Bandi Tech local store in Puerto Rico. (add map). He tells us about what Toys for Tots is about. We tell him what Bandi Tech is about. He decided we were going to build them a couple of "regular" styled PCs and then make a big "one of a kind" PC at the end of it all.
Nov 2020 - We have already scouted the parts, made plans for 3D printed parts, and waited on Phanteks's PC case… turns out this case is nowhere to be found during the pandemic… luckily one of our own employees had very recently built his PC on that very same case and he agreed to donate it to the cause.
Dec 2020 - Building the PC began and so did many problems for all customized parts.
1. We hired a wood worker to create the base of the PC, slanted on a 15-degree inclination. The chosen wood was oak, finished with a glossy lacquer. The whole piece weighs about 25lbs!
2. The inside of the wooden base, had to be created with 3D printed parts since our locking mechanism was a one-of-a-kind piece that had to be affixed to the base of the Phanteks case (which was not designed for that), so a good amount of engineering prowess was put into AutoCAD. This 3D printed parts had to be designed over and over as we kept crashing into new problems. The whole month of December was almost used up in just creating 3D printed parts.
3. The top of the PC, the "hilt" of the sword is also 3D printed. It was very tricky to get the on/off switches into the new "hilt". After 4 tries we finally were able to get a top cover simulating 10 Materia slots to align perfectly with the buttons and leave enough space to handle cables.
4. Finally, the grip. The grip is a wooden broom stick cut to size with leather strips to cover the whole thing. The leather is interlaced to give it that "quality look and feel". The tip of the grip is also a 3D printed part, this was drill onto the edge of the wooden stick. Note, please do not try to lift the sword by the grip.
Now for the real build of the PC, parts, and explanation:
CPU: Intel Core i9-10900K https://amzn.to/36rnIy4
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti EVGA FTW 11GBs https://amzn.to/3pCLeQe
RAM: 64GBs DDR4 3600Mhz G.Skill Trident Royal 32GBs x 2 https://amzn.to/3jbsuVS
SSD 1: NVME 4TBs WD Black SN750 https://amzn.to/3te0h5q
SSD 2: Samsung 860 EVO 4TB SATA https://amzn.to/3j5fYai
Board: Asus ROG Strix-I Mini ITX Z490 https://amzn.to/3ozuJmV
PSU: SeaSonic Gold 80+ Full Mod 850Watt https://amzn.to/2Mkgy88
Fans: Phanteks RGB Slim Static Pressure Fans 120mm https://amzn.to/3oAD9dI
OS: Microsoft Windows 10 64Bit Pro OEM https://amzn.to/2MnKLTR
Modding and Water Cooling:
CPU Block: EK Quantum https://amzn.to/3r3grMM
GPU Block: EK Vector 2080 Ti D-RGB https://amzn.to/36wrUwy
Fittings: Bitspower 12mm OD https://amzn.to/3aol25J
Jan 2021 - Delivery day was on Jan 5, 2021 and to be given to the children on Jan 6, 2021. Jan 6 is Three Kings Day on Puerto Rico and most Latin countries; it is as big a Christmas Day which is also celebrated in PR.
1. Right after New Year’s Day, it was crunch time!
2. The PC was already up and running with the water cooling parts all in its place. About these Bitspower tubes: They are in fact 2 tubes. The inside loop runs the water, and the outside tube runs a small RGB strip just inside the frosted tube which is what gives it its color. Kimberly Wolf & TenKei Creations really raised the bar installing the water system.
This PC case is so compact, most tools would not even fit. Luckily, Kimberly's small & dexterous hands were put on overtime to finish tightening the tubes on the water loop.
Last touch to get it to work, was to fill the PC with liquid Mako Energy. Mako energy is very precious and hard to find these days, we were only able to get just the amount we need on the same shop we bought our last Flux Capacitor.
3. On the final days, our staff was put on Overclocked settings.
a. Ishla had to make sure all parts were meticulously labeled and jotted on the inventory system + cable the PC completely.
b. Gabriel polished the looks and details on his ex-PC case.
c. Yohacson and Monge installed and tested all the parts. Made sure everything ran smoothly.
d. Antonio had to get scripts ready for the shoot next days and get props.
e. Bandi did what he does best… boss people around + quality check all the reports and check that all systems are go.
