First off, I want to thank everyone at Modders-Inc, Nvidia, CPU for organizing this contest. It was a pleasure participating with some of the best modders in the world. I would also like to thank Corsair and Logic Supply for sponsoring everybody!
This PC will surely be conversational and guarantee a reaction from people. I'm convinced our design is the best representation of Nvidia's exciting ION ITX platform. Whether our design wins this contest or not, I guarantee it's fun and creative design will inspire future builders and modders for decades to come. Everyone who entered my workshop during the construction was immediately drawn to it. "What is that?! Cool!" Even my 5 year old who has become desensitized to dad's weird projects joined the fold, "daddy, Wat is dat ting?!"
The concept reminded me of when LEGOS started incorporating UV Green parts into their "Space" sets in the late 70s and continue to today.
LEGO Cyber Saucer kit, 1997
UV Green cast acrylic was used for the exterior features
The Zotac Nvidia ION 330 ITX A-U Motherboard is nearly ready-to-run out of the box. All you add is memory, hard drive and O.S. This makes it less intimidating to first time PC builders and more affordable to d-i-y enthusiasts. If you're planning to build a HTPC. It produces a crisp picture @ 1080p HDMI. It has 1.3 output support, optional dual monitor, 7.1 channel uncompressed audio output. Coaxial and optical audio output and Blu-ray decode acceleration. Yes!!
If you're PC Modder like me, the ION 330's small size opens the door to your own creativity. You don't have to be a professional modder to imagine multiple ideas for your own PC. The 6.7" x 6.7' motherboard allows you to mount it in something fun like an R/C car body or a toolbox. I've seen people install ITX computers in their car.
You can find a large variety of ITX computer cases on the market ranging from $39 - and higher at Logic Supply and Newegg.com
You don't need to make an enclosure from recycled cardboard or incorporate a plant for your ION PC to be considered "Green" or low power. The ION is already low power. Our ION PC is very simple. A 90 watt power brick powers the Zotac 330 ION motherboard, LG DVD optical drive, Corsair x64 SSD HD, Logisys 120mm cooling fan, and four 4" cold cathode lights. The lights are not a necessity, but they look cool! You don't need to add anything else. Check out the specs below, you've got six USB 2.0 ports, eSATA, PS2 port, Gigabit Ethernet port. Plus, our pedestal design allows you to rotate the cube 360 degrees, so you can access all of these ports easily. We're using the 5-pin molex connector on the board to power the Corsair x64 SSD drive and lighting.
Here is the specification list of ION ITX-A-U Motherboard
ION ITX-A-U Specifications
Processor 1.6 GHz Intel Atom 330
533 MHz FSB
Chipset NVIDIA MCP7A-ION
System Memory, Dual channel DDR2 667 DIMM slots
Up to 4 GB of memory
VGA Integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Graphics
Supported Resolution 1920 x 1440 (VGA)
Expansion Slots PCI Express Mini Card (wireless card pre-installed)
Onboard IDE None
Onboard Serial ATA 3 SATA (3 Gb/sec.) connectors (RAID 0, 1, 0+1)
Onboard USB 10 USB 2.0
Onboard LAN Realtek RTL8211C GbE 10/100/1000
Onboard Audio Realtek ALC662 5.1 channel HD codec
Back Panel I/O 6 USB 2.0 ports
1 VGA port
1 DVI-I port
1 HDMI port
1 eSATA port
1 LAN port
1 PS2 keyboard port
2 S/PDIF-out ports (coaxial/optical)
3 Audio jacks: line-out, line-in, mic-in
1 DC jack
Onboard I/O Connectors 3 SATA connectors
4 USB 2.0 via 2 pin headers
1 RS-232 COM pin header
1 Front panel audio pin header
1 Front panel pin header
2 Fan pin headers
4-pin Molex connector (for peripheral power)
BIOS AMI BIOS 8 Mb flash memory
System Monitoring & Management: System power management, RTC timer
Operating Temperature 0ºC ~ 50ºC
Power DC 19 V @ 4.74 A
Form Factor: Mini-ITX (17 x 17 cm)
Includes Driver CD
Backplate
CPU fan
90 W AC adapter & cord
Wireless antenna
3 SATA cables
1 SATA power cable
User manual
Nvidia ION Cube Concept becomes reality. "The mind of cheapskate must be a very wild and strange place."
