Current Cases = VHS. We need HD Cases....

[concretefire]

Guys,gals,

I've been thinking about this for quite a while. At least 4 months now.

The current cases we all know in my opinion are just not good enough for us.
We need to start from scratch and rethink the whole case design.

Don't get me wrong, I know there are good, very good, and great case makers out there, but seriously, at the end of the day.......no matter how many stickers, lights, led's you put on/in that sucker,,,,,it's a friggin rectangle box.

I KNOW it serves it's purpose well, that's not the point of this post. I am here to ask for ideas. I know about all plastic or see thru cases. Still a box or rectangle box. We've had this basic design for what? 20 yrs + Now?
C'mon.

I know some people are gonna read this and think I'm on crack. It's ok, this post probably isn't for you then. I wanna think outside the box. (no pun)

Some ideas I've had. A pyramid shaped tower would rock. Would also make some sense heat wise. Cool air in the bottom, straight thru to the top.
How? I don't know. It would need to be large of course, but if you thought of it as functional art......in might work. Hell I know it'll work, just someone's gotta do it.

ANother...totally caseless PC, but would need to be done in an artistic , badd ass kinda way. Like a picture hanging on the wall. Can't deny the cooling benefits of open air. (some will argue though I'm sure, but note I did not say fanless, I just said caseless)

And Finally, and most likely THE mod I'm going to do involves a fish tank. Check out this pic.
http://www.plasticsonline.com/aquariums/rt3000.htm

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying I'm going to buy a $700 aquarium and proceed to destroy it. But look at the design. Tall. Clear. Fits in the corner. I could build something just like that far cheaper. Think of the water cooling tubes in that thing at night, with the cool colors. Not to mention the sheer space.
Put a LARGE silent fan in the bottom of that bad boy, have the top open and you got instant heat transfer. Sucks in cold air from the bottom, shoots it straight up thru the top. (and before some smart $$%$ comes along, I realize that even going that route, you STILL have a "box".)
It'd be a hell of a box though. Some kick butt digital readouts on the top, perhaps chillers on the bottom, etc. All packeged in a stylish EYE CATCHING housing. ANother benefit to a very large case like this, it'd be a :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: for burgler to steal, and most likely if a burgler saw something like this in your house may very well think to himself......WTF is that?

Haha, just had another thought....hook up motion sensors to it. Approach it and it could litteraly either A) Warn you , or B) Welcome you. That's motion sensors with a few bio-security features like an eye scanner, or fingerprint scanner.

Ok talk to me. Oh, and I'll "pass that down man" when I'm done. LOL.

[ATLPIMP]

Pyramid... done

The pyramid 'footprint' would be too large for most, to be convenient

caseslessonawall... done

I, personally don't find this appealing at all.

worst yet, fish tank... done

Fishtank foot print would definately be too big, and IMO just plain tacky. eh...

Not being the one to spoil the party, pass it on this way...

:YIPPIE:

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

the reason we use boxes is that is the most efficient method for producing the most usable volume with the smallest footprint. I think you are barking up the wrong tree here, good luck though.

[concretefire]

Pyramid... done

The pyramid 'footprint' would be too large for most, to be convenient

caseslessonawall... done

I, personally don't find this appealing at all.

worst yet, fish tank... done

Fishtank foot print would definately be too big, and IMO just plain tacky. eh...

Not being the one to spoil the party, pass it on this way...

:YIPPIE:


No I get you. I really do. The pyramid I've never seen. Would love to see a pic. Agree, large footprint. Caseless on wall. I've seen it done. But not done in a "custom chopper" kind of way. It was more or less hung up in pieces, wires everywhere, looked awful.

Stand up aquarium done? Would like pics as well. Agree, large footprint. You are definately not spoiling the party. And the request for pics is not a "prove it" thing either. I'd just really like to see it. Yeah, and I understand this is not or would not be for everyone. Your idea of tacky....while I can certainly see why and agree to a degree.....might be another's bad ass case.

It has to be about function AND looks. I'm just tired of the same ol' same ol'.
Some people like big fat women, some skiny. I agree a 'large footprint' is not very practical. but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing either. Thanks for your input.

