Laptop parts for an HTPC

Efros · 2006-05-19, 23:30

Just a thought, has anyone thought about using the inners of a laptop in a Wife approved case for an MP based HTPC. Strikes me that it would pretty much solve the noise issue.

ohdarklord · 2006-05-20, 00:04

So do you mean all laptop parts
Or do you mean a desktop motherboard with laptop cd drive cpu ect?

I dont think ether would create a silent htpc

As some laptop parts are more noisy than their full sized versions eg cd drives and hard drives
but
I think they would generate less hear though so you could have quiter fans.

NorthernJohn · 2006-05-20, 00:38

I've a Silverstone 11m case with "silent", variable fans. You have to try hard to actually hear when it is on. It is much quieter than the Sky+ STB. WAF is high in our household as a result.

I think you get what you pay for in this area. Worth splashing out a bit.

If you do want to go the laptop route, have a look at suppliers of car-puters. They're often built with laptop parts and run on 12v dc. You will be less flexible with your parts and expansion possibilities but will do what you're asking.

Have a look at the first route though.

Efros · 2006-05-20, 03:03

I was actually thinking of the motherboard and cpu, with a big quiet HD and cd/dvd.

James · 2006-05-20, 07:51

Yep. Thought about and researched it.

New laptop parts cost too much and I haven't been able to find the correct parts on ebay. The problem is it will require a lot of hacking a self manufacture to get it all together.

ziphnor · 2006-05-20, 09:16

You can get some very silent laptop HDs. They can definetly be much more silent than their desktop counterparts but they are not available with sufficient capacity for HTPC use(my 250GB HD has run out of space on more than one occasion

When it comes to CPU's, you might want to have a look at the Core Duo T2300 up to the T2600, it has a very low TDP of only 31W, and can easily be cooled with a decent passive heatsink. It also has the advantage that micro-atx mobo's are available for it, though the mechanism for attaching the heatsink is not standard so it might be hard to replace the heatsink.

I run a Venice 3000+(1.8Ghz) undervolted to 1.1V with a passive heatsink, and only two '9db' SilenX fan(*incl* the PSU fan which i also replaced). The noisest part in my HTPC is definetly the HD even though its lying on a foam sponge which cancels out vibrations, its sounds like a moderately noisy fan.

In general if you are interested in building a quiet computer i would read the reviews and visit the forums at www.silentpcreview.com.

2006-05-19, 23:30	#1 (permalink)
Efros Portal Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 464 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	Laptop parts for an HTPC Just a thought, has anyone thought about using the inners of a laptop in a Wife approved case for an MP based HTPC. Strikes me that it would pretty much solve the noise issue.

2006-05-20, 00:04	#2 (permalink)
ohdarklord Portal Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 196 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	So do you mean all laptop parts Or do you mean a desktop motherboard with laptop cd drive cpu ect? I dont think ether would create a silent htpc As some laptop parts are more noisy than their full sized versions eg cd drives and hard drives but I think they would generate less hear though so you could have quiter fans. __________________

2006-05-20, 00:38	#3 (permalink)
NorthernJohn Portal Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hopefully on my bike. Posts: 147 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	I've a Silverstone 11m case with "silent", variable fans. You have to try hard to actually hear when it is on. It is much quieter than the Sky+ STB. WAF is high in our household as a result. I think you get what you pay for in this area. Worth splashing out a bit. If you do want to go the laptop route, have a look at suppliers of car-puters. They're often built with laptop parts and run on 12v dc. You will be less flexible with your parts and expansion possibilities but will do what you're asking. Have a look at the first route though. __________________

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2006-05-20, 03:03	#4 (permalink)
Efros Portal Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 464 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	I was actually thinking of the motherboard and cpu, with a big quiet HD and cd/dvd.

2006-05-20, 07:51	#5 (permalink)
James Portal Developer Join Date: May 2005 Location: Switzerland Posts: 1,348 Thanks: 4 Thanked 55 Times in 34 Posts	Yep. Thought about and researched it. New laptop parts cost too much and I haven't been able to find the correct parts on ebay. The problem is it will require a lot of hacking a self manufacture to get it all together.

2006-05-20, 09:16	#6 (permalink)
ziphnor Portal Developer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Copenhagen Age: 29 Posts: 711 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 6 Posts Country: My System	You can get some very silent laptop HDs. They can definetly be much more silent than their desktop counterparts but they are not available with sufficient capacity for HTPC use(my 250GB HD has run out of space on more than one occasion When it comes to CPU's, you might want to have a look at the Core Duo T2300 up to the T2600, it has a very low TDP of only 31W, and can easily be cooled with a decent passive heatsink. It also has the advantage that micro-atx mobo's are available for it, though the mechanism for attaching the heatsink is not standard so it might be hard to replace the heatsink. I run a Venice 3000+(1.8Ghz) undervolted to 1.1V with a passive heatsink, and only two '9db' SilenX fan(incl the PSU fan which i also replaced). The noisest part in my HTPC is definetly the HD even though its lying on a foam sponge which cancels out vibrations, its sounds like a moderately noisy fan. In general if you are interested in building a quiet computer i would read the reviews and visit the forums at www.silentpcreview.com.