nice link Jag
BTX has 3 cases, this could only fit in the largest
I'd bet (again) on Dell, have to be very substantial volume to warrant that investment
HP is possible too

The new DELL systems based on 775 have a heatpipe based tower similar to the Thermaltake102 with a plastic shroud pulling air through the fins and out the rear of the case via a rear case fan.

http://thermaltake.com/images/cooler...ower102/03.jpg

Thats just ones that are currently available, right? (after reread: I will accept a stupid answer to this, since it is obviously a stupid question)

My belief in the BTX connection is based (poorly, I might add) on the short tube lengths, and my penchant for intake through the rad.

Considering the premise that Intel is planning on moving to BTX, and from a pure cost perspective, shorter tube lengths are preferable. Though the overall cost of this VS some new-fangled heatsink might negate that savings.

I was under the impression Dell had a special deal with Intel to ensure they wouldn't put AMD in their boxes. Add to that, heat issues with the newer CPUs leading to:
A. shorter product life-cycles.
B. heavy, loud air cooling.
C. relatively inexpensive, relatively maintenence free water cooling. (relative to other water cooling options)

Dell (or any PC retailer for that matter) wouldn't publicly admit to wanting shorter life spans ( though you and I know if they could get away with making people buy 3 new pcs a year they would).

I'm pretty sure they don't want to have to try and sell louder pcs to anyone, and BTX+conventionaly aircooling probably isn't going to cut it.

So to keep Dell from even thinking about using AMD, Intel might have needed to apease Dell with some (moderately) cheap, effective cooling.

So my thought is: A propriatary BTX case from Dell with the width to fit this thing.

Our company has a tier1 purchasing agreement with Dell. I'm an AMD kinda guy (espcially since last Oct and the whole 64bit thing. Good times.) So I've been talking to our senior account rep and asking about getting dual opteron CAD workstations. He won't even say the word AMD. Its something he just won't discuss, not even as a future plan. So, I'd be willing to bet that Intel has a nice deal with them.

I'd also lean towards Dell being the OEM. The requirement for faster business PCs coupled with the OSHA low noise requirements will kill them otherwise. Maybe the heatpipe idea will work... maybe. I just have a bad mental picture of a dust covered heatpipe and a roasted cpu.

Intel has defined BTX in 3 form factors; micro, workstation (flat desktop w/92mm fan), and a biggish tower
there is a paper on it somewhere (sorry, no link)

I don't think Dell wants loud computers as much as they want cheap computers
as long as heat pipes will work they will use them in preference to water
and the only loads that 'might' need water are the EEs or such, I doubt that is a big market for anyone really

Well that explains a few things !

Oh well, free market eh guys :)

I think she is a likely a really good unit, and should do well.

The only issue I know about is case related, in that you need to have a special mounting, believe this will be OEM only offering for awhile.

Would be nice if Intel did endurse this, could make your (not mine, c-systems sold) market jump considerably!

So, that makes Hitachi, and now Sanyo... wonder who will be the next big boy to jump in ?

The 2 I've seen actually reverse the case fan and use it as an intake. The HD runs HOT in such a system...


The one at formfactors.org?

yup
Ta HS

Maybe for this? Right size, right processor, big OEM, but I can't find any information on who makes the watercooling for it.
Sony Vaio R Series
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...sktopComputers

seems to be with heat pipes

Yes. Sony uses heatpipes, though the call it "advanced liquid cooling".

Just a small transcription from their web site: "A unique liquid-flow heat-pipe draws heat away from the processor, eliminating noisy fans and allowing for ample performance. This advanced technology is a generational leap above the competition."