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In Reply to: RE: Nobody using Intel NUC out there ? posted by beppe61 on June 29, 2015 at 00:33:21
I have a fanless Intel NUC (1 core Atom processor, Haswell technology). I am presently using it for a server (not an audio application). It is a small package and has a 2.5" SSD. It runs Linux. I won't be purchasing any more computers that have moving parts (fans or spinners) unless they are machines that can go into a closet. There is no need anymore, since powerful processors with the latest chip technology don't use very much power.
Unfortunately, I have a new UPS that has a fan that runs all the time. I thought it wouldn't, because it was the same make and model of my older one that died. Unfortunately, the new unit has different firmware (not field upgradable) and it runs the fan on slow mode 24/7. I can't move the UPS into a closet because if the power goes off it will generate too much heat. I am trying to figure out how to move the UPS into another room and still get the power to my computers. (We have too many drunk drivers crashing into light poles, ice storms and lightening strikes to have safe computer operation without a strong UPS.)
Apparently, one has to dig deep before buying equipment that one thinks is fanless, otherwise one will be disappointed. :-(
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
Follow Ups:
My (linux) server is a Cubitruck @$85. (GB ethernet and Sata)
The server serves audio,pictures,data over NFS,UPNP,Samba/Cifs,LMS to all computers (Windows and Linux and Android) in the house.
Beside that it also acts as streaming client.The server runs @2W, the SSD runs @ <1W both @5V.
My "UPS" is a 12000mAh EasyAcc battery for the Cubitruck and SSD @ $25.
That gives me roughly 24h backup.Guaranteed no fans . ;)
IMO the best and greenest server I ever had.
Edits: 07/03/15
My Mytek DAC requires a device driver. While there is a device driver for Linux it has been compiled for the Intel platform only. Since there is no publicly available source code, ARM based platforms are a no go, at least the last time I checked.
Too bad, because the ARM architecture is less baroque than Intel's, which accounts for the lower power consumption.
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
Just sell the Mytek.
The Mytek sounds fine in my system the way it is set up. I do not care about the difference between 6 watts and 2 watts. This amounts to $4.00 per year in electricity costs.
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
Hi and yes i should have looked for a fanless solution.
But i have now it.
But i did not know of the issue before reading on the net.
I wonder if another part less noisy can be found.
Thanks a lot.
Kind regards,
bg
If you decide to run the unit fanless, you may be able to reduce temperature by drilling a hole or holes where the cpu needs ventilating.
I used to do this with 15 to 35 W cpus. Now my music PC is 4W and can play continuously with no worry.
Now my music PC is 4W and can play continuously with no worry.
Is that the PC for which you purchased the 100-Watt HDPlex LPS power supply? What will you use the HDPlex for?
... Mr F has yet to purchase?
The HDPles looks impressive but it is not for use with pissy little matchbox PCs.
Smile
Sox
Correct; general purpose use instead of a no of units.
Need to confirm that its is quite as some have problems.
Hi and thanks a lot for the valuable suggestion.
Given that this unit is quite popular i am expecting some silent fans appearing pretty soon ... it should not be a big problem.
Unfortunately i bought it without even think to look for reviews.
For an HTPC noise can be an issue.
I am not looking for zero noise ... just low and bearable.
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
bg
you can get it on amazon.
Hi Mr. Fmak and thanks a lot again indeed for the valuable suggestion.
Still i have a straight question: do you think it is possible to get good sound (not high end sound, just very decent) from a pc with fan ?
In general i mean.
My answer would be yes. I think that the power issues and noise can be overcome using isolated usb transfer.
My main concern is about a fan that can be too loud during the quietest passages.I have a full size pc with fan and i can live with its noise quite easily (i can barely hear it and the "tone" is very bearable).
Instead the fan used in the NUC is reported as extremely loud even with the cpu cold (????).
With a different bios setting the fan kicks in only when the cpu reaches some 65 C.
However i like the NUC form factor a lot ... it is a very cute piece of electronics.
How such excellent piece of electronics can have a fan this loud i really do not understand, given that it is even marketed for HT duties !
Silent PCs is a big market indeed because the flexibility of a pc is just too addicting ... i love the pc solution a lot.I am sure some kind of special fans will appear on the market.
And maybe also a new FW with a better control of the fan speed. It should not be that difficult to do.
I have read something about bios setting in the NUC forum. I think that with a different settings is possible to make the fan kicking in only when T reaches 65 C or something in the range.
65 C is now the T max i reach in my Pipo X7 after adding some thermal pads below and above the pcb.
My bigger PC stays always below 50 C.I guess 65 C of woking T could be acceptable.
Clearly the lower the better.
Thanks a lot again.
Kind regards,
bg
Edits: 06/30/15
That's what I'm using as my "regular" (not audio) PC. I haven't tried it in my audio system but I'm sure it would be excellent. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying silent, power-sipping computing.
It's not fast enough for me as regular PC. Smooth but not like my 65 and 95 watters!
I only use it for e-mail, Internet, spreadsheets, and word processing. More than enough headroom for that stuff.
What server/playback software are you running on that? thanks, stephanie
Foobar minimal KS and DSD
thanks
Fans come in standardized sizes (diameter and mounting holes and depth) and standardized wiring and voltages. It may be possible to reduce the noise of a system by substituting a different fan, but the result may cause the equipment to run (slightly) hotter.
I had a very noisy NAS. A few years ago the noisy fan failed and I replaced it (an easy repair, unbolt and solder). The new fan had a higher quality bearing and was slightly slower, so it made less noise and provided less cooling. As a result, the disk drives ran about 2 degrees C warmer, something I deemed insignificant in terms of product lifetime. (It wasn't possible to run the NAS fanless as it had a loud alarm when the fan failed and the disk drives were getting excessively hot, although not as hot as the drives in my PC.)
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
Hi and thanks for the very interesting information.
Actually it is what i am thinking maybe with some different settings in the bios but it is clear that the stock part is a little noisy.
I am finding CPUID HWMonitor an extremely valuable tool to check the cpu T
Great SW.
However i do not know what would be an acceptable T for the cpu
Thanks again.
Kind regards,
bg
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