Quiet/Low Power

Hey all, I'm looking to build a low cost machine to run Linux. I'm not really interested in running a Virtual Machine on my desktop at the moment, I just want a second, quieter, cooler machine for development and things like surfing the internet and chatting.

I've been looking for resources on how to do this, and most recommend my current cpu fan as "silent" (Zalmann's circular heatsink/fans). Are there certain things I should be looking for/avoiding? I wouldn't even be opposed to solid state, but I really don't want to make that leap until it's more affordable.

Again, all I need it to do is offer a Linux development environment (VIM isn't too resource hungry), enough disk space for small programs (I'm thinking 50 is sufficient), enough RAM to run a browser, etc. The one hitch is that I want it to output to my 26 inch monitor at 1920x1200, so I'm not sure what I'll need in terms of graphics output.

Have you considered one of the Intel Atom 330 based Mini-ITX boards?

Extremely low power, fanless design, dual core to help with compiles, etc. and can support decent amounts of ram, etc. You can get the board with chip on it for about $250 or so. Another 20 for a 2GB stick of RAM, and whatever your drive choice is and you're set. Average power under full load is around 40w, including a standard 3.5" desktop hdd.

The required graphics card will be the noise maker. An inbuilt chipset Intel GMA 950 graphics core can handle the resolution, but I'm not sure of the cooling requirements. Those little fans are very noisy.

Another vote for Atom-based mini-ITX or micro-ATX system... like the upcoming Asus Eee Box seem to fit the bill... and they are supposed to release one that can handle 720p video as well!

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Originally Posted by ua549

The required graphics card will be the noise maker. An inbuilt chipset Intel GMA 950 graphics core can handle the resolution, but I'm not sure of the cooling requirements. Those little fans are very noisy.

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Perhaps a solution to the noisy fan would be to find a case with a quiet 120mm fan that would blow directly across the HS and rewire the little fan to run at 5v.

Thanks for the input, guys. I'm thinking mini-ATX is the way to go. James actually mentioned that in an old thread of mine where I was asking about low power, and I'm definitely leaning that way. I'll have to see what I can do about the graphics. I don't need it to be silent, because anything sounds silent compared to the super-sonic jet that is my main rig.

for mini-ITX, atom 330 no question

for microATX, id rather go with an underclocked socket-A sempron and 780g chipset


a single core 1ghz athlon64 will wipe the floor with a dual core 1.6ghz atom and use about the same power and heat output

As for graphics cards, why the requirement for one?

He mentioned light internet browsing, chatting, and linux (assuming cli) development. None of those things requires more than the IGP that's onboard any of the mini-ITX Atom boards.

I still don't think that, especially for things like compiling, a single core would beat a dual core.

1920x1200 is the stated graphics requirement. Why? The OP didn't say.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ua549

1920x1200 is the stated graphics requirement. Why? The OP didn't say.

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Only because that's the native res of my only monitor. I guess I could always set it to a lower resolution on the Linux box if the need arose.

D'oh. My bad.

For some reason I glossed over that part. :o

Zotac ION A-U mini-ITX Dual Atom N330

MINI-BOX M350 Universal Mini-ITX enclosure

AH! I should have thought of the ION platform. Thanks a ton!

the ion is a bit overpriced because of the nvidia chipset. you dont need that to run linux at 1920x1200.

i would get this. it's 100% passively cooled system and you get a case and power supply included all for much much less than ION:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16856119011

of course that tight little case has a 80mm intake fan that blows over the CPU/IGP, but the reviews say it's quiet and easy to replace.

1GB of DDR2 is $16 and 160GB 7200RPM caviars are only $40.

So that's $143 for a complete atom system, with much more storage space than you expected to get (newegg just prices HDDs such that the 160GB is too cheap to refuse).

With the Foxconn i945 barebones system, you can have a complete Atom/1G/160GB system for less than the cost of a zotac ion motherboard.

what's even more ironic is that it has a low profile 32-bit PCI slot, so that when you eventually retire linux from this machine, a PCI geforce 8400 for $40 will allow you to play high-def video. the only mistake foxconn made with this system is that they included a HD Audio chipset with no HD Audio header on the mainboard. you'd have to get a USB-> SPDIF card. you probably won't use this box for any multimedia, though. i just like the foxconn barebones because it's CPU/board/case/power supply for less than most atom boards, let alone ion.