Thermaltake releases Core P3 wall-mount chassis

[HEXUS]

A smaller, more affordable alternative to the popular Core P5.

Read more.

[azrael-]

I've always been wondering if it is even legal to use cases like this because of the inherent EMI issues. Perhaps I'm mistaken on that bit, however.

[EvZ_2]

noob question: someone explain to me how this GPU is mounted?
What GPU is int his picture?
It seems to be mounted the wrong way around to me - unless this is a new design?

[ChewieJ]

noob question: someone explain to me how this GPU is mounted?
What GPU is int his picture?
It seems to be mounted the wrong way around to me - unless this is a new design?

Check out the thermaltake website.

The unit comes with:

"Built- In PCI-e X16 Riser Cable
Expand the Core P3 GPU performance for SLI/CrossFire configurations with the Thermaltake PCI-E x16 3.0 Riser Cable. Supporting a wide range of GPU solutions and matching the cable included in the Core P3 and other chassis, it protects the investment in the GPU with EMI shielding and provides high conductivity to the most vital components."

[scaryjim]

I've always been wondering if it is even legal to use cases like this...

Not quite sure where you're coming from with this! It's legal to run a PC without a case at all, or to run it in an entirely plastic case, neither of which has any EMI shielding. What do you think the latent EMI from a computer is going to do, transfer all your money to someone else's bank account?! Not quite sure how it could be a legal issue....

[RonanH]

these look great, then you plug in power, ethernet, mouse, kb and monitor cables at the very least and then they look awfully messy

[STUK]

System integrators should self certify systems to confirm they comply with EMC regulations. It involves keeping documentation on the testing the chassis has undergone and components used in a 'typical' configuration. If a SI sold a system in an open case such as this and it was pulled aside for EMC testing by OFCOM (or similar) and failed - you would be in all sorts of trouble.

I'm not really sure how it would pass to be honest as it's open but that is down to the chassis manufacturer to confirm / resolve, not joe public self building.

Awesome looking cases either way :-)

[Ttaskmaster]

"The EMC Directive requires that products must not emit unwanted electromagnetic pollution (interference) and must be immune to a normal level of interference".

"Having said that the Directive has a very wide application, it’s important to highlight that the scope includes only products 'intended for the end user', meaning that products which are intended for incorporation into other products are not within the scope of the Directive, unless that incorporation is done by the end user. For example, a video card designed to be installed in a desktop PC by a home user would be within scope whereas the same video card which is sold to a PC system integrator who then sells the complete PC to the home user would not be within scope. This is because the incorporation of the card has the potential to affect the EMC performance of the complete PC, and it is the PC system integrator who has ultimate responsibility for this since they are the person placing it on the market".


So... this is all about products that emit EM, right?
How much EM does a given case emit?
Why would this component fail EMCD?

[azrael-]

Not quite sure where you're coming from with this! It's legal to run a PC without a case at all, or to run it in an entirely plastic case, neither of which has any EMI shielding. What do you think the latent EMI from a computer is going to do, transfer all your money to someone else's bank account?! Not quite sure how it could be a legal issue....

Ttaskmaster (and to some extent STUK) already beat me to it, but the question of legality is exactly my point. To my knowledge all your electrical equipment at home needs to have some sort of EMI shielding, which clear cases or open testbeds do not have. I actually don't believe they're legal to operate. That this regulation probably isn't that strictly enforced is quite another thing, but if there's an issue and the interference can be traced back to you, you can most certainly look forward to a fine.

[ricksavoie]

Not quite sure where you're coming from with this! It's legal to run a PC without a case at all, or to run it in an entirely plastic case, neither of which has any EMI shielding. What do you think the latent EMI from a computer is going to do, transfer all your money to someone else's bank account?! Not quite sure how it could be a legal issue....

Ttaskmaster (and to some extent STUK) already beat me to it, but the question of legality is exactly my point. To my knowledge all your electrical equipment at home needs to have some sort of EMI shielding, which clear cases or open testbeds do not have. I actually don't believe they're legal to operate. That this regulation probably isn't that strictly enforced is quite another thing, but if there's an issue and the interference can be traced back to you, you can most certainly look forward to a fine.

For home use, they would be completely legal, because all home users of open case designs always wrap their computer room in a grounded electromagnetically shielded grid. - sheesh- http://hollandshielding.com/109-Mu%20copper%20cages

[Arulmani]

thats cool !!

[scaryjim]

Ttaskmaster (and to some extent STUK) already beat me to it, but the question of legality is exactly my point. To my knowledge all your electrical equipment at home needs to have some sort of EMI shielding, which clear cases or open testbeds do not have. I actually don't believe they're legal to operate. That this regulation probably isn't that strictly enforced is quite another thing, but if there's an issue and the interference can be traced back to you, you can most certainly look forward to a fine.

I think the relevant bit of Ttaskmaster's post is surely: "For example, a video card designed to be installed in a desktop PC by a home user would be within scope whereas the same video card which is sold to a PC system integrator who then sells the complete PC to the home user would not be within scope. This is because the incorporation of the card has the potential to affect the EMC performance of the complete PC, and it is the PC system integrator who has ultimate responsibility for this since they are the person placing it on the market"

So my understanding is that it's at the point of sale that any regulation applies, not at point of use. A computer case is not an electrical device, so wouldn't come under consideration. All components of a home built computer would have to comply individually in order to be sold to end users, but the system as built by the end user is not required to comply, as it's not being sold to anyone. OTOH, if this case was sold to a SI and they used it in a build that they then sold on, they'd have to show that the entire build met EMI regs.

[Ttaskmaster]

A computer case is not an electrical device, so wouldn't come under consideration.

My point exactly - It don't emit nuffink, gov!!

All components of a home built computer would have to comply individually in order to be sold to end users

Again exactly - Each component must itself be thus shielded.

OTOH, if this case was sold to a SI and they used it in a build that they then sold on, they'd have to show that the entire build met EMI regs.

As I understand it yes, because by building a build that SI is now considered a manufacturer of a product for sale to the public, under whichever aspects of the various consumer laws cover it. No other practical reason.

[azrael-]

Last bit on this from me: The case is the "component" that shields the outside from electromagnetic noise generated by the components. Clearly, plastic cases and open testbeds don't. Also, last I checked e.g. a CPU isn't shielded by itself (unless the IHS counts). It depends on being in a case that does so. Actually, I'd go as far as to say that the only components shielded are the ones that need to protect their internals from electromagnetic noise coming from the outside. HDDs come to mind.

I'm not sure how legislation is in the UK, but elsewhere, like Germany, it seems to be more strict.

[Gh0sty]

I love the idea of wall mounting the case. My other half however is less keen!

[scaryjim]

... The case is the "component" that shields the outside from electromagnetic noise generated by the components. ...

If you''re selling a full computer, yes. If you're just selling the case, that's irrelevant as it doesn't produce any EMI or have any EMI sensitive component built into it.

Each component you buy separately will have to meet an EMI rating. That will include CPUs, GPUs, motherboards, memory, etc. It's more than possible that actually most of those components individually produce little enough EMI to get through rating without any special shielding.

It sounds like a bit of a loophole to me, but there it is. Since you can buy open test bed cases it's obviously legal to sell them. If there's any good evidence of actual danger or problems caused by EMI from open-case computers I'd be interested to see it; as it is I suspect any associated risk is minimal.