(New?) Quiet PC idea

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joohang

Lifer
Oct 22, 2000
12,340
1
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I was shopping for a new monitor (which I was going to buy last month) and was talking to a friend (IcemanJer) about BNC connectors.

If he's correct, BNC can transmit VGA signals across long distances, right?

So.. does this mean that I can stuff my computer into my huge-a$$ closet and use the computer in complete silence? My closet has a door and everything and it's essentially a mini-room. I use it to hang my clothes and as a "server room".

And I just need to get a few USB extension cables and a couple of hubs to attach the keyboard and mouse?

So is this possible? Does this mean that I can actually stop spending money on SilentDrive, quiet fans and actually add a few SCSI drives to my systems?

Am I dreaming?
 
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NaughtyusMaximus

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,220
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Phht. What do they need quiet computers for if they can't put them together themselves?

On a side note, have you been able to find long bnc cables (other than regular network variety) for a reasonable price?
 
J

joohang

Lifer
Oct 22, 2000
12,340
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My siblings do care about computer noise. Maybe they got too used to mine. :) I was modding a PSU for my little sister and ended up blowing up a new K7S5A and a Duron 1 GHz. :(:|

Nope. Searched the forums and only found 6'. :( I wonder if long VGA cables are ok for this setup. I'm picky with 2D quality, though, and I expect to run very high resolutions.
 
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Huma

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
1,301
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15' vga to bnc . 15 ft for $50 CAD ($32US). They have a 25' cable too.

I just replaced all my fans with 80mm low flow panaflos and replaced my harddrive with a seagate barracuda IV. It's the quietest computer I've seen yet, and I'm very picky about case noise (and 2D quality).

 
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Huma

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
1,301
0
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nuts! didn't even notice you were in burnaby/canada. this shop should work out for you then.

local shops can order in too. a-power got a 6' bnc for me. I would consider their (mycableshop) high end coaxial vga cables too. They seem cheaper, and a really good vga cable might be all you need. If possible, see if you can find one at London drugs (because they have a return policy) or something so you can test the signal for degradation.
 
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joohang

Lifer
Oct 22, 2000
12,340
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Cool. I'm planning to get the Samsung 1200NF by ordering through A-Power. I might as well ask for the BNC also.

BTW, I moved to Burquitlam area, so I'm technically in Coquitlam now. :) I should update my profile.
 
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nihil

Golden Member
Feb 13, 2002
1,479
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wow. that's pretty sweet. i also have a walk in closet. i would like to put all my boxes in there, not for sound issues but because i am limited in space and only have enough room just to throw a monitor or 2 on a table. with this and a kvm switch i could be in some serious business. :D
 
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HouRman

Senior member
Mar 30, 2000
691
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I'm constantly swapping CDs/CDRW/DVDs so I can't really put the cpu anywhere other than inside my room. That's why i've been working on designing a sound proof enclosure for my computer with silencer exhausts. hehe

I suppose if I got all external devices and extensions I could put my computer in the attic above my room and run cables in the walls. HOWEVER.. the cd roms all spin loudly so I'd need a sound proof enclosure with air tight hinge window just for those. Then maybe I can have an eerie silence while on the cpu.
 
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MrGrim

Golden Member
Oct 20, 1999
1,653
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Unless you enjoy taking regular walks to the "server room" to insert a CD/Floppy or to power up I can't see how this would work.
 
Cogman

Cogman

Lifer
Sep 19, 2000
10,286
147
106
arnt their USB cd roms? (checks pricewatch) Yep their are. Little expencive. but they exist :). As for Floppy you usually dont need thoughs. and for the startup I heard you could configure it to startup on ctrl-del or the little windows logo button :),, (looks at Pricewatch again) Wow, there are even USB Floppys :). and the CD can be configured to use the parrallel port. It could work. Wireless keybord/mouse. longer BCM cord. I heard you can get wireless speakers as well, not sure on the clam. but you can get ones with long cords as well :). Yep It seams to be very possible to me. Also if youre computer did not support the startup on ctrl-esc then you could get 2 long wires and a button from radio shack. probibly stuff them into a jumper, or something like that. and plug it into your power button. This could be a cool setup if you went all out :)
 
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KenAF

Senior member
Jan 6, 2002
684
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<< So.. does this mean that I can stuff my computer into my huge-a$$ closet and use the computer in complete silence? My closet has a door and everything and it's essentially a mini-room. I use it to hang my clothes and as a "server room".

