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Cyrix Hotplate Howto
fimbulvetr writes "Looking to put those old processors to work? Tired of catching flack for having hardware, but no use for it? Worry no more! Doc from rabidhardware.com shows us how to employ 7 Cyrix processors to build a spectacular cooking device. Cooking instructions not included. Void where prohibited."
While Intel recently made this impossible via their Speedstep technology, Cyrix is right on the bleeding edge of multitaskable (computing/ cooking) CPU's. For this, i salute them.
Will wank off Linus Torvalds for fame.
Wouldnt a Pentium 4 be better for this?
"To do this we'll be using 7 6x86 Cyrix CPUs ranging from 100mhz to 150mhz, dissipating an upwards of 20+ watts each. All chips will be supplied with 5v regardless of their original requirements, which I imagine will also improve the thermal output."
Wouldn't this void the warranty?
It could be worse, it could be Monday.
As a beginner, you'll want to start with crude tools. You'll need a blowtorch and a rubber mallet.
1) Host server on Cyrix processor.
2) Post on Slashdot.
3) Watch food get cooked.
Linux - Because Mommy taught me to Share.
... possibly just me but for now it looks like the fabled slashdot effect is in early action here
Screw you all! I'm off to the pub
How can a single 7805 rated for a maximum Icc of 1A provide the couple dozen amperes to provide even the output equivalent to an Easy-bake oven?
My inner child just got the shit kicked out of him by my inner skeptic who says, This should have waited a few weeks for 1 April
How does the Slashdot Effect happen given that no slashdotters ever RTFA?
yes, their webserver runs on Cyrix processors too!
Never ask for directions from a two-headed tourist! -Big Bird
Just get a single P4 chip, no need for 7 individual cyrix chips... Intel is always thinking about people like me who don't want 7 things... I want 7 things in one... ;)
---
Programming is like sex... Make one mistake and support it the rest of your life.
Fish and chips anyone?
Omnis amans amens
That said, an interesting use of old CPUs. I wouldn't think that they would be hot enough, but I guess it makes sense. I heard that when the Intel guys finished designing the origional Pentium, someone gave the head designer a hotplate as a gift because the hotplate had the same thermal dissapation (W/cm^2) as the Pentium.
That said, the hack would have been more impressive if the processors were running Seti@Home at the time. But then it would be hard to get them all right next to eachother like that.
Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
...a single P4 Prescott!
7 cyrix procesor or for those with a bit more cash, a single p4 presscot , incidently was the webserver running on a cyrix as it apears to be out for the count so heres a coral cach link on nyud http://www.rabidhardware.net/index.php?id=44.nyud. net:8090
The only things certain in war are Propaganda and Death. You can never be sure which is which though
you'd think a site called 'rabidhardware' would stand up to a slashdotting a little better...
insert joke about the slashdot effect remotely cooking food here.
"All chips will be supplied with 5v regardless of their original requirements, which I imagine will also improve the thermal output. "
From the printable version: http://www.rabidhardware.net/index.php?id=44&print able=yes
Welcome to the 21st century. The age of conservation, renewable materials and Jolene Blalock. As we're urged to replace our gaming equipment on a weekly basis, many tonnes of silicon, lead, and copies of Daikatana make it into our planet's landfills.
At RabidHardware we strive to be environmentally sound (so says our lawyers). By re-using hardware we would have so hastily discarded in our youth, we can now give our dear Earth a new lease on life. Seeing how the Great White North is in the middle of one of the more colder winters as of late, and I'm on a budget (read: cheap bastard), I figure we could get two birds stoned at once with this latest project: A CPU-driven hotplate.
Enter the intrepid Cyrix(tm) Central Processing Unit. Instead of piling the landfills with these retired, non-biodegradable heathens (or donating them to NASA for shuttle heat shielding), we may as well put em to further use. So what do we do instead you ask? Well, there is only one thing a Cyrix CPU does well besides reflecting heat, and that is producing it.
To do this we'll be using 7 6x86 Cyrix CPUs ranging from 100mhz to 150mhz, dissipating an upwards of 20+ watts each. All chips will be supplied with 5v regardless of their original requirements, which I imagine will also improve the thermal output.
These be my materials:
- 7 Cyrix CPUs (1x PR120, 4x PR166s, 2x PR200s)
- Lexan sheet for CPU base
- aluminum/copper/cookie sheet for hotplate surface
- AT 250W power supply
- wire, solder, fixin's
- 7805 Voltage Regulator
After a quick look at this handy chart, I've decided to use pins A7 (core voltage) and B10 (ground) for our electrical connections.