[Jowy Atreides]

Guys,gals,

I've been thinking about this for quite a while. At least 4 months now.

The current cases we all know in my opinion are just not good enough for us.
We need to start from scratch and rethink the whole case design.

Don't get me wrong, I know there are good, very good, and great case makers out there, but seriously, at the end of the day.......no matter how many stickers, lights, led's you put on/in that sucker,,,,,it's a friggin rectangle box.

I KNOW it serves it's purpose well, that's not the point of this post. I am here to ask for ideas. I know about all plastic or see thru cases. Still a box or rectangle box. We've had this basic design for what? 20 yrs + Now?
C'mon.

I know some people are gonna read this and think I'm on crack. It's ok, this post probably isn't for you then. I wanna think outside the box. (no pun)



You see it too.

Current cases will one day be extinct as hardware advances.

[concretefire]

the reason we use boxes is that is the most efficient method for producing the most usable volume with the smallest footprint. I think you are barking up the wrong tree here, good luck though.

Point taken, and I agree. I'm not sure about the barking up the wrong tree comment though. I almost take that comment that I am trying to start some sort of flame thread? Maybe I'm wrong and reading too much into it.

No guys/ gals. I understand and agree 100% that the current "box" cases we use are small, efficient, and do a great job.

All I am trying to do is think different. In my very humble opinion, back in the 50's and 60's ALOT of guys worked on "cars". That was their thing. Their passion. I strongly believe that some, not all, guys currently PC's are their thing. The love to build them, test them, push them to the limits.

If everyone bought into the smallest footprint, most efficient theory, we'd all be driving hybrid cars. What's wrong with a ferrari ? Or even a tank?

I promise this thread is NOT about stiring the pot. I can do that quite well on politcal boards. This is an EXTREME PC forum. I thought it would be a good place to ask people for their dream custom PC design, be it small, goofy, tacky, large. Whatever.

The last think I wanted was to ruffle feathers. I promise that.

[Langer]

I'm working on the next-gen case that you're all going to want - made from radiant acrylic, carbon fiber, and aluminum. My design breaks all the rules and adds a new level of personalization never before possible... unfortunately it'll 6-months+ before production starts though.

That's my idea of whetting your pallets.

[smee]

That's my idea of whetting your pallets.

You sick minded TEASE. :ROTF:

Lol I look forward, to pictures of this, next-gen case you are designing/making. :D

[SpazBoy357]

the reason we use boxes is that is the most efficient method for producing the most usable volume with the smallest footprint.


Current cases will one day be extinct as hardware advances.

CORRECT: SNiiPE DoGG

Not-so-much: Jowy Atreides

When it comes to commodities, efficiency wins over style. The manufacturers are the ones who decide what gets built and rectangular boxes are WAY too cost effective to get pushed out by pyramids, wall-hangings, or fish tanks.

While we all like seeing the creative adaptations that modders come up with, mass production is all about practicality and cost efficiency.

[inCore]

Cases would be shaped like pyramids if the rest of our world was shaped like pyramids.

If I'd have a pyramid-shaped hole in my wall, I'd go "Oh look, a pyramid-shaped computer would fit perfectly in there." If I would live in a massive dome I'd consider buying a computer shaped like a sphere.

As it stands, the space underneath my table happens to be square / rectangular and I don't have a fish for an aquarium either.

If anything could be changed it's the ATX form factor, even though I don't see anything horribly wrong with ATX either. Maybe I'm just old school.

[Junimrox]

everybody disagree and most of these things have already been made.
and nobody said, but we think you're on crack. Now go see the OCAU pc database.

[Navig]

I'm going to toot my own horn a little bit, but there are plenty of scratch built mods out there that rethink the standard case. Just go looking.

Pyramid case--the Luxor pyramid case is a nice example...of the difficulties and shortcomings of a pyramid shaped case. I do think a pyramid case would make for a nice small quiet low powered "media" case, using the natural convection to make it nearly silent (see the chimney experiments in air cooling at the ocforums).

On the other hand, this is the xtremesys forums, so most of the folks here appreciate hardcore hardware setups, not generally aesthetics just for the sake of aesthetics.

