There`s been lots of progress lately relatively to the identity of geeks: more and more, we're affirming our dedication to the nerdy world in several ways, namely through how we dress, with those Thinkgeek t-shirts that mere mortals cannot understand but also by the way we decorate our rooms and homes, how we talk, and even what music we listen to.

Now I've had the idea for this Instructable while browsing around and falling on the e-shop of some kid my age who was selling PCB and electronic component jewelery: CMOS earrings, resistor pendants, and the like. Since then, I've been trying to integrate old hardware and electronic junk to my daily dressing, without much success. It wasn't until I stumbled on a pile of old processors that I finally clicked on what would be cool, and yet not be a total pain wearing: a processor belt buckle.

Although not useful in itself, this thing is nice showoff material for those times when you get together with your geeky homedawgs.

It's simple really: all we are gonna do is take a proc, brutalize it up a bit, then solder it to your standard issue slider and casing type buckle used with strap type belt.

Step 1: Materials

You don't need much stuff to complete this thing, and most of the things are either found in most geeky households, available for free with the right connections or available for real cheap. Without any further blabber, here is the list:

-Belt buckle with a flat face. This can be either be the ones that clasp or the ones with the tightening pin in them... excuse my lack of more precise wording. There are pictures available at the bottom.

-Processor, the older the better. I used two Socket 7 Intels of the code name P5 era. According to pictures I have seen, and the size of the heatsink in an old box I have, the K6 series should be big enough, so rejoice, AMD fanboys. In this Instructable, we will be using a P54C, a pretty high end chip for the time, which used to sport 200 mhz and MMX.

-Some acid flux paste. If you have a soldering iron, you probably already have this.

-Solder. I used 60/40, I am guessing that 50/50 would work too, but any lower will bust it in my opinion. I used full metal solder, but if you don't have any flux you might want to try resin core. I haven't tested that though.

Step 2: Prepare the CPU

In order to not have your CPU sticking out a quarter inch from your buckle, and in order to optimize contact for the eventual soldering, we will have to flatten out the pins.

For this, lay the CPU logo face down on a table, exposing the pins towards you. Take a blunt object, I used a Sharpie marker, and flatten out the pins torwards the center. Don't be shy to put some pressure, we want them all nice and flat, as uniform as possible. Check out the pictures if you don't understand. I have also recorded a video demonstrating how that is to be worked out.

Once that is done, we will prepare out pieces for soldering.

Step 3: Prepare the Pieces for Soldering

Whip out the acid flux, and spread a healthy layer over everything metallic going to be soldered, that is the bent pins and the entire surface of the buckle. Once this is done, simple clamp the processor and buckle together in the desired position. Center it correctly, or soldering will be a real pain.

Step 4: Solder!

Heat up your iron, and solder this baby up. Keep in mind that the solder has to be as flat as possible to eliminate interference with the little slider thingy on the buckle. Our goal here is to make a tight coverage on all sides. Solder this thing like you wanted it waterproof... I personally am not that good at soldering, and my solder gun tip was good for the garbage, so I think considering the situation I did pretty good.

Step 5: Wear It!

After everything has cooled down and that your CPU is firmly attached to your buckle, but the buckle on a belt, and you're ready to go.

Wear at CS class and awe-strike all your class mates. Pimp it out in front of the ladies, and get loads of hot dates (or not). Although most will remain dumbfounded on the nature of that hunk of ceramic that is stuck to your belt, you can be sure that they will at least agree on one thing: it's hawt!

That was it... simple eh? I can't give a date yet, but I'll try to get tinkering on the same concept for slot 1 processors, for those who like uber huge belt ornaments.

If you like my work, check out my blog, http://MaximeRousseau.com and grab a feed or something, or hell even blog about it yourself.
Track-back link for this project is http://maximerousseau.com/?p=54, for those interested.

I also invite you to leave comments and suggestions; this is my first Instructable, and any feedback would be greatly appreciated.