Modding Project: Pico Bayard

I just returned from CES in Las Vegas where I unveiled my latest project I call Pico Bayard. It uses the VIA Pico-ITX mainboard and is designed after an art deco mantle clock by the French clockmaker Bayard.






Displayed with a USC (Universal Size Comparator)





The cooling solution was first prototyped on my G-metric Nano project. The biggest problem with cooling small, densely-packed enclosures is trying to move proper quantities of air in and out of the case. My solution is to effectively move the CPU heatsink out of the box entirely. It is near impossible to overheat the CPU with this design.



EarthLCD 8" touchscreen TFT-LCD @ 800x600, 1GB of Crucial DDR2, Integrated Wi-Fi, 80W picoPSU powering both computer and display, all encased in Swietenia flame Mahogany.

I didn't do a "proper" worklog because it was suppose to be a surprise unveiling at the show. The worklog wouldn't look much different than the one here on bit-tech for the Skyscraper Photo PC.

More here... Thanks for looking.

 

Wow nice! Good Job

What times has occupied it project Pico Bayard ?

 

I saw this on your webpage the other day and liked it a lot. My sister wants one too!
I would like to know what you used for the chrome trim.

 

Thanks Cheapskate and 7kondzio.

I got some 1/4" chrome automotive trim from my local auto parts store. It has 3M adhesive-backing and is used to customize cars ghetto-style. It comes in a 6 ft roll I think.

 

It's gorgeous! And would look so at home on my desk...

 

That's nice
How much noise does that little fan make?

 

Thanks. I was surprised how quiet it was so I checked out the specs. Turns out to be a 5V fan instead of the 12V used in the past. It just looks and "feels" like a higher quality fan. The VIA Nano-ITX board also uses a 5V.

Scirocco.....it would make a nice desk ornament. I think that is why I finished the backside in veneer instead of a painted panel like my Skyscraper. Thanks.

 

Thats really good, i just wish i could work with wood, i couldn't cut a straight line for a free nano itx board.

 

You could do it. My training consisted of playing with Lincoln logs when I was young. The only power tool I use is a cordless drill. Go ahead...try it.

 

Another amazing piece of art! Just wonderfull!

 

omg that really nice. i would buy that thing for sure...

nice work

 

Very nice solution with the cooling!

 

Thanks guys!

I'm glad you noticed. I try to bring a little "tech" to all my projects. Cheers.

 

I would love to see two things:

The first one would be a full worklog of one of your projects;
And the other one would be how your workplace looks like. I just love workshops

Cheers matey!

 

I've done two worklogs. One is here on bit-tech: The Skyscraper Photo PC

 

Nice ,clean and elegant as always, im surprised that u can power up both computer and display with only 80W pico psu,makes me wonder about all those 700-1100W PSUs (feels like a complete overkill).A high quality/efficient 400- 500W PSU should be enuff for almoust any new system even SLI...I know this isent a high end rig (and its not suposed to) but the difference cant be that big in power consumption concidering that u also are powering your display. Anyway it looks fantastic.

Regards.

 

so, how do you right-click on a touch screen?

anyways, Pico Bayard looks nice.

 

maybe the same way as on pocketPC, tap&hold for a second( or two)

 

Thanks. I think it has been a great marketing coup that the PSU industry has achieved in convincing people that mo' power is mo' betta. It is almost as good as the myth that systems in aluminum cases run cooler.

Thanks. Good question. I seem to remember a setting in the touch software labeled right-click mode. Not sure what that means. I didn't miss the feature much and an Apple Mac user would ever know it was missing.