Project for you ReTrO!


http://www.burnoutpc.com/index.php?p...&review_id=123

[ReTrO]

Seen this before on the mini-itx.com website.

Pretty nice idea, just could have done wityh being a bit tidier.

[buns]

Has anyone actually tried any of the mini stuff? whats it like...... i presume it is nice and cool running?

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[ReTrO]

Very cool running. Nice for convenient projects, I think if coupled with a touch screen LCD it would make a good control system, like a Crestron panel.

The only thing they are short on is the PCI side, they will only support 2 PCI cards max, and processing power is limied to 1Ghz at the moment.

www.mini-itx.com is the place for more info, they sell the nice silent Hush PC, which looks like a Linn Klout power amp.

[buns]

It does look very attractive i must admit! I still think that the pc case designs are a bit lacking but i like that one..... if only mini-itx did a longer taller version

im not bothered by the power..... i was just thinking it might do nicely with the new H3D set up.....

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[ReTrO]

buns: what does the new H3D ii require in terms of PCI slots etc?

[buns]

hey!!!!!! I posted here earlier! Im assuming someone didnt just delete it??? Im a bit confused really!

anyhow......

H3D-II takes one pci, the rgb daughter board takes one, the HD card takes one and i think the rgbhv output jobby is actually only a pci header....... i think that is all the options.....

Personally im going to look towards H3D-II and HD card..... try and get shot of the graphics card and all the software messing. Im not sure if anyone has tried H3D with the VIA chip though.....

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[ReTrO]

You'll need 3 PCI slots for the full whammy then.


Seems like a micro ATX with a C3 processor might do the job.

[buns]

The slight worry would be compatability. Initially the software and such was all geared towards intel...... with time there were athlon users and there were a number of issues with via chipsets (i think they are resolved now). So if you went down the C3 route it is possible that you could come up with a few problems..... that said, let the guys know and they'll do all they can to sort it out!

Of course, using the C3 will give a cooler machine, but wouldnt a big underclock on a celeron do the same and still provide more options?

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[ReTrO]

Guess so.

If I bought any of these bits I have a spare system to put them into.

I've been collecting PC bits from barious places and have:

Mini ATX P2 MB with onboard sound and Matrox G200 graphics.
2x 64mb PC100 SDRAM
4x CD-ROM
3GB HDD
couple of spare PSU's
10/100 PCI NIC


Basically enough for a spare system. May use it for a server at home.

[buns]

Are there mini itx cases which would fit the full length pci card? or more to the point, are there nice ones!?

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[ReTrO]

There certainly are nice ones.

Checkout www.mini-itx.com for all case info, should be summit there.

[buns]

Power supply may also be an issue..... there may not be enough juice in the mini supplies

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[ReTrO]

What sort of power requirements will it have?

The standard off-board + DC-DC convertor will supply up to 55W I think. The smallest ATX stylee one I think is 90W, I retrieved one of these from a mates PC, thick with dust at the moment.

[buns]

I dont know details, but i do know you will need power to the mobo, the HD, the dvd, lcd, H3D, HD card...... thats a fair few power connections going on.....

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[buns]

oh......... apparently the HD card is only a header.....

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[ReTrO]

In which case a mini-itx mobo, say the M10000, with a double PCI header card will do the job fine.



Just a case to worry about then.

[buns]

The Hush case looks something special........ that would be fabulous. What sort of place supplies cases..... there has got to be companies specialising in that sort of thing....... after all there are how many hifi companies coming up with nice cases. All i'd want is a basic case..... the mountings and all i can deal with. or as an alternative i was thinking along something along the lines of http://www.korato.com/m_preamp.htm# And in place of the Korato logo have a cut out into which I'll stick a max orbital. It coulnt be too hard to achieve....... especially since i know reams of metal fabricators and laser cutting types!

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ps. Can you use a standard atx supply with mini itx?

[ReTrO]

You'll have to dig around for case that will take the 2 PCI cards on the adpater.

The mini-itx boards use the standard ATX power header, so any ATX PSU will work.

[buns]

I was thinking more along the line of building a case or at least getting a good looking non pc...... since im not going to deal with and media drives it shouldnt be too difficult...... I have a cunning plan for a gorgeous case along the lines of the korato thing..... you were looking for cases for your power supply...... did you come up with anything nice and pretty for it?

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[ReTrO]

I've not really got anything sorted for my PSU case yet. I'll be making something over the summer I think, not got time while at Uni.

Do you know of any places that can do sheet metal cases? Such like a normal hifi component?

[buns]

Originally posted by ReTrO

Do you know of any places that can do sheet metal cases? Such like a normal hifi component?

I was asking you exactly the same thing! I have had a bit of a look but so far failed to find anything. I figure that having metal fabricators virtually next door, it would be as easy to juct make something up...... I was thinking a rectangular frame made out of thinish metal bars...... bolt on big heat sinks to the side..... base plate easy out of sheet metal cut to size, top likewise...... work out what holes needed for backing plate..... get it laser cut then a nice thick front plate which can likewise be laser cut...... all sounds easy but im sure there will be difficulties.

Im going to keep lokng for a nice pre fab case though...... even without a face plate....... so i'll tell you if i find anything!

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[ReTrO]

Cheers, I'll do the same.

I'm gonna make mine from MDF otherwise.

I'll pop some pics on here when I can. But basically it will have a bouble front so that an intake fan can be fitted but not seen or heard too much.