Frag Wraith has been my handle in online/lan gaming for quite some time. My clan and i are all one kind of wraith or another. i.e. fat wraith, ass wraith, cheat wraith.

This project has a ton of stuff backing it, for example, i have some hardware coming shortly, and that's what has sparked this need for a new project. I've got an A64 3000+ on the way, on a board to support it, part of my surprise is which board...the client hasn't notified me, and i like surprises, so I dont mind.
I've got the loot coming shortly to get me a 6800ultra. The PSU and ram i'll be getting, dual 80Gb sata HDs. On a raid config no doubt. So naturally i need a "case" to support this beast rig. I put case in " " because i'm going to completely do away with the convention of the case. This is going to be a totally unique and defined statement of my art, and of the power and elegence of the modern modded/OC'd machine.

That should give a good concept of it's function. Now for it's asthetic. I want form to be function...there isn't going to be form fallowing func, or visa versa, the form DICTATES or IS the function and visa-versa. Both will be true. The entire reason i'm posting this is to get all your brains working on this thing. I dont mean actively either I mean, when you are on the toilet and you remember an aspect discussed and then you have a brilliant idea. PLEASE post it here. Nothing is dumb in my book, but I totally reserve the right to say no...I am a designer, and that pretty much means that I have a VERY opinionated view of art and design. And being a designer/PC builder, with an okay knowlege of hardware and software, I can be VERY opinionated, but I wont be trying to be an asshat about any suggestions so please, post em up. All i have at this point are some brainstorming keywords.

BRAINSTORMING KEYWORDS??

I start here, and then begin some sketching. I have some styling cues i wish to fallow loosely. More of the concepts that are replicated in these other inspiring forms.

http://www.confederate.com/

the wraith and wildcat are good examples of my goals. The name wraith was NOT taken from this bike, i've actually been using it quite some time, it actually all started from my roomies alarm clock which we nick-named the "flute wraith" LOL :point:

Anyways moving along, i have access to alot of materials, and i'm not limiting myself to any specific ones. so read the brainstorm and make of it what you will, I will post LOTS more on this in the future.

-DC

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When I think of a wraith, I think of a creature of mist, insubstantial yet deadly. I think the ideal look would be one that had a frailty in it that belied its true strength. Something with the assumed delicacy of fine crystal, yet with the strength of iron. When anything else pops into my head, I'll sketch it out and send it your way.

Well DC you have a CNC at your fingertips, so you have an endless amount of modding you could do...how bout a cool industrial look?

guys PLEASE look at the reference website. it'll give a mutch better idea of what i'm going for. You both are on a good course there. Except duplex I agree with your concept of a wraith. And you touched on some of the concept quite well, but I think i want all the frailty worked out of this one. but i'm not positive yet, because my first thought was right along the same lines you proposed.

Tycoon, it will most certainly be industrial!

-DC

what kind of cnc machine do you have access to and just out curiosity what CAM software are you running?

Quote: Originally Posted by SPECIALBLEND218 what kind of cnc machine do you have access to and just out curiosity what CAM software are you running?

Laser engraver

2 Roland table top routers

Bridgeport CNC mill

8 head CNC mill

feature CAM and mdx3player, and corel 11 or autoCAD

carbon fiber. nuff' said

Quote: Originally Posted by DuplexEmotions When I think of a wraith, I think of a creature of mist, insubstantial yet deadly.

Sounds like someone's been reading Jordan, Brooks and/or Goodkind

Magnesium would be my choice. Have you ever seen a magnesium case? I haven't. If you have, how many have you seen? Exactly.

I could see glass integrated with this case too...maybe have the motherboard on glass (or acrylic) pillars? I'll see if I can draw it out...

Those bikes are hella kewl, and I could totally see taking design cues from them.

What are you trying to accomplish? What form do you want to follow?

It would be cool to have a square front like the case in the pic, with flames, wraith logo, or something going up the front that would be engraved into it. Make the engraving about .125 of an inch deep.

Also you can find some of that carbon fiber wrap (decal) and maybe use it for the inside of you case instead of painting it. I dont know how tough this idea would be but if you just dissasembled your whole case chassis and vinyl covered it then riveted it back together I think it should work and look great.

Quote: Originally Posted by SPECIALBLEND218 It would be cool to have a square front like the case in the pic, with flames, wraith logo, or something going up the front that would be engraved into it. Make the engraving about .125 of an inch deep. Also you can find some of that carbon fiber wrap (decal) and maybe use it for the inside of you case instead of painting it. I dont know how tough this idea would be but if you just dissasembled your whole case chassis and vinyl covered it then riveted it back together I think it should work and look great.

