The RF isn't an issue for humans, or the PC, it's an issue that it might create unwanted interference with other electronics. I guess the most important takeaway is that it most likely doesn't comply with FCC regulations (how could it?) so it can't really be sold as an assembled PC in the USA.
Components pass FCC regulations, not cases. If a vendor wants to sell a power supply, motherboard, or whatever on its own, it gets FCC certification on its own.
What they said is that this as a whole unit wouldn't comply with FCC regulations. But it would, because every component would. So the case or an entire PC built from the case would pass.
The FCC thing is true, but that's a rating for emissions, not necessarily shielding (though that is obviously part of it)
A case helps prevent outside interference from getting in as much as it does getting out, and interference getting in can cause strange anomalies like coil whine or affecting devices talking on a similar frequency as the interference.
Exactly my first thought when I saw plastic and fabric. It won't block anything, so I'd think it will make a mess of interference on anything anywhere near a system using this. I get the art concept, but for practicality from an electrical standpoint, this is a 0. Might even be worse than some of those open concept cases because many of those, while not having fully enclosed sides, do have metal in some places. Would love to see the results of runnign an RF probe around this stuff.
I will probably catch some flack over this but to me at least this is just beyond dumb and pretty pointless. Then again there are probably going to be some that find this the holy grail of cases and scoop them up. BY the way this would not be very hard to just do yourself and save some money if this is what you want out of a case.
There is a niche to this, though, in Asian markets. You can basically use any fabric cover (like a dakimakura case of your favorite anime waifu) and use that as a cover for your PC.
If it's cheap enough, I'd actually consider it as a sort-of-gag-PC-case. It's open air, too, so if you use a semi-porous filter-like fabric, it could be a strong contender for PC temps for the price, too.
Yea you could be right and this could be where these are going to aimed towards is in the Asian market. I think if I was to go for a case like this I would probably leave it uncovered or at least some sort of mesh like cover to keep dust out and still be able to see the insides of it. I would hope you could also not have it with the blue plastic frame as this reminds me of those plastic egg crates or beer crates...:)
Considering the noise that this thing would make and the fact that putting this next to a sofa sounds like an invitation to soak your computer with not-very-water-proof fabric... I'd say it'd have to be VERY niche (no pets, kids, guests who might think your computer made a nice side table).
More seriously, I think the point is that (unless they're impregnated with a fire retardant) it only takes a spark. Who wants a failing PSU to take their house with it?
"because fabrics also aren't good for blocking noises"
Some fabrics are very good at blocking noises; think of those thick theater curtains. I'm no fabric expert, but if InWin will make covers made out of a high quality multi-layer fabric with a foam insulation layer in it, it might even be better than hard materials like metal or plastic, which tend to resonate.
The problem with that is thermals - InWin stated that "fabrics don't block airflow," which makes me think that the case was designed with that in mind (so it wasn't made with say, a negative pressure system to wick hot air up through the top, etc.). Foam would... block airflow and insulate not just sound, but heat as well.
The fans are at the top and bottom. I think airtight fabric will give better airflow than fabric that lets the air that is sucked in right out.
The sentences "Meanwhile, since fabrics do not completely restrict the movement of air, airflows inside the case should be fine. On the other hand, because fabrics also aren't good for blocking noises, end users will likely go with a hybrid cooling system to maximize performance without producing too much noise" are not quotes from InWin, but seem to come from the writer, who maybe didn't give it enough thought. It could well be that this case has awful airflow and noise isolation, but it's not a given.
A theater curtain is also incredibly thick and blocks not only air but light, noise, and heat. You can tell from the pictures they are not using a thick fabric, in fact it's rather thin by how much light is getting through.
A Theater curtain the only the fabric used to block noise, otherwise fabric is not a good noise blocking material. Noise is vibration and the best way to stop vibration is mass. This is why your walls are made of Gypsum board. Essentially every other material is better then fabric for blocking noise, a 1/8" thick steel plate will have better noise blocking properties then a 1" thick curtain.
Mind you, fabric is good at absorbing noise. As in, preventing echo. There is a big difference between sound absorption and sound blocking. One improves sound quality typically used in studios while the other prevents noise for entering.
A thicker steel case will not reduce noise. Any noise inside will reflect even more, producing more sound coming out any open areas (fan holes, vents, etc). Noise absorption is the key to making closed cases quiet. But actually, an open case does so much better than most closed cases for cooling, thus keeping noise down. So just wrapping fabric such as speaker fabric around an open case may be best solution.
"Over the past few years makers of PC cases have tried virtually all materials to make their boxes: aluminum, steel, glass, various plastics, you name it."
Not a bad concept! Put a laptop grade hardware inside. Two very large a quiet fans and you have got women approved htpc to living room. Not bad at all!
Woman approved because someone wraps a plastic frame full of computer junk in gaudy fabric and then uses relatively quiet fans inside it? I feel like that's a poorly thought through use of outdated stereotypes.
Massive airflow with filtration. I still don't know not sure where the rear IO is, is on top? I wonder how the PCI express extension cable is connected.
Great. So, now I have to go clothes-shopping for my PC, too?
In all seriousness, that much plastic is so last-century. Probably even the fabric is synthetic. I'd like to see a zero-plastic PC that's easily-recyclable and made of only metal and wood. And maybe cotton or paper dust filters.
interference issues? add copper mesh to the fabric... imagine led’s also sewn into the fabric... or led’s as the fabric... a wrap around led display...
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cyberguyz - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
Very pretty but I wonder how good it is at blocking RF Interference....drexnx - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
given that it's entirely non-metallic, it won't block it at all.michael2k - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
It can't, unless they use a metal thread in the fabric coverSamus - Saturday, June 22, 2019 - link
That would be pretty cool if they do.Peter2k - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
Like people haven't been using bench "cases" (me included)Pretty isn't the word I'd be using, but anyway, there's plenty of rather open cases
Not sure RF blocking is something overly concerning really
Flunk - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
The RF isn't an issue for humans, or the PC, it's an issue that it might create unwanted interference with other electronics. I guess the most important takeaway is that it most likely doesn't comply with FCC regulations (how could it?) so it can't really be sold as an assembled PC in the USA.jordanclock - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
Components pass FCC regulations, not cases. If a vendor wants to sell a power supply, motherboard, or whatever on its own, it gets FCC certification on its own.The Chill Blueberry - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
That's.. what he said.jordanclock - Saturday, June 22, 2019 - link
What they said is that this as a whole unit wouldn't comply with FCC regulations. But it would, because every component would. So the case or an entire PC built from the case would pass.boozed - Monday, June 24, 2019 - link
Internal components typically aren't designed with integral shielding because they're assumed to be installed in a shielded enclosure.Reflex - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
Also, everything you'd be worried about it interfering with also has its own case...GreenReaper - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
Will it? I have a bunch of cables by my tower.mode_13h - Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - link
Um, what about interfering with radio & TV broadcasts, not to mention cellular and wifi?I think that's the point of the Federal *Communications* Commission regulating EMI.
Samus - Saturday, June 22, 2019 - link
The FCC thing is true, but that's a rating for emissions, not necessarily shielding (though that is obviously part of it)A case helps prevent outside interference from getting in as much as it does getting out, and interference getting in can cause strange anomalies like coil whine or affecting devices talking on a similar frequency as the interference.
rrinker - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
Exactly my first thought when I saw plastic and fabric. It won't block anything, so I'd think it will make a mess of interference on anything anywhere near a system using this. I get the art concept, but for practicality from an electrical standpoint, this is a 0. Might even be worse than some of those open concept cases because many of those, while not having fully enclosed sides, do have metal in some places. Would love to see the results of runnign an RF probe around this stuff.Reflex - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
Um, not really? People have been running open cases for decades without any significant problems.AshlayW - Saturday, June 22, 2019 - link
Exactly.Lord of the Bored - Wednesday, June 26, 2019 - link
Also cases with plastic or glass windows.Sometimes constructed primarily out of plastic or glass.
AshlayW - Saturday, June 22, 2019 - link
I have my system on open bench for months at a time with soundcard and such and no issues?RF has no major impact on computer hardware in the majority of situations
rocky12345 - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
I will probably catch some flack over this but to me at least this is just beyond dumb and pretty pointless. Then again there are probably going to be some that find this the holy grail of cases and scoop them up. BY the way this would not be very hard to just do yourself and save some money if this is what you want out of a case.JoeyJoJo123 - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
There is a niche to this, though, in Asian markets. You can basically use any fabric cover (like a dakimakura case of your favorite anime waifu) and use that as a cover for your PC.If it's cheap enough, I'd actually consider it as a sort-of-gag-PC-case. It's open air, too, so if you use a semi-porous filter-like fabric, it could be a strong contender for PC temps for the price, too.
rocky12345 - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
Yea you could be right and this could be where these are going to aimed towards is in the Asian market. I think if I was to go for a case like this I would probably leave it uncovered or at least some sort of mesh like cover to keep dust out and still be able to see the insides of it. I would hope you could also not have it with the blue plastic frame as this reminds me of those plastic egg crates or beer crates...:)Peter2k - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
This looks like I can make it at home within an hour or 2, given some wood and some tools at handFrankly the last picture of the case looks like it has been cut out by a modder out of a (plastic) beer case
Well at least it won't be north of a 1k$
Guess one could pair it with grandma's old lamp shades
HardwareDufus - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
elderly folks have been putting doylies on electronics for decades. nothing to see here.Flunk - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
If it's under $100 your cost could be similar, not even including the cost of your time.sing_electric - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
Or that you could 3D print, though with my printer, I'd have to divide up the chassis into a couple more component parts.Beltonius - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
I actually like it as a way to make a PC more like 'furniture' for like HTPC or other applications outside a normal 'office desk' setup.drexnx - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
I can see that, as like a small end table next to a sofa (given that your interior design is conducive to the fabric-draped style) but it's very nichesing_electric - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
Considering the noise that this thing would make and the fact that putting this next to a sofa sounds like an invitation to soak your computer with not-very-water-proof fabric... I'd say it'd have to be VERY niche (no pets, kids, guests who might think your computer made a nice side table).vanilla_gorilla - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
My first concern was, fire hazard?jordanclock - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
Why? The combustion temperature of most fabrics are in excess of 400°C.boozed - Monday, June 24, 2019 - link
So significantly less than steel or aluminium...More seriously, I think the point is that (unless they're impregnated with a fire retardant) it only takes a spark. Who wants a failing PSU to take their house with it?
shabby - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
My babuszka will love this...Cellar Door - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
You can literally wrap a milk crate with fabric and have a similar end product.Martijn ter Haar - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
"because fabrics also aren't good for blocking noises"Some fabrics are very good at blocking noises; think of those thick theater curtains. I'm no fabric expert, but if InWin will make covers made out of a high quality multi-layer fabric with a foam insulation layer in it, it might even be better than hard materials like metal or plastic, which tend to resonate.
sing_electric - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
The problem with that is thermals - InWin stated that "fabrics don't block airflow," which makes me think that the case was designed with that in mind (so it wasn't made with say, a negative pressure system to wick hot air up through the top, etc.). Foam would... block airflow and insulate not just sound, but heat as well.Martijn ter Haar - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
The fans are at the top and bottom. I think airtight fabric will give better airflow than fabric that lets the air that is sucked in right out.The sentences "Meanwhile, since fabrics do not completely restrict the movement of air, airflows inside the case should be fine. On the other hand, because fabrics also aren't good for blocking noises, end users will likely go with a hybrid cooling system to maximize performance without producing too much noise" are not quotes from InWin, but seem to come from the writer, who maybe didn't give it enough thought. It could well be that this case has awful airflow and noise isolation, but it's not a given.
evernessince - Saturday, June 22, 2019 - link
A theater curtain is also incredibly thick and blocks not only air but light, noise, and heat. You can tell from the pictures they are not using a thick fabric, in fact it's rather thin by how much light is getting through.A Theater curtain the only the fabric used to block noise, otherwise fabric is not a good noise blocking material. Noise is vibration and the best way to stop vibration is mass. This is why your walls are made of Gypsum board. Essentially every other material is better then fabric for blocking noise, a 1/8" thick steel plate will have better noise blocking properties then a 1" thick curtain.
Mind you, fabric is good at absorbing noise. As in, preventing echo. There is a big difference between sound absorption and sound blocking. One improves sound quality typically used in studios while the other prevents noise for entering.
Dug - Wednesday, June 26, 2019 - link
A thicker steel case will not reduce noise. Any noise inside will reflect even more, producing more sound coming out any open areas (fan holes, vents, etc).Noise absorption is the key to making closed cases quiet.
But actually, an open case does so much better than most closed cases for cooling, thus keeping noise down. So just wrapping fabric such as speaker fabric around an open case may be best solution.
Threska - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
"Over the past few years makers of PC cases have tried virtually all materials to make their boxes: aluminum, steel, glass, various plastics, you name it."Cheese. :-D
haukionkannel - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
Not a bad concept!Put a laptop grade hardware inside. Two very large a quiet fans and you have got women approved htpc to living room. Not bad at all!
PeachNCream - Friday, June 21, 2019 - link
Woman approved because someone wraps a plastic frame full of computer junk in gaudy fabric and then uses relatively quiet fans inside it? I feel like that's a poorly thought through use of outdated stereotypes.AshlayW - Saturday, June 22, 2019 - link
No it's because the fabric absorbs all the nagging:D
PeachNCream - Saturday, June 22, 2019 - link
If I were giving out one-upper prizes, you'd so get one! :3boozed - Monday, June 24, 2019 - link
I was wondering why cheese would be women approvedevernessince - Saturday, June 22, 2019 - link
More like what a man thinks a women might like but in fact not at all.evernessince - Saturday, June 22, 2019 - link
More like what a man thinks a women might like but in fact not at all.zodiacfml - Saturday, June 22, 2019 - link
Massive airflow with filtration. I still don't know not sure where the rear IO is, is on top? I wonder how the PCI express extension cable is connected.AshlayW - Saturday, June 22, 2019 - link
Maybe make a case out of a hollowed out dead body, it would be super unique until it decomposed and started to stink. Just putting ideas out there.samerakhras - Saturday, June 22, 2019 - link
yuk.mode_13h - Tuesday, June 25, 2019 - link
Great. So, now I have to go clothes-shopping for my PC, too?In all seriousness, that much plastic is so last-century. Probably even the fabric is synthetic. I'd like to see a zero-plastic PC that's easily-recyclable and made of only metal and wood. And maybe cotton or paper dust filters.
Surfacround - Wednesday, June 26, 2019 - link
interference issues? add copper mesh to the fabric... imagine led’s also sewn into the fabric... or led’s as the fabric... a wrap around led display...