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=Lexan Mini ITX PC=

<small class="post-meta">'''Posted:''' July 20, 2009 | '''Author:''' [http://www.cunningturtle.com/wordpress/author/ilya/ ilya] | '''Filed under:''' [http://www.cunningturtle.com/wordpress/category/computers/ Computers] | '''Tags:''' [http://www.cunningturtle.com/wordpress/tag/homebrew-computer/ homebrew computer], [http://www.cunningturtle.com/wordpress/tag/lexan/ lexan], [http://www.cunningturtle.com/wordpress/tag/mini-itx/ mini itx], [http://www.cunningturtle.com/wordpress/tag/nettop/ nettop] | [http://www.cunningturtle.com/wordpress/lexan-mini-itx-pc/#respond Leave a comment »]</small><div class="mceTemp">

[http://www.splitreaction.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/dsc_0359_small.jpg [[Image:dsc_0359_small-1024x680.jpg|500px|lexan mini itx pc back]]]

Have you ever wanted a computer that you can leave on 24/7 and not even notice that it is on when you walk into the room? I know I have.  Now I finally built one that is so quiet you can’t hear if it’s on or not even if you stand next to it.

</div><div class="mceTemp">As a bonus, it is only the size of a large book,<span class="description"> has a 1.6Ghz dual core atom processor, and idles at 19C (or whatever the room temperature happens to be).</span></div><div class="mceTemp"><span class="description"><br /></span></div>

Here is a video to give you an idea of how small the computer is.<br />

Notice how it makes almost no noise when it’s on. If you walked into the room you wouldn’t be able to tell that there is a computer there too.

'''Cooling'''

The [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121359&Tpk=D945GCLF2 dual core Atom motherboard] used to have a small fan on it that cooled the graphics processor. That was removed and a [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185078 140mm Scythe fan] was placed on top of the entire motherboard.  Why such a ridiculously large fan? Because it’s quiet. Rate at 10dB, it is the quietest fan that I have found for sale and it happened to be 140mm big. So I worked with it, and it turned out to do an amazing job at cooling the whole computer.

I was worried at first. While this big fan does move a lot of air, it moves it over a large area. The original 10mm fan sat directly on the chipset heat sink, providing localized cooling, which I was afraid the big fan might not match. I’m glad it worked out well in the end when I finally assembled everything and tried it out.

The [http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-90-80W-power-kit?sc=8&category=1097 80 watt Pico power supply] I used is over 95% efficient and produces almost no heat.

<div id="attachment_18" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 460px">[http://www.splitreaction.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/dsc_0360_small.jpg [[Image:dsc_0360_small-1024x680.jpg|450px|Front side of the Lexan mini ITX computer]]]

Front side of the Lexan mini ITX computer

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The front of the computer has the power button. No USB ports or sd card readers. I was satisfied with just having 4 USB ports in the back. I used this computer as a media PC. I have a projector connected to it as well as a wireless mouse and keyboard.

<div id="attachment_16" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 460px">[http://www.splitreaction.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/dsc_0340_p_small.jpg [[Image:dsc_0340_p_small-1024x680.jpg|450px|Top of the Lexan mini ITX computer]]]

Top of the Lexan mini ITX computer

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And finally, '''The stats:'''

* Dual core 1.6Ghz Atom processor
* Integrated video card
* 1 Gig ram
* 80 Gig hard drive
* 80 Watt Power supply
* Awesome lexan case
* Under $250