Razer Project 'Christine' What do you think?

[Charlie]

For those who don't know Project Christine is Razer's vision for the future of desktop PCs, it's modular design would allow the user to change any component quickly and easily, each component is overclocked, water cooled and runs silently.

Official Site
http://www.razerzone.com/christine

YouTube Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FW78IAfybI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E61feV3zLAE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOB57QP7Ao8

When this was first announced I never really payed much attention, but recently I have been very excited for this. So I pose the question, What do you think about Project Chistine and do you think this is the future of the Desktop PC? I personally love the idea, but I have doubts if we will ever see this come to market. But fingers crossed.

EDIT* Razer have said that they will allow other companies to make cases and components. And have partnered with several OEMs

[hatchet5891]

I have a feeling it will be a way for them to sell a pc and jack up the price of the components. Just like Microsoft does with their xbox hard drives, only razer will sell working hardware for this thing and at a price I imagine. I could be wrong though.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by hatchet5891:

I have a feeling it will be a way for them to sell a pc and jack up the price of the components. Just like Microsoft does with their xbox hard drives, only razer will sell working hardware for this thing and at a price I imagine. I could be wrong though.

Oh I forgot to add. Razer have said that they will allow other companies to make cases and components.

[Air]

It's an interesting concept, although I just don't know how to feel about it.

On hand, it's mineral oil cooled(that's more expensive and overall less effective than distilled water), it'll most likely be very expensive, you can't use standard PCI/PCI-E Cards, and it looks to be more fragile.

On the other hand, it looks like it will be extremely easy to swap out parts(although I don't know how easily those parts could be accidently removed), liquid cooling will be less of a hassle, and I like that little screen to select an OS.

Funny enough, this is pretty much exactly what I thought building a computer would be like when I first heard the concept when I was a kid.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

The parts lock into place from both sides; u have to slide a button to remove.
How strudy they are when connected like they show, I couldn't say.
But this system has been in works since around Dec 2012; yet we've heard very little more about it's progress or when could actually come to consumer market. So just have to wait and see what happens once they start landing in the laps of reviewers who can test them every means possible and share with all of us.

[Kate]

It's not for me at all, but I like the idea. You can bring modularity to people who are afraid of building a computer, although this won't save money when compared to a pre-built.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by Kate:

It's not for me at all, but I like the idea. You can bring modularity to people who are afraid of building a computer, although this won't save money when compared to a pre-built.

I suppose it would depend on how mainstream this became. If I had £400 I could build a more powerful custom built PC than I could a prebuilt desktop PC. If Razer are really serious about this and do everything in their power to make this as easy, cheap and effective as possible this could be the same price (albeit a little bit more expensive) than a regular component, but with all the benefits this project has to offer.

[Rove]

Cool way to turn a PC into a Mac. Like a Mac it's gonna cost more & you should probably just build your own PC. I doubt they are big enough to make new over-arching hardware standards so it's not that exciting.

[Fork_Q2]

Saw that earlier this year, seeing as you're forced to buy the upgrades only from Razer, not for me thanks.

It promises to cool the components without fans - how exactly does that work? Where does the heat bleed out of?

No matter, it looks DOA so probably not going to happen:
http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/185484-razers-modular-project-christine-foundering-on-the-shoals-of-low-oem-interest

[Rove]

I frankly think they'd be better off OEMing CPUs, RAM & GPUs with custom liquid cooling bundled with them as the stock coolers. Changing the whole form factor is a huge task.

[Setesch]

My thoughts on Project Christine? Personally it doesn't interest me too much however I am interested with what it could bring to PC gaming for those that aren't that tech savvy.

Also not too sure about the mineral oil cooling as it will add to the price point for essentially same as air cooling in terms of performance.

[Mr Keefy]

I dotn see the need for this, PC components are not hard to fit, they only go in the slots and holes one way.

[TeKraken]

I was mildly interested back in January but as keefy says, how hard is it really to upgrade a PC? It's not.

http://uk.ign.com/videos/2014/01/08/first-look-at-razers-project-christine-modular-pc

Also, do you have to get a whole new case once the motherboard is out of date? I'm guessing that's in the main upright section? If so how many people buy a new case every time they change a motherboard?

[Charlie]

Originally posted by TeKraken:

I was mildly interested back in January but as keefy says, how hard is it really to upgrade a PC? It's not.

http://uk.ign.com/videos/2014/01/08/first-look-at-razers-project-christine-modular-pc

Also, do you have to get a whole new case once the motherboard is out of date? I'm guessing that's in the main upright section? If so how many people buy a new case every time they change a motherboard?

I think the case just provides power and connects everything together. My guess it the bay that has the CPU and RAM also has the BIOS/UEFI chip and the chipset, technically taking the role of the motherboard.

[Charlie]

Another thing I though of lately is that maybe they could allow you to get a bare-bones kit (slot) and install your own RAM, CPU, etc... This would still make PC Gaming more accessible, easy to build but would make it cheaper, more customizable and you wouldn't have to deal with any wires. And it would be water cooled or mineral cooled.

[Fork_Q2]

Originally posted by GhostMotleyX:

Another thing I though of lately is that maybe they could allow you to get a bare-bones kit (slot) and install your own RAM, CPU, etc... This would still make PC Gaming more accessible, easy to build but would make it cheaper, more customizable and you wouldn't have to deal with any wires. And it would be water cooled or mineral cooled.

The components inside the modules aren't likely the same you can buy off the shelf. That, and the business model appeared to be based on you buying the modules right from Razor who'd charged a massive mark-up on them.