Razer Unveils Project Christine, the World's Most Modular PC Concept Design

[Cristian_25H]

Razer, the world leader in entertainment devices and software, today announced a concept of what promises to be the world's most modular gaming system, Project Christine.

The PC has traditionally been one of the most open platforms in all of technology. However, given the technical complexities of PC hardware, only the most hardcore enthusiasts have been able to take advantage of this openness to build, customize and continuously upgrade their PC desktop systems. The tremendous promise of the PC has remained underexploited by the vast majority of general consumers for more than 30 years, largely due to the convoluted hardware -- knowing what does what, what works with what, and how to connect the pieces.





Project Christine is a revolutionary new concept design that will change the way users view PCs. It will allow any user to build and customize his or her PC in any configuration without any prior technical knowledge. Further, as new upgrades come to the market, the same PC can be easily and quickly upgraded without additional technical assistance and without the fear of incompatibility or obsolescence.

Project Christine's modular design allows users to easily build their PCs by allowing them to select and install modules on-the-fly, whether it's a CPU, GPU, or memory and storage configuration. The PCI-Express architecture of Project Christine automatically syncs components. Need more graphics processing power or storage? Easy -- a user can slot-in additional graphics modules and add more storage by either swapping-out the existing storage drives or adding more modules. Equally exciting, Project Christine is able to run multiple operating systems that the user may require.

The modularity of Project Christine make it perpetually customizable, offering plug-and-play upgradability as new and improved technology evolves, ostensibly eliminating the need to replace entire systems. Modules connected to the PCI-Express backbone can be added in any order or combination, featuring up to quad-SLI graphics, multiple SSD and RAID storage components, I/O and even power supplies, ensuring maximum flexibility.

The cable-less design of each sealed module is entirely self-contained and features active liquid cooling and noise cancelation, which allows Razer to factory overclock components without voiding warranties, safely and quietly. The system also features a touch-screen LED display that indicates control and maintenance information.

"Project Christine is a new concept design that will revolutionize the way users view the traditional PC. This is the first gaming system that is able to keep pace with technology and could allow consumers to never buy another PC, or gaming system, again," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. "We have a history of bringing incredibly innovative concept systems to market and it's fair to say that Project Christine is a very exciting new prospect for future development."

For more information, check out www.razerzone.com/christine.

Product features:

• Fully modular design for perpetual, cable-less customization
• PCI-Express architecture
• Open operating system platform
• Factory overclocked components
• Self-contained modules with active liquid cooling and noise cancelation
• Quad SLI capable
• SSD + RAID 5 HDD Array
• LED touchscreen control display

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[buildzoid]

Cool but I don't think people will be all that interested because it's not like building a regular PC is that hard. If I don't use a case I can have a PC done in from boxed to installing OS in under 20min and 40min if I have an annoying to work with case and do some minimal cable management.

 

[adulaamin]

Since it's a Razer product, I'm gonna bet it's gonna cost an arm (and maybe a leg)

 

[xavier1123]

Since it's a Razer product, I'm gonna bet it's gonna cost an arm (and maybe a leg)

dont forget the head!

 

[the54thvoid]

I was going to be a smart arse and say Thermaltake want their case back but I see it is nothing like that at all.

This thing will cost a freaking bomb. I'm assuming Razer will sell the modules which will be pre-rigged to work with what would be the mobo. How the hell will the CPU work in a modular way???

I'd like to see a lot more than the glossy menacing and cool video of it. Sounds more like concept for now than production reality.

 

[hckngrtfakt]

Cool but I don't think people will be all that interested because it's not like building a regular PC is that hard. If I don't use a case I can have a PC done in from boxed to installing OS in under 20min and 40min if I have an annoying to work with case and do some minimal cable management.

This is not your typical consumer-grade PC ... and i honestly doubt you can have a system which includes
"cooling and noise cancelation" ready in under 20 minutes, specially if you take in account loop setup, draining, and testing, etc...

For as interesting as this concept may seem, im sure the price will be rather steep (even more so than the TT level 10)

 

[RCoon]

what promises to be the world's most modular gaming system

No, no it won't. This won't be the most popular gaming system. It might be the most expensive gaming case besides the InWin, but that's all. Feel sorry for the people that are dumb as spit and buy this ripoff. Nothing but a huge gimmick.

 

[Nordic]

How will razor handle drivers? Interesting concept for sure.

 

[Wittermark]

No, no it won't. This won't be the most popular gaming system. It might be the most expensive gaming case besides the InWin, but that's all. Feel sorry for the people that are dumb as spit and buy this ripoff. Nothing but a huge gimmick.

it says modular, not popular.

 

[The Terrible Puddle]

No way this is going to be more than a concept.

 

[Sasqui]

Where'd they hide the motherboard?!?

 

[SeventhReign]

Yea... No.

This thing is a proprietary nightmare. Essentially it is a Desktop Sized, Laptop.

I'm willing to bet my entire years salary that we will have Organic Teleportation and Light Speed Travel before this is anything more than a concept.

