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Work log - Backpack PC

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Gawd
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Oct 23, 2003
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Its 90% done. Just need to throw 4 80mm fans in and we're good.

backpack.JPG

backpackback.JPG

backpackIO.JPG


rest of the pics a few posts down.

original post below
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Mmm hm. Got the idea during the day, maybe biology class.

Going to build an acrylic skeleton for my PC components, and put it in a back pack with a 15" LCD mounted on the top and room for periphials.

Pretty much an extremely portable full ATX mobo desktop in a backpack. Regular school style jansport.

Today did some quick measurements to see if it was at all possible to do, seems like it would work out. Made a few 3d renders to be sure it made sense.
first.jpg


from above.jpg


side.jpg


"green is mobo
red is hard drives
yellow is PSU
blue is acrylic
teal is DVD rom thing, but will it work mounten vertically?
gray box is one fan, going to mount others on sides.

gunna put fan on side of mobo, and on both side of HD's going out of case/bag
Maybe one across the dvd rom -"

^^ some thoughts i had to jot down while modelling.

But anywho, planning to use 1/2" plexi for the important areas, like mounting the mobo, harddrives, and base of the skeleton. For the sides to simply enclose ill use 1/8"

Hopeing to secure the plexi to itself and the back through a series of screws and bolts.

Mobo will be mounted to the part of the bag where it would touch your back if worn normally.

Monitor not yet decided on where/how to mount, but im sure something will come up.
 
Looks like a good idea..........the DVD will work vertically if you buy a slot loading DVD drive.
 
Originally posted by Pagan Wizard
Looks like a good idea..........the DVD will work vertically if you buy a slot loading DVD drive.
Click to expand...


the dvd will work vertical no matter what type slot loading will be easy to use cuase no tray to deal with. instead of a monitor use a lcd pannal like the ones for cars
 
why do people insist on quoting a previous user but not add anything to the thread...damn post mongers...I am curious where the PSU and LCD are going to be going on this unit and how will you protect the screen from damage? great idea though
 
Originally posted by enzoR
u gonna power it with batteries? :D
Click to expand...

This could be done with a labtop battery :D Also, I have a quick question. Do you plan to use any padding in there to stop everything from moving around? I like this idea though.:p
 
Pretty cool idea.

But consider this: take the opposite approach, and make a backpack harness for a Shuttle case.

...I know, I know, where's the fun in that?...
 
Pics continued

pcside.JPG

pcfront.JPG

pcback.JPG

pcio.JPG

pctop.JPG





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It isnt a laptop, simply a really mobile desktop. Inside, somewhere, going to just put a power strip in and have one plug that needs to be taken out - plugged in for power.

The monitor will go on the opposite side of acryclic from the motherboard, lcd of course, with the base taken off and anything else stripped, with extended plexi covering it from people, water, anything else.

Powersupply on the bottom along with any extra lengths of cord, all wiring will go through holes cut through the plexi. Peripeals like mouse will be kept in the far front pocket, might need to find a small / flexible keyboard.
 
The real question is, wouldnt it cost 1000$ + for a decent gaming laptop that you cant upgrade ever or put newer laptops in that cool case?

All about being able to upgrade + portability.
 
have you thought about wight? dont put in an 9800 xt cause the heatsink wighes like 10 pounds. even though it wouldent be as fun i like the shuutle idea better. your spine will thank you when 100 years old.

that makes me think of the future when where all old and are grandchildren have these super real games and we look crazy talking about our games. hell its already that way, im 14 and my dad looks crazy talking about pacman "in my day we had a yellow circle, and that circle ate dots! ohhh and there where gosts!!!!! and they tried to eat you!!!" "and let me tell you about the frog that tried to cross the road"
 
Oh yea, might as well post the equipment going into the backpack PC...

Well its not extravagant, pretty low cost - but its been acumulating through random cash flow.

Motherboard - Random socket A
Processor - 1.33ghz Athlon m4 thunderbird
Ram - 512 pc2100 ddr
Video card - radeon 7500
Hard drives - Maxtor 160gb, maxtor 40gb
Random DVD-rom
Sounblaster 512
1394 pci adapter
100/10 nic card
pci slot fan.. how am i gunna get this to stay in pops into my mind
300 watt psu - random
4 80mm fans, fan on heatsink too
generic athlon heatsink
heh and maybe ill throw in a very secure cathode near the HD's for some glow
4 grams of regular dust
and a pint of... "adventure?"
 
