• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Cheapest "noiseless" net-browser-ish PC?

M

Maverick2002

Diamond Member
I'm looking to put together a cheap box that will be running software equivalent in performance to internet browsing. There are some caveats:

-Must be small. The smaller the better. It's going into a confined space.
-Must be inaudible. It can have a fan, as long as I don't hear it from ~7ft out. Fanless is preferable.
-I only need the box and a network connection. For setup I'll connect spare parts to it, but otherwise I'll be accessing it remotely.

Beyond that it's open season. I'd like to stay in the $200-250 range. I saw a Dell Zino HD for $250, but I'm wondering if it's quiet enough and it's at the top of my price range.

I have the following spare parts:
-3.5" SATA HDD
-2.5" SATA HDD
-5.25" optical drive
-512MB, maybe a couple 1GB DDR2 DIMMs
-OS

A silent barebones kit would work just as well. Any suggestions?
 
mfenn said:
You could also get one of these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-399-_-Product . Its based on the new Pine Trail platform and is completely passively cooled.

A case like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811234032 will have a fan in the PSU, but it's likely very quiet.
Click to expand...

Building your own might turn out more expensive, but of course you get EXACTLY what you want.

For a silent case/power setup, this one. It comes with a Pico PSU that is completely passive and silent (uses an external notebook style power brick). It comes with a fan but you can leave it unhooked. The chassis is perforated all over for airflow. Couple it with a passively cooled Atom board like mfenn linked above and use a really cheap SSD for a system with ZERO moving parts. Alternately use a cheap notebook hard drive, which should be quiet enough though not completely silent if you press your ear against it.

That chassis also has hidden front USB ports for USB WiFi adapters, and can be mounted on the back of monitors with VESA mounts for pretty much zero footprint. Even on a desk, it is very small at barely bigger than the actual mini ITX board itself.
 
check out the articles, reviews, and forums at silentpcreview.com , they specialize in just this. 😀
 
Maverick2002 said:
Interesting, I'll have to check those out. Can anyone vouch for this system? http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspiron-zino-hd?c=us&l=en&s=dhs (the $250 one)

Does anyone know how quiet it is? Any discounts/coupons/free shipping?

I'd be ok paying a little extra, the time savings (it's a ready-to-go system more or less) would make up for the cost difference.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about the Zinos, but every Inspiron 5XXs model that I've been around has been very quiet.
 
piasabird said:
Wonder if they have a combo package for something like this:

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3752

H57/55 Mini-ITX

Well maybe this is a bit costly.
Click to expand...

A mini-ITX system utilizing a normal desktop CPU is going to be much harder to keep quiet than the same CPU in a normal micro- or full-ATX case. This is because, in order to be quitely cooled, desktop CPUs either giant heatsinks and/or good airflow from large fans. Neither of those is going to fit into a mini-ITX case. If you want silence in mini-ITX, you need to go with an Atom.

However, H55 isn't a bad idea when it comes to making a quiet computer, you should just go with a normal board. A Pentium G6950 with a Megahalems or similar can be cooled with a VERY quiet fan.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top