Just finished my 2nd cube computer

[CubedPC]

A couple months back I posted asking for help designing a new case, and I wanted to share how the computer turned out with you guys. Thanks a lot for all of your input. Any suggestions on how to improve this computer would also be appreciated. I'm going with all UV lighting, and am going to install a 6" light on the right side to balance out the brightness, as the left side is bright and the right side is dark.
I am going to take some good lit up pics once I figure out how to have them show up well on my new digital camera.

System specs:
Mobile Barton 2400+ @ 2400 MHz
DFI Lanparty Ultra II Mobo
Aerocool HT-101 heatsink
768 MB PC3200 ram
GeForce4 Ti 4400 128 MB
2 x 160 gb hard drives
4 x 120 mm Antec fans
52x burner
Windowed DVD Drive
Aspire 500 Watt PSU
CubedPC.com 13” Cube case

You can find more pictures here
Here are some pictures:

Both of my computers:

Front:

Side:

-Steve

 

[Caffeinatedsoap]

Nice

 

[bleed3r]

I vote that hard drive gets a window

 

[CubedPC]

Thanks The hard drive is in a great spot for a window, I'm afraid to window a 160 GB hard drive though, as it would surely crash.
Since I am out of room on my IDE cables I could get a SATA hard drive that crashed, and have it just look cool but not store any data. That would definatly be sweet. If anyone has a dead SATA drive I'll pay you shipping for it

 

[Qtip42]

No offense but it seems like you tried to hide the fact that you're plugging the cases you are selling.

it looks nice but dont try to disguise things heh

 

[ScHpAnKy]

Thanks The hard drive is in a great spot for a window, I'm afraid to window a 160 GB hard drive though, as it would surely crash.
Since I am out of room on my IDE cables I could get a SATA hard drive that crashed, and have it just look cool but not store any data. That would definatly be sweet. If anyone has a dead SATA drive I'll pay you shipping for it

I have a dead 30GB PATA drive, e-mail me if you're interested

 

[AggieMEEN]

I'm not much for the clear PC thing, but I tell ya, my hat's off to you, man. That's some damn fine work!

 

[Xeese]

Good job - nice looking case. What are the dimensions on the larger cube?

Good to see that you are still in business, more designs are always worth supporting.

 

[CubedPC]

Qtip42: sorry if it comes off that way, I'm trying to keep from plugging my case, but I do want to get feedback on my comouter and show how it came out since I put a lot of work into it and recieved a lot of help from other members of this forum.

Aggie: thanks, acrylic cases are definatly an aquired taste, or for me an aquired mania

Xeese: The case is 13"x13"x13.236" (essentially 13" cubed). I'm glad we are still in bussiness too, although I only have some cases and 6 dollars to my name right now, so we'll see how that goes.

 

[Xeese]

I remember when you did the first cube. They are some good looking cases, although I still lean toward aluminum or perforated aluminum as my personal preferences. Hopefully you can at least make a little money to keep you going forward with new designs. I have no idea what it costs for the materials, cutting and assembly, including your time, but they seem to be very fairly priced. From personal experience the shop costs for prototyping my CoolerMacster mod and upcoming reservoir have been killer.

 

[CubedPC]

Yeah, making anything in small quanties really does make it quite expensive. I actually calculated that because of the 3-4 hours it takes to build a case, plus time spent on the website and support, we actually make less than minimum wage working on the company. It doesnt really matter though because its really fun and interesting to do, and theres no better way to pick up chicks than a sweet bussiness card

 

[xplicit]

Nice indeed. Care to send one to atruereview.com for review?

PM me if interested, and I'll give you details.

 

[91ZX]

nice...

 

[Techx]

It's no orac3 but nice job

 

[wayne]

I vote that hard drive gets a window

you read my mind...


btw, how much have you spent making the cases alone for the materials?

 

[Godlovesaterrier]

sorry but 200 is a rip off considering what else you can get out there for half the price. Its nice work but damn thats to pricey. Standing on your case doesnt really mean much either, just because you stand on it doesnt mean its worth it.

 

[wayne]

sorry but 200 is a rip off considering what else you can get out there for half the price. Its nice work but damn thats to pricey. Standing on your case doesnt really mean much either, just because you stand on it doesnt mean its worth it.

mann, dont say that... its art

its like, theres a difference in paying a couple grands for a original famous painting then paying 5 cents for a xerox copy... and would everyone want to buy the original?, maybe some people... but others probably prefer a copy but that doesnt mean no one would pay the price for the original one

the cost would drop a lot if you could get a factory to manufacture it or something

 

[Xeese]

sorry but 200 is a rip off considering what else you can get out there for half the price. Its nice work but damn thats to pricey.

I haven't seen any other clear cubes for $100. I have seen mid-towers in kit form for that price. Once you factor in material cost, cost to have the pieces cut, and a minimum for assembly time $200 isn't a bad price. YY Cubes go for $150 and they are a straightforward stamped steel box, easy fabrication and assembly, probably a cost of under $70 to produce. I am sure the guy isn't recovering any of his design time or similar and a minimum of the costs for labor. It is possible that some company like igloo will go off along their knockoff route and make some lower cost versions of this, but it is a cheesy way to go.

 

[wayne]

It's no orac3 but nice job

what does it mean to bleed a wc setup?

 

[CubedPC]

Thanks for the encouragment guys. Wayne, I think you hit the nail right on the head with that comparison. The way I see it its like a $40k BMW compared to a normal $20k sedan. You don't get double as much out of the BMW as you would the other car, both will get you to the same place, but the BMW costs more because it is more expensve to build, built in smaller quantities and is more art than another car that blends into the traffic

My best friend and I started building cube cases 3 years ago when we got fed up with all computer form factors being generally the same. You can get a Li Lian, or another premium case but it still looks like just about every other computer out there in general shape and configuration of components.

Godlovesaterrier: It might not prove something for a metal case, but it does for an acrylic case, I would love to see someone who wieghts 235 lbs stand on a kit acrylic case.

-Steve

 

[CubedPC]

what does it mean to bleed a wc setup?

You need to get all of the little air bubbles out of the lines to increase flow and keep the pump from runing up, the process of removing the air bubbles is called bleeding the lines.

 

[wayne]

You need to get all of the little air bubbles out of the lines to increase flow and keep the pump from runing up, the process of removing the air bubbles is called bleeding the lines.

and how exactly do you do that?

 

[Pherret]

Purchasing one of these cases is like "Stickin it to the MAN"

hehe

Some people just appreciate a hand built item over a cheaper machine built version that is mass produced, and everyone and his brother owns. It has more character.

 

[CubedPC]

and how exactly do you do that?

No clue, I don't have a WC setup, Im sure you could find something on it if you search here or google.

P.S. Don't let the man bring you down!

 

[bobsaget]

P.S. Don't let the man bring you down!

lol, I have heard that somewhere! Where is that from? I know it was funny though.