Project: PrometheusCu

[Langer]

If you want the lifetime warrenty - the Decware metal housing - and an assembled product: $295US ($395 this summer).
If you want the DiY kit with all the parts - no housing included: $135US
If you just want the PCB: $25US

The Decware ZenHead is currently ranked the 7th best portable amp in the world (and it's certainly the only one in the top 10 that can be had for under $150). It's built-in crossfeed filter is unparalleled however, so if you are like me where Soundstage is very important - this amp is hard to beat. There's a portable amp shootout done by Head-Fi.com on their forums - that's where I got the ranking information.

I'd very much suggest dropping an additional $40 on some Cardas Quad silver solder as well (100gr will last you a while).
It's also very worthwhile getting some sockets for the opamps to plug into - this way you wont risk frying them while soldering, and you can swap them if you want.

 

[Elledan]

You're planning to make the case hover with those fans?

 

[ZMTToxics]

Been a while since I commented, so here is a bump for you good sir!

 

[TeeJay88]

This is beautiful, my girlfriend even thought it was cool. Mine was pissed when she found out i put 1700 into my i7 build. I hope yours doesnt kill you for 15k!!! Man im so damn jealous. I followed this on 3 different forums.

 

[ZMTToxics]

This is beautiful, my girlfriend even thought it was cool. Mine was pissed when she found out i put 1700 into my i7 build. I hope yours doesnt kill you for 15k!!! Man im so damn jealous. I followed this on 3 different forums.

Ha! I have been trying to convince mine to get me get one of the new Mac Pros but the 5k price tag isn't helping my case.

 

[bsoltan]

I don't know if this is the most awesome or most crazy mode I've seen. Either way I love it. Keep up the good work and looking forward to the finished setup.

 

[Langer]

Thanks guys!

Considering that my new fans frighten me, it occurred to me that someone might get hurt.

So I decided to add redundant safety protocols, just in case:

 

[Langer]

UPDATE:

Today was an intimate day between myself and my scroll-saw. =)

I started making some carbon accents from .8mm sheet - I had a few of these sheets left over from an earlier project. Their intended purpose was the outer shell of the Acer Ferrari series laptop .

I popped out the stainless steel - and cut out a replacement on my scroll saw:

I made some more carbon covers for the I/O and the RAM.

And another for the RAID card, because it's PCB was green:

I also covered the ATX plug with a little cover - because I wont be needing it:

A little overview:

I made little circles for all the fan motors as well, but I forgot to take pics. I'll take some with next update.

Tune in soon for more.
-Jesse

 

[Vlad_13]

Thanks guys!

Considering that my new fans frighten me, it occurred to me that someone might get hurt.

So I decided to add redundant safety protocols, just in case:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v60/Langer/PrometheusCu/prometheus-redundant-safety.jpg

Those are freaking 5200rpm fans @ 62dB-A why in the world you would want them in the system? Not to mention they are rated 29 Watts, Simply put it... with just only ONE fan like that, using a computer is not possible because of the noise.

I have one EFB1212VHE in Lian Li v1000z. It's 3200rpm and its loud as fuck at full speed which is around 47dB-A I keep it around 2800-2900rpm so it's not so loud. Got to admit... fans from Delta are the best ones i ever owned.

 

[ZygoatD]

I got my Uber Fans!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sidewinders
Four new Revision C models from Delta's AFB line have arrived!

The AFB1212GHE Revision C Grand High Speed is our newest king of 120mm fans. This dc fan motor provides over 240 cubic feet of air out of a traditional design that has been highly refined and tuned by Delta's fan motor team. Comparisons with our other high end Delta parts show it has modest power requirements for its ability to move so much air out of the standard 120x38 millimeter form factor. It does lack the directional blades which we've all come to know as Delta's patented design, which helps airflow move more consistently straight out of the fan housing. However, as noted in its lower decibel rating, it will also lack the high pitched whine that accompanies directional fin fans. The AFB parts can be undervolted slightly more, but apparently cannot be overvolted as much. For power users adjusting the voltages on these parts, it will be a welcome change.




All 6 fans actually hover.
6 in a row run at 19-21dB at min and 67-71dB on MAX (~1 away).
Even at min setting the row throws over 85CFM at any point (~5cm away).
They have a power spike of ~40W and pull 29.4W at 12V
Which means I need to have 270W of power overhead just to turn on my fans, and another 180W to keep 'em running.

