Fanless powerful PC

[Telstar]

Yes, it can be done

CPU: Intel E5300
Heatsink: Scythe Ninja Mini (if you have a taller case the Thermalright HR-01 is the best for fanless operation)
PSU: Winmate DC-DC psu with Gateway 150W wall wart*

I'll post tomorrow some benchmark of temperature and voltage stability.
Average temps at closed case are around 51°C for both cores at default speed (2,6ghz) and voltage (1.1V). They can be improved once I undervolt the cpu and I plan to do that, especially close to summer. Ambient temp is here min 23°C.

The Winmate psu is a wonder, no issues at all unlike the famous pico-psu, it works powering just the VFD (which i did to test both parts prior to mounting).
The guy who makes it, is still selling and supporting it, and looking for the best wall AC adapter.

*see:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=55153
and
http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=55353&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=90

[PeterSt]

Ambient temp is here min 23°C.

You are listening to music, outside, at the top of Italy's highest mountain, right ?
Are you wearing headphones ?

[manisandher]

I've just bought a few Zalman TNN 300 cases. I've only put one together so far with the following components:

- Gigabyte EG45M-UD2H (almost impossible to find)
- E8600 3.33GHz
- 120GB OCZ Vertex Turbo
- 4GB RAM (will increase later once Peter releases XXHE 64-bit)
- RME AES-32

Totally fanless and totally silent!

Mani.

[Jack]

Hello
I use a small Asus board with basic onboard graphics ( I don't use a monitor, or keyboard or mouse for that matter!)
Basic 2 channel sound (turned off in bios)
2.8 4core chip
4gig 1066 RAM
2 32gig SSD's striped
No optical drive
Passive psu
No fans anywhere no motors anywhere
It's hard to get used to turning on a PC & not hearing anything!!
Win7 64bit & dedicated to music ( a bit like myself!)
Happy daze
Jack
ps must update my sig
pps seeing as I'm here, thanks again Peter!

[Telstar]

Ambient temp is here min 23°C.

You are listening to music, outside, at the top of Italy's highest mountain, right ?
Are you wearing headphones ?

LOL today you are in a silly mood Peter.
I meant minimum 23°C, not minus

[Telstar]

I've just bought a few Zalman TNN 300 cases. I've only put one together so far with the following components:

- Gigabyte EG45M-UD2H (almost impossible to find)

Hi Mani,
I have the same mainboard, VEEERY good one
Which PSU?

Can you post the temps of the E8600 (everest or realtemp)?

[Telstar]

I also noticed that with the new PSU the system *sounds better*.

[manisandher]

Can you post the temps of the E8600 (everest or realtemp)?

Here you go...

What's really strange though is that according to Windows, I have two different core speeds! Anyone know what's going on here?

Mani.

[manisandher]

BTW, the PC had been on for 3-4 hours before I took these temp measurements. I think things remain cool enough in there.

Which PSU?

I'm using the fanless PSU that is integrated into the Zalman case - here are the specs...

Mani.

[AUDIODIDAKT]

What's really strange though is that according to Windows, I have two different core speeds! Anyone know what's going on here?

Mani

Hi mani,

I believe it says that its a 3.33Ghz processor that RUNS at 2.67Ghz.
Do you have your processor underclocked ?
Otherwise check BIOS for actual values, or run cpu-z
If *all* is already at your wanted settings, just ignore it. (or it tells you the truth and you are actual running at 2.67Ghz)
But thats just what you are doing, underclocking, right?

330.30 x 8 = 2.6664 Ghz


Roy

[manisandher]

Yes, of course you're right.

But I hadn't actually intended to underclock - it seemed the bios did this by default. In any event, there is no issue. Thanks for pointing this out.

Incidentally, underclocking the CPU (in my case by 20%) seemed to have little effect on how XXHE performs. The soundcard/interface/DAC drivers seem to have a bigger impact...

Mani.

[Jack]

Hello Mani
I'm intrigued as to why you have gone for such a 'complicated' mobo. Are you running a 'home theatre' set up from it as well, or do you turn all those facilities off?
I went with the adage 'Less is more'. As far as the chip goes, I feel what we need is 'horsepower', cache size is almost irrelevant as none of the data is repeated(unless one listens to the same track all night!) There are many mobo/chip combos available out there that can 'number crunch' efficiently, which is all we require, no?
Regards
Jack

[AUDIODIDAKT]

Those Gigabyte Boards are kinda overclockers boards,
That means lots of buttons (or settings) to fiddle around with.
Also there are power settings in BIOS to play with (undervolt, underclock)
Also better copper-lines on mobo for cleaner powering
And the list goes on.......

As you understand those boards have capabilities to our needs;

"Complicated" as in your words, accually means more possiblities to turn stuff off
This is a good thing and they are not that expensive.

Gigabyte sells good stuff and have great service !
But hey thats just my opinion !

Don't worry much about "horsepower", a decent dual-core will do fine. (or for that matter almost any combo will do)
For the feeling of "instand" and lesser power consumption get a SSD drive to put your OS on.

Roy

[Jack]

Hello Roy
I entirely agree about Gigabyte. I've had many of their boards & yes, good for overclocking. But I do not see the point in this project to have all manner of things turned off! We can choose not to have them in the first place. Quality audio, which this is about, usually benefits by having less (potentially) in the chain.
Likewise, just my opinion.
Bye
Jack

[manisandher]

I'm intrigued as to why you have gone for such a 'complicated' mobo.

There aren't too many mobo options when you're using a Zalman TNN 300 case (it's more than just a matter of finding a micro-ATX mobo - the layout also needs to accomodate all the copper piping in the case). Also, with no active cooling in the case, I was interested in the Gigabyte's extra copper to help with heat dissipation.

If I could have found a simpler mobo that fitted into the Zalman and had the extra copper, I would happily have gone for it. But as AUDIODIDAKT says, this mobo wasn't very expensive... bloody difficult to find though! Certainly, the extra cost of this mobo over the few other compatible ones is totally insignificant compared to the cost of the Zalman case, E8600 CPU and OCZ SSD.

Mani.