quiet low-power mini-itx i3 2100t build
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 5:31 pm
Finally, my build is finished, after asking here for advice (thanks to Abula, Hfat and other guys). Here is the link: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=62598
The goal: a new general-purpose main pc, mini-itx form, as quiet as possible, low power consumption, not too expensive. I had in mind this build for me but in the end I give it as a gift to my daughter; she needs it more than me (she works a lot with Photoshop and images)
Case: Pixxo CI-9E8C Slim
Motherboard: ECS H67H2-I-B3 **
CPU: Core i3 2100t
Memory: 2 x Kingston DDR3 PC3-10600 (1333Mhz) CL9, 4GB *
SSD (boot/software): Kingston SSDnow 100 V 64gb
HDD: Western Digital Scorpio Blue 500GB
I bought the case, the mobo, the HDD and the ram in "pc en linea" ( http://www.pcenlinea.com/ ): reasonable prices, fast shipping.
I bought the SSD in ebay and the CPU in amazon: good prices, but with additional shipping charges. The total cost was around 500 bucks.
I had spare at home: a PicoPSU, a power brick, and a case fan. I used a PicoPsu 90 with a power brick 12v -72w (generic, bought in ebay).
*I choose the kingston ddr3 because they are "low profile" sticks, and not very expensive.
** Hardwaremx has a review of this mobo: http://www.hardwaremx.com/index.php/Pla ... I-ITX.html
See also: http://www.guru3d.com/article/ecs-h67h2i-review/
and: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/sho ... re-i3-2120
Here are the images:
on my desk, case open
a closer view
another view
side view
inside, closer view
front, case closed
side view, case closed
power consumption idle
The pro: this build run windows 7 x 64 very snappy (thanks to the i3, the ram and the SSD). Is not expensive. Is quiet (not silent). Consumes very little power.
The bad: sitting on the desk the two fans are audible (both at 1100 rpm). I could go fanless maybe, but it would cost me more money.
Power consumption is 20w idle. 47w at startup, up to 36-43w under heavvy load. Not bad at all, I know that an Intel mobo would do it better, but the difference is minimal. The ECS board has a lot of useful features, for example allow undervolt the ram and control the fans. I'm not interested in break a record, just to have a reasonable low power consumption.
Temperatures: with only two fans (the stock intel cpu fan, and a small generic case fan) at low rpm the i3 runs at 43 to 47 ºC (ambient: 20 ºC).
*note: this is my first time using a SSD, the performance boost surprised me. It take some time to adapt and optimize all the software, but it is not difficult at all. My 64gb SSD is only 40% filled, with Windows 7, Office 2010, Firefox, and some other software. All the rest is on the HDD.
The goal: a new general-purpose main pc, mini-itx form, as quiet as possible, low power consumption, not too expensive. I had in mind this build for me but in the end I give it as a gift to my daughter; she needs it more than me (she works a lot with Photoshop and images)
Case: Pixxo CI-9E8C Slim
Motherboard: ECS H67H2-I-B3 **
CPU: Core i3 2100t
Memory: 2 x Kingston DDR3 PC3-10600 (1333Mhz) CL9, 4GB *
SSD (boot/software): Kingston SSDnow 100 V 64gb
HDD: Western Digital Scorpio Blue 500GB
I bought the case, the mobo, the HDD and the ram in "pc en linea" ( http://www.pcenlinea.com/ ): reasonable prices, fast shipping.
I bought the SSD in ebay and the CPU in amazon: good prices, but with additional shipping charges. The total cost was around 500 bucks.
I had spare at home: a PicoPSU, a power brick, and a case fan. I used a PicoPsu 90 with a power brick 12v -72w (generic, bought in ebay).
*I choose the kingston ddr3 because they are "low profile" sticks, and not very expensive.
** Hardwaremx has a review of this mobo: http://www.hardwaremx.com/index.php/Pla ... I-ITX.html
See also: http://www.guru3d.com/article/ecs-h67h2i-review/
and: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/sho ... re-i3-2120
Here are the images:
on my desk, case open
a closer view
another view
side view
inside, closer view
front, case closed
side view, case closed
power consumption idle
The pro: this build run windows 7 x 64 very snappy (thanks to the i3, the ram and the SSD). Is not expensive. Is quiet (not silent). Consumes very little power.
The bad: sitting on the desk the two fans are audible (both at 1100 rpm). I could go fanless maybe, but it would cost me more money.
Power consumption is 20w idle. 47w at startup, up to 36-43w under heavvy load. Not bad at all, I know that an Intel mobo would do it better, but the difference is minimal. The ECS board has a lot of useful features, for example allow undervolt the ram and control the fans. I'm not interested in break a record, just to have a reasonable low power consumption.
Temperatures: with only two fans (the stock intel cpu fan, and a small generic case fan) at low rpm the i3 runs at 43 to 47 ºC (ambient: 20 ºC).
*note: this is my first time using a SSD, the performance boost surprised me. It take some time to adapt and optimize all the software, but it is not difficult at all. My 64gb SSD is only 40% filled, with Windows 7, Office 2010, Firefox, and some other software. All the rest is on the HDD.