Originally posted by netcoord
the dvd will work vertical no matter what type slot loading will be easy to use cuase no tray to deal with. instead of a monitor use a lcd pannal like the ones for cars
Click to expand...

make sure u do not mount the DVD drive vertically, or any optical drive for that matter, unless it is a slot load. If ur drive is vertical the dvd or cd can come off of the tray and slide back into the drive itself. This can cause a huge problem for you and your drive.;) I was going to do the vertical mounting until i heard so of the bad things that happened to others.
 
You might want to get you hands on a slim line laptop DVD drive. I would suggest placing it in the outer pocket of the backpack for easy access.
 
Originally posted by x10
make sure u do not mount the DVD drive vertically, or any optical drive for that matter, unless it is a slot load. If ur drive is vertical the dvd or cd can come off of the tray and slide back into the drive itself. This can cause a huge problem for you and your drive.;) I was going to do the vertical mounting until i heard so of the bad things that happened to others.
Click to expand...



most (not all) drives with trays are made to mount any direction. to keep the disc from sliding out of the tray there these neffty tiny little slots that keep the discs from falling. lets not forget that some mini atx case mount the drives on thier sides. if im not wrong gravity (the force that pulls thing toward the ground) is active weather a drive is facing up or on its side. take a close look at your drive and if you still dont believe me try it you will see
 
If you want a good keyboard that you can roll up, Get The Virtually Indestructable Keyboard. Works great and you can spill stuff on it and just wipe it off, no damage done!
 
the indestructable keyboards are cool, but have a tendency for the letters to rub off. Not to mention they feel weird to type on.
 
decided to move down to .25" acrylic due to price and size contraints. havent started any building yet, making sure to get a perfect plan before doing anything.
 
So did I.
:D

Seriously, this is a very nice concept. Making a harness for a shuttle might be slightly more practical but using this approach you will have more room for upgrading in the long run. Besides that the cool factor of this project is awefully high.

I was wondering, though, exactly how the cooling will be handled?
 
Take a look at 1/8" aluminum sheet for the frame. With the plexi a sharp blow or accidental pressure may shatter it, with the aluminum worst case is a bend you can straighten out
 
Wow... I've always wanted to do something like that, but just never came around to it... anyway, if you want an idea for powering the machine without too much bulk, you could use a 24V battery, and a set of PWM circuits with capacitors to smooth the output to give you the different voltage rails (24V because it's all a potential difference... your black/neutral wires would actually need to be at 12V, but compared to the 0V and 24V of the battery, it would be considered neutral... I hope you understand what I mean!
Then I'd also suggest using a small factor motherboard, either from a shuttle or an EPIA if you don;t mind the lower performance.
Oh and glue on some velcro strap to one of those small keyboards... strap it to your left arm :D

Anyway, best of luck with this!!!
 
Originally posted by netcoord
most (not all) drives with trays are made to mount any direction. to keep the disc from sliding out of the tray there these neffty tiny little slots that keep the discs from falling. lets not forget that some mini atx case mount the drives on thier sides. if im not wrong gravity (the force that pulls thing toward the ground) is active weather a drive is facing up or on its side. take a close look at your drive and if you still dont believe me try it you will see
Click to expand...

i know of the "slots" you're talking about but you also have to consider this: this drive will not be sitting on a steady desk, it will be in a moving, bouncing backpack = no vertical mounting
 
ok if im reading this correctly, you want a computer, built within a back pack (I like the idea) a pc, easyer to move, but still a desk top.

what ever you use to mount the hardware, you should also put something around it besides just the backpack, (flexible plastic, metal, or a cadge) Id also put some foam padding around the pc, (maybe between the mouning substrate, and the outer protective casing)

cooling... do you plan on mounting fans on the sides or top ( as in do you plan on having grills on the sides of the bag visable, or do you want to have to open the top of the bag to get venelation)

it sounds like you know what your doing, (dont just put a shutle in a bag)

good luck, good idea, happy modding
 
The plan is, mount everying on an acrylic frame, close the frame in with some thinner plexi around the side and non mounted areas for stability and strength.

Mount the fans to the side plexi, with holes through the outside of the bag attached to the fan, kind of like cutting a hole for air to go through, so direct outside access for fan.

Power supply fan will be the same way.

Its not going to be used on the run, i wont be walking around playing on the pc.

More like, Grab the bag, strap it on your back. Go to school,cafe,friends,mall,or wherever, pull out mouse and keyboard plug in the one power cord, and go-

Padding sounds possible, ill see whats up.

it will in fact be sitting on a steady desk, since it wont be on "on the go".

Anyone actually shattered .25" acrylic?