The first time I looked at cheapskate's drawing, my head just spun "How will I find TIME to build it?" I started to mentally edit the design to save time, without compromising it. The biggest revision would be the huge multi-layered acrylic base. We can save time by emulating it in aluminum instead of multiple acrylic pieces.
Before I start showing you everything, please understand that I'm a professional PC modder. I have the resources to build cheapskate's design efficiantly, but don't let this deter you from building your own case. There is multiple online communities like Modders-Inc with members who can help you get started with PC scratch building and modding.
There is also online services and communities of Skilled Trade Professionals that can help you with Laser Cutting, and CNC Machining for Hobbyists
eMachineShop.com is a online machine shop that offers free CAD software that is proprietary to their services. They provide CNC Milling, CNC Turning (Lathe), Rapid Prototyping, Laser Cutting, Waterjet Cutting, Plasma Cutting, Punching, Bending, Casting, Wire EDM, Plastic Injection Molding and more.
Online community forum of cnc machinists, laser/waterjet cutting specialists, and CAD Designers that allow you to post "RFQs" (Requests For Quotes) How to submit to RFQWork
CNCzone is nnother community of skilled Machinists you can join for FREE and discuss or seek help with CAD/CAM software, professional machinery, Electronics, mill conversions, lathe conversions
This laser cutting service will work with PC modders.
Laser Cutting Service, Inc.
803 41st Street North
Birmingham, Alabama 35212
205-595-7070 FAX 205-595-7021
http://www.lasercuttingservice.net
I apologize for not showing more in-progress photos. I simply didn't have the time to drop what I was doing and take photos. However I do feel that I caught the best highlights when I had the time to.
The is the core of the cube. It looks very simple, but it's actually a very detailed design. It's constructed from 10, individually laser cut 1/4" thick acrylic pieces. Anyone besides cheapskate and myself will need to call OnStar in order to open this PC...lol, j/k.
I chose to cnc mill a 1' x 1', 3/4" thick sheet of aluminum, purchased for $50 locally. I want to take cheap's ideas even further, I want the channels between the squares illuminated Green. My first plan was to mount 5mm Green leds around the inside of the base, but CC lights disperse more light. You need power inverters, 1 per 2x CC lights. We have a total of four 4" cold cathode lights. I had already purchased the 3/4" thick sheet, so the inverters would be relocated inside the cube.
Heres is the base 99% finished, after it was anodized Black, assembled with center pedestal and 1/4" thick sheet of UV green acrylic base plate. It's glowing from the ambient light coming in from the window. Notice the NVIDIA logo silhouette, this was the last detail to be covered with illuminated 1/4" thick UV Green NVIDIA logo.
Our pedestal design allows you to rotate the cube 360 degrees. You can turn the PC for a different look and easily access all of the rear ports.
Cheapskate designed a heat sink style plate on the rear of the NVIDIA Cube, it's highlighted Green in photo below.
I thought it would be cool to create a real heat sink from 6061 aluminum, with the NVIDIA logo engraved on it.
An interesting way to create and display a case badge of the NVIDIA Cube.
NVIDIA's iconic logo engraved in 6061 aluminum.
SEM self etching primer, Black. matches type II anodize black perfectly.
Updated 10/09/2009
Beneath the base, the power brick cord and sleeved cold cathode wiring.
1/4" UV Green acrylic under aluminum base
4" cold cathode light illuminates the NVIDIA logo from beneath.
This is our 120mm anodized black machined aluminum fan grill. This is the first product that Mnpctech started manufacturing in 2001. So for sentimental reasons, it was important that I utilized a part of our product history in this build
120mm anodized black aluminum fan grill installed in the ceiling of the cube. The grill's 4-7/8" x 4-7/8" dimensions gives you an idea of just how small the ION cube is inside.
HDMI @ 1920 x 1080 on 23" Widescreen looks real nice too
_________________ Click Image To Case Mod Store
Last edited by mnpctech on Sat Dec 05 @ 6:38 am; edited 55 times in total
cheapskate Modding Apprentice
Joined: Aug 02, 2009 Posts: 134 Location: Texas
Posted:Mon Sep 28 @ 12:44 pm
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA HOOOO!
