The Perfect Computer

The state of current computer hardware stinks! Bloated software has created a demand for processors that run faster than they need to be and as a result they produce way too much heat. We need to get back to simpler software that runs fast on slower hardware and reserve the fast machines for games. The current hardware is also too hard for home users to upgrade or replace damaged components.

Ideally all of the hardware should change but that kind of change won't happen overnight. These changes can be done in steps and would eventually lead to the perfect computer. This system would cost a bit more than current systems but it would be easier to maintain and better in the long run.

the front and back of the case will contain several module bays running from top to bottom. these bays would come in varying sizes for different types of modules. each module bay would have an eject button that shuts down the device and ejects it from the system. all modules would be hot-swapable and they will all register with the system's chipset.
- storage bays: supports hard drive, cdrom and floppy drive modules. the drives will initially be IDE or SCSI devices in a module case that is slightly different to prevent them from being used in the wrong bay. it would be up to the system designer to decide which type to use. eventually the drives would come with their own controller and the bays would connect directly to the device bus (PCI). when this change happens, all drive modules, IDE or SCSI, would be converted to the same style case. (see device bays below)
- processor bays: supports processor modules. processor speed would be independant of other processors. the module would include a heatsink but no fan. processors don't need to be the same type either, you can have IA-32 and PowerPC processors in the same system. most systems could come standard with a 533mhz PowerPC 970 processor and 266mhz FSB. this speed would be fine for the majority of computer users who do nothing but check email and surf the web. couple this "slow" processor with a GeForce 4 video module and you could probably play every game out there with decent speeds.
- memory bays: support for varying size and speed memory modules.
- device bays: supports modules with USB, firewire, ethernet, modem, sound, video and other capabilities. the system would probably include a combo module with all of these features. these devices would connect to the device bus (PCI). the IDE and SCSI modules would eventually be converted to use these bays.
- power bays: supports a fanless power supply. systems could have support for multiple power modules.
- fan bays: the case should also support fan modules to provide the internal cooling and remain easily replaceable. the locations of fan bays depends on the structure of the cooling system and most systems would require all fans to be used for proper cooling. some systems could have additional empty fan bays that would be required if certain modules were used. modules will register their heat requirements with the system and it would determine if additional fans are needed. modules that require more cooling than the system provides would not be turned on.
replace the motherboard with a backplane and chipset to manage the modules. the first systems could use multiple transports (FSB, AGP and PCI) but should eventually be changed to use a single bus that can scale from slow devices up to fast devices such as processor modules with 1ghz interfaces (FSB).
central cooling system for all modules.
it needs the perfect operating system (BRiX)