Got the measurements for my components to give an idea of size -

Mobo height = 12"
Mobo Width = 9"
Mobo Depth w/cards = 5"
Hard drive Width = 6"
Hard drive height = 1"
hard drive Depth = 4"
PSU height = 3 7/8"
PSU Width = 5 1/2"
PSU Depth = 6"
DVD Height = 1 5/8"
DVD Length = 6 6/8"
DVD Depth = 5 6/8"
All Fan Side =3 1/8"
All fan Depth ~~ 1"

All measurements in inches
 
Originally posted by x10
i know of the "slots" you're talking about but you also have to consider this: this drive will not be sitting on a steady desk, it will be in a moving, bouncing backpack = no vertical mounting
Click to expand...

Since you say it will be "moving, bouncing backpack" what kind of screen will you be using? And won't it be quite heavy if you get a battery to power all of that?
 
My concern with tweaking the plexi is at the seams. For the PSU mounting - you can get a mount that goes in a U over the PSU to hold it to your panel. Alternately, some PSUs such as the Antec True 430 let you screw a 6/32 screw partially into what is normally the top of the PSU.
 
LCD monitor, which i cant mount behind the motherboard now that ive measured stuff out, but ill find a place.

Xeese : I dont know what you mean about the PSU

Got all measurements done for acrylic needed, so thats good.

Next up, how to mount the HDD's and DVD to the plexi...

The HDD's have these little places for screws on the bottom, so thats promising. However, the dvd has no such thing (i believe ) so it might be tough. Any suggestions? And remember i need access to the top and bottom of the DVD drive.

... Its going to rock. Ill make some new renders of the revised plan, had to move the PSU and some other changes.

edit : Got the renders done, should be pretty easy to figure out. green is mobo, white is heatsink, red hard drives, yellow on the bottom is psu, orange/yellow on the right is dvd, purple is PCI/AGP cards, and blue is acrylic.



Perspective
new11119.jpg

Side view
front1119.jpg

Top view
top1119.jpg
 
Got all the measurements here for anyone interested, Maybe help get a mental idea of what it will be like

MotherBoard Height = 12"
MotherBoard Width = 9"
MotherBoard Depth w/ cards = 5"
Hard drive Height = 1"
Hard drive Length = 6"
Hard Drive Width = 4"
PSU Height = 3 7/8"
PSU Width = 5 1/2"
PSU Lenth = 6"
DVD Height = 1 5/8"
DVD Length = 6 6/8"
DVD Width = 5 6/8"
Fan Side = 3 1/8"
Fan Width = ~1"

ACRYLICS

Mother Board tray Height = 14"
Mother Board tray Width = 11"
Mother Board tray Depth = 1/4"
Hard Drive and PSU tray Height = 14"
Hard Drive and PSU tray Width = 11"
Hard Drive and PSU tray Depth = 1/4"
DVD tray Height = 9"
DVD tray Width = 8 1/2"
DVD tray Depth = 1/4"
Base Width = 11"
Base Length = 8 1/2"
Base depth = 1/4"
x2 Side Height = 14"
x2 Side Width = 6"
x2 Side Depth = 1/4"
Top Height = 11"
Top Width = 6"
Top Depth = 1/4"

Measurements for Strength bars -

Mother Board tray to DVD tray Distance = 9 5/8"
Mother Board tray to HD + PSU tray Distance = 5 3/4"

Also ive gotten all the 1/4" acrylic right here on my desk, but no pics for now- Probably going to end up with pics of just the finished project, but we'll see... Wish me luck, tommorrow my dad's getting some of the steel (or whatever) corner brackets so i can secure the plexi together.

Or atleast see what i can do for mounting with the brackets there.

Only problem at the moment is how to make sure air flow is still good -
 
well if you want your fans on the side, then id say glue, or bolt something across the sides, cut a hole in it and mount the fan on it, then cut the fabric, pull it back into the pack and glue it down or stitch it and mount the fan grill outside the back pack, so the grill holds the backpack to the fan, so the pack wont interfear with the air flow... (hope that made sence, and atleast gave you some ideas)
 
Yea i get what your saying, ill look into some fan grills and see "whats happening"

Pretty good idea -
 
The update, The update. What what? The update. Pics on page 1.
 
damn nice work, some pics w/o the bag would be cool, ...

what are you doing about cooling just slidig the bag down or are you going to toss some fans in there?
 
Originally posted by Thartek
the indestructable keyboards are cool, but have a tendency for the letters to rub off. Not to mention they feel weird to type on.
Click to expand...

those things are tight. you can roll them throw them there fun
 
Well because i havent put the fans in yet, to prevent overheating i do have to slide the bag down and remove the top :`( - going to put 4 80mm fans in there. 2 on the top, one blowing directly to the heatsink/processor, the other blowing out. 2 on the side oposite the iopannel, both blowing out. I think it will allow for some pretty good cooling.

But soon... it shall be ready to go. However monitor is a problem, when i dont have 300$ for a flatscreen.
 
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