I like the idea of a case serving as a large heatsink, but the review suggests compatibility with only the Intel D945GCLF single-core Atom board? Do you happen to know whether this cool case will also fit the older EPIA EX15000LG ? Also, searching for a Coolermaster TC-100 available for purchase loo...

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I would stay away from older non-compatible subsystems as well, but it's a projector being fed via cat5 baluns through the walls... so cost is an issue here. My projector allows me to watch movies at a "virtual resolution" of 1920x1080 @ 1080i. So, image quality wise...

I have been looking for the "perfect" fanless HTPC that has component (YP B P R ) video outputs but it looks like all current fanless PCs now come with HDMI (and/or VGA) output only. So I was thinking of making a compromise and buy whatever is available today (HDMI), then externally attach an "HDMI ...

I know SDDs are the ultimate silent drives, but for terabytes HDDs are still relevant. Unfortunately, the latest update in this article is from December 2009 and we're almost in December 2011. Any chance we can get an update on more modern and lager capacity HDDs like the HITACHI DeskStar series? (2...

Oh, "live hub" means it comes with a 1TB HDD built-in. I actually don't need it (noisy and I have plenty of silent storage via Ethernet) Do you really use actual discs? Yes. :) In fact, I have been watching only rented discs, so ripping them to disk is not an option for me. BTW, I don't need the RW ...

The Live Plus is a newer version with more stuff like Facebook support etc. This is weird: The Plus is newer and has more stuff, yet it costs less than half the price of the non-plus . What is the explanation for that? Also, I now see that it really has only 2 inputs: Ethernet and USB 2.0 -- Which ...

My "HTPC" is a WDTV Live, running a custom firmware (WDLXTV). Cheap, fanless and even though it's not as flexible as a normal HTPC it is very convenient. Since I have yet to find a motherboard that fits one of the 2 cases suggested above and also has component video output, I will be seriously cons...

I never seen a board with component, its more a HT standard than PCs, given that you building a HTPC... i dont think you will find it Actually, it seems that I am not alone, according to this thread: Component Video Output on a motherboard? The problems with the proposed ASUS M2NPV-VM motherboard a...

Abula wrote:If you want fanless, then go with something like HDPLEX H3.SODD Fanless Mini-ITX HTPC Case

This is cool. I like the price. I just need a Mini-ITX board that has component video outputs.

Does a Mini-ITX board that has component video outputs even exist?

Do you need a PC for that? I think so. I just listed the video requirements to demonstrat how modest they are. Blu-Ray at that price is definitely a plus but not if it comes at the expense of the flexibility of installing additional software (e.g. XBMC, Linux vs. Android vs. Windows, etc.). I defin...

In my search for an HTPC (media center) case, I was stunned to realize that none of the one offered is fanless. I understand that some folks live in the city, where ambient noise is so loud (even with the windows closed) that fan noise is negligible. But I live in a very quiet place and I can't stan...

Hmmm... The more I learn about the world of HTPC, the more I come to the conclusion that I took the wrong approach. :( That is, instead of trying to find out what I need to build a decent HD-capable HTPC, I was trying to re-use an old PC. Here is an example for an excellent source that outlines what...

The P4 2.6Ghz should work fine for SD. However with HD, You will need a Video card that can do HW decoding. Can you provide an example of such card? This sounds a good idea but the card is much more expensive than a "normal card" then perhaps it is better to go for the suggestion of buying a cheap ...

Thank you for your replies so far. In the meanwhile, I found the following Linux HTPC Howto (I haven't decided yet which OS to use for my HTPC but that is a different matter), which actually recommends 3.0+ GHz P4 with HT. Since I have that one too, I guess that the 3.0 GHz CPU is what I am going to...

Time to upgrade my workstation PC, built with the following components: ASUS P4P800 Deluxe / P4-2.6CGHz Zalman CNPS7000A-ALCU 1GB (2 x KINGMAX MPXC22D-38KT3R) Samsung SP1614N 160GB 7200RPM Evercase E4252-PCT Hercules - 3D Prophet II MX (32MB) Lite-On LDW-811S But instead of throwing it away, I was t...

