Sun Blade 1500 Workstation. This 64-bit workstation sports the same 1 GHZ UltraSPARC IIIi processor found in Sun's higher-end mission-critical servers. To keep costs down, engineers cut the number of components by integrating the memory controller and 1Mbyte L2 cache onto the CPU, and incorporated Double Data Rate (DDR) memory instead of SDRAM, and Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) drives. "There is some trade-off concerning cache size," says Sun Workstation Manager Brian Healy. But he adds by integrating the cache onto the die, engineers reduced memory latencies by up to four times, maintaining performance while reducing cost and complexity. In addition, this architecture has low power consumption—350W maximum vs. 670W for a Sun Blade 2000. (www.sun.com) Enter 582
IBM ThinkCentre S50, M50, and A50p. Using a design for assembly and disassembly approach, IBM engineers developed an easy-access, tool-free chassis design for these products. That means users can easily remove the hard disk and memory for upgrading or servicing. Among design strategies: Cable routing is bundled out of the way for easy access to components and cable ends, and user "touch points" are colored blue for easy identification. There's also a "caddy" that surrounds the hard disk drive, locking it into place without the use of tools or screws. (www.ibm.com) Enter 583
Apple Power Mac® G5. This personal computer has a big heart—specifically, a 64-bit processor, which Apple claims is a first for a PC. It beat out Xeon and Pentium 4 processors in a SPEC CPU 2000 benchmark test. And, it will still run 32-bit applications. The guts also include dual 2.0 GHz PowerPC G5 processors, each with an independent 1 GHz front-side bus. The electronics can build up a lot of heat, so Apple designed a proprietary computer-controlled cooling system to get rid of it. The thermal management design includes four discrete thermal zones to compartmentalize primary heat-producing components. Fans run at low speeds to keep the machine quiet. (www.apple.com) Enter 584
JUNE 26TH WEBCAST: Collaborative Requirements Engineering
Speed your innovation. Capture the "voice of the customer" and translate customer requests into user requirements that define new products. Find out why the new ENOVIA Requirements Management solution enables organizations to improve their overall global requirements management process. Read More
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Successful synergistic integration of controls, electronics, computers and mechanical systems is key to the 21st century design process. Unlock the secrets at the Mechatronics Zone!
Webcast: Sensor Know-How Now
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Engineering Concept Conduit looks at new products and the components that make them exceptional. Each month we’ll look at a new electronic product and see what makes it tick from an engineering point of view. We’ll explore the design and engineering challenges for the product and examine the components that solved those challenges.
Light Matters: Systems Level Approach to HBLED illumination applications
Its good practice to apply a systems-level approach to high-brightness LED (HBLED) illumination applications. Minimally, the system includes the optical, thermal and electrical characteristics of the of the HBLED, the lens (if any) which is built-in to its package, secondary optics such as external plastic lenses/reflectors to direct the light as your application requires and power driver electronics. Read More
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