Price/Performance be dammed !

[nj4ck]

No, carbon fibre can be machine crafted. 

At least Sony can do it.

 

It's carbon, thats made into a fiber. Layered. Cured. Sanded and then painted/coated. 

 

Sony VAIO S carbon

Sony VAIO Z

Sony VAIO Pro

(Just to name a few)

Yeah, but those are just flat planes. Its not the material itself that makes carbon fiber so hard and expensive to manufacture, its the shape. Something with as many bends and angles as that fan shroud cannot be mass-produced, as the individual sheets of carbon fiber have to be shaped into the molds by hand and are then laminated with epoxy and cured in a vacuum bag that presses the layers together while the epoxy dries. With flat planes like in the VAIO, all you need to do is make a huge sheet of CF and then cut it into squares.

[CaffienatedBovine]

I rather get a high quality fully aftermarket card with silent cooling and extreme OCing potential for a bit less money than a reference card with blower style cooler for more money even if it is a tier above. Now I just have to wait for the reviews to come out on this card to see if it performance as insane as it looks. LOL

Yeah, you could get better performance for less money and a lower tier card, BUT for someone like myself who isn't comfortable overclocking, who also likes the sleek aesthetics and bragging rights, I would be more drawn to the 980.

[connorpiper]

Yeah, but those are just flat planes. Its not the material itself that makes carbon fiber so hard and expensive to manufacture, its the shape. Something with as many bends and angles as that fan shroud cannot be mass-produced, as the individual sheets of carbon fiber have to be shaped into the molds by hand and are then laminated with epoxy and cured in a vacuum bag that presses the layers together while the epoxy dries. With flat planes like in the VAIO, all you need to do is make a huge sheet of CF and then cut it into squares.

 

Well. The entire laptop bottom is one (Not just a flat piece) piece. (With sides, port indents, and such)

The keyboard deck has several dips and bends and the molding around the VGA port. 

 

And then the power media dock is one piece completely with a single removable plastic panel on the back. (For assembly) 

 

I understand that it is easier. But it's not that simple.

[nj4ck]

Can not tell Ill let you guy's know when the card is in my possession and I make a video of it.

I'm just saying, if you're expecting real carbon fiber, you're going to be disappointed. Here's what real CF looks like:

 

 

and again, this is what the Zotac "carbon fiber" looks like:

 

[I/O]

Yeah, but those are just flat planes. Its not the material itself that makes carbon fiber so hard and expensive to manufacture, its the shape. Something with as many bends and angles as that fan shroud cannot be mass-produced, as the individual sheets of carbon fiber have to be shaped into the molds by hand and are then laminated with epoxy and cured in a vacuum bag that presses the layers together while the epoxy dries. With flat planes like in the VAIO, all you need to do is make a huge sheet of CF and then cut it into squares.

3M Di-Noc Carbon Fiber looks sick. https://mnpctech.com/images/companies/3/overclock_alienware_alpha_gaming_pc_case_mod_replacement_part_power_supply_mnpctech.jpg

 

[nj4ck]

Well. The entire laptop bottom is one (Not just a flat piece) piece. (With sides, port indents, and such)

The keyboard deck has several dips and bends and the molding around the VGA port. 

 

And then the power media dock is one piece completely with a single removable plastic panel on the back. (For assembly) 

 

I understand that it is easier. But it's not that simple.

Well whatever Sony is using there, it doesn't look like traditional woven carbon fiber to me. They seem to be using some other form of it. 

 

Carbon fiber mass production is on its way, but even the automotive industry hasn't quite figured it out yet. I doubt that Sony has done so already, at least not for the strong, woven stuff. Here's an interesting article from 2012 about future mass production of CF:

 

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/27/manufacturing-advances-bring-carbon-fiber-closer-to-mass-product/

[Real_PhillBert]

Says who ?

 

"Cooler Triple-fan IceStorm w/ Carbon ExoArmor"

http://www.zotac.com/products/graphics-cards/geforce-900-series/gtx-970/product/gtx-970/detail/geforce-gtx-970-amp-extreme-edition/sort/starttime/order/DESC/amount/10/section/specifications.html

Umm I say. When I was in college I ran our SAE team for two years, and was in charge of our composite manufacturing testing and analysis for a year. I have layed well over 100 linear yards of carbon and carbon/kevlar personally. I have made carbon fiber pedals, fan shrouds, steering wheels, seats, undertrays, diffusers, as well as entire bodies. 

 

Here is a photo of some REAL carbon composite that I layed myself that just happens to be near by.

 

 

This was one of the first vacuum infusion test parts I did. It is a kick stand plate for a motorcycle, but it turned out so nice that I couldn't bring myself to throw it on the ground and put a kick stand on top of it.

 

That my friend, is what real carbon fiber looks like. This stuff on the Zotac, is absolutely, 100% fake.

[Real_PhillBert]

I'm just saying, if you're expecting real carbon fiber, you're going to be disappointed. Here's what real CF looks like:

 

*snip*

 

and again, this is what the Zotac "carbon fiber" looks like:

 

You are slightly faster than I

 

Is that your layup?