If a fan can be silent, why insist on no fans? Because the phrase "a fan that can be silent" is an oxymoron? BTW, can someone please explain to me where is the logic in marketing a case based on 60mm fan as an HTPC case? AFAIK, the smaller the fan, the noisier it is. Thus, if one is willing to comp...

look for amourek's 7025 review and thread. Are you referring to this thread , entitled "My Biostar TA690G Review: mATX Overclocking Gem"? I noticed that no one actually recommends a fanless system. This is interesting, considering the name of this site ( silent PC review). Is this because "the cost...

crucial information like your budget and what performance you need (HD video?) are missing;without this we cannot make any useful suggestions. Thank you for bringing this into my attention, jaganath. I would say that my budget is $1000 (or so) and I would definitely love to watch HD video. If HD vi...

I would like to build my own fanless HTPC from scratch (I wouldn't mind buying one, but what's available on the market is way to expensive for me). I would like it to be on one hand as powerful as possible (to play/record video) but on the other hand as quiet as possible. I know that I cannot totall...

Thank you all who responded. I need to digest your answers before I can post intelligent questions (or thoughts). AMD has a line of cheap Athlon 64 X2"energy-efficient" CPUs that don't dissipate more than 45W ( this one for instance ). In the meanwhile, I would just clarify that by saying "less than...

I would like to buy or build a modest linux based file server. With the stuff I am planning for it it must have at least 1GB RAM running a CPU of at least 1GHz and having a DVD-RW for nightly backups of selected data. Is it possible to achieve such a system consuming less than 50W? (no display conne...

I just came across an article in the latest PC Magazine issue that describes the new Sony VAIO RA-810G as fanless due to an "innovative heat chimney". They even go as far as calling it "a silent beauty". Anyone heard about this "silent beauty"? Is it truly 100% silent (i.e. no fans whatsoever, of an...

Thank you everybody for your replies. Based on the first reply (BTW, it's called "Hardware Monitor" on the P4P800), I disconnected the "Fan Mate 1" and plugged the Zalman CNPS7000A-AlCu directly into the mainboard. Then I enabled Q-fan in the BIOS and selected the lowest ratio available (11/15). I r...

I finally purchased an ASUS P4P800 Deluxe mainboard along with a Zalman CNPS7000A-AlCu HSF for the CPU. The HSF comes with a fan speed controller (branded :Fan Mat 1"). Nothing automatic there, you manually adjust the fan speed and leave it there for fosterity (or until you open the case again and c...

Ralf and Metaluna, thanks for your comments. I really want to buy the ASUS mobo (less expensive, simpler to handle, many more people already have experience with it). I am also a happy owner of an ASUS based PC, albeit 5 years old (PII 350MHz). So, quite frankly, I didn't want to hear what my brothe...

OK. I was about to place an order for my "dream PC", based on the ASUS P4P800 Deluxe, but at the last moment my brother, who works as a PC technician (handling tons of mobos a day), scared me saying that ASUS mobos are known to have many problems. Instead, he suggested the Gigabyte GA-8KNXP . At fir...

I would strongly suggest that unless you have relevant training, this is not a good area for trying DIY solutions... I whole heartedly agree and I didn't have even the slightest intention to handle this myself (although I know quite a bit about the subject). It's not even a question of knowledge, i...

I was *very* happy with the purchase experience with SA, and the 300 is far quieter than any of the 5V panaflos i have running. The unit is solid and SILENT. Go buy it. U'll like it! This is music to my ears... (no pun intended :wink: ) How did you know that this is exactly what I wanted to hear? :D

OK. Thank you all for clarifying the issue of Super Tornado 300 vs. SS-300FB and vs. SS-300FT. My understanding is that the Super Tornado 300 and SS-300FB are exactly the same thing. The SS-300FT is the same as SS-300FB, except that the SS-300FT doesn't have: Soft-Mounting Rubber Cushion Fan Univers...

It does seem a bit odd that JC reported that he had to RMA the first case he received too. He made no mention of having to pay for the return shipping. Is this NewEgg standard policy that the buyer pays return shipping on RMA'd item? Well, I am going to take this opportunity (of diverting to Newegg...