looking for a really COOL CPU- new Cyrix or other suggestion?

deadmeat

Senior member
Oct 28, 1999
327
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I am trying to build a super-quiet computer for use in serving up MP3s to my stereo, so it doesn't ahve to be high power CPU. I want it to be cool enough that I can use passive cooling -- just a heatsink no CPU fan.
I've heard the newer via/cyrix cpus are super-cool and can handle this, but they are hard to find. Anyone have suggestions on cheap CPUs that I can passively cool?

I don't want to go down to like a 200mhz pentium.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
 

Rand

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
11,071
1
81
Grab a PIII/Celeron based on the Tualatin core an underclock it, a Mendocino core Celeron 300-433MHz could manage it.
Honestly though, if you don't need an overly powerful processor then the VIA/Cyrix C3 is perfect. It'll easily run at very reasonable temperatures when passively cooled.
 

FlippyBoy

Senior member
Jun 17, 2001
886
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76
buy a palomino based duron (1ghz+, if i am not mistaken) , and underclock it down to 750 (or even 600). not only will you get much much better performance than any of the aformentioned solutions, but you will also be able to passively cool it (use an alpha pal8045 without a fan).