Fanless Compact HTPC (V8.1)

Show off your quiet rig.

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pm.stacker
Posts: 197
Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:54 am
Location: Northern Italy

Fanless Compact HTPC (V8.1)

Post by pm.stacker » Sun Mar 16, 2014 5:26 am

Just a refreshing of my old 2012 build, with some experimenting. :mrgreen:

Intel i3-3220 underclocked to 1.6GHz
4096MB single channel Kingston DDR3-1333
Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3H
Optiarc BC-5500A optical drive
Seasonic SS-350M1U hybrid 350W
Intel SSD330 180GB
Seagate ST9750420AS
WD10JPVT
WD20EARX
ESI Audio Waveterminal 192X
Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-4400
Front display
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P1030653.jpg
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flemeister
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Location: Australia

Re: Fanless Compact HTPC (V8.1)

Post by flemeister » Sun Mar 16, 2014 6:16 am

Awesome! 8)

What are your load temps like?
Do you use a top panel on the case?
If so, do you leave a ventilation hole for the CPU heatsink, or is it unnecessary?

pm.stacker
Posts: 197
Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:54 am
Location: Northern Italy

Re: Fanless Compact HTPC (V8.1)

Post by pm.stacker » Sun Mar 16, 2014 12:11 pm

Those were normal usage temps (HD video playback), idle temps are 34.
I use a top panel, for now I cannot put it on since I have to cut the heatsink fins by 1/4" to make it slightly lower. It will reduce radiating surface but not much.
I already bought a fully vented top panel, I will test performances with that once I lower the heatsink. Otherwise, I could use the standard non-vented panel and cut out a square aperture, then bolt a wide openings grille on it. This way I would have to cut just 2mm from the fins but it would not be 1U compiant and way less aesthetically pleasing. :mrgreen:

xan_user
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Re: Fanless Compact HTPC (V8.1)

Post by xan_user » Sun Mar 16, 2014 1:18 pm

wait a sec.....isnt that a 40mm fan on the PSU? :?

pm.stacker
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Location: Northern Italy

Re: Fanless Compact HTPC (V8.1)

Post by pm.stacker » Sun Mar 16, 2014 2:33 pm

Of course it is, but on Seasonic models SS-300M1U and SS-350M1U it works like the X desktop series: it spins only if load exceeds 50% or internal temperature is too high. Until now I haven't been able to make it spin, normal power consumption of the system is 45W and temp never got hot. So in this system you can think of it as a fanless power supply. :wink:

xan_user
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Re: Fanless Compact HTPC (V8.1)

Post by xan_user » Sun Mar 16, 2014 3:33 pm

Sweet!

quest_for_silence
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Re: Fanless Compact HTPC (V8.1)

Post by quest_for_silence » Mon Mar 17, 2014 1:55 am

xan_user wrote:Sweet!


Just on a side note: it's very similar to the unit seen on the EVGA Hadron Air; obviously it isn't (and it can't be) up to the KM3 platform with reference to electrical performances, particularly to ripple suppression, where they're both below average, but they excel in voltage regulation (they're server grade units, indeed).
Take also note that those fans when they kick in are really annoying.

pm.stacker
Posts: 197
Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 2:54 am
Location: Northern Italy

Re: Fanless Compact HTPC (V8.1)

Post by pm.stacker » Sat Mar 29, 2014 1:20 pm

Right now testing with the lowered height heatsink to make it fit in 1U chassis. :arrow:

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