Step 1 - Processors
First off, clean up the procs in question, as stuff like ancient heatsink compound or warranty stickers (that haven't already burned off of course) will impede heat transfer!
Most important thing we need to do is supply power to these little thermo-electric heaters of ours. All we need to do is run a 12v rail from the power supply into the voltage regulator (which will output +5v @ 1A) and connect the procs in parallel:
I realize there may be a better way to do this but we don't have time for rational thought. After all, my bacon expires tomorrow and I am VERY hungry! I also realize we could just use the 5v rail directly off the power supply. The reason for the VRE though is to regulate the amperage available to our hotplate while adding an extra stop-gap to keep our high quality power supply from exploding (prematurely?). SAFETY FIRST!
Feel free to remove the surrounding pins for easier soldering, sure as hell won't be needing them anymore!
Step 2 - Goop
Next off, we'll need to create our most excellent thermal interface. The Arctic Silver 3 which I've had in my toolkit for several years should do nicely, as it has a peak temperature of 180c. Feel free to don a piece of plastic or your favourite straight razor (preferably bloodless) to develop that sexy paper-thin layer of arctic goop, but I'm sort of in a rush.
You may have noticed we've also attached a heatsink to the regulator. Unfortunately, as Thermaltake or Alpha haven't made performance VRE heatsinks (yet), I had to go with a generic brand. Don't worry though, we'll make up for the performance loss later.
Once you've got your transfer medium installed, it's time to add the hotplate surface. I went with a generic piece of metal from a cookie sheet, but a aluminum or copper sheet would do better. I'm assuming you'll be lapping the side that the procs will be in contact with, right? Once it's ready, position your hotplate surface and press down to further spread around that silvery goodness.
Now is probably as good a time as any to mention: As with any of my projects, make sure you have a fire extinguisher and bomb squad nearby. Again, SAFETY FIRST!
At RabidHardware we're always in for any extra per
5 cavity HV Klystron (satellite transmitter)
TSSP unit (shouldn't have gotten that hot, but did)
Hang some grub in front of the dish and crank 'er up to 7200 watts
Manifold of a diesel generator (obviously)
Ah, those were the days...
"I'm just here to regulate funkiness."
Thanks...I'd been trying it with a match and a tree branch, but I can't seem to get the precision I need. Seriously, any suggestions?
Here is a mirror, as I have found the site to be /.'d already.
I'm not good in groups. It's difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent. - Q
http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:N6NjjllZah8J: www.rabidhardware.net/index.php%3Fid%3D44+&hl=en
I've got a box full of old processors and other hardware, maybe i'll build myself one of these.
Bits of News Giving you the latest bits.
Google is your friend. http://64.233.183.104/search?hl=nl&q=cache%3Ahttp% 3A%2F%2Fwww.rabidhardware.net%2Findex.php%3Fid%3D4 4&btnG=Zoeken&lr=
Sounds like a chapter from the BOFH cook-book.
Rubber mallet must be carbon-loaded or include a ground strap to avoid problems with static electricity killing things before you get the chance.
AT&ROFLMAO
You know you have failed in the processor market when people are cooking up ideas to use your processors to cook food instead of crunch numbers.
To make a simple processor BBQ just get a big box of old processors, a can of petrol and a metal brazier.
Put the chips and the petrol in the brazier, set it on fire and cook stuff on top. If the flames begin to die down add more wood, chips ( if you have them ) or any other junk to sustain the heating reaction.
Pick a project to work on and don't give up. Not a boring project either. Read up on everything you need to learn to finish it.
i scovercircuits.com/
Get a breadboard. Get a real electronics soldering iron. Grandpa's old soldering gun won't do, and radio shack 5$ irons won't get you very far, unless you're on a really tight budget.
See digikey or mouser or the phonebook for electronic parts. Radio Shack won't cut it anymore.
Visit these, and never stop reading.
http://www.epanorama.net/
http://www.d
Compared to a normal 'hot plate'/electric fry pan?
Could this be something that is actually worth to do?
i dont know why people go to these lengths to make a hotplate. I use my powerbook.
How long until someone uses a bunch of TBirds to make a coffee roaster?
Will my food cook faster if I use processors that support MMX, SSE or 3DNow!?
I respectfully disagree. This is a 'fun' topic.
