Ikea Helmer cluster

Discussion in 'Case Mod Gallery' started by renderpockets, Dec 7, 2014.

  1. renderpockets

    renderpockets n00bie

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    Hello guys, I have developed a lasercut plexiglas (screwless) case for mini ITX boards that fits inside ikea helmer cabinet to create a budget renderfarm solution for CGI artists like myself to render faster. It is very compact and fits under most desks.Its also great if you want to hide your computer completely. Each node is only 400x230x80mm, so about 7L very complact. Ambient temperature is about 30c with i7 cpu, and when 100% load it goes to 70-85c, you have option to add up to 6 x60mm fans, but I think 2-3 fans more than enough.

    I am not very familiar with cloud cluster computing or servers so I want to hear your opinion, would you be interest in Renderpockets idea for your project? Can you give me your advice on how I can improve renderpockets to adapt better to your projects (more storage space, hot swap drive bays in the back, micro ATX option, GPU location, more CPUs?)

    I am very interested in understanding your market and hope to be a part of.

    Thanks,
    Art
    View more at: www.facebook.com/renderpockets
    www.renderpockets.com (in progress)

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    Last edited: Dec 7, 2014
  2. renderpockets

    renderpockets n00bie

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  3. 1337m0dd3r

    1337m0dd3r [H]ard|Gawd

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    Those are some great looking renders and prototypes.
     
  4. renderpockets

    renderpockets n00bie

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    thanks! here are some more working prototypes:

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    Last edited: Dec 7, 2014
  5. HDriscoll

    HDriscoll Limp Gawd

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  6. FrEaKy

    FrEaKy [H] Movie and TV Show Review Guy

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    shnikies......

    :eek:
     
  7. iamwhoiamtoday

    iamwhoiamtoday Limp Gawd

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    I absolutely adore the case with two Mini-ITX motherboards. For the record. /swoon
     
  8. D4rkn3ss

    D4rkn3ss 2[H]4U

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  9. renderpockets

    renderpockets n00bie

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    Thanks guys, and yes the 2 miniITX boards in 1 case looks nice, but we had some serious heat issues with it, so its not recommended for rendering animations, maybe it will be alright with low powered atom miniITX boards that don't generate much heat.

    Here is one more treat:

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    Last edited: Dec 8, 2014
  10. redrage

    redrage Limp Gawd

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    some great renders and very cool project. wish i had a use for it, maybe after i hit the jack pot at the casino
     
  11. Smitty2k1

    Smitty2k1 Gawd

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    I really like what you have done here! However it seems English is not your first language. The text in you image should read "the only thing missing is an espresso machine"

    Can't wait to see this go live!
    Smitty
     
  12. renderpockets

    renderpockets n00bie

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    grammar at 4am don't mix well, should've double checked it before posting, thanks for pointing out! ;)
     
  13. twelveparsex

    twelveparsex [H]ardForum Junkie

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    If Ikea made a server rack that's what it'd look like
     
  14. Ockie

    Ockie *** Self Proclaimed Storage King ***

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    The biggest question is how much?
     
  15. waderunner

    waderunner Gawd

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    Very nice. One danger might be dependency on a particular Ikea cabinet model, since Ikea SKUs sometimes tend to go out of production. How quickly could you change your specs to fit some other cabinet?

    Or, simply design your own plexiglass cabinet, since you've got the skills. How about stackable? "stackable and rackable"... you can have that slogan for free :)
     
  16. renderpockets

    renderpockets n00bie

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    Ockie - price will be available by mid-January.

    waderunner - I was looking at making my own custom rack from T-Slots, because plexiglas alone is not very stable, it is still on my to do list, so maybe a few months give or take will present something :) Stackable maybe not, but rackable more like it !

    Ikea Helmer is one of their best performers worldwide, and its been available for years, I don't think they will stop the production any time soon!
     
  17. renderpockets

    renderpockets n00bie

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    Last edited: Jan 6, 2015
  18. NickJames

    NickJames Viagra Required

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    That is really cool! Seriously awesome design idea! This is like the ultimate Ikea hack. I made a server rack from a Lack table and thought that was cool but this is amazing.
     
  19. Draconian

    Draconian Limp Gawd

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  20. Priller

    Priller Gawd

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    Need a full size ATX and full size PSU compatible version.

    You can also make it double deep. So that its 1 door but takes up two slots as it looks like there are no supports between them.

    Also make a standalone box for HDDs and maybe rads.

    Put the double size with a single HDD rack and you got a beastly server.
     
  21. renderpockets

    renderpockets n00bie

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    Yes I am considering this option as well, with up to 4 GPU support that fit inside 2 drawer space :)
     
  22. dropper

    dropper [H]ard|DCer of the Month - July 2011

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  23. Nickbaldwin86

    Nickbaldwin86 2[H]4U

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    Very cool!
    but
    I hope you got a good A/c unit in that office
     
  24. renderpockets

    renderpockets n00bie

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  25. Priller

    Priller Gawd

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    Typical server PSUs have a reputation for being loud. Not a big issue in a datacenter but if you had 6-8 of them in a single rack then they would become annoying IMO.
     
  26. Jorona

    Jorona 2[H]4U

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    It will support pretty much any recent single video card, barring the 290X, and any recent CPU, barring the FX 8 cores, pretty well. I'd say the most you wanna put on it is a i7-47x0 with a GTX980.
     
  27. renderpockets

    renderpockets n00bie

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    Cool!!
    With that PSU it might be possible to finally add GPU in each drawer, many people been asking me about that option but it wasn't possible with sfx psu!
     
  28. renderpockets

    renderpockets n00bie

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    Fully assembled final prototype:
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  29. renderpockets

    renderpockets n00bie

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  30. renderpockets

    renderpockets n00bie

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    And one more recent design update - can now add multiple SSD drives vertically:
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  31. renderpockets

    renderpockets n00bie

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    Available for pre-order on Feb. 15th, at Indiegogo!

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