Orthros Worklog

[MysticalKakarot]

Hey ya'll

Thought id share my plans for my first major... and i mean MAJOR mod... tell me what you all think so far...

Orthros Worklog
By: Derek AKA. Mystical_Kakarot & Shane AKA. Insane_99

Day one: Shane and I were talking on the net and an old thought came to mind again, 2 pc’s 1 case, one set of connections, that looks like a NORMAL computer. Impossible we thought but now were shooting for it. We talked about the specs of the computer a little, basic design, cooling, but mainly the wiring. I made it simple by saying “why don’t we shove a KVM inside of it?” BINGO!! Problem #1 solved. While I solved the problem Shane asked me “whats the name of that 2 headed creature in mythology”… Orthros… so we code named it Orthros and the fun began!

Day two PT.1: While shane was in school I went to work. Hardware…. Hmmmm hardware…. Should this computer be 2 equal computers? No no no that wouldn’t be right… so I decided to have a wordprocessing/serfing side… and the other would be my version of the UGM.

Hardware list:
Computer 1 – ECS K7SOM+ 7.5C, 256MB PC3200, 40GIG WD HD, DVD-/+RW combo, Aopen 300Watt PSU
Computer 2 – Abit KV8-MAX3, Abit Siluro FX5900 OTES, Corsair TWINX1024-3200XLPRO, AMD Athlon™ 64 3200+, WD360GD 36.7GB, WB 2500JD 250GB, 52x LG CD-Rom, Enermax EG651P-VE 550 Watt PSU

Mmmmmmmmmm pricey!!!! I have no exact cost on the parts list yet. Living in a rural town with no CC and being 18 can be a pain trying to find high end PC parts for a resonable price. But on I go for the prices, hope I don’t break the bank!!

[MysticalKakarot]

Day two PT.2: Well with the hardware done and pushed to a side i scetched a very rough draft of the case

The 2 side pannels will br hinged to the case and the case will open like a book... the wiring inside will hopefully make it seem like its one computer...

The cooling is a major issue in my mind... anyone have any idea's??? ducting maybe??

Derek

[RedXray]

Yea the heating issues was the first thing that came to mind
and also where and how to mount the second PSU.

You may be able to totally isolate each side with a divider
between to help steer the air flow independently.

Have you seen GagetDons dual pc with a KVM?

Here (http://yoshi.us/forums/index.php?showtopic=5082&view=findpost&p=42417)

[dhuss]

Originally posted by MysticalKakarot@Jun 10 2004, 10:52 AM
The cooling is a major issue in my mind... anyone have any idea's??? ducting maybe??

Derek
I don't know... it seems to me that you might be pressed for space as it is with the two mobos and wiring, unless your shooting for a pretty wide case. you might want to think about a cooling idea that a little more low profile. now i'm not sure what you mean by ducting but i'm thinking something kinda like A/C ducting which would seem to me to take up a lot of space in the case that you'll need, especially using two PSUs. are there any PSUs that could power everything? worse come to worse (and you feel up to it) you might be able to get by with one HUGE PSU and just make another ATX connection in it for both mobos

but i don't think that the heat from the two would be to much of an issue actually... perhaps a fan or two above the mobo on each side would do. especially if your trying to save some money for the parts...

just my $0.02...

D.H.

[MysticalKakarot]

Originally posted by RedXray@Jun 10 2004, 12:03 PM
You may be able to totally isolate each side with a divider
between to help steer the air flow independently.

Now thats an idea!!! but i was thinking of ducting the intake fans to over the heatsinks and having one large 120MM exaust fan....

Have you seen GagetDons dual pc with a KVM?


yes i have and honestly it isnt portable in my mind... i want mine to be portable ... so my lan part buds freak out when they see it LOL... they all said there mods would always top mine.. all they have is WUSIWUG mods... lighted fans and factory windows.... my my!!!

[MysticalKakarot]

Originally posted by dhuss@Jun 10 2004, 12:14 PM
I don't know... it seems to me that you might be pressed for space as it is with the two mobos and wiring, unless your shooting for a pretty wide case. you might want to think about a cooling idea that a little more low profile. now i'm not sure what you mean by ducting but i'm thinking something kinda like A/C ducting which would seem to me to take up a lot of space in the case that you'll need, especially using two PSUs. are there any PSUs that could power everything? worse come to worse (and you feel up to it) you might be able to get by with one HUGE PSU and just make another ATX connection in it for both mobos

but i don't think that the heat from the two would be to much of an issue actually... perhaps a fan or two above the mobo on each side would do. especially if your trying to save some money for the parts...

just my $0.02...

D.H.
one thought was using a watercooling setup for the athlon side... but that wouldnt be great for traveling to LAN parties.... im custom making the case so i can route hiden wires.... and for the 1 PSU... im not to keen on that... seems like alot more work then just ploping in 2..... What would be a more effective cooler for my lack of space... solid copper with a blower? is there any fanless heatsinks that would be sufficient?