 

[SeventhReign]

How will razor handle drivers? Interesting concept for sure.

Drivers are handled by the Operating System, which has nothing to do with Razer. Have you ever used a Computer?

 

[Random Murderer]

 

[Jack1n]

It would be cheaper to pay some one to put together a pc for you.

 

[Nordic]

Drivers are handled by the Operating System, which has nothing to do with Razer. Have you ever used a Computer?

What an immature comment. I guess I could provide an example. Graphics drivers. They are promoting this as completely plug and play and graphics drivers are certainly not plug and play. I would imagine razer would have some form of driver website or software, hence the question, since they appear to be aiming for a low denominator.

 

[buildzoid]

This is not your typical consumer-grade PC ... and i honestly doubt you can have a system which includes
"cooling and noise cancelation" ready in under 20 minutes, specially if you take in account loop setup, draining, and testing, etc...

Skip the water cooling and the noise cancellation because those are not required components they are luxurious extras. These are the basics steps for building an AMD APU powered PC:
1: open boxes
2: install ram into mobo
3: pull up socket lever
4: drop CPU into socket
5: clip down the stock heatsink (AMD has the best stock cooling mounting system when it comes to ease of use)
6: open case (4-6 screws and 2 if you don't bother with cables at all)
7: install mobo risers (4-9 risers)
8: install mobo with CPU RAM and heatsink (4-9 screws)
9: install PSU (4 screws)
10: install HDD (potentially tool less or 4 screws)
11: install ODD (potentially tool less or 4 screws)
12: connect wires (2 sata, 2 sata power, 1ATX power, 1CPU power, and front IO )
13: close case (4-6 screws)
14: turn on
15: put windows install disk into ODD
From boxes to installing windows in 15 steps and maximum of 42(minimum 12) screws so yes I can get a PC up and running in a case in under 30min. And If I don't use a case and run it open air on top of the mobo box I can do it in under 15min.

As for if I could build this No but this while a great idea it is impossible because there is zero space for a proper sized radiator and having components hanging in mid air like that looks like a terrible idea.

 

[badtaylorx]

this is coooooool,

but Oh the latencies

 

[SaltyFish]

Anyone remember how Project Fiona, a.k.a. the Edge (Pro) tablet, turned out? As such, I'd keep any expectations low. Building a computer these days is very much putting a shaped block through the same-shaped hole. Remember the old days when you had to insert the floppy drive cable in the correct orientation or slave/master settings on PATA hard drives? Most of the problems these days come from inadequate PSUs and OS settings. Project Christine looks to be a fancy box and whatever catchy production name Razer comes up with later will not save it from that.

 

[November]

Well, it seems to be past the concept stage, as they have a physical prototype at CES (I assume) as shown on Gizmodo.

http://gizmodo.com/razers-modular-desktop-makes-building-a-pc-like-playin-1496479940/@Fahey

Most intriguing and definitely most expensive point is that the design is completely mineral oil cooled configuration. So it basically is dead silent.

For those of you who say that PCs are modular enough, the way I see it is its a "plug and play" approach, which I for one am impressed by. In recent years, air cooling has become somewhat inadequate to cool GPUs or OCed CPUs. Hence the return of watercooling in the last few years, but Razer, did something new for once, each module has inlet and outlet ports for mineral oil, which plug into the chassis, so other than making computer building beyond idiot-proof now, they found away to bring in a sense "liquid cooling" to the masses with their pre-built oil immersed modules.

 

[Marty 1480]

I must admit it looks really cool and would most likely sell my two kidneys to get it based on looks only. But one is stuck with Razer for a proprietary platform. So one cannot just go out and buy XYZ video card etc. , industry standards and interchangeable parts have been one of the great things about owning a PC. But this all goes out the Window with this.
10 / 10 for design, but 0 / 10 for it being realistic.
Plus what do you do with your overpriced toy once Razer goes bust. There goes any hope of being able to upgrade your cool looking toy.

 

[ensabrenoir]

most interesting desktop I've seen in years......next to that new mac. Outside of the box people...outside of the box

 

[PLAfiller]

This is AWESOMEEE! I still think Razer's branding management is sh*t, but their output maaann, Blade, Fiona and now this. They are all beatifull and amazing. The best part of this puppy for me, is that it is mineral oil cooled. How cool is that? (no pun intended). Amazing project. I wonder what's was like during the brainstorm and prototype sessions of the team responsible for this thingy. Now that's some meaningfull work right there.

 

[BorisDG]

Where'd they hide the motherboard?!?

In the center where the things are getting connected. Anyway ... as usual great on pictures, but not as good IRL. Typical for Razer /yes, I have a lot of stuff, but .../. They just should continue making peripheral devices and not messing in things like this.

p.s. And now imagine this whole case covered in cheap glossy fingerprint plastic.

 

[xenocide]

This might be one of the coolest concept designs I've seen in years. The idea of a fully module PC is pretty out there, but Razer is really just openning the door.