next gen = big,loud,warm,expensive?

[thop]

I'm still wondering how they're gonna cram all that processing power into a small box with only a case fan, and sell it at a reasonable price? And the power bill is probably gonna spike as well

 

[Mulciber]

im expecting a large heatsink that covers the entire back side of the unit, much like my subwoofer

 

[see colon]

they could do it 'cube style and just put fans almost as big as the system on either side of it.

 

[Tagrineth]

they could do it 'cube style and just put fans almost as big as the system on either side of it.

The 'Cube only has one fan.

 

[Inane_Dork]

You'll probably have to ride an exercise bike to play them.

This is actually great news. Frame-rate issues? Peddle harder, wuss!

 

[Riddlewire]

I'm expecting Zalman-style heatsink cases. With cooling fins completely surrounding the box. With so much heat in a small case, though, they'll still need a case fan in addition to the body-connected heat pipes.
This is far more likely for Sony, though. Microsoft has been spooked by all the false claims of 'bad case design'. They'll be too scared to use a case that is appropriately designed for optimum cooling. I suspect theirs will be very loud and very hot. But dangit, it will look good!
I have no idea what Nintendo will do. A nice pastel sphere, perhaps?

 

[Megadrive1988]

You'll probably have to ride an exercise bike to play them.

This is actually great news. Frame-rate issues? Peddle harder, wuss!

*is gonna get in shape maintaining a smooth 60fps *

 

[Guden Oden]

I would say a GC-like case, one low-RPM 120mm fan, and inside a thermaltake tower-like heatpipe cooler. Making the entire case into a heatsink will be inefficient not only because of the cost of making an all-metal chassis, but also because the surface area won't neccessarily be any larger. Also, convection cooling is MUCH less efficient than forced airflow cooling using a fan...

 

[Fox5]

they could do it 'cube style and just put fans almost as big as the system on either side of it.

The 1 fan the cube has doesn't seem that big, only 60mm or perhaps even a little smaller. I really like the gamecube's design as far as cooling effectiveness and size go though.

 

[Squeak]

I have no idea what Nintendo will do. A nice pastel sphere, perhaps?

You do know what pastel colours are? Nintendo has never used them in any of their hardware designs, so why start now?

 

[Riddlewire]

You do know what pastel colours are? Nintendo has never used them in any of their hardware designs, so why start now?

Because, this time, it's a REVOLUTION!

 

[Readykilowatt]

To Riddlewire

You make me laugh, but I'm not laughing with you, I'm laughing at you.

 

[Mulciber]

wow, some guys need a sense of humor

 

[PC-Engine]

they could do it 'cube style and just put fans almost as big as the system on either side of it.

The 1 fan the cube has doesn't seem that big, only 60mm or perhaps even a little smaller. I really like the gamecube's design as far as cooling effectiveness and size go though.

Yeah the GCN cooling system is very simple and effective as the air follows a striaight path from the right side through to the left. There are no vents on the underside which means you can lay it on a thick carpet with no cooling problems. Also if you look closely at the two vents on the sides of the GCN, you'll notice little round arches that keep the vents from being completely blocked by raising it off a surface if the unit falls on it's sides since it's more likely to happen on a cube shaped console. BTW I think it uses a 50mm fan.

The DC uses an even tinier fan but it has a funnel too heh.