30th May 2023

Computex 2023 – Highlights

Welcome to our Computex 2023 product highlights page where you can find more detailed information about the product we have on display. It will be updated during and after the exhibition with coverage from media and FAQs that come up during the event so please check back to get the latest info.

The 4 upcoming products we have on display are the SG10, VU1, FF1 and ZS800. Expand each section to find out more ……

SG10 - Fanless Gaming Case

Introduction

The SG10 is a collaboration with Calyos, an ambitious project to create a fanless gaming case, capable of cooling high-performance CPUs and GPUs in fully passive mode (no forced airflow). It also serves as a proof of concept for the application of loop heat pipe technology in the consumer PC market and is the first step to making it a viable high-performance alternative to water cooling.

The SG10 began life as a Kickstarter project launched by Calyos as the NSG0 however the project in its original form could not be realised. A search ensued to find a partner with case manufacturing experience to get the project back on track and having extensive experience with fanless cases, Streacom was the natural fit.

The SG10 represents a complete redesign of the NSG0, not a single component was carried over from the original concept. Even the core components of the Evaporator that pumps the coolant around the system and the Condenser that radiates the heat have been entirely redesigned, re-engineered and improved far beyond the original specification and scope.

Comprising of extruded precision-milled aluminium and structural steel elements, the SG10 is an intricate design that blends demanding cooling functionality, component flexibility and elegance in a truly unique package. Beyond the fact it can handle TDPs well beyond any other fanless case, it features other never-before-seen features such as fully adjustable diagonally mounted components and front/back IO ports that can be positioned anywhere along the front and back of the case.

Gallery

Preliminary Spec

FAQs

  • Is there any kind of mechanical pump or vibration from the loop cooling?
    No moving parts, no vibration, evaporation is used to generate movement of the vapour/liquid in the loop
  • If there are two identical loops, why does the GPU one have a higher TDP rating than the CPU one?
    Both cooling loops are identical in every way, it is just the mounting to CPU/GPU that has a different mechanism. The performance difference is because for the GPU, we have direct contact with the die. If we removed the IHS on the CPU, we could achieve similar performance levels to the GPU. For reference, a single side (or single loop with evaporator and condenser) can handle 350W, so if both are operating under ideal conditions, the case could handle 700W in total but we dont expect people to de-lid to achieve this.
  • How hot do the condensers at the top of the case get, are they too hot to touch?
    Assuming 600W of total power is being dissipated and with a room temperature of 20-25C you can expect the condensers to be between 50-55C. This feels warm but far from uncomfortable to touch and does not represent any hazard
  • Is there any advantage of this loop heat pipe technology over transitional heat pipes or even water cooling?
    Compared with traditional heat pipes, loop heat pipes give significantly better performance and as they dont require a wick of any type, allow for features such as flexible pipes, greatly improving how versatile they are. When compared to water cooling, they have the advantages of not requiring a pump, being more robust (very little chance of a leak) and working liquid is inert and non-conductive so no damage would occur to any components. Its important to consider that whilst we are demonstrating their use in a fanless case, they can be combined with fans to give better-than-water-cooling performance.
  • Is the SG10 going into production or is it just a technology demonstrator?
    Absolutely YES! We have spent the last 3 years working on bringing this product to the market. It has been highly technically challenging but the case is now fully tooled up and ready for production. The only question that remains is if we also produce the copper condenser version, this is still being evaluated.
  • How long will the LHP (loop heat pipe) last? Does it degrade with time?
    The entire LHP (Evaporator, Condensor and all lines) is a sealed system, so assuming there are no leaks from physical damage to any part of the loop, there is nothing to wear out, no liquids to top up, no pumps to break and no degradation in performance, so it should give trouble-free service for the lifetime of the product. The condenser would benefit from occasional cleaning but as there is no forced airflow, it would be less prone to dust buildup, especially if it's running and generating heat as the convection will discourage dust from settling.
  • Does the case have any fans inside it?
    The demo on display does not use any fans for cooling the CPU and GPU, only natural convection. It is however possible to add 120mm fans to the case (below the condensers) to achieve even better performance.
    • VU1 - Dynamic Analogue Dials

    Introduction

    The VU1 is a collaboration with Sasa Karanovic and was inspired by project CAPS which used analogue dials to show network, RAM, CPU and GPU activity. The initial idea was to create a similar kit to display standard PC hardware information but quickly evolved into a highly flexible and more versatile product that was capable of relaying virtually any information from any source. 

    The breakthrough happened with the idea of adding an e-ink display to act as the gauge demarcation marking. This turned the single-purpose dial into a multi-purpose one that could be used for virtually anything. With that in mind, it was also important for us to make the VU1 as open as possible as that would allow it to be used in ways and applications that we had not imagined yet. It will also be platform agnostic and run in any environment, further removing limitations.

    The hardware consists of a single HUB that connects to the PC via USB and any number of DIALS that daisy chain to the HUB and each other to form the communication backbone. 

    Each VU1 has a built-in two-colour paper-like e-ink display (resolution: 200x144px) and a built-in RGB backlight. Just like any other e-ink display, the built-in one has a very low refresh rate, it does however have a high pixel density making it ideal for demarcation. As the display does not emit any light, it’s not intrusive or distracting when you have multiple screens on your desk or when you want to have complete “darkness” in your room. 

    The coil movement is fully configurable allowing adjustment of the motion to suit the application and there is backdrop ambient RBG lighting (also fully configurable) to further enhance the functionality and provide lighting for the e-ink if needed.

    The software side firstly consists of the VU1 Server application which is lightweight and tasked with taking requests from any application(s) running on that PC or same network or even the internet. VU Server then takes those requests and passes them along to each individual VU1 through HUB.
    The second element is the VU1 App which will have some of the “most-common” built-in features (ie. CPU/GPU temperature, CPU/MEM/NET usage), allowing them to be assigned to each dial. The app will allow extending the functionality by adding simple plug-ins that add features to the VU1 app, growing the number of pre-defined uses.

    Gallery

    Preliminary Spec

    FAQs

  • Can I display something other than CPU/GPU power,load and temperature?
    YES! Although we demoed the VU1 with the SG10 to highlight a practical application, since the backdrop and an e-ink display, it can be changed to represent any information. The only limit is the data source and imagination
  • Will there be any API support?
    Absolutely YES! There will be a very lightweight server app that is platform agnostic that will allow anyone to interface with the VU1 dials to send them data
  • When will the VU1 be available to buy?
    We plan to put the VU1 into production by the end of July, so it should be available for purchase by September this year.
  • How many gauges will be included?
    The basic 'kit' will include a total of 4 gauges, one of which will be the HUB DIAL (or master) and the other three being DISPLAY DIALS (or slaves). The HUB dial has an additional USB type-C connector to interface with your PC or compatible device. If you want to expand the number of dials, you only need to purchase additional DISPLAY dials which will be sold individually.
  • Can the backlight be controlled or turned off completely?
    Yes, there is full  control over the backlight colour and brightness and it can be adjusted according to the needle movement or turned off completely.
    • FF1 - Versatile SFF Case

    Introduction

    FF1 PC enclosure is a collaboration with NCase that combines class-leading versatility, compatibility, space efficiency, and thermal potential with a small footprint.

    Designed for horizontal and vertical placement and up to six different build configurations, FF-01 enclosure’s versatility and component compatibility makes it ideal for those looking to downsize their larger PC builds.

    Additional details can be found on the NCASE FF1 information webpage

    Gallery

    Preliminary Spec

    FAQs

  • Where can I get more info on the FF1 aka FreeFlow?
    This case is a collaboration with Ncase, more info is on their website as well as on Discord https://ncases.com/pages/computex2023-ff01 https://discord.gg/56SDzbZP9c
  • Will the standard kit ship with a riser cable?
    As the FF1 will be very competitively priced, the standard layout will not include a riser cable
    • ZS800 - Hybrid SFX PSU

    Introduction

    The ZS800 started life as a project to create a ‘better’ power supply for SFF builds.

    The first area of improvement we identified was the cables, specifically the 24PIN ATX which is bulky and difficult to route within most space-limited SFF cases.

    Our experience with compact DC to DC ATX converters lead us to explore the idea of combining these with a standard ATX PSU as they could deliver the required multiple voltages from a single 12V supply. This would allow us to reduce the cable count from 24 to just 6. The concept was further validated when Intel announced their ATX12VO specification and whilst it differed from our originally planned design, we were able to create a hybrid solution that is both ATX3.0 and ATX12VO compatible. This has the added benefit of being forward-compatible when/if ATX12VO is adopted by more motherboard vendors.

    Next we looked at optimising the size and whilst the dimensions are defined by the SFX standard as 125×63.5x100mm, the depth does not include the cables that typically protrude an additional 20-30mm. By rotating the connectors 90 degrees we can keep the total depth within 125mm which is preferable as it also allows for a 120mm fan whilst keeping the total effective depth the same as an SFX.

    Most fans used in PCs are user replaceable and we think the same should be true of PSUs. The ZS800 is the first SFX PSU that allows the user to replace the fan with one of their choosing to create a perfectly matched system. The ZS800 also includes additional features such as a diagnostic LED and the ability to set custom fan profiles via USB and an App.

    Gallery

    Preliminary Spec

    FAQs

  • Will the PSU come fitted with a fan?
    Absolutely YES but the exact brand and model has not been confirmed yet and yes, it could in principle work without a fan but would be power limited to about 250W

    • **UPDATED 06/06/2023**

    Computex 2023 was a blast, truly grateful to everyone that stopped by our booth to check out what we have been working on. The response has been overwhelmingly positive and a great confirmation that we are doing something right. We are now all back on home ground and working hard to bring everything to market very soon.

    Here is most (but not all) media coverage from the exhibition. If we have missed anyone, drop us a message and we will add a link ASAP

    YouTube

    Written Media

    Company

    Cases

    Accessories

    Where to Buy

    © 2010 - 2023 Streacom. All rights reserved.
    Twitter Facebook-f Youtube Instagram Pinterest Linkedin-in
    We are always here to help!

    Get in Touch

    Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram Linkedin
    Have a product idea or suggestion? >> Try our new feedback page