Anyway, I've been building nonstandard scratch builds for a while now--all trying to balance aesthetics and hardcore hardware. Here are some examples:

Tower PC: pic 1. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Lubic%20Tall/Litupdarkintakeangle6.jpg) pic 2. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Lubic%20Tall/Thread/Toweringup.jpg)

Benching Station: pic 1. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Lubic%20Bench/Final%20Pics/Fulllitdark5.jpg) pic 2. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Lubic%20Bench/Final%20Pics/Nakedupfront.jpg) pic 3. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Lubic%20Bench/Final%20Pics/Triumvirate.jpg)

Jewel Box: pic 1. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Jewel%20Box%20Project/Final/Front2LeftMidUnlit.jpg) pic 2. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Jewel%20Box%20Project/Final/DarkRtFrontHi.jpg) pic3. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Jewel%20Box%20Project/Final/MotherboardView.jpg)



So get out there and make some scratch built mods!

navig

[concretefire]

I'm going to toot my own horn a little bit, but there are plenty of scratch built mods out there that rethink the standard case. Just go looking.

Pyramid case--the Luxor pyramid case is a nice example...of the difficulties and shortcomings of a pyramid shaped case. I do think a pyramid case would make for a nice small quiet low powered "media" case, using the natural convection to make it nearly silent (see the chimney experiments in air cooling at the ocforums).

On the other hand, this is the xtremesys forums, so most of the folks here appreciate hardcore hardware setups, not generally aesthetics just for the sake of aesthetics.

Anyway, I've been building nonstandard scratch builds for a while now--all trying to balance aesthetics and hardcore hardware. Here are some examples:

Tower PC: pic 1. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Lubic%20Tall/Litupdarkintakeangle6.jpg) pic 2. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Lubic%20Tall/Thread/Toweringup.jpg)

Benching Station: pic 1. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Lubic%20Bench/Final%20Pics/Fulllitdark5.jpg) pic 2. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Lubic%20Bench/Final%20Pics/Nakedupfront.jpg) pic 3. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Lubic%20Bench/Final%20Pics/Triumvirate.jpg)

Jewel Box: pic 1. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Jewel%20Box%20Project/Final/Front2LeftMidUnlit.jpg) pic 2. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Jewel%20Box%20Project/Final/DarkRtFrontHi.jpg) pic3. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/Jewel%20Box%20Project/Final/MotherboardView.jpg)



So get out there and make some scratch built mods!

navig


Thank you for this post. I like the jewel box myself. Got a darth vader/shoe locker/juke box/ thing goin' on. :up:

Sorry for the OP guys. I'll let it go.

[inCore]

No, it's nice when people think like this.

One simply has to consider such different cases as art and as something special, rather than a practical thing.

[Jowy Atreides]

CORRECT: SNiiPE DoGG

Not-so-much: Jowy Atreides

When it comes to commodities, efficiency wins over style. The manufacturers are the ones who decide what gets built and rectangular boxes are WAY too cost effective to get pushed out by pyramids, wall-hangings, or fish tanks.

While we all like seeing the creative adaptations that modders come up with, mass production is all about practicality and cost efficiency.

Actually, you're right.

Production efficiency wins out and as tech advances, cases and pc's will get smaller.
It's happening right now

You really think in 20 years time the average user will be chugging along with a 15 pound, atx based machine?

The eee box is just a preview of what's to come

[SpazBoy357]

You really think in 20 years time the average user will be chugging along with a 15 pound, atx based machine?

Man, I hope not.

But if I think back to my first PC in the 1980's, it was actually smaller/lighter than my current rig. That ain't right! :D

[Jsunn]

How about a type of case that can mount flat?

OK, like a surface that you can put on top of your desk that is only maybe an inch or 2 thick. So yes the foot print would be "large" but the height is minimal. Now instead of a computer tower taking space on the surface of your desk, it becomes the surface of your desk.

Glass top, you can see the components. USB, DVD drives, Audio headers, all along the front edge. All other cable connections along the back edge.

Hummm..... I'll see if I can sketch something up....(most likely a scanned pencil drawing, as I no can haz 3d modeling skilz.

