Advice for a [performance] nettop

Info & chat about quiet prebuilt, small form factor and barebones systems, people's experiences with vendors thereof, etc.

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jman
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:55 am

Advice for a [performance] nettop

Post by jman » Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:34 am

Hello everyone,

I need some piece of advice concerning a PC to be attached to a 42" monitor and find some kind of bracket that allows me to mount monitor+PC to the wall.

My requirements are pretty strict:
1) The PC cannot be an ION based platform since it must run a quite CPU intensive application. Until now I've only trusted other solutions (based on Intel E7500 or i3) with dedicated graphic card. What's your opinion on a switch to an ION (also dual-core) platform?
2) The PC size should be the smallest possible. Zotacs and Acers suggested in this thread would be perfect but break requirement #1
3) I still have to find a VESA compatible bracket that allows me to host a PC *and* let me mount everything on the wall (and bear the whole weight)
3) The GPU shall be a discrete chipset (no IntelHD whatsoever), able to provide a smooth fullHD experience
4) Power consumption and noise are not an issue (given the other it was obvious)

Thanks for any hint!

fumino
Posts: 298
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 4:38 pm
Location: ontario

Re: Advice for a performant nettop

Post by fumino » Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:50 am

does the cpu intensive application have to be run on the nettop, or can it be run on a different machine, and then have the nettop running a remote desktop?

if that was the case, ion or fusion based nettops would be sufficient.

joins today; asks for advice and specifies that noise is not a concern... lol

nzdcoy
Posts: 36
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 12:44 am

Re: Advice for a performant nettop

Post by nzdcoy » Fri Feb 18, 2011 12:52 pm

any comment on what application it is? then we can guage what kind of CPU/gpu you require

jman
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:55 am

Re: Advice for a performant nettop

Post by jman » Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:09 am

nzdcoy wrote:any comment on what application it is? then we can guage what kind of CPU/gpu you require
Hi nzdcoy, thanks for your feedback.

The application is installed locally on the PC (no remote desktop) and it is an Adobe Flex application that will run at 1920x1080.
At the moment this kind of applications are CPU bound (as specified in my top post).
I already know (more or less) the CPU class I need for such a task because I've mounted similar embedded PC *inside* other monitor's chassis (for example: http://goo.gl/GOJgR).

Now I need a PC with similar performaces but this time will be attached externally to the monitor (it's another brand/model and there's no room inside), thus the space contraints. An external chassis like this one (http://goo.gl/GkGlf) is nice but that's beyond what I can afford in terms of room around the monitor.

Before going for a "hand-made" frame to host this PC, I'd like to explore the possibility to buy something already done. Any advice on this? I couldn't really find much.

Hope this clarifies my requirements.

Thanks again.

particleman
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 8:01 am

Re: Advice for a [performance] nettop

Post by particleman » Wed Feb 23, 2011 8:25 am

If you really want to go prebuilt you can go with something like the viewsonic VOT550. http://www.viewsonic.com/products/vot550.htm

Or how about a laptop with the lid closed?

If you decide to go with a self build I would recommend a i3/i5 mini-itx and something like a minibox m350 case http://www.mini-box.com/M350-universal- ... -enclosure

jman
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:55 am

Re: Advice for a [performance] nettop

Post by jman » Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:44 am

particleman wrote:If you really want to go prebuilt you can go with something like the viewsonic VOT550. http://www.viewsonic.com/products/vot550.htm

Or how about a laptop with the lid closed?

If you decide to go with a self build I would recommend a i3/i5 mini-itx and something like a minibox m350 case http://www.mini-box.com/M350-universal- ... -enclosure
Hello,

thanks for your feedback.
I'm afraid a laptop would be too expensive.

In lack of better ideas, I think the only way out for me is getting one of those cases with general sizes as your links suggest and make my own metal frame that will allow one side to host the PC and on the other side to attach the monitor to the wall.

Or I'll give this ION dual-core platform try ...

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