This is part of The Pile, a partial archive of some open source mailing lists and newsgroups.
To: svlug@lists.svlug.org
From: steve@theStarