projectWillBreaker
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This concept is a wall-mounted PC build that could serve primarily as a gaming rig and a control panel for monitoring autonomous robots amongst other intensive sub-tasks. ...learn more
Project status: Concept
PC Builds & Mods, PC Concepting
Groups
Student PC-Build Challenge
Intel Technologies
Intel® Core™ Processors,
12th Gen Intel® Core™ Processors,
Intel powered laptop,
Intel® integrated graphics
Overview / Usage
As a computer engineering student, amateur roboticist and gamer with a serious passion for technology, a PC that meets the requirements for my projects is a necessity and could determine the quality of my work. One of the reasons I chose this field of study was the ability to create and build tailored solutions to significant problems.
I prefer a wall mounted board/test bench setup because it is cool and I currently do not have any ground space. The board is quite modular and can be placed in a case later.
This concept idealizes a solution to that problem. Intel's new processor architecture more threads and cores that can foster the simulation and synthesis of complex Parallel algorithms faster on multiple performance cores. Alongside NVidia’s CUDA toolkit embedded in their GPUs, allocating resources for specific tasks will be a breeze.
Graphical real-time/ROS & ROS2 simulations on Gazebo and Rviz will be a cake walk for a combination of both IntelUHD and GeForce. These are key elements that create the best functional Learning and experimentation platform for small scale FPGA, Artificial Intelligence, and autonomous vehicle projects.
All work and no play are bad for the brain! Fortunately, the hardware in my concept can handle both low- and high-end video games, from Minecraft to Forza horizon 5 and upcoming games like Elden Ring. A 144hz refresh rate monitor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a combo of integrated and dedicated graphics processing from IntelUHD and NVidia respectively, and distribution of tasks to P-cores and E-cores by Intel's Thread Director contribute to a sublime gaming experience.
The total Memory systems present in this build will be sufficient for most of my application. Caches present in both E and P cores will foster execution of Parallel algrorithms, decreasing memory access times. There is support for 32GB DDR5 main memory, currently the fastest in the market which will allow me to run demanding applications more smoothly and reduce load times.
The dual-boot configuration works best to support different errands. Linux will be helpful in Program development for ROS & ROS2, RTOS, bare-bones Python and C. Windows 11 is optimized best for advanced simulations, streaming, and gaming.
The final build will be a personal computer that can assist immensely with learning, invention and simulation. Use of intel software and products from the Intel FPGA program are necessary for a working autonomous environment. Software like Quartus Prime and ModelSim would be used for schematic capture and writing VHDL/SystemVerilog. Altera's MAX10 products are useful for testing digital designs and studying parallel computing algorithms with OpenCl.
Methodology / Approach
Pre-Build
The case schematic will be 3d-printed or metal fabricated in readiness for the parts. Pieces from an actual case will be utilized in placement and fitting of parts.
Main Build
Provided all tools and computer hardware listed are present, I would start this build by praying that no component gets damaged due to ESD. I will then ground myself with the power supply unit.
I will take the Motherboard out of its box and place it on the ESD mat then install the following respectively:
- Processor
- RAM sticks
- M.2 SSD
- Processor Thermal Interface
- AIO cooling block with radiator and fans as exhaust
- Pci Express Riser Cable
Motherboard will be place aside and install its stand offs on the modular board I designed to be mounted on the wall. I will proceed to install the vertical GPU mounting brackets and the I/O shield. I will install the Motherboard and Radiator into the case. Panel connectors are TBD currently but if I were installing it in the generic case, I would make those connections before proceeding to install the PSU connections. Other (case) cooling fans will be installed on the case also and connected to the motherboard.
Cable Management begins! The PSU doesn't seat with the rest of the system in the main case as you will see in the design, it seats in a sub-section to the right with SATA drives. Its cables will be fed through the back. These are the motherboard10-pin connectors and the GPU 8-pin power connectors. I will use Zip ties to carefully route hard drive and SSD connectors for future use. After all cables have been connected and cable management is finished, I will place the GPU into its bracket and connect the PCi express riser and power cable.
Testing and Verification time! In this phase, PC is turned on and connected components will be tested to see if the complete system can post to a monitor. If it doesn't, specific components will be disconnected to test for bad connections. If it posts, the presence of all sticks of memory and similar resources will be verified.
Both Windows and Linux will be installed on same drive now but on different drives later. Work applications will be installed first, then let the games begin. Software tests and examples can be found in the slides.
Lastly, system will be shutdown. Wall mounting brackets will be installed, then the board PC will be placed on the wall. The case cover will slide unto the rest of the system.
Technologies Used
Software Technology
Windows 11, Latest Ubuntu desktop LTS version (20.04.3 currently), ROS, ROS2, OpenCV, MatLab, Quartus Prime, ModelSim, Questa, Fusion360, Gazebo, Anaconda, FreeCAD, Raspberry Pi Imager, Visual Studio Community, Visual Studio Code amongst others.
Computer Hardware
Processor- Intel Core i9-12900K - Core i9 12th Gen Alder Lake 16-Core (8P+8E)
Motherboard- ASUS ROG Strix Z690-E Gaming WiFi 6E LGA 1700 Intel 12th Gen ATX Gaming Motherboard
RAM/Main Memory - G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin DDR5
Graphics/ Video Card -MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 8GB GDDR6 PCI Express 4.0 Video Card
Default Case- will be built/ customized. Phanteks Eclipse P500A High Airflow Full-metal Mesh Design
Power Supply Unit -Seasonic FOCUS PX-850, 850W 80+ Platinum Full-Modular
Windows Solid State Drive - SAMSUNG 980 M.2 2280 1TB, NVMe Internal Solid State Drive (not concluded, see slides)
Linux Solid State Drive- SAMSUNG 980 M.2 2280 1TB, NVMe Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-V8V1T0B/AM (not concluded, see slides)
Hard drive/Virtual Memory- Seagate BarraCuda ST2000DM008 2TB Hard drive
Cooling- MSI MAG Core Liquid 360R AIO Liquid CPU Cooler
Build tools/ Other hardware
- Zip Ties or Cable ties
- #2 philips Screwdriver
- Screws and Standoffs
- Power drill
- Wire Cutters
- ESD mat and wristband
- 2 boot drives
- Pci Express Riser Cables
- RGB light strips- WS2812B (Price) or SMD5050(Power)
- 3d Printer and Filament
- Cooling fans
- FPGA DE 10 Lite
- IoT kits- temp sensor
- Breadboards
- Dremmel
Check out my slides for ore information!