[connorpiper]

Well whatever Sony is using there, it doesn't look like traditional woven carbon fiber to me. They seem to be using some other form of it. 

 

No, it's super fine fibers (Like ultra fine, they are freaking meticulous) that are cured and then coated in some kind of matte finish.

They do that so it does not have to be woven, is easier to use and mold. And allows the laptop to be drooped from 6ft with minimal damage (At least in working condition)

They were made for business type users on the go with serious $$$.

 

On their special edition model. (Hand made in Japan) then coated the carbon fiber in Magnesium alloy, brushed it. Laced fine gold paint into the brush. And then coated it ~40x in some kind of resin. 

 

[I/O]

 

 

That my friend, is what real carbon fiber looks like. This stuff on the Zotac, is absolutely, 100% fake.

That pic you posted is real however it has not been treated with a clear coat. That's the way naked carbon fiber looks correct ;-)

[Real_PhillBert]

That pic you posted is real however it has not been treated with a clear coat. That's the way naked carbon fiber looks correct ;-)

Lol what? I made it. It does actually have a "clear coat" on it, in this case a polymer gel coat to add a bit of UV protection.

 

Edit: the card itself looks very promising. I dont know if I personally would pay that much for a 970, but that doesnt mean others will not.

[nj4ck]

No, it's super fine fibers (Like ultra fine, they are freaking meticulous) that are cured and then coated in some kind of matte finish.

They do that so it does not have to be woven, is easier to use and mold. And allows the laptop to be drooped from 6ft with minimal damage (At least in working condition)

They were made for business type users on the go with serious $$$.

 

On their special edition model. (Hand made in Japan) then coated the carbon fiber in Magnesium alloy, brushed it. Laced fine gold paint into the brush. And then coated it ~40x in some kind of resin. 

 

OK, that explains a lot, thanks.

[nj4ck]

That pic you posted is real however it has not been treated with a clear coat. That's the way naked carbon fiber looks correct ;-)

its just the angle that makes it appear less glossy, it definitely has a clear coat, otherwise you'd be able to see the mesh texture.

[connorpiper]

OK, that explains a lot, thanks.

 

That's why the Z series had a starting price of $2300 with a i5 3210M and 4GB RAM.

[I/O]

Edit: the card itself looks very promising. I dont know if I personally would pay that much for a 970, but that doesnt mean others will not.

Reference 980 is still another $140 more so that's a few games on Steam right there. Plus it's only 30 more than the G1

[nj4ck]

You are slightly faster than I

 

Is that your layup?

if by layup you mean the zooming in, then yes

[nj4ck]

That's why the Z series had a starting price of $2300 with a i5 3210M and 4GB RAM.

it would have been another $1000 bucks more expensive if they had used the "real" woven CF, though

[connorpiper]

it would have been another $1000 bucks more expensive if they had used the "real" woven CF, though

 

Oh don't worry. For the "Premium Carbon" it started at $3400.

And then you could get the i7 3612QM (Still hold record for lightest Quad-Core laptop)

And RAID 512GB SSDs.

And 16GB 1600MHz RAM

And a LightPeak dock with 4K support and 3 display support. 

Blueray Drive

Radeon GPU

 

Yea. ~$6000 laptop.

But it stabbed everything in the face.

And still does.

[Real_PhillBert]

if by layup you mean the zooming in, then yes

Lol fair enough. A lot of people think carbon work is harder than it really is. It takes a lot of time an you will likely screw up your first part or two. But once you get used to how it works, it really is not as wild as people think.

[nj4ck]

Oh don't worry. For the "Premium Carbon" it started at $3400.

And then you could get the i7 3612QM (Still hold record for lightest Quad-Core laptop)

And RAID 512GB SSDs.

And 16GB 1600MHz RAM

And a LightPeak dock with 4K support and 3 display support. 

Blueray Drive

Radeon GPU

 

Yea. ~$6000 laptop.

But it stabbed everything in the face.

And still does.

So basically the laptop-equivalent of a porsche 

[nj4ck]

Lol fair enough. A lot of people think carbon work is harder than it really is. It takes a lot of time an you will likely screw up your first part or two. But once you get used to how it works, it really is not as wild as people think.

yeah, I tried it myself once. Tried to make a few parts for a Ducati Monster, but quickly gave up (mostly because I realized I wasn't going to be able to keep the bike street-legal due to insane regulations here in germany). Maybe one day I'll build a track bike and make a full set of CF fairings for it.

[Real_PhillBert]

yeah, I tried it myself once. Tried to make a few parts for a Ducati Monster, but quickly gave up (mostly because I realized I wasn't going to be able to keep the bike street-legal due to insane regulations here in germany). Maybe one day I'll build a track bike and make a full set of CF fairings for it.

Sweet! I have made a couple of small panels for my SV650 a while ago. I would like to do the whole "Tank" (its not really a gas tank, just a cover over the airbox), but I havent had the time or motivation. Plus since I graduated I no longer have access to an entire composites lab. #growingupproblems