And I just need to get a few USB extension cables and a couple of hubs to attach the keyboard and mouse? >>

Yes, you can. Several vendors even offer products tailored exactly for this use. They offer one cable with all the generic cables (keyboard, mouse, RGB, etc) combined into a single cable. DVI cables are also available in lengths of 25 feet to 50(?) feet, if you use an LCD. If you want Firewire, repeaters are also available that will extend the length of those connections.

In the past, the main problem with such distance computing was USB. USB, as you all know, is spec'd to work over a maximum cable length of 5 meters (16 feet); it has always been possible to daisy chain up to five hubs, to act as repeaters, but this was problematic for obvious reasons.

Now, USBCable.com and a few other vendors offer USB extender products. They sell a little box that extends the USB cable distance up to 330 feet. Thus, it is now possible to use a USB mouse, USB keyboard, USB LS-120 floppy drive, and USB CDwriter...with your main PC up to 330 feet away. Basically, you'd have a monitor, mouse, keyboard, USB hub, small USB extender box, USB CD-writer, and USB LS-120 floppy drive at your workspace....with your PC as far away as you want.

If I were building a new house now, I would design my new home with the appropriate cabling to support a single computer room with all the boxes, with the appropriate connections (wall/plates with RGB or DVI output, several USB outputs, ethernet, and maybe even Firewire). That way, I could build top performance, noisy PCs, stick them all in one room away from the living space...and use them with a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and CD writer...from anywhere in the house. You could just keep your PCs on all the time in that room...or, you could use a PS/2 keyboard and the keyboard power-on function of most better motherboards.
 
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FishTankX

Platinum Member
Oct 6, 2001
2,738
0
0
You forgot one thing, KenAF. Airconditioning in the computer room. If you wanted to build super machines, the airconditioning would have to be capable of exhausting some 1000 watts of heat for 4 super machines.
 
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FishTankX

Platinum Member
Oct 6, 2001
2,738
0
0
Idea for JooHang:Use watercooling on your rig, watercool your harddrive/CPU/Powersupply etc.. route the Radiator into a bucket. Then Keep a dehumidifier in the closet or if you wanted to, in the main room....
 
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Salvador

Diamond Member
May 19, 2001
7,058
0
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What about your peripherals? Do you have a mouse and keyboard with a cable that long? How about speakers? None of the pc speakers that I know of have wires that long.

Never mind. I don't know why I read half of the message. I see that you're asking about the keyboard and mouse.

Sal
 
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nortexoid

Diamond Member
May 1, 2000
4,096
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the easiest thing to do in this scenario is become deaf...your computer becomes completely silence, no matter how many fans you have in it!

there's no point in jeopardizing cooling, etc. by modding your PC to make it quiet (plus that costs money) when you can just mod your ears...everyone's doing it!
 
J

joohang

Lifer
Oct 22, 2000
12,340
1
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Well I considered watercooling and even that phase-change cooling case from Korea. I might still use those since my closet has limited airflow. I can leave the door open during day time when I'm away but in the evenings I like to work in the quiet. :)

25' BNC cable is long enough for me (from Huma's link). My problem is USB. I don't need all the peripherals. I rarely switch external media. I need to extend USB long enough for my keyboard and mouse.

The problem is BIOS configuration and stuff but I don't have a problem taking the computer out to the room to configure and shove it back in to the closet. I'm not THAT picky with noise. :)

And if I really want to, I can attach (like KenAF mentioned) USB CD-ROM, CD-RW, floppy, etc. My computer will resemble a Mac, but it will surely be damn quiet. I might even be able to "hear" my monitor! :Q
 
J

joohang

Lifer
Oct 22, 2000
12,340
1
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<< What about your peripherals? Do you have a mouse and keyboard with a cable that long? How about speakers? None of the pc speakers that I know of have wires that long. >>


USB hubs. I'm hoping that it's possible to stretch to a distance of about 25~50 feet.

Speakers aren't much of a problem. I'm not super picky with music like many audiophiles around here so I can just extend the 2 speaker cords to the subwoofer (in case of most 4.1 setups). Then the speaker cabling will all happen within my desk.
 
A

A5

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2000
4,902
5
81
HouRman:
I would be interested to hear what you've come up with so far...or at least keep me informed about your progress :)
 
K

kgraeme

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2000
3,536
0
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<<

<< 100 foot VGA cables are available. >>


I plan to run resolutions higher than 1600x1200. Do you think that this cable can handle such resolutions without distortion? >>



Dunno. I think we have one here somewhere. Maybe I'll hook it up for fun. You'd probably want to put a vga signal amplifier on it.
 
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