Derek

[dhuss]

Originally posted by MysticalKakarot@Jun 10 2004, 11:20 AM
What would be a more effective cooler for my lack of space... solid copper with a blower? is there any fanless heatsinks that would be sufficient?

Derek
yeah with the lack of space just go with a heatsink that has plenty of fins and a fan on it to cool the fins down. especially on the athlon side your not going to want to use a fanless heatsink. make sure you get enough air flow inside the case, with 2 PSUs they're going to want a lot of air just for themselves.

D.H.

[Stang_Man]

Well about the 2 powersupplies, why dont you make a custom bracket and mount both of them verticly inside the case, with the power input and fan coming out of the top of the case.

(power cords)
_||__||___________
| ps | ps |              |
|_1_|_2_|              |
|                            |
|                            |
|                            |
|________________|


Just a thought...

[MysticalKakarot]

Originally posted by Stang_Man@Jun 10 2004, 01:58 PM
Well about the 2 powersupplies, why dont you make a custom bracket and mount both of them verticly inside the case, with the power input and fan coming out of the top of the case.

(power cords)
_||__||___________
| ps | ps |* * * * * * *  |
|_1_|_2_|* * * * * * *  |
|* * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
|* * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
|* * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
|________________|


Just a thought...
Well i took your idea and made it a little more in dept... whatcha think???

Derek

[MysticalKakarot]

Hey yoshi.... and sugestions for cooling.... and im gonna be making a case... what kind of meterial should i use???

[WVJammer]

Looks good Mystical.
Can't wait to see some pics.

[osiris]

hey, how about copper casing? so that it'll serve as a heat sink for your components.. :) it might look awkward though.. :D

[VanZero]

Hmmm... try that Zalman case... you know, the one that'll only cost you 3 years worth of pay... :P. Anyways, the components would probably fit in that quite well, only weighing at 300lbs, plus, you wouldn't have to hear the fans.

[dhuss]

Originally posted by VanZero@Jun 11 2004, 09:13 AM
Hmmm... try that Zalman case... you know, the one that'll only cost you 3 years worth of pay... :P. Anyways, the components would probably fit in that quite well, only weighing at 300lbs, plus, you wouldn't have to hear the fans.
another cheaper idea would be to buy an old computer (read pre-386) you should be able to find one that came in a huge case. one like that might suit your needs. I know i have one that was used as a server back in it's glory days and the case is gynormous... i don't think it would work for what you want to do with it though.

D.H.

[MysticalKakarot]

Well Shane and I decided to make the case from scratch because no computer case baught will work without any major modding... we've decided to make it so that the computer hinges open to lay flat for easy access... the bottem will have a hidden compartment for all the wire's/mobo connectors/KVM etc etc etc that will be 3" or so high... no decisions on cooling as of yet... scetched yet another pic of what the case would look like on a flat surface

[vial]

If one of the boards is going to be used just for web/word processing type of stuff then just go with a smaller form factor. Itll create less heat, needs less power and less cooling. Try mini itx or a mini atx and mini atx power supply....

[MysticalKakarot]

well with more brain storming i came up with a look for the case.... a two headed dog.. one head vicious, the other a tame puppy... my friend will draw the pics and il get them blown up and put on each side pannal.. the head thats looking strait at you will represent the side of the computer... ie- tame=duron1000mhz , vicious ahtlon 64 3200... she is insanely good at drawing (drew her own tattoo... pic at http://www.enub.net/nessa/photos/tattoo.jpg ).... while brainstorming we have come up for a final product for the front

Derek & Shane

[ety]

Look at the new coolmaster staker case. It has dual power-supplys and it has a flat fan that you can probbly mod to help with the air flow.

[MysticalKakarot]

actually im making the case completely from scratch :) :D :lol:

[violentpacifism]

well since the comp is going to be able to open up on both sides and its going to be a lan type machine why not try and make it as fanless as possible. for instance, when playing open up both sides and use fanless heatsinks. make it a tight fit when closed and when open it functions.

[Wyndle]

Going back to your idea of ducting... you could run a 1" or 1.5" PVC pipe from a fan/funnel to a T pointing at your CPUs. This would get the coolest air close to where you need it. You may also want to consider some way to get cooler air forced in front of that fan. If you can get the pressure high enough in the pipe then you may want to drill holes through it for additional air in other areas.

If you are wanting to make this rig portable then you should attach at least two top handles to the frame.

If you are making the entire case from plexi then I would suggest a sealed box in the front with two intake fans and plexi-made pipe to the CPUs for ducting, then one huge exhaust fan in the rear.


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[Stang_Man]

well optomimal air cooling would be 2x exhaust on the back, 1x intake on side, 2x intake on the front, and 1x 120mm exhaust on the top. But yes ducting would be a wise choice, since you will have limited room inside your case.