People like fun. Perhaps you don't know that.
is to find a way to hardness the latent computer proscessing power of the George Forman Grill. You know it exisits.
Nothing like a tasty, l33t breakfast... and it's nutrutious, too! (well, more nutritious than the usual l33t f00ds, anyhow)
--
"Open source is good." - Steve Jobs
"Open source is evil." - Microsoft
Ok, that is cool. But as I am stuck with an electric stove at home I have a bit of a rant to add.
Electric coils don't heat evenly, and I always get nasty hot spots when cooking. (Yum, burnt on the left side, raw on the right)
To get around this nasty problem I use my cast-iron for almost everything I cook. It's big and heavy and disperses the heat better than anything else I own. If you don't have one, a 12" cast iron skillet is one of the best pan investments you can make.
We are the Borg...
Electric stoves are for amateurs.
Just like electric windings are for armatures.
Do you see?
I personally preffer to fry my eggs on an Athlon XP. Just make sure it's an original Athlon as new ones run too damn cool.
altough I say - shit this. Pentium 4 with it's 115W of heat output would be far better suited for this.
1:0 Intel to Cyrix
Now what we really need is to find a way to hardness the latent computer proscessing power of the George Forman Grill. You know it exisits.
Ah, but will it run Linux? (^_-)
Now, perhaps it might not run on that, but there must be a number of household items with moderate processing power that *could* run some hacked-about form of Linux.
Question is, which is the least "appropriate" appliance that Linux has been run successfully on? For example digital TV set-top box? Microwave oven? Toaster?
"Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
well...on the upside... now if someone comes into your room and asks you all sarcastic "are you cooking somthing in here or what?" you can say
"YES!"
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
This is MY galaxy...go find your OWN!
The sentence that is often missing in articles like this one is "Before proceeding further, make sure you have a back-up copy of your house".
AccountKiller
If you want to do any real work then skip the multimeter and just save for a scopy. You can get one failry cheep and it is really the only way to hack hardware.
Best of luck.
Flak
I think they kept a couple of Cyrixs aside to use in their server.
Also, this is 2005. The era for electronics projects is 20-30 years IN THE PAST.
Save ALL your money, and just BUY whatever it is you need. Chances are, whatever you need, it's already been done, and it's cheaper and better than anything you can throw together.
Also, a scope is not a substitute for a DMM. You're an idiot for even thinking that, and suggesting it to an amateur should get you a jail term.
Problem is that you didn't RTFA.
It plainly says he applied more voltage... so the 20 watts is under normal voltage... he applied more... see what I'm getting at? Yea, RTFA.
Here is post of mine on Slashdot where I mentioned that a CPU hotplate would be cool.
Just for future reference if we are going to make my posts come true - I'd like a Porsche or Paris Hilton.
Thanks.
There are some odd things afoot now, in the Villa Straylight.
Get a decent soldering station with sponge and adjustable wattage (or if you really want to spend money adjustable temperature.) They are suprisingly affordable, also for a while you won't need a soldering ironas much as you will need a breadboard and lots of wire.
Just about any multimeter will do, even a $5 analog one, most of the time it is more a question of presence and magnitude rather then particular readings. (Though the nicer ones do have some cool features).
Look at http://www.sparkfun.com/ for your starting out. Lots of tutorials, a forum, a well stocked supportive store, and unlike digikey it has a limited enough selection that you won't feel like you are paging through a large city's phone book.
Do eventually sign up for digikey/mouser/future etc. catalogs though, just don't let them intimidate you.
The real hard part is finding a project.
I'd do something interesting, but my server can't handle a slashdotting.
I have a hard time believing this. What are the processors actually doing? If you simply power up processors without being connected to chipset or memory they won't do a whole lot. Most likely it would get through reset (assuming reset doesn't do any chipset queries, etc.), then put out a Code Fetch for the reset vector, which would never come back, then it would go into some sort of shutdown state. So I find it hard to believe that just powering up processors would produce that much heat. There are specific workloads which could be used to maximize power throughput, but obviously they are not at work here.
The power output of the new P4 6xx series is supposed to be much much higher than these. Could'nt you literally fry an egg with just one of these $800 monsters? 3.7ghz P4 EE vs Athlon 64 3500+ 223 Watts > 114 Watts http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx? i=2353&p=4
What does any of that matter to someone just doing electronics as a hobby? By that logic yada yada yada and I don't even need to finish that sentence.
Agreed on the last line though.