Kick-butt start there.
Oh... inside my head is like a cross between Tijuana and Disney Land.
DFStormbringer Modding Apprentice
Joined: Aug 05, 2009 Posts: 191 Location: US of A
Posted:Mon Sep 28 @ 1:46 pm
hell of a start there.
_________________ -=Dare not ever meddle within the affairs of we dragons for you are crunchy and flavor very well with barbecue sauce=-
Sheldog23 "MI-evil, yes I am."
Joined: Mar 17, 2006 Posts: 1646 Location: The Heart of mod country - AUSTIN, TX
Posted:Mon Sep 28 @ 2:02 pm
eeeeexcellleeent! Great start can't wait to see this thing come together!
_________________ Nothing is as it seems, nor is it otherwise.
DFStormbringer Modding Apprentice
Joined: Aug 05, 2009 Posts: 191 Location: US of A
Posted:Mon Sep 28 @ 6:41 pm
i know your already in the planning staged for this.. but it MIGHT look better to have a thin layer of green lexan beneath the base to let light through and ad one of those star trecky plasma lightning plates beneath the lexan...this way you get the glow and a beastly lighting effect.. the glass plates are common items at most spenser gifts in malls.. just a thought.. you know.. added flair
just my 2 cents.
_________________ -=Dare not ever meddle within the affairs of we dragons for you are crunchy and flavor very well with barbecue sauce=-
oZEPPELINo
Joined: Jul 29, 2009 Posts: 38
Posted:Wed Sep 30 @ 11:21 pm
This is looking awesome! I've been waiting for the work logs for so long!
Boddaker Master Mod God
Joined: Jul 02, 2006 Posts: 139 Location: Where the beer flows like wine
Posted:Thu Oct 01 @ 1:50 pm
Looks great Bill! What's the weight on that base, out of curiosity?
whoa....nuff said, this is going to be a tuff one to beat.....
mnpctech Master Mod God
Joined: May 27, 2007 Posts: 851
Posted:Fri Oct 02 @ 7:39 am
Thank you for tuning in. It will be mounted on UV base. I haven't bothered weighing it yet, maybe 2lbs or less.
WELD-ON #3 is great for bonding acrylic, but very watery, so using a needle syringe will help control applications. You must set-up the pieces as it cures, which for me was usually 10 mins.
You can buy both of these items from www.tapplastics.com
Laser cut 1/4" thick UV green transparent acrylic NVIDIA logo for alum base.
Logo will be mounted on 1/8" clear acrylic base with Weld On #3, the paper is kept on to avoid fingerprints
_________________ Click Image To Case Mod Store
oZEPPELINo
Joined: Jul 29, 2009 Posts: 38
Posted:Fri Oct 02 @ 9:35 am
That looks so awesome. Something about laser cut acrylic just gets me excited.
cheapskate Modding Apprentice
Joined: Aug 02, 2009 Posts: 134 Location: Texas
Posted:Fri Oct 02 @ 11:38 am
Logo porn!! It looks fantastic!
mnpctech Master Mod God
Joined: May 27, 2007 Posts: 851
Posted:Tue Oct 06 @ 12:55 pm
Yes!
Machined aluminum pedestal for the Nvidia cube. Custom mounting plates for corner of the Nvidia ION Cube
Hard coat anodized type II finish, Black by Hard Anodize Inc in Edina, Mn.
Hollowed core for main power and cold cathode cables.
_________________ Click Image To Case Mod Store
BoxGods
Joined: Jun 26, 2009 Posts: 72
Posted:Tue Oct 06 @ 10:46 pm
Anode shadow in the grooves Bill? Prolly just me being picky as I prefer your killer polished stuffs =)
DFStormbringer Modding Apprentice
Joined: Aug 05, 2009 Posts: 191 Location: US of A
Posted:Wed Oct 07 @ 1:12 am
yeah... to match the arcyllic the metal would have been alot better in a polished back.. but thats just my opinion.
likey not enough time to have the parts powder coated AND get everythign to fit properly.
_________________ -=Dare not ever meddle within the affairs of we dragons for you are crunchy and flavor very well with barbecue sauce=-
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