Fanless feasibility.

[palswim]

I'm looking to build a server system and I'm wondering about the feasibility of a passive-cooling-only (heatsink, not water cooling) system. The goals of the server are small and silent - I'm not looking for any overclocking (in fact, I'll underclock to meet these goals) and I'm definitely shopping for onboard video. I still want a dual-core system, but don't those run cooler anyway?

I've read some reviews, but it seems that the only passive heatsinks (advertised) are massive, which wouldn't work with the small constraint here and the reviews seem to think everyone still wants to overclock. These reviews are a bit dated, and although I haven't exactly kept up on hardware, I think I remember the general trend being less power/cooler.

So, the main question is, can I reasonably accomplish passive cooling with a system I want to build now?

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: palswim
The goals of the server are small and silent...

Small and silent?

I know this sounds silly, but how about using a laptop?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Server = stability. Due to that, you are going to want to use active cooling on the processor. There are things you can do to reduce the noise by far, but I wouldn't trust a server to run on passive cooling unless it was specifically designed to do so.

 

[palswim]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: palswim
The goals of the server are small and silent...

Small and silent?

I know this sounds silly, but how about using a laptop?

Why not use a laptop? Because I'm cheap and adventurous!

Also, I want to have RAID and large hard drives.

 

[palswim]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
Server = stability. Due to that, you are going to want to use active cooling on the processor. There are things you can do to reduce the noise by far, but I wouldn't trust a server to run on passive cooling unless it was specifically designed to do so.

Well, a personal (& friend/family) file server. Basically I want to offload all of my bittorrent/filesharing off of my personal computer and put all of that computation in a computer under my bed.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: palswim

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
Server = stability. Due to that, you are going to want to use active cooling on the processor. There are things you can do to reduce the noise by far, but I wouldn't trust a server to run on passive cooling unless it was specifically designed to do so.

Well, a personal (& friend/family) file server. Basically I want to offload all of my bittorrent/filesharing off of my personal computer and put all of that computation in a computer under my bed.

Look into building a NAS enclosure. Hard drive on the network. Works perfectly for that, and no need to build a full server.

 

[compuwiz1]

Mount all the guts in one of those small, underdesk refrigerators.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Mount all the guts in one of those small, underdesk refrigerators.

My fridges make noise

 

[Agent11]

It is possible, although it would be much better to just use reeeaally quiet fans.

 

[Praxis1452]

radiation is not going to be enough...

I mnean the Aerocool Condoor can cool the graphics card pretty much passive just by radiation. However the cpu's going to pretty much need atleast a silent fan to actively cool it. Personally 1 120mm fan in pull ducted in a sff would probably work.

 

[Operandi]

To achieve passive cooling with any modern dual core CPU you will need a large heatsink that is designed for passive cooling in mind such as the Ninja or Thermalright HR-01.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Praxis1452
I mnean the Aerocool Condoor can cool the graphics card pretty much passive just by radiation.

Nope. At least, it can't be proven, and the available data would suggest otherwise. You'd have to put the system in a vacuum to test that theory.

It does do well with free convection, though.

 

[palswim]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo

Originally posted by: palswim

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
Server = stability. Due to that, you are going to want to use active cooling on the processor. There are things you can do to reduce the noise by far, but I wouldn't trust a server to run on passive cooling unless it was specifically designed to do so.

Well, a personal (& friend/family) file server. Basically I want to offload all of my bittorrent/filesharing off of my personal computer and put all of that computation in a computer under my bed.

Look into building a NAS enclosure. Hard drive on the network. Works perfectly for that, and no need to build a full server.

That's a good idea. I have considered those a bit before and searching right now, I even saw one with a built-in bittorrent client. But, the review said the client didn't work well and that it was the noisiest NAS enclosure they'd ever used. I'll continue to keep my eye out also for these - just a very specific type: RAID enclosure with at least built-in FTP and bittorrent.

 

[nullpointerus]

Long cables are cheap and effective. Put your server on the other side of a wall or somewhere else that will reduce the noise you normally hear. Just be sure there's plenty of airflow. Combine that with a relatively inexpensive, actively-cooled case, and you should have a decent solution. Maybe you want something like the Antec P180?

 

[Praxis1452]

yea howard your right. I was meaning convection. bleh and somehow was thinking of radiation.

However SPCR tested it and it preformed admirably cooling the X1900XTX to 105C where it failed however it was holding at 105C. So a lesser card could be used.

 

[Cogman]

I think the best thing to do would be getting a Giant Passive heatsink (someone said them above. ThermalRight HR-01 and the Scythe Ninja) and some really quiet fans. You can get 120 mm fans that can do the job fairly well. Also get some rubber washers for the fan. Panaflow makes good quiet fans. IF you couple a couple of them with washers your system will be nearly inaudible (especially if it is under your bed). Silentpcreview.com is what you want to check out.