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Student Designs Cardboard Computer Case
SpaceGhost writes "The Houston Chronicle has a story on a Grad student at the University of Houston who has designed a cardboard case for a computer. This is not a new concept, but this one is meant to be used in manufacture. The idea is that it will be faster and easier to produce (no fasteners for example) and dramatically easier to recycle."
But its probably not recyclable after it catches on fire from my overclocked processor
What's that burning smell?
from 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
to 45 2F 6E 40 3C DF 10 71 4E 41 DF AA 25 7D 31 3F
When I spray coke over it like I normally do when reading Slashdot?
Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
Karma: Chameleon
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/05/recompute-a-closer-look-at-the-sustainable-cardboard-pc/ for a better description and better pictures
is grounding no longer a problem? I haven't built a computer in a while, but I'm not sure if cardboard makes a good ground.
The case is either Al or steel sheet metal, easily recyclable. The toxic sludge and heavy metals in the PCB, capacitors and solder are the problem. Call me when they invent cardboard solder.
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
I bet the case will be all eaten in a year or so.
New Economic Perspectives
Don't make me imagine what you might be imagining >
Not again.
This is not the first time we have seen this idea
cardboard does not act as a Farady cage and the computer will leak large amounts of radio frequency interference so will not be legal in most countries.
They did. It's called "Duct Tape"
Brawndo: It's what plants crave!
I've used very early AT cases all the way into the socket 7 era - I even built an ultra rare P-II era system into an early AT case once. Then, when I went to ATX I kept reusing cases. Hurricane Ex Wife stealing everything followed by Hurricane Ike put a stop to that reuse chain, but I do intend to start reusing cases again.
The biggest "need" for a cardboard case comes from big name manufacturers that insist on making proprietary boards and cases instead of sticking with industry standards. I understand why, you don't want people gutting an HP, putting an ECS main board in it and reselling it as an HP at a flea market, but I'm sure there's other ways to deal with that particular issue.
The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
... and the cardboard box came in metal shipping crate.
Brawndo: It's what plants crave!
As others have pointed out, the case is not difficult to recycle or toxic.
And who the hell throws away a case? It's the part that goes obsolete slowest, and several computers might occupy a case before it needs to be replaced.
# cat
Damn, my RAM is full of llamas.
why the hell are desktop cases so damn expensive?
I used to have up right computer cases becasue glass monitors were getting so damn big, and thus heavy. Now with LCD monitors, I would think the desktop would come back.
It saves more space then the tiny uprights Dell sell that stand next to the monitor, and makes room on the floor.
Obviously, the people on slashdot that get in and out of there case is probably a higher proportion then most people so I can see why some of you wouldn't want one.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
Finally a use for is_computer_on_fire()
http://www.eeggs.com/items/15121.html
The price of computers coming down is definitely a good thing and making them easier to recycle is great. Unfortunately there is growing trend of waste due to these cheap computers. As a consumer desktop technician I would see people replacing perfectly good hardware due to software issues. They are just so cheap and labor can be be pretty expensive, that it would be stupid to do anything else. The con is that a lot of cheap computers are going to the dump. Things would be perfect if people could learn the basics. Something as basic as backing up files and reinstalling the OS is beyond the scope of most consumers.
They could easily add a thin layer of foil to the cardboard for RF shielding, without it being a metal case (where the metal is also structural and thus much thicker than you need for shielding). However, I imagine this would scupper the ability to recycle the thing
Anecdotally, I have run many computers without a case (normally when I have been modifying something, or for brief periods when my existing case has insufficient ventilation for new components but I haven't been able to change it. I've not noticed any problems that I did not notice with the case on. Many of the components (the drives for instance) have their own shielding anyway.
If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we shoot people for Apollo-related non-sequiturs?
Pretty sure a cardboard box with a modern motherboard inside doesn't quite meet the FCC Part 15 class B regulations for unintentional radio emissions needed for residential use. That's why computer cases are usually metal instead of plastic.
Moderating "-1, Disagree" is simple censorship. Have the guts to post your opinion.
One of my favorite books is 'Centigrade 232'
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
I've seen cat carriers made of corrugated plastic (just like cardboard, but with flexible plastic sheeting, it's a good bit stronger than cardboard) and that would seem like a much better choice of material. Liquids aren't an issue and it's still fairly easy to recycle, plus the plastic can be made with different colors and opacities so it would look nicer too.
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
I don't have a quibble with most of your post, but cardboard is a MUCH better dampener of noise and vibrations than metal, especially thin sheet metal. Metal can easily become a sounding board for vibrations. Cardboard, not so much...
Also, cardboard is pretty structurally strong. Stronger than very thin metal. The only reason cases hold any weight is the internal frame, not the thin sheet metal and plastic most "disposable computer-grade" cases are made out of. That frame could either be retained, or replaced with some triangular corner cardboard reinforcements. It doesn't really get brittle if treated properly (seal it so the humidity remains constant and it can last FAR longer than the 5-year lifespan of the computer inside.
I see your point on the fireproof thing, though. Once you start effectively fireproofing the cardboard you'll likely undo a lot of the cost savings and environmental benefits.
"This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
a 100% aluminum or steel case is 100% recyclable. This "cardboard" thing is a gimmick. In fact most computer cases metal components are always recycled as the metal has the highest value.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Ummm... no.
Aren't there some terrible chemicals used in the processing of cardboard? Have you ever driven by one of these plants? It's not what I would call "environmentally friendly".
I mean, kudos for thinking out of the "box" but I think the idea needs work. A kid spills something on the top of the case and you're toast. For what people pay for a modern computer, they want it protected, safe from fire, and they want it to look nice.
Catching on fire
Getting wet
Condensation
Humidity
Supporting other objects
Stress
Changing structure
Changing composition
Bacteria
Mold
Bugs getting inside, getting them back out
Mites
Unwashable
Overheating
Weight of components
EM interference to internal components
EM interference to external appliances (possible FCC violation)
Grounding
Reusability/longevity
Papercuts
Transportability
Modification
Static
Security
Looking stupid
Did I miss anything?
"Most people, I think, don't even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?"
Working in a large Data Center, we explicitly prohibit staff and customers from bringing cardboard onto the DC floor because of dust. Not only does cardboard have a habit of carrying dust from the outside, it's a huge contributor of dust as the cardboard breaks down. Hopefully they plan on treating the cardboard to mitigate this decomposition.
Is anybody familiar with what it takes to make a good wood case?
Wood.
I don't think so. Recycling is the LAST of the three. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. This will result in MORE resources being spent and LESS reuse of components.
Computer cases are one of the most re-usable elements in a system. My first PC, an 8088 PC, used a Cosmol XT case made of steel, and that case and power supply was the centerpiece of my computer from my XT all the way until my K6-2. Along that time, processor speeds increased by a factor of 100 (4.77MHz to 550MHz), memory size increased by a factor of 50 (256kb to 128MB), storage space increased by a factor of 2000(5MB to 10GB). The important standards for case design didn't change over that period, so there was no good reason to change. Also, the case was totally bad-ass. The computer I built to finally replace the aging beast used a new case, and the standards haven't changed since. I've built Athlon 64s with cases from old Pentium IIs or Athlons.
Making the case of a PC disposable crap is going to result in more waste, not less. Suddenly I won't be able to have the same case for 20 years, I'll have to replace it with every new computer(or more!). Also, it'll lead to less reuse of components. I've built 6 computers this year from parts scavenged from here and there. All of them have found homes. The parts simply wouldn't be able to be scavenged if the machines were made of cardboard. To clean the outsides of the cases, we had to use soap and water that these cases wouldn't stand up to. Some of them were left in the rain and mud for short periods fo time, and wouldn't be functional if not for the fact that they had cases that could withstand the elements.
My current case could last me another 10-20 years easily, depending on what standards do (a PC case you bought in 1999 would have an ATX form factor and could be reused today. I could see power supply standards but not case standards changing again in that time). Under this regimen, I could end up with a new case every 1-2 years or more. As others have pointed out, there will also be greater stress on components from EMI and RFI. Making less durable paper cases may be slightly easier for recycling, but it's stupid from the perspective of reducing waste.
It's been a long time.
In theory what you say is true. In reality, the landfills are littered with discarded metal PC cases. Just because it CAN be reused, doesn't mean that it is.
a) Who's to say you can't reuse this case?
b) Your use case is rare. 99.9% of PC users will not be reusing the same case 5 times.
c) I am guessing it takes dramatically less energy to create and recycle a cardboard case 5 times than it costs to create a single permanent steel case.
Buying a proper case , such as a chieftec is the best "upgrade" i've ever done. CPU temp on my Prescott dropped from 80*C to 40*C (no bullshit) due to proper ventilation. Hard drives stopped buzzing all day long , and best of all , unlike all the cheap cases i've ever had this one worked without bending at the rear when inserting the mobo , and is still usable after all these years , and will still be usable when i upgrade the rest of my components. Every time i got a cheap case something on it broke , got really dirty due to bad design or the components just plain didn't fit. The reduced stress due to lots of space inside , toolles screws and reduced "finger cutting in sharp edges" just added to the benefits. It might've cost 5x times as much as an cheap case , but it made up the difference 10 times. Since then I've replaced all cases in the house with proper cases. My point is: cheap metal cases suck anyway , paper would suck even more. Don't be a cheapskate , you get what you pay for. * *doesn't matter if you see the pc as if it were a toaster with more buttons.