Introduction

Designers know that the effectiveness of a design lies on the successful implementation of not only elements, like line, shape, texture, and value, but also closely following specific principles, like movement, balance, emphasis, and unity, that serve as a foundation for the art piece. There is a rhyme and a reason behind every design decision, no matter how random or chaotic it might appear at first glance, especially when that inspiration comes from an unlikely place.

Introduction

Monolith [mon-uh-lith] noun

1: a single great stone often in the form of an obelisk or column

2: a massive structure

3: an organized whole that acts as a single unified powerful or influential force

To this day, the word “monolith” evokes thoughts of the first two definitions of the word, rather than the third. Granted, the third definition probably developed right along with the technology that made it a necessity. The entire concept of just arbitrarily dropping a giant solid rock column somewhere is pretty much gone from today’s society. But dropping a giant, hi tech marvel of engineering on a city block is a feat to be admired.

Introduction

Among all the components comprising a modern personal computer, heatsinks are the most deceptively simple. The working parts of heatsinks are usually made up of a copper or nickel plated copper base with heatpipes extending to several aluminum fins and actively cooled by a fan or two.  All the heatsinks available on the market only vary slightly from one another by the different placements and size of these parts.  A layperson, from simply looking at a heatsink, might come to the conclusion that all of them perform essentially the same. Of course, most computer enthusiasts know this is simply not the case.