New PC tower design
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@pixero said:
Just a question, wouldn't the "waist" make it hard to fit the motherboard and fan for the processor?
Also I believe it might reduce airflow inside.Mate the actual box is BIG! The tummy band is the same width as a normal box! The drive bays arn't in proportion! This overcomes a lot of Mac1's concerns too! Ample room is allowed for all!
Dave R, mate I did on the weekend play further to simplify the whole legs and outer case setup and also to consider how simply it could be made from really simple sheet work and much of the internals modded from another case. I like the timber idea - though has it's issues. I like the idea of such a case sitting next to a RedBull F1 car in the pits hence a little it's case design.
The WS case (second version posted) I consider I'd love to house s cheap simple sandybridge render node/s later - all in the one case - hence the size!
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Are you building a computer or furniture??
IMO designing then building the computer is the first effort. You can then jazz it up with a fancy enclosure if you so desire with fans, ups retractable tops etc, etc. I made my design big to start with for several reasons. PC junction temp is the driver for life so good cooling to keep the delta T down is most important. Second I wanted to be able to modify easily so when our MS, Intel friends make changes and OEM guys want us to buy a new PC mine is just an upgrade. It is getting old now, about 5 years, but had a 3.2GHZ CPU for that time. No PCI express so that maybe the next step or wait for next major step which will probably be to get rid of all the cables and have one optical interface=> not external cable races etc. HEY!!! Flexibility should be the name of the game. -
Mate I understand all you are saying!!
Here is a bit of an evolution on the design, with slide out dust filters and slide out cable store.
Also a crap rendered version with the cover in plastic to see the interior layout 1366 socket board left / 1155 socket right (render node) - Radiators centre.
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I like it. SO it is almost the size of four PC cases? Lots of room for expansion and cooling.
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Dear Richard,
Don't forget to look here for bits and pieces:
Regards,
Bob -
@dave r said:
I like it. SO it is almost the size of four PC cases? Lots of room for expansion and cooling.
Yes Dave it is BIG - not quite as big as 4 mids but not that far off!
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@watkins said:
Dear Richard,
Don't forget to look here for bits and pieces:
Regards,
BobWow thanks Bob! That's a great resource! Rich
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Why not perforations for the venting? So much easier to fabricate, thus reducing cost, and a cleaner look.
Looks good though
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@richard said:
Mate I understand all you are saying!!
Here is a bit of an evolution on the design, with slide out dust filters and slide out cable store.
Also a crap rendered version with the cover in plastic to see the interior layout 1366 socket board left / 1155 socket right (render node) - Radiators centre.[attachment=1:wq8lzf6s]<!-- ia1 -->AutoSave_NEW-PC1.jpg<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment:wq8lzf6s][attachment=0:wq8lzf6s]<!-- ia0 -->CASE-explode.jpg<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:wq8lzf6s]
Love your work, but just a suggestion raise or lower your view point to keep the horizon line from aligning with strong edges in your design. It really messes up the perception by "pulling" said elements bact to the horizon.
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@unknownuser said:
Why not perforations for the venting? So much easier to fabricate, thus reducing cost, and a cleaner look.
Looks good though
Thanks mate! The vents are actually cheaper funnily enough, as they are both commonly done and the tooling permits them to be pressed in easy!
Perforating would required the drilling of each hole!
There are two reasons for going this way - one to get just that bit of industrial look to it and second to aim the vents in the direction of air flow dragging in cold from low and pushing out air from high with some added noise reduction effect in theory!
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@roger said:
Love your work, but just a suggestion raise or lower your view point to keep the horizon line from aligning with strong edges in your design. It really messes up the perception by "pulling" said elements bact to the horizon.
Your spot on mate! Not such an exercise at producing a nice picture at this stage, just lazy - I should have set up a studio scene though couldn't be buggered really at this stage! Dam that lazy!
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Here is that case a little more developed!
The concept is generally to maximise air flow, cooling and functionality of modular spaces to maximise opportunity for upgradeability! Also given each space is same sized, the option (with some clever considerations) to reorganise the layout or change use configurations might exist.
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I ordered a new computer recently and while doing research I came across this case which might offer some ideas about arranging components:
http://www.slashgear.com/thermaltake-level-10-pc-case-with-bmw-designworks-0636768/ -
arail1. That's a cool looking tower but I see a lot of time spent dusting.
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@dave r said:
arail1. That's a cool looking tower but I see a lot of time spent dusting.
Yeah I've always thought that of the level 10 dave! Plus I just dont see how it can be so designed for airflow and cooling, sure it has some features though those features themselves create these limits!
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@richard said:
@dave r said:
arail1. That's a cool looking tower but I see a lot of time spent dusting.
Yeah I've always thought that of the level 10 dave! Plus I just dont see how it can be so designed for airflow and cooling, sure it has some features though those features themselves create these limits!
I don't understand cooling with the Level 10 either. It shows up on acousticpc.com - a site dedicated to quiet PC components - so maybe it just gets hot! You'd almost have to have a fan sitting next to it, blowing at it from the side, to keep it cool.
Your overall design is much sleeker and way cooler. I only posted the Level 10 assuming it might be worth looking at for the arrangement of the components. But your base, the symmetry of your design, the upgrade ablility - all blow the 10 out of the liquid cooling water.
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You might consider the option of splitting your tower vertically so a buyer could choose to have a smaller computer with just the front two components but when it was time to upgrade he could then add the back two components.
I just ordered a computer from Maingear (excited!) and went back and forth between their small form factor PC and a mid tower, I went with the mid tower so I would have the option of upgrading later on but I would have much preferred to buy a smaller computer now with the ability to increase the size of the computer down the road. Your design would lend itself to that sort of thing.
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richard
FYI for what it is worth:
The CPU , at least mine, has a self contained fan that mounts directly over it's top and is part of the Intel p4 I bought. The case has a tunnel that is height and sided to side adjustable so it can be position accurately over the CPU fan.( Inter change ability).Of course it is adjustable to marry to the rest of tunnel also to allow mother board, CPU and slot access etc. The case I have has two fans and another slot for a third. At the present time temps are:
Processor Zone 154 F, System Zone 1 114F, System Zone 2 138F. Processor Fan speed 3426 rpm( think this is full on) and rear fan 1355. The room temp is about 70 F so have a ~90F rise. Don't know dissipation off the top of may head. -
Richard, how much heat do you think you'll get out of the top of this thing? Would you do water cooling? Maybe there's be enough to run a lava lamp on top.
Are you still designing or have you started developing the case parts into sheets for bending? What sort of metal? Steel? Aluminum? How many pieces per side are you planning? Could the side that opens be hinged so half goes up and the other half goes down? That would give you great access to the innards. Have you planned out the back where the various cards require access? So many questions but I'd love to see you build this.
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@arail1 said:
Your overall design is much sleeker and way cooler. I only posted the Level 10 assuming it might be worth looking at for the arrangement of the components. But your base, the symmetry of your design, the upgrade ablility - all blow the 10 out of the liquid cooling water.
They are some nice words there mate!! Thanks!
BTW don't get me wrong, I do find the Level 10 stunning as anyone would, just not quite meeting the function one would expect. I like that you find mine design trumping it! I found some really nice images of the detail in the level 10 - it is obvious the expertise of the designers behind it - Engineering wise there are some very catching details.
@unknownuser said:
I just ordered a computer from Maingear (excited!) and went back and forth between their small form factor PC and a mid tower, I went with the mid tower so I would have the option of upgrading later on but I would have much preferred to buy a smaller computer now with the ability to increase the size of the computer down the road. Your design would lend itself to that sort of thing.
Mate I can understand your excitement on the maingear rig, searched them and their systems are really sweet!
I will look at your suggestion regarding the separation option, though it does give to issues of both physical and aesthetic stability! That said - if I can engineer the case such that 1 unit is relocateable back to centre then this may well add a huge flexibility option!!! Cool idea mate! I'll test the visuals before thinking deeper on the connection options
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