Hey SpecialBlend, I think you're gonna have to 'think outside the box' a bit more for this...

I could be wrong, but I don't think decog wants a regular looking case...

i was thinking about a wraith and what come to mind seems to be a cloaked figure with a long flowing black robe definetely need a really round flowing case
i was looking at the motorcycle and the way the tank flows into the seat is really nice maybe something really round not exactely sure what heres a coupla of pictures a google image serch turned up thats the kinda thing a would base a wraith case on
if im totally off the mark tell me
last pic is hawklen's avatar

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sorry about the above post, I must have been misunderstood.

I meant that its not supposed to be exacltly like that case above, I was thinking have a square flat front with cnc engravings (like the pic). Unless you don't want a box shape??? and your going for something radical.

Quote: Originally Posted by SPECIALBLEND218 ...Unless you don't want a box shape??? and your going for something radical.

That's what I meant about thinking outside the box...hopefully decog will post again and clear things up...

Do you have a case or at least a case style picked out yet? Full tower, mid-tower, mATX? I got some ideas floating around up there and the size will dictate some of their output.

Well i got a cool idea ..man if i could do cad I could help you alot better...mabey il try drawing it in paint.."think power ranger "zords" and industrial, mixed with cool lighting"

Where is mnpctech_guy when u need him

Okay guys lemme clear some things up. I've got kenna blairing and my creative juices revved up. ( yeah that sounded dumb sry)

1. Very industrial. the main frame is going to be a spine-like component that everything else is fastened to.

2. Fasteners will be huge...not massive just big enough to be noticed. Acrylic shelves are more than likely my first choice.

3. Lots of ducting and tubes. I'm thinking the main frame member could even be the resevoir. "function IS form"

4. maybe even consider a spine (more along a cats spine) with rib-like members supporting HDs and other hardware.

5. full size mobo. Forget all about ATX and M-ATX and all that jazz, it's not gonna matter here.

6. "heat shileds" will more than likely be constructed of carbon fiber. yes i have the means to do it. I am also considering a really unique method i've used on 1/4 scale models, you can vac-form styrene or PETG around a mold (CNC routered more than likely) and in between the mold and PETG you put a micro mesh. The PETG or styrene then takes on that mesh form..but dulled down a bit. This is attractive to me...more so than played out carbon fiber.

7. Just totally forget about the box. I'm talking about an 'open' case design. It's no longer a case, but will feel kind of enclosed. I'm just not sure about this part myself.

Sketches-a-plenty are shortly on the way. Tonight i'll rough out some vector sketches and some hand sketches and see what happens. I purposfully let my brain rest aftter styling research and brainstorming. i wanted to clear it before sketching. This will be awesome guys, and it's just not going to be any kind of normal.

8. THANK you for the input and interst guys...*touched* you really know how to make a guy feel loved. LOL.

-DC

Quote: Originally Posted by design cognition Okay guys lemme clear some things up. I've got kenna blairing and my creative juices revved up. ( yeah that sounded dumb sry) 1. Very industrial. the main frame is going to be a spine-like component that everything else is fastened to. 2. Fasteners will be huge...not massive just big enough to be noticed. Acrylic shelves are more than likely my first choice. 3. Lots of ducting and tubes. I'm thinking the main frame member could even be the resevoir. "function IS form" 4. maybe even consider a spine (more along a cats spine) with rib-like members supporting HDs and other hardware. 5. full size mobo. Forget all about ATX and M-ATX and all that jazz, it's not gonna matter here. 6. "heat shileds" will more than likely be constructed of carbon fiber. yes i have the means to do it. I am also considering a really unique method i've used on 1/4 scale models, you can vac-form styrene or PETG around a mold (CNC routered more than likely) and in between the mold and PETG you put a micro mesh. The PETG or styrene then takes on that mesh form..but dulled down a bit. This is attractive to me...more so than played out carbon fiber. 7. Just totally forget about the box. I'm talking about an 'open' case design. It's no longer a case, but will feel kind of enclosed. I'm just not sure about this part myself. Sketches-a-plenty are shortly on the way. Tonight i'll rough out some vector sketches and some hand sketches and see what happens. I purposfully let my brain rest aftter styling research and brainstorming. i wanted to clear it before sketching. This will be awesome guys, and it's just not going to be any kind of normal. 8. THANK you for the input and interst guys...*touched* you really know how to make a guy feel loved. LOL. -DC

I'm thinking about the spine for the alien in the Alien movies...that would be pretty sweet...

I'm thinking more along the lines of a representation of a spine. "What does a spine do?" then replicating that in the design. Although I think in the end this will look ilke a piece of technology that would fit in those films.

-DC

Thanks for clearing that up DC, can't wait to see the sketches.