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11-01-2001, 07:19 AM

yeah, interest in this is more than I expected. If this does go into 'production' I will probably be getting it fab'd or manufactured somehow. If/as/when it goes into production I will do everything in my power to keep up w/ demand... I know the feeling of wanting to buy something but you cant find any *cough*KlipschProMedia5.1*cough*

BTW, does anyone know any good manuf/fab companes that would do a run of 200-500 of these (small PCB built to spec, possibly with packaging) for a good price?

Once I get the layout and first prototype built I will definately post pics.

I'm sure there are lots of DIYers here that would love to build their own, once its complete the layout will be freely available online. If it does not increase the fab cost, I will also provide a kit with a pretraced PCB and bag of components to solder... not sure how practical this is tho (some of the asic's I'm considering are VERY small, less than 1/4" wide, hard to solder).

Also one other possible feature... I'm considering using Winbond hardware monitor chips for the temperature sensors. This would mean a few things... for one thing the 18 fan board might have as many as 12 low-power PWM fan outputs from the Winbond chips. Thats on top of the 18 high power. I've always believed that more choice is better... just investigating how much extra price and PCB size this will mean. Would this be a useful feature?

I'm working on a website for this that should be up in a week or so... I've been busy in my 'real' life so I havent had much time to work on the project.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Also here is a quick 15 question survey that will greatly help me with this... only takes a minute and if I pick your name you get a free digibus... if you dont want to post publicly email me ironhelix@ironhelix.net with your answers.

For the following, please rate your approximate level of interest on a scale from 0-10, 0 being strongly dislike, 5 being dont care and 10 being strongly like.

1. Dual part software, IE frontend sits in tray or not at all, backend runs as W2k service

2. LED connectors that would light up LEDs based on fan activity, thermistor temp, etc. (this would be controlled by software)

3. Reset passthrough that would automatically force the fans when you hit RESET on your box, as well as independent force button

4. Additional power controllers that would blink neon, leds, etc should temp exceed limits

5. Overtemp Redundancy in Hardware (not software). This would on a high temperature reading force all fans on full, hold down RESET (see above), or with a power button passthru would turn off the computer.

6. Settable Addressing: Would with a SMBus passthrough and some jumpers allow you to have more than one unit per SMBus port

7. Winbond HM chips (instead of normal thermoprobes): Would mean more out-of-box compatibility with HM programs, and a whole buncha (possibly 10+) low-power PWM fan headers. The unit WILL come with thermoprobes, just maybe not Winbond ones.

8. Ability to mount a hard drive behind the LCD, if bought.

Would you be interested in buying the following? Please rate interest 0-5, 0 being no interest 5 being would definately buy.

9. Kit Option: You get a bag of chips, a PCB and a diagram of where to solder what.

10. LCD Option 1: Comes bundled with a single drive bay 16x2 or 20x2 software LCD screen, with Fan Force button

11. LCD option 2: Comes bundled with a full height (2x 5.25" bay) 20x4 software LCD screen and integrated Fan Force button

12. Which version would you be most likely to buy? (please select one)
a. 2 Hipower fans, 2+ thermal probe, 2+ Lopower fans
b. 4 Hipower fans, 4+ thermal probe, 5+ Lopower fans
c. 8 Hipower fans, 9+ thermal probe, 6+ Lopower fans
d. 18 Hipower fans, 18+ thermal probe, 12+ Lopower fans

13. What kind of package would you be most likely to buy?
a. Minimal: you get a traced PCB a bag of components and a CD. Wires sold separately, assemble yourself.
b. Small: Fully assembled PCB, install CD.
c. Medium: Fully assembled PCB, CD, and all wires required for setup
d. Mounted: Fully assembled PCB, CD, drive bay mounting kit
e. Mounted and Wired: Fully assembled PCB, CD, drive bay kit and all wires
f. The Full Shebang: Fully assembled PCB, CD, Drive Bay Kit with LCD in front and all wires

14. NAME CONTEST
Come up with a new name for this project. You can put as many names as you want. If I pick your name and use it for the project, you will get a FREE unit when they are released.

