hmmm... I remember reading about the Digital Bay Bus a while ago but had kind of forgotton it. In case anyone cares, heres a kind of comparison between my project (DigiBus) and the Digital Bay Bus(DBB). All DBB info taken from the DBB faq page at
http://www.caseetc.com/cgi-bin/caseetc/db.html
DBB: highly integrated/customized solution using microcontroller and specialized ROM programming
DigiBus: Low parts count solution using mostly ASICs and off the shelf components to lower cost
DBB: fully controlled by onboard ROM, no software connection except for LCDriver.
DigiBus: Fully controlled by PC software with the exception of overheat redundancy
DBB: presumably uses relays to provide 12v/7v/off at 10 amps to 8 fans.
DigiBus: Uses PWM controllers to provide 256 speed settings at 3 amps per channel. Number of channels would depend on the board, up to 18 channels per SMBus projected.
DBB: Spring terminals or RCA jacks for fan power, no fanspeed monitoring.
DigiBus: 3-Pin 'Motherboard header' jacks for fans, all RPMs monitored and reported to software.
DBB: Display driven by ROM with possibility of computer control
DigiBus: Display driven by computer and software plugins.
DBB: Functionality and settings set using integrated keypad.
DigiBus: All functionality provided by software.
DBB: LCD essential to operation, serves as single human interface but also allows computer control of LCD
DigiBus: LCD is merely an extra and is not required, human interface provided through software.
DBB: Temp. Overheat (hopefully) causes all fans full on.
DigiBus: Overheat forces all fans and shuts down computer through software (which will read your mobo CPU thermistor). Overheat redundancy forces all fans in hardware. POSSIBLY: all fans forced if connection to software is lost
DBB: Anodized aluminum enclosure for front panel. Spare keypad space used for joystick, audio, USB ports, able to mount a 3.5" HDD behind LCD.
DigiBus: Front panel not required, will probably be supplied by LCD manufacturer.
DBB: Price TBD, estimated $75-$100
DigiBus: Also TBD, estimate $30-$80 depending on number of fans controlled.
DBB: Two parts, a fan control unit with a ribbon cable leading to the LCD.
DigiBus: The board will likely be quite small except for the fan connections. Still deciding wether or not to integrate into a drive bay. Everything could probably fit in a 3.5" bay except the LCD.
DBB: Held a contest to get a new name. Lots of possibles, nothing stands out.
DigiBus: About to hold a contest, keep reading at the end. (we're original like that)
DBB: Available "by the end of the summer"
DigiBus: No fsckin clue, probably 3 months range. (remember this uses ASICs so little PCB design or ROM programming required)
And because I feel bored...
Cole: Active on [H]ardForum
IronHelix: Active on Pro/Forum and occasionally [H]ardForum
Cole: Owns a business.
IronHelix: 0w|\|z punkass beeotches in Quake (or tries to)
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Anyway for the contest...
Real simple, think up a name, post it here, if I use yours you get a free DigiBus.
And for the legaleze,
By submitting you grant me a non-exclusive right to use your submission in any manner deemed fit. If your submission is chosen for the product you will recieve a DigiBus if/as/when they go into production, or a prototype. I reserve the right to throw out, make funny faces at or otherwise refuse any entry blah blah blah....
bottom line as said above think of a name that I can call the DigiBus and you get one.
Also I am looking for any sort of suggestions for design... do you want the fan controller to be in a drive bay or separate? 3.5 or 5.12 drivebay? want space for a hard drive behind it? etc.
Thanks
--IH