I need to build a PC where silence and perhaps smallish size are key. I am just starting the process of defining my requirement and examining products. I was hoping a few quick answers from people in this forum might open my mind to new ideas.
Outline spec:
CPU: Pentium 150 runs my application OK so I guess any modern CPU would do. Passive cooling required. Underclock?
Mobo: Onboard Video for standard VGA modes suficient. No audio beyond POST beeps. No USB. No Firewire. No onboard networking. PS2 style keyboard. Mouse not necessary. Parallel/Serial not necessary. 2 Minimum PCI slots (3 better). No need for AGP. PCI-Express etc. IDE preferred. No sata ideally.
Memory. Application currently running with about 100K RAM.
Graphics: Onboard std VGA sufficient.
Sound: None except post beeps.
Floppy.
CD Reader.
N/W Two, possibly three PCI cards I already have.
HDD Potentially a major source of noise. App currently running on very old drive about a Gigabyte or two (if that). I am particularly looking for ideas here for drives that are quiet, run cool and don't have to be at all fast. IDE preferably. Cool is important since I may not have much air flow through case.
Power supply: obviously very low powered power supply will do - but I wil spec a good one. Fanless?. Silent?
Case. Ideally no fans for a totally passive solution. Failing that one BIG fan running at 5 or 7 volts just to move a little air through. Small case. Is there such a thing as a case where cooling and air flow is driven by convection?
I've put this post in the cooling section because I think noise on my system will be related mostly to the air cooling. I don't want to mess with water or exotic cooling solutions. No cooling or passive is the way I want to go.
Screen: None in normal use. Access is by web browser.
Thanks in advance to anyone who throws interesting ideas my way.
Outline spec:
CPU: Pentium 150 runs my application OK so I guess any modern CPU would do. Passive cooling required. Underclock?
Mobo: Onboard Video for standard VGA modes suficient. No audio beyond POST beeps. No USB. No Firewire. No onboard networking. PS2 style keyboard. Mouse not necessary. Parallel/Serial not necessary. 2 Minimum PCI slots (3 better). No need for AGP. PCI-Express etc. IDE preferred. No sata ideally.
Memory. Application currently running with about 100K RAM.
Graphics: Onboard std VGA sufficient.
Sound: None except post beeps.
Floppy.
CD Reader.
N/W Two, possibly three PCI cards I already have.
HDD Potentially a major source of noise. App currently running on very old drive about a Gigabyte or two (if that). I am particularly looking for ideas here for drives that are quiet, run cool and don't have to be at all fast. IDE preferably. Cool is important since I may not have much air flow through case.
Power supply: obviously very low powered power supply will do - but I wil spec a good one. Fanless?. Silent?
Case. Ideally no fans for a totally passive solution. Failing that one BIG fan running at 5 or 7 volts just to move a little air through. Small case. Is there such a thing as a case where cooling and air flow is driven by convection?
I've put this post in the cooling section because I think noise on my system will be related mostly to the air cooling. I don't want to mess with water or exotic cooling solutions. No cooling or passive is the way I want to go.
Screen: None in normal use. Access is by web browser.
Thanks in advance to anyone who throws interesting ideas my way.
