RE: Kitchen PC & Processing power

["Andy Laurence" <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Simon McCaughey [mailto:simonmcc@xxxxxxx]
> Yes, I had hoped to use a touchscreen, but due to cost I tried it
without,
> and to be honest, I've been *very* pleased with the form - small
screen,
> small footprint, small wired keyboard, wired mouse, and a little area
of
> worktop (where the microwave used to be - its in the utility by order
of
> SWMBO)

I wanted a touchscreen, but declined for the same reason.  I'm using a
mouse at the moment, but want to switch to a glidepad like you see on
laptops.

> currently Im using a MicroATX power supply, and have the CPU fan and
PSU can
> in series, so 6V accross each = 1/2 speed = almost silent :)

I did a lot of silencing on machines a couple of years back.  You can do a
lot on a budget.  For starters, I snipped the finger guards out the back of
my PSUs.  This eliminates cavitation, which is where most of the noise
comes from.  I also dropped the PSU fans to 7v/5v where possible, and even
removed the PSU fans in a couple of situations.  Using cardboard to make
air channels, it's also possible to remove the CPU fan on a lower spec
machine.  Basically, it involves fitting the best heatsink you can lay your
hands on, and channeling air from the bottom of the case, through a tube
(which the CPU heatsink is in) out the top.  Convection keeps the air
moving, and it's completely silent.  It also has the bonus of moving the
air quicker as it tries to dissipate more heat.

> well, what Ive noticed is using winamp to listen to 128kb internet
radio
> runs the processor at about 60-80%, running some flash sites is slow
etc....

Interesting.  Are you using a lot of plugins?  I have certainly never seen
that much processor usage, but then I tend to use lightweight software to
minimise requirements, and faff about trying to improve performance.

> I like your PIII suggestion, and I'd prefer to steer towards intel if
> possible

yes, at those sort of processor speeds, they were far more efficient, and
more resilient to heat.  I remember the worries about duff fans blowing
Athlon chips as they overheated.

Cheers,
Andy
--
http://www.andylaurence.co.uk