Project Christine - Modular PC from Razer

[wraith808]

http://www.razerzone.com/christine

It's an interesting idea- also wonder how it's going to affect hardware locked software activations?

[4wd]

I'm wondering whether the price will be within the realms of many small countries GDP.

[phitsc]

Looks like a (and probably also serves as a) radiator.

[eleman]

uhh... PC as we know it is already a modular architecture.

This one's defining characteristic is sexiness, not modularity

[justice]

Innovative solutions are always appreciated, I hope they have thought it through further than let's make it modular and it better look good. So does ubuntu.

[wraith808]

uhh... PC as we know it is already a modular architecture.

Not truly.  You have to go through a whole lot with *any* current pc if you want to change everything.  This one doesn't seem like it's that difficult or involved to change anything.  Like the hard drive bays that allow hot swaps and such.

Choose any module on-the-fly in any combination, whether it’s the CPU, memory, graphics card, storage or power supply module, and simply plug it in. The PCI-Express architecture of Project Christine automatically syncs the components.

There's not a box out there right now that allows this.  Pretty impressive if it works.  And even more impressive if its the same price as other high-end gaming rigs (which I doubt).

[Ath]

2 remarks:

1) This shouts "Vendor Lock-In" all around the place, at volume 12+

2) Seen similar before in the early 90's: Tandon Computers modular upgradeable computers (no pictures, unfortunately )
(disclaimer/spoiler: I worked for a Tandon Computer Dealer at that time)

[wraith808]

Well, no more vendor lock-in than laptops and such... right?

[40hz]

What we need is open CPU, BIOS and chipset designs more than anything else. Otherwise it's still vendor lock-in once you make it to the board level. And that lock-in is getting more intrusive and obvious as time goes on. I try not to be overly paranoid or suspicious, but from what we've learned about certain operating systems and key apps, there are more weasels running around inside our PCs today than you'll find in cages at a mink farm. And I don't think it's much different on the hardware level.

At least not any more...

[Ath]

Well, no more vendor lock-in than laptops and such... right?

Well, yes and no, with this concept you get the illusion you can replace components easily, and it probably is true now, but come back in 3 years or so, and there are still no 3rd party components available/allowed because of license/copyright issues, and the original vendor is either out of business or no longer supporting this type of replacement modules, but you can of course buy their new product... then what's the use of even spending any energy on it? You still need an upgraded/improved/extended computer.

Conclusion: This one's not for me.

[Stoic Joker]

Hm... So it's only as future proof as the PCI-Express technology it's based on.

Then there was this bit:

Each sealed module is entirely self-contained and features active liquid cooling and noise cancelation. With this design, Project Christine’s components can be safely overclocked without voiding warranties

The "sealed modular design" sounded fairly easily hackable, until I got to the liquid cooling bit. That could present some of the wrong kinds of exciting complications.