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[Zubaru]

Hallo there.
I have for a while been thinking about making a computer inside a cola can.
but i need help, where can i buy small/tiny computer parts that would be enough for media streaming and running linux and any tips on how i should put it together?
i have never put a computer together so im unexperienced.
im not doing this for the computer, but for a bit of a challenge, all help is appreciated.

Thank you
Zubaru

[TheFieldZy]

Raspberry Pi is the smallest thing you might, might be able to get in there. A "real" computer is not possible. ITX boards are 6.7 by 6.7 inches, which is too big for a soda can obviously, plus additional components.

[fm87]

TheFieldZy, on 14 February 2013 - 11:26 PM, said:

Raspberry Pi is the smallest thing you might, might be able to get in there. A "real" computer is not possible. ITX boards are 6.7 by 6.7 inches, which is too big for a soda can obviously, plus additional components.

Pi is cutting it VERY close.

http://www.raspberrypi.org/faqs

Quote

What are the dimensions of the Raspberry Pi?

The Raspberry Pi measures 85.60mm x 56mm x 21mm, with a little overlap for the SD card and connectors which project over the edges. It weighs 45g.

A soda can would be 127 x 69mm x 69mm (give or take, I converted from inches).

Problem being a soda can is cylindrical, the ethernet ports and a bunch of the hardware would stick up.

Also you would need to figure out a way to keep the board from shorting on the soda can.

[Zubaru]

i wan't to put it together myself, buying a raspberry pi would not be fun.
maybe you could make the board where the things is on more than one layer?
cause if you made it more than one layer then i don't need to have one board fit in but 2 smaller ones.
and i plan to make hdmi and sd card slot stick out at the top.

[fm87]

Zubaru, on 15 February 2013 - 03:25 PM, said:

i wan't to put it together myself, buying a raspberry pi would not be fun.
maybe you could make the board where the things is on more than one layer?
cause if you made it more than one layer then i don't need to have one board fit in but 2 smaller ones.
and i plan to make hdmi and sd card slot stick out at the top.

Anything but an arduino or raspberry pi would just be far too big.

Here is a sense of size, this is a modern laptop/mobile CPU and a soda can, and the motherboard that goes with it.

The RAM+CPU alone would be too big. You could possibly fit it with a custom board, but the problem with that is the heatsink (not shown) and fan (also not shown) would cause it to be too big as well.

[SteevyT]

I wish I could find throwback around here.  I loved that stuff.

[Markwell99]

First thing that comes to mind is how good a couple of ram sticks would look in there .

[Doctapper]

It's impossible, seriously.

Your only hope is a Raspberry Pi, but you want to build it yourself, so no.

[bbqroast]

Using a small processor (many do not even need cooling, just decent ventilation) you could do it, but for a circular can you'd probably have to build the motherboard yourself, for which you'd need a circuit design background.

[jacobdb]

hmmm

first of all.. do you need a computer for this project? or would some microprocessors do the job just fine? because a couple of microprocessors and IC"s would fit in there just fine.

[CentrallyProcessed]

jacobdb, on 15 February 2013 - 08:39 PM, said:

hmmm

first of all.. do you need a computer for this project? or would some microprocessors do the job just fine? because a couple of microprocessors and IC"s would fit in there just fine.

You could probably hack up a breadboard and stick some ICs on it. Far less expensive than having a custom manufactured PCB.

[manesag]

look up gumstix

[jacobdb]

CentrallyProcessed, on 15 February 2013 - 09:10 PM, said:

You could probably hack up a breadboard and stick some ICs on it. Far less expensive than having a custom manufactured PCB.

there is something known as a pegboard that does the trick aswell.

breadboards aren't really solid connections, soldering something up is a far better idea..

but an arduino and some small electronics might be able to do the trick if we know what he is doing.

[CentrallyProcessed]

jacobdb, on 15 February 2013 - 09:13 PM, said:

there is something known as a pegboard that does the trick aswell.

breadboards aren't really solid connections, soldering something up is a far better idea..

but an arduino and some small electronics might be able to do the trick if we know what he is doing.

True, but I doubt the OP has access to a soldering iron, or solder. I was also going for least cost

An Arduino Mini or an Arduino Due might fit in a can, though.

[Shpaget]

CentrallyProcessed, on 15 February 2013 - 09:17 PM, said:

An Arduino Mini or an Arduino Due might fit in a can, though.

But neither will run linux, or even stream video. They might struggle with poor quality audio, but I wouldn't hope for much.

[jacobdb]

Shpaget, on 15 February 2013 - 09:23 PM, said:

But neither will run linux, or even stream video. They might struggle with poor quality audio, but I wouldn't hope for much.

an arduino can stream video and audio fine.. it just requires more work then a normal linux machine..

also, a soldering iron is a good investment to begin with.

[fm87]

I say just go with a Rasp Pi.

[Shpaget]

Jacob, I'll have to ask you for some links.

[jacobdb]

Shpaget, on 15 February 2013 - 09:35 PM, said:

Jacob, I'll have to ask you for some links.

for what?

[manesag]

https://www.gumstix.com/