4. On Jan 4 Kimberly Wolf, cosplayed as Cloud Strife. - Kimberly's cosplayed was made from nothing in just 3 days, we were literally working so hard, we forgot we had to leave time to make the cosplay. Here is how we got it done:
a. The guys from TenKei Creation again turned to AutoCAD to design Cloud's bracelet, arm band and shoulder strap. With trial and error, these parts were delivered with paint still a little wet on the day of the shoot. Third try was the charm and they fit Kimberly's hands perfectly.
b. The rest of outfit Bandi went to scout them out at Party City, the night before the shoot right after he and Kimberly had finished quality checking the PC. Kimberly went home to rest for the shoot. Bandi bought wig, leather pants, leather jacket, 4 different types of stockings, 3 different types of gloves, fake nails, and Velcro, lots of it.
c. Kimberly donated her favorite turtle-neck shirt to have its sleeve cut out. A friend of Kimberly came by at 10pm after Bandi got back from the store and fit the long leather pants to Kimberly then cut and sew them as shorts. "Heavy Metal" style accessories were already on Kimberly's possession. Mix all that together and you get: Kimberly Strife!!!
d. Its 9am, Kimberly’s makeup artist Solimar and Rodolfo our photographer arrived and got to work. After carefully examining Cloud, Solimar was able to give her the mako eyes look and Kimberly kept working into Cloud’s “cold” personality (which was hard as she says, since she normally is a happy person) ... it was earie how well she imitated Cloud... even that cold stare!
e. Finally, after just about 4 hours of sleep, working throughout Christmas Day, New Year’s Day… Kimberly Strife stands proud and powerful next to her Buster Sword PC.
On the day of the shoot most members of the staff came by. We all signed this one-of-a-kind PC. We all took pictures of it and with Kimberly dressed as Cloud. Antonio our videographer and media manager, got teary eyed while filming Kimberly since as he put it "it looks too good, it brings me nostalgia. Takes me back to when I used to play it as a kid".
We were sad to see it go. Angel from Toys for Tots came to pick it up and he was completely amazed too. We thought him how to dismantle and build it back up (see video later).
We all felt immensely proud of ourselves. This PC took 5 months to make. We know for a fact that this has not been attempted by nobody else and we are proud to show it off today, Jan 31, 2021 on Final Fantasy 7, 24th Release Anniversary. We can only but cross our fingers Square Enix and the whole Final Fantasy fans community love what we did.
We are Bandi Tech, a computer company we sale and repair any type of computer, though we mostly identify ourselves as computer artists. We live for this kind of projects. We love geek culture; we are part of it. Some things you do for money, some things you even put your own capital to match your client's just because you love them. This computer, thanks to Toys for Tots for sponsoring it, gave us the means to reach our full artistic expression when creating this computer.
We hope you loved this computer, keep it here to see more of Bandi Tech & Toys for Tots PC creations, this is 1 of 3! Thanks for your time, sincerely:
Paul Bangdiwala -
Founder/CEO of Bandi Tech Computers LLC. Est 2009
Special Thanks to:
-Ishla – Bandi Tech/COO – My dear wife, thanks for your support and your skills at EVERYTHING! Without your lead, this would not have been possible. Thanks for all those late nights you stoop up next to me... from before Christmas till basically tonight while finishing this post.
-Angel – Toys for Tots/Marines – You made this possible, you gave us fuel.
-Gabriel – Bandi Tech/Manager – Thanks for holding the fort and for the PC case, I owe you a new build haha.
-Yohacson – Bandi Tech/Lean Technician – For always being on top of what we need. Thanks for all the snacks and ways you go around us to make sure we are happy.
-Monge – Bandi Tech/Technician – Yohacson has thought you well, on the keeping people happy part. Thanks for appearing out of nowhere with coffee for everyone brewed by yourself when we are doing and need it the most!
-Antonio – Bandi Tech/Media Manager – For all those long hours I have asked you to keep the camera rolling and then tell you that we need to re-shoot again... thanks for not murdering me haha. It feels great working on the same building same!
-Rodolfo – Radian Art/Photographer – You are the newest of the bunch, but you have adapted well. You always say yes even under hard times.
-Solimar – Ethereal Beaty by Sol/Makeup Artist – I see how well Kimberly and you work together; you have become a friend to her and made her look her best. From neon makeup to cosplaying, cannot wait to see what we create next!
-Yoi Sama – Ten Kei Creations/Founder – Your skills for 3D printing, water cooling building and creativity exceeds my expectations. Thanks for saying “yes, we can” when we look at a project and seem impossible to create what we want. Also, thanks for continuously mentoring Kimberly to become a spectacular builder such as yourself.
-Kimberly – Words can never describe how proud I am of you. You were supposed to only intern for 1 month on Dec 2015 and never left. It has been 5 years since we started working together and I have seen so many amazing projects finished, with lots of more to come. From been “just” a builder/intern, to later an influencer, spokesperson, cosplayer, model, upgraded to “water cooler builder” and now you have the stage looking up to you at your new streaming endeavors and awesome canvas works. Thanks for keeping up with my demands, all those non-stop workdays and putting a smile on all our team members every time you walk into the door.