This Wooden Gaming PC Looks—and Plays—Like a Masterpiece

The Volta V is a gaming computer made out of wood. Many stories have been written about the Volta, and they all talk enthusiastically about its impressive woodiness. This enthusiasm may take the form of nostalgia for the days of console televisions, or commentary on the direction of modern industrial design. There’s an environmental angle here, too, as it is arguably better for the planet to use renewable materials like wood to make a PC rather than sheets of metal.

And thus, much has been said about how good the Volta V looks on your desk. Less however has been written about how well it actually works. And considering this is billed as a gaming computer with a price tag approaching $3,500, it better work pretty well if Volta wants to sell any of them.

But before we get to all that, I’ll follow the herd and talk about the computer’s looks. They are, admittedly, pretty swell, modern and retro and a little pointless all at once, the way an ultra-luxe home stereo receiver with vacuum tubes sticking out of it might be. The chassis is made from planks of walnut and bamboo, glued together and cut by computer to exact specifications. Steel pieces like the start button are 3D-printed, and the whole thing is screwed together and sanded so it looks perfect on top of your desk—and so you don’t even dream of stashing it underneath.

Access to the system internals is through the top panel, which isn’t hinged or otherwise attached to the chassis. Rather, it just sits on top of the computer, with small magnets holding the plank of wood in place. Just pop the top and you have full access to the electronics within. It’s crowded but well laid-out: Mini ITX cases like this are unusual for gaming rigs, because the limited space inside restricts upgradeability and add-ons. Want an optical drive? Sorry, there’s no room inside. You might be able to get away with adding a second SSD, but otherwise upgraders will likely be limited to replacing the RAM or video card. The interior components are beautifully arranged, with braided cables well zip-tied, ribbon cables elegantly crinkled, and liquid cooling hoses seamlessly routed. For a real nerd, it’s as pretty on the inside as it is on the outside.