Weird Hush modification
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2014 12:12 pm
For the last 2.5 years I have used an Asus Eeebox (4) Eee Box B202 | N270 | Vertex 32GB) for my daily computing. Over time the fan in that computer has become louder. So it was time to build a more quiet system. When looking at the pile of computer parts I have, I noticed that I didn't even have to buy any new ones. These are the parts I picked:
Before cutting the aluminum top cover I created a cardboard prototype. After testing the system, I decided to move the fan a little bit forward (bigger picture):
The top cover was too thick to cut with tin snips. So I had to drill a circle of holes and then cut everything out with a dremel. I had enough cutting disks, but not enough drum sander bands to clean up everything. So the out of pocket costs for my "new" computer was a little over €2 for a set of sanding bands.
And finally the completely assembled system (bigger picture):
The computer is running Xubuntu 14.04. The system is sitting in a rack below the printer next to my desk. I bridged the network card and the on-board network. Then I plugged the cable from my network printer into the 3C905 network card. This saves me from having to run another long network cable or buying a switch (which power supply would probably occupy another two slots of the power strip).
The fan is set at a constant 30% PWM in the BIOS and is running at a speed of a little more than 720RPM. There are no other noise makers in the system. I need to stick my head close to the computer before I hear it. I certainly can't hear it, when I am sitting at my desk.
- Hush Mini-ITX case with powersupply (motherboard died years ago)
- Intel D525MW Atom Mini-ITX Motherboard
- 2x2GB memory (can't remember the brand or type)
- Intel 320 Series 40GB SATA 2.5" SSD (system disk)
- OCZ Vertex II 180GB SATA 2.5" SSD (music storage)
- Generic PCI riser card
- 3Com 3C905-CTX 100Mb netword card
- 92mm Nexus fan
- Rubber fan mounts
- Some cables
- This motherboard has only two SATA connectors and no IDE connectors, so de optical drive is going to be completely useless. Except for hiding cables of course
- The SSD tray is mounted in the case with two sticky thermal interface pads. If they are still sticky after 10 years, then they'll stay sticky for a while longer.
- Note that I left out the I/O shield. It will become clear why in a bit.
- There were another two strips of sticky thermal interface pad attached to the inside of the HD-cover. I used them to attach the second SSD to the top of it.
- Almost all the cables added too. The SATA cables aren't very tidy, but there is no need for airflow below the network card anyway.
Before cutting the aluminum top cover I created a cardboard prototype. After testing the system, I decided to move the fan a little bit forward (bigger picture):
The top cover was too thick to cut with tin snips. So I had to drill a circle of holes and then cut everything out with a dremel. I had enough cutting disks, but not enough drum sander bands to clean up everything. So the out of pocket costs for my "new" computer was a little over €2 for a set of sanding bands.
And finally the completely assembled system (bigger picture):
The computer is running Xubuntu 14.04. The system is sitting in a rack below the printer next to my desk. I bridged the network card and the on-board network. Then I plugged the cable from my network printer into the 3C905 network card. This saves me from having to run another long network cable or buying a switch (which power supply would probably occupy another two slots of the power strip).
The fan is set at a constant 30% PWM in the BIOS and is running at a speed of a little more than 720RPM. There are no other noise makers in the system. I need to stick my head close to the computer before I hear it. I certainly can't hear it, when I am sitting at my desk.