I have a 1.3 GHz TBird that the old CPU cooler died with, so I replaced it with an XP cooler. I had to mount it off-center, because of the mobo capicitors getting in the way. So it didn't connect with my CPU correctly. It went from room temperature to 80 C in about 20 seconds sitting on the bios screen.
I wish I could write clever and witty sigs.
The article is completely /.ed but a high power supply could use a 7805 as a reference voltage. It's cheaper and more reliable than a zener.
Give a man a fish and you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish, and he'll say "WHERE'S MY FISH, YOU IDIOT?"
Thanks to everyone who is actually helpful and not just being an ass. Yes, I do realize I can buy the electronics myself at what is probably a lower cost. That's not the point. I want to actually LEARN something. And smashing apart an iPod when I don't know much about electronics isn't really going to help me accomplish that (as fun as it would be).
All work and no play makes Anonymous Coward a dull boy...
This has to be a "joke" - while in theory it would work if everything was connected properly, in actuality I bet it does nothing (just hooking up voltage isn't going to heat it up very much anyhow - you have to actually do something with the processor, like processing, to really get the heat out of it)...
Reason is the Path to God - Anon
If you REALLY want to impress people, build a refridgerator powered by one.
Wishing I was a millionaire since 1969.
Too bad Ole' Gill only had 1 payment left on his hotplate, he might have to finance this one too.
root@allevil:~#
Dude, loosen your panties.
I particularly liked how the shadow, chair, and booze accidentally came together in the screenie to suggest a crossbow cocked and ready to shoot a bottle of Canadian Club (at any Cyrix chip designer storming the digital heights?).
Feeling so good natured I could drool
... but why does the toast have grill lines on it? I call hoax.
A 7805 voltage regulator in TO-220 package (which appears to be what was used) can deliver, at most, 1 amp. At 5 volts, that's 5 watts max being delivered to the CPUs. And that's when the 7805 has a good heat sink. The 7805, when fed by 12V, must itself dissipate 7 watts as heat. See here. This was rigged.
Slashdot's name? When my compiler sees
heh
Connecting the 7805 regulator as shown to knock down the 12V rail to 5V means that at the 7805's short circuit current limit of 2.1A, the regulator will make (12-5=7) 7V*2.1A=14.7 Watts whereas the procs will dissipate 5V*2.1A=10.5 Watts. In other words, the only thing I can see outputting enough power to even warm the pan is the meter on my bs detector.
7805 DataSheet
This article is bullshit. He's putting out 5 watts. You absolutely cannot cook an egg or bacon on 5 watts. That's like trying to cook the egg by rubbing a piece of rough cloth over the shell really fast.
Why was this not obvious to the OP and the mods? Jeezus what a waste of bandwidth.
-rsw
Why would I be interested in this? .... the heat radiating off my aluminum 12inch Powerbook is more than sufficient for most geek cooking needs.
It's a feature, not a bug!!!
Is this how they implemented the easy-bake oven in a drive bay? (slashdot article from April 1, 2004 or was it 2003?) [too lame to link]
Why, oh why, didn't I take the Blue Pill?
I don't know about other parts of the world, but if I void where prohibited I'm liable to be arrested.
Where's the Kaboom?
There's supposed to be an Earth-shattering Kaboom.
THAT was funny.
"I'm just here to regulate funkiness."
If you put the processors to solve some floating point, will they deliver more cooking wattage?
Bad idea to just burn up old Cyrix chips: if you have a Cyrix motherboard of just the right make and model, you can flip it on Ebay as it will be quite valuable.
The reason is that Williams Pinball made their final two pinball machines with Cyrix motherboards, before going out of business in 1999: "Revenge From Mars" and "Star Wars Episode I".
Because they went out of business before completing their plans to make the game software more portable to newer motherboards, these pinball machines work ONLY with these certain Cyrix motherboards!
The motherboard is Cyrix MediaGX, BAT form factor, with the CX5520 bridge. Not CX5510, and not CX5530. CPU speed should be 233 Mhz (33x7), but 266 and 200 are also rumoured to work.
A motherboard that matches this description is quite rare these days, and sells for $300 or more -- ironically, twice the price of that motherboard when it was new!
So, if you have an old Cyrix motherboard sitting around, it just might be a gold mine, think of that before melting those chips onto a hotplate....
Dr. Demento On The 'Net!
an 8" job for cooking cornbread
Diplomacy is the art of saying "Nice doggie" until you can find a rock. Will Rogers
I'll give it that.