-Jason

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

How about a type of case that can mount flat?

OK, like a surface that you can put on top of your desk that is only maybe an inch or 2 thick. So yes the foot print would be "large" but the height is minimal. Now instead of a computer tower taking space on the surface of your desk, it becomes the surface of your desk.

Glass top, you can see the components. USB, DVD drives, Audio headers, all along the front edge. All other cable connections along the back edge.

Hummm..... I'll see if I can sketch something up....(most likely a scanned pencil drawing, as I no can haz 3d modeling skilz.

-Jason

that would be interesting, and flex PCI-E bridges make it completely feasible :)

[DX_Medic]

I will not take my aquarium to a lan party !!!

[Deluge]

How about a type of case that can mount flat?

OK, like a surface that you can put on top of your desk that is only maybe an inch or 2 thick. So yes the foot print would be "large" but the height is minimal. Now instead of a computer tower taking space on the surface of your desk, it becomes the surface of your desk.

Glass top, you can see the components. USB, DVD drives, Audio headers, all along the front edge. All other cable connections along the back edge.

Hummm..... I'll see if I can sketch something up....(most likely a scanned pencil drawing, as I no can haz 3d modeling skilz.

-Jason

That is a really good idea. I'm gonna have to look into that one :up:

[Damien]

How about a type of case that can mount flat?

OK, like a surface that you can put on top of your desk that is only maybe an inch or 2 thick. So yes the foot print would be "large" but the height is minimal. Now instead of a computer tower taking space on the surface of your desk, it becomes the surface of your desk.

Glass top, you can see the components. USB, DVD drives, Audio headers, all along the front edge. All other cable connections along the back edge.

Hummm..... I'll see if I can sketch something up....(most likely a scanned pencil drawing, as I no can haz 3d modeling skilz.

-Jason

this is a great idea, i've already got a design kind of stuck in my head i'd consider trying sometime soon.

[G.Foyle]

How about a type of case that can mount flat?

Already done: 1U server cases.

[Acekiller]

LEAD box Just incase(get it funny pun) there is a nucluar war. And no one will steal it. Going to LANS is gonna be a problem

[Navig]

I'd like to point out that art and practicality are not mutually exclusive. That's a big part of what makes modding cars n computer cases cool--you get to combine both. I guess maybe that would shift the concept of modding from pure "art" to something more like "design".

Modding can run the range from art to design. For example, take a simple case and paint the Mona Lisa on the side, and that is a form of modding that I would say stands way at the art side. On the other hand, modding can stray way to the other side, dumping aesthetics, for sheer practicality--common example would be all the home-built open benching stations. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/DIY%20Station/Station13complete2.jpg)

Now there is plenty of working space in between the extremes, that combine both. For example, all of my case mods including the ones displayed above, all fit standard components, and in many ways surpass the practicality (ie. tool free mounting, component access, rational airflow, cable routing) of standard "practical cases".

I would have to say, that again since this is xtremesys, one common held aesthetic value is to display the hardware proudly!

[Movieman]

Lian Li did a pyramid shaped tower and although interesting to look at failed miserably in the use of space.
A cube or tower sized to what you can reasonably expect to put in it is the best choice I think.
Spotswood above did an excellent designed wood case here a couple months back. I've seen his work in person and it is top quality.
Rich, if I had the $$ I'd be saying Do it!:up:

[concretefire]

No, it's nice when people think like this.

One simply has to consider such different cases as art and as something special, rather than a practical thing.

YES!!!! That's right.

OFF TOPIC (Sort of, only for making my point) See

http://www.kamado.com

Is it Art or is it a grill? YES!
And since I actually own one of these babies, #7 black mosaic to be exact, I CAN say that this is a perfect example of what I was originaly trying to ask for. This product meshes the best of two worlds together and in the end, has produced the RARE exception to the rules. You undoubtably get the most beautiful grill ever made, with the bonus of having one of the best pure grills ever made. (and I know cause I eat TONS of BBQ)

However, It seems my answer was sticky'd at the top of this forum anyway, duh....:shrug:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=197277

Practical meets art.......fine line, I understand, but sometimes in a rare event, it happens. I'm just sayin'.

[Klarko]

Well the skeleton case is them trying to try something new...

[pirateghost]

pyramid case has been done
http://www.cluboc.net/reviews/cases/Luxor/Pyramid/index.asp

[Jsunn]

How about a type of case that can mount flat?

OK, like a surface that you can put on top of your desk that is only maybe an inch or 2 thick. So yes the foot print would be "large" but the height is minimal. Now instead of a computer tower taking space on the surface of your desk, it becomes the surface of your desk.

Glass top, you can see the components. USB, DVD drives, Audio headers, all along the front edge. All other cable connections along the back edge.

Hummm..... I'll see if I can sketch something up....(most likely a scanned pencil drawing, as I no can haz 3d modeling skilz.

-Jason


They took my idea!! :mad:

http://gizmodo.com/5262385/absurd-liquid+cooled-desk-computer-is-a-tribute-to-mod-excess

[trekie86]

Thanks for taking the link i dug up and using it as your own sweet little find ;) Anyway, going way back to the first posts, I have seen a pyramid threat on NewEgg, don't remember what brand but it definately caught my eye. I'd love to make a desk contained PC just to say I've done it and can think of some cool features but it definately isn't the smallest footprint, but who cares. The desk already is taking up space, why not make it the PC. It would be so easy to maintain with sides that open up and give you a ton of room. Power supply cords would have to be uber-long but it could be fun.

[3Z3VH]

To avoid a box, people have been taking anything they could find and building computers into them... I have seen computers put into old Atari 2600s, telephones, cash registers, toilets, etc. Avoiding a boxy tower is easy enough, it is just a matter of finding something you want to build a computer into. If it can be hollowed out, and is strong enough to hold the components, you can most likely build a computer into it. I can guarantee, though, they will not use the space as efficiently as a box shaped PC (until they develop curved/flexible motherboards).

That is what makes the modding community interesting... people doing things that aren't the standard. Come up with ideas, and implement them the best you can, and post it up here. That is what this community is all about.

As far as the slim flat computer, they already have Home Theater PCs that are just like that. The tower is the way it is, because people want expandability. Smaller/Thinner/Odd shaped computers have very little flexibility, and thus, are not for the mainstream. Thinking outside the box is great, and encouraged, but will not hit the mainstream.

[urgrandpasdog]

You really think in 20 years time the average user will be chugging along with a 15 pound, atx based machine?

The eee box is just a preview of what's to come

You can pry my full-towers out of my cold, dead hands :p:

[vinister]

haha, that pyramid looks terrible, it has to be the worst shape to fit square parts into lol.

One idea I do really like is the picture frames. I am considering doing this for my 'accessories'. Including, but not limited to:

- Router
- Modem
- Switch
- X360
- wii
- TV box
- receiver/amp
- usb hub

I was thinking to strip all of them out of their cases, and mount the boards in nice frames. I would hide all the wires behind the wall, and put nice grommeted holes in the frame so that minimal wires would be seen. I would mount nice white cathodes inside the frame so they are not seen but light up the components nicely. Then I would arrange the frames on the wall, making it look like some kind of sci-fi art gallery. It would be sweet because it would look like cool art, but at the same time it would be 100% functional.

I have an ideal setup for it because my basement is just wallboard, I could easily make one of the panels 'open-able', so that I could get to all the hidden wiring easily enough.

I would consider doing it to the PC as well, but it would be quite a bit more difficult because of the height of the watercooling and video cards, kind of ruins it. Most other components would sit flat.

Imagine one of those frames with several different shaped cutouts that people usually put photos of their family members into. Except each of the cutouts would have a different component in it.

Cool!

[Navig]

Well after all my blustering, I went a built a rectangular box case. Of course I wouldn't exactly call it conventional.... (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=219491)

That gizmodo case only looks okayish to me. The construction is fairly uninteresting--in fact it looks like stock 80/20 components with 2 pieces of acrylic--that were outsourced. The layout and design is sketchy, and the cable/tubing management frankly atrocious. The clear touchpad is awesome, I have to admit.

[Blankeee]

That's a beautiful case you made Navig! Outstanding job!