The fan controller - the build quality is nothing to write home about but I'll straighten out the components, clean off the acetone, add new heatsinks, and make a new frame.
I went with this controller because it's the only controller -that I could find- that can offer up-to 45Watts per channel.
Most 120mm case fans will draw no-more than about 2-3W - so a low wattage controller will more than do you.
The Delta Fans I'm using however draw 29.4W w/ an on spike as high at 40W so they need more beef!

read.

 

[Langer]

Lol.

The list Wattage is the "running" draw, there is a power spike of 38.88 when you turn them on.
The controller I'm using can handle up to 45W per channel, it will tame these monsters.

I will run them on LOW 95% of the time... but it's nice to have ~200CFM of overhead to be able to play with when you want.


I have some ideas (and prototypes) for active noise canceling with the aid of a self modified transducer... but those won't be a direct part of this project. Essentially I want to build a black hole for sound... and it's already well under way but there's been many setbacks. If I ever figure it out 100% they'll be for sale.

 

[Vlad_13]

No matter what revision A, B, or C... AFBs always will have that annoying humming sound... cuz of the motor design, especially the high speed ones you got. Unless, you going to stick em in some sound proof box with mad sound canceling hardware... which is a gimmick in my opinion. Not to mention you got six of them.

Good luck though, when you finish the build pls record a short MP3 of your system, i would love to hear it. Also I'm willing to bet that you will replace them with something that got less dBs

read.

Yeah...... and? What else you want me to read......

 

[Langer]

I chose this model delta because it's design responds better to undervolting than any other model available to me - ie: they run nicely quite. Also it DOESN'T have that distinct whine of the AFB series, because it doesn't sport the directional fin fans normally used in the AFB line-up.

As stated... I will be running them on low. I Just wanted a reliable fan. The benefit of 200CFM of overheard is merely a perk.
Also stated, my transducer assembly is not related to this project. Prometheus won't sport any sound dampening.


This project is merely an example of executed design. It's more than likely that it'll be run <50hrs it's entire lifespan.



As soon as this project is complete I'm shelving it and moving on to the next one - which is well under development.

I love the smell of insanity in the morning:
Sometime later this year I'm going to start on my next project.
It will be an experiment in enterprise level overclocking.
It will be quite a large rig built entirely from that 8.5mm thick carbon armor.
It will be built around a Quad x Quad Opteron system giving a total of 16cores (24 once the 6core Istanbul's chips are released)
Feature 5 fully automated watercooling loops with 8 rads and 10 pumps.

Here is the motherboard on which this system will be built:
*click for big*


Here are the specs:

The MSRP of all the parts is about 20k, I'm projecting my costs to be under 5k tax in- I've already started rallying support with unimaginable success.

Don't get too excited though it's still many moons out.


Cheers - Jesse

 

[jtg1993]

WOW!! That will be one crazy build, what are you going to use it for?

 

[Elledan]

Insanity and overkill make a great combo. Nice work, Jesse

 

[fusionrx]

I think you hit on a great name for the next project.

Project Insanity and Overkill

Its got a nice ring to it.

 

[Elledan]

Thanks, fusionrx I must say that it does indeed sound like a great project name

 

[Langer]

Here are some slightly better pics now that the sun is out.

The Pico's rad - push pull Kama Kaze fans (great 40mm fans, nearly silent)

=)

-Jesse

 

[KeymaN]

if anyone would ask me what is this?
i can only tell that person that this is alien technology!
let me ask a silly question
how do u power up the computer if u r not gonna use the 24pin ATX port?
( wait! i get it! it is alien technology!!! OMGBBQWTF!? O_O!!! )
oh man i cant wait til this is done and see this in person! and taking pictures of it!
damn this is such a beauty!

 

[SDMorris]

5 dolla 5 dolla me make you holla for this thing!!!!!!!!!! You cant just shelve the most beautiful man built machine! It needs to be seen by everyone in the world!

LOL, but really Langer, I applaud you. Some of the best work I have ever seen, possibly even the best. I cant wait to see your next build!

 

[Main Target]

if anyone would ask me what is this?
i can only tell that person that this is alien technology!
let me ask a silly question
how do u power up the computer if u r not gonna use the 24pin ATX port?
( wait! i get it! it is alien technology!!! OMGBBQWTF!? O_O!!! )
oh man i cant wait til this is done and see this in person! and taking pictures of it!
damn this is such a beauty!

Wirelessly duhhhh

 

[AVT]

if anyone would ask me what is this?
i can only tell that person that this is alien technology!
let me ask a silly question
how do u power up the computer if u r not gonna use the 24pin ATX port?
( wait! i get it! it is alien technology!!! OMGBBQWTF!? O_O!!! )
oh man i cant wait til this is done and see this in person! and taking pictures of it!
damn this is such a beauty!

PSU wires soldered to the other side probably.

 

[Langer]

I decided to add HDD Activity Indicators to the 'RAID Box', 1 per drive. =)

I also added an LED that will just be on all the time to add a bit of internal p'zaz.

More soon

- Jesse

 

[Langer]

JUST A TEASER:

Anyone who has ever sleeved an ATX plug knows its a pain in the ass...when you have a half inch of wire to work with it becomes a painful... when you then have to cut, crimp and solder the pins onto the little stumps it elevates maddening... if not enough - getting the ATX plug onto that mess could drive a man suicidal... and don't even get me started on the soldering end.

Suffice to say - won't be doing this again with a ribbon cable!!! It made the process about a million times more difficult.




The ribbon cable will be coated in black rubber so as to keep things perdy.

More soon. I need to run the 12V power and make the ATX power black, amung other things.


Tune in tomorrow kids - same bat time; same bat channel!

 

[TeeJay88]

ahahah im watching the original batman cartoon from 92 for shits and giggles, and once again this build has made me cream

 

[Langer]

I'll never forget the episode where Batman and Robin were fighting Mr Freeze.
Freeze had them trapped in a 'freezer' and all seemed hopeless for our dynamic duo.
Just as it appeared Mr Freeze had finally won...
Batman spoke out, "Good thing we drank that anti-freeze this morning, eh Robin?".
"Darn tootin' big fella" (or some BS like that) responded robin.
The rest writes itself... Pow, Fappo, Kazaam, and Freeze is back behind bars.

...now you may have spotted the questionable writing here.
Even as a child a stopped and said to myself... how many kids are going to die this winter from Anti-Freeze poisoning inspired by Batman?


Here are some better images of the ATX wire - still without a black rubber coating. I tried to get pics of the solder joints but it'll have to wait until I next remove the motherboard.

This wire probally took me 5-6hours to fabricate... and another 45mins or so to solder it in place.

The sun was out, so I did a fit test today. I'm pleased, I hope you will be as well:

Here's the Pico-ITX w/ it's 40mm rad hanging below via VHB tape:

Power source for the 40mm fans on the rear chassis wall, and the LED on the rear of the RAID card:

Note the SATA port location... right smack in the way of the watercooling ports - I'll have to flip this block 180degrees

I'll leave you with this for now:

More proper updates later. I'm going to do a little experimenting with the Ethernet port -among other things- this evening

 

[Blazestorm]

Bananas and such.

 

[Langer]

Indeed:

 

[cnealjr]

Awesome man, just as we all knew it would be.

 

[Kardonxt]

Pretty fantastic..... but will it play crysis? lol

 

[Langer]

@cnealjr - Thank you sir.


So I FINALLY received by two Copper AquaComputer AquaTube reservoirs today...

These are MAGNIFICENT - they weight a tonne but they are so sexy. Lots of respect for AquaComputer!

 

[EndersShadow]

Langer: I cant wait till this thing is finished. Hopefully you can make it to some shows close to me. I know if it comes anywhere near me I will be making time to see it even if its taking vacation time from work lol

 

[silent-circuit]

Langer: I cant wait till this thing is finished. Hopefully you can make it to some shows close to me. I know if it comes anywhere near me I will be making time to see it even if its taking vacation time from work lol

Seconded. Keep us up to date where it ends up -- and I think you've said it before, but where are you located? Somewhere out in California?

 

[cnealjr]

He's in the Great White North - aka Canada

 

[PeteLightning]

I knew this build was going to be awesome, but man! I think I need to change my pants!

 

[Arcygenical]

I'd like to see this in person, Langer. Your home town is just up the road from mine .

 

[Langer]

Funny you say that. A kid by the username Procuparie actually biked 50km on monday to come and see Prometheus. I give him point for spirit - that's for sure.

I'm in Georgetown Ontario right now. But on the 27th I'm moving back to BC to continue my studies.

Anyone is welcome to come and take a gander. Just send me a PM and we can work something out if your serious Arcygenical.

 

[Arcygenical]

Oh, I would be serious, but I'm stuck in Ohio until early June!

 

[EndersShadow]

Oh, I would be serious, but I'm stuck in Ohio until early June!

It could be worse..you could be stuck in Indiana like me

 

[KeymaN]

oh what!
i thought u r working on the Prometheus in Vancouver!
so on the 27th are u going to bring it back with you back to Vancouver?
because i would love to see it in person!