15. Why? (this does not relate to any other question)

/edit: clarified question 7

[ 11-08-2001: Message edited by: IronHelix ]

11-01-2001, 07:19 AM	#16
IronHelix Guest Posts: n/a	yeah, interest in this is more than I expected. If this does go into 'production' I will probably be getting it fab'd or manufactured somehow. If/as/when it goes into production I will do everything in my power to keep up w/ demand... I know the feeling of wanting to buy something but you cant find any coughKlipschProMedia5.1cough BTW, does anyone know any good manuf/fab companes that would do a run of 200-500 of these (small PCB built to spec, possibly with packaging) for a good price? Once I get the layout and first prototype built I will definately post pics. I'm sure there are lots of DIYers here that would love to build their own, once its complete the layout will be freely available online. If it does not increase the fab cost, I will also provide a kit with a pretraced PCB and bag of components to solder... not sure how practical this is tho (some of the asic's I'm considering are VERY small, less than 1/4" wide, hard to solder). Also one other possible feature... I'm considering using Winbond hardware monitor chips for the temperature sensors. This would mean a few things... for one thing the 18 fan board might have as many as 12 low-power PWM fan outputs from the Winbond chips. Thats on top of the 18 high power. I've always believed that more choice is better... just investigating how much extra price and PCB size this will mean. Would this be a useful feature? I'm working on a website for this that should be up in a week or so... I've been busy in my 'real' life so I havent had much time to work on the project. ----------------------------------------------------------- Also here is a quick 15 question survey that will greatly help me with this... only takes a minute and if I pick your name you get a free digibus... if you dont want to post publicly email me ironhelix@ironhelix.net with your answers. For the following, please rate your approximate level of interest on a scale from 0-10, 0 being strongly dislike, 5 being dont care and 10 being strongly like. 1. Dual part software, IE frontend sits in tray or not at all, backend runs as W2k service 2. LED connectors that would light up LEDs based on fan activity, thermistor temp, etc. (this would be controlled by software) 3. Reset passthrough that would automatically force the fans when you hit RESET on your box, as well as independent force button 4. Additional power controllers that would blink neon, leds, etc should temp exceed limits 5. Overtemp Redundancy in Hardware (not software). This would on a high temperature reading force all fans on full, hold down RESET (see above), or with a power button passthru would turn off the computer. 6. Settable Addressing: Would with a SMBus passthrough and some jumpers allow you to have more than one unit per SMBus port 7. Winbond HM chips (instead of normal thermoprobes): Would mean more out-of-box compatibility with HM programs, and a whole buncha (possibly 10+) low-power PWM fan headers. The unit WILL come with thermoprobes, just maybe not Winbond ones. 8. Ability to mount a hard drive behind the LCD, if bought. Would you be interested in buying the following? Please rate interest 0-5, 0 being no interest 5 being would definately buy. 9. Kit Option: You get a bag of chips, a PCB and a diagram of where to solder what. 10. LCD Option 1: Comes bundled with a single drive bay 16x2 or 20x2 software LCD screen, with Fan Force button 11. LCD option 2: Comes bundled with a full height (2x 5.25" bay) 20x4 software LCD screen and integrated Fan Force button 12. Which version would you be most likely to buy? (please select one) a. 2 Hipower fans, 2+ thermal probe, 2+ Lopower fans b. 4 Hipower fans, 4+ thermal probe, 5+ Lopower fans c. 8 Hipower fans, 9+ thermal probe, 6+ Lopower fans d. 18 Hipower fans, 18+ thermal probe, 12+ Lopower fans 13. What kind of package would you be most likely to buy? a. Minimal: you get a traced PCB a bag of components and a CD. Wires sold separately, assemble yourself. b. Small: Fully assembled PCB, install CD. c. Medium: Fully assembled PCB, CD, and all wires required for setup d. Mounted: Fully assembled PCB, CD, drive bay mounting kit e. Mounted and Wired: Fully assembled PCB, CD, drive bay kit and all wires f. The Full Shebang: Fully assembled PCB, CD, Drive Bay Kit with LCD in front and all wires 14. NAME CONTEST Come up with a new name for this project. You can put as many names as you want. If I pick your name and use it for the project, you will get a FREE unit when they are released. 15. Why? (this does not relate to any other question) /edit: clarified question 7 [ 11-08-2001: Message edited by: IronHelix ]