Project: Черный ящик

[Helix666]

This project (still in planning ATM.) is to make a fairly high spec PC in a case that looks like a Cray2.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Cray2.jpg
(It's that black and red bit. The thing on the right is the fluorinert heat exchanger. Which is what gives this machine it's nickname: Bubbles. (Ye Gods, I'm such a geek.)</offtopic>)

Why the name?
It's a Russian translation of 'Black Box'. Russian, because it's a cool language. ;)
Black box because:


The opposite of a black box is a system where the inner components or logic are available for inspection (such as a free software/open source program) which is sometimes known as a white box, a glass box, or a clear box.

And I want to hide everything away. It's to (maybe not so subtly) hint at the power within, but not be too flashy.
(Yeah, a PC that looks like a supercomputer, that's not flashy at all. :rolleyes: )

Oh, and because it's actually going to be black. :p

I would have the sketches posted here, but I found that I've got the dimensions of the mobo wrong, and I used the mobo dimensions to figure out everything else. :redface:
Back to the drawing board.

Наблюдайте это место...

(BTW. I don't actually speak or write Russian. I wish I could, though.)

[Scotty]

:pics:

I want sketches, plans, etc now!


Please :)


Sounds like it could be cool.

[Luke122]

Russian phrase is pronounced: Chair-na-ee Ya-sheek.

[Helix666]

Russian phrase is pronounced: Chair-na-ee Ya-sheek.

Which phrase? 'Black Box' or 'Watch this space'?

Scotty: I'm working on them, honest.



really, I am.

[Helix666]

First rough plan.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t293/James_Penk/Black-Box/initial-plan.png

Yes, all the measurements are in millimeters.
Just divide them by 25.4 to get inches, if you so desire.
(300mm=approx 1')

If it looks huge, it's because this is going to be... fairly big. :)

Currently, I'm at the stage of making sure that the mobo can fit in the case. Because the case is a sort of horseshoe shape (vaguely) I am presented with a bit of a challenge.

However, this does work to my advantage especially when it comes to cooling the PC that's going to be inside.
At one end of the 'horseshoe' I am going to have an air intake with fans. (Size and number depending on final dimensions.)
The air will flow through the center of the case and leave through the only exit.
The other end of the case, having passed over (through?) the CPU cooler.
At least, that's the plan.

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t293/James_Penk/Black-Box/aaaaaaaargh.png

[Killdrath]

Could you save size/room by turning the mobo vertical? Assuming, that is, that you arent making it this large on purpose :).

Also, that intake/exhause setup is just begging for watercooling. Though if the gap between the sides where the fans are is too small, I'd be worried about sucking the warm air back in.

[Helix666]

Killdrath: I could turn the mobo vertical, but then it would block the flow of air.

I could probably convert it to watercooling somewhere along the line. Hmm...
/me makes a mental note of this.

[Luke122]

Which phrase? 'Black Box' or 'Watch this space'?


"Black Box"

Watch this space (Наблюдайте это место...)
is pronounced "Nabloo-da-itye etta m-yesto" if I'm not mistaken.. my Russian sucks.. havent spoken it for 7 years.

[Helix666]

Thanks Luke.
+rep for that.

[Luke122]

Could you save size/room by turning the mobo vertical? Assuming, that is, that you arent making it this large on purpose :).

Also, that intake/exhause setup is just begging for watercooling. Though if the gap between the sides where the fans are is too small, I'd be worried about sucking the warm air back in.

I second the vertical idea. You could have the bottom of the mobo face the center, and the topside facing the back of the case. This way the air will still flow over the board, but overall footprint of the case can be smaller.

[Omega]

that airflow will just recirculate the air in that case unless you make ducts for the intake and exhaust.

Jus' saying.

[Helix666]

Hmm...
:think:

/me goes to work out how much space would be saved by having the mobo vertical.

/me also goes to work out a solution to the airflow problem

[Killdrath]

for the airflow, could you have both those sets of fans blowing in, then have exhausts out the top/bottom near the mobo? Not sure how much room you're dealing with here.

[DonT-FeaR]

Do this for cooling:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g193/munkey_boy/aaaaaaaargh.png

[Helix666]

yeah, that might be better for airflow. And it would allow me to move the mobo vertical rather than horizontal. Thus making the case smaller.

:think:

and on a related note, I'm going to college from the 5th of September, so this will be backgrounded for now. :neutral:

However, I will still get it done. May take me a while, but I'll get it done.

[Helix666]

OK, I've been giving this some thought. And I've decided that going along the lines of the Cray, with it's horseshoe(ish) shape, will cause a few issues if (when) I come to build it.

1) The total diameter will be huge, and I don't think I've got the space to deal with that.
2) While rate of airflow might be quite high, the actual flow itself may not be ideal.

Therefore, I have decided to change it quite a lot.

I want to keep the black and red theme, and it will still be circular. However, the new design will have a smaller cross section, and improved cooling design..

/* TODO: Put sketches in this thread. */

[Helix666]

Unfortunately, due to the only PC in the house that can run the scanner being DITW, I can't upload my plans.
So, I will resort to ASCII Art.
(\/\/0\/\/!11! T3H L337!!eleventyone! :P)



+---------+
|XXXXXXXXX|
+---------+
/ \
+-------------+
| |
| +-----------+
| | |
| | +-+ |
| | | | |
| | +-+ |
| | |
| +-----------+
| |
+-------------+
/|\ /|\
|| +---------+ ||
|| |XXXXXXXXX| ||
|| +---------+ ||
++ ++


OK, that was awful, but I will triumph. (eventually)
The bits marked 'XXXXXXXXX' are the cooling fans.
(Planned Antec Big Boy 200s. (200mm))
The larger square in the middle is the mobo, the smaller square is the CPU cooler (but you already knew that. ;))

Feel free to ask questions... or beat me with a stick. Whichever. :D

Oh, and before I forget, I'm making sure that the feet absorb as much vibration (and hence noise) as possible and that I can turn the fans down to a slower speed so that I can sleep with the box running.

[DonT-FeaR]

Looks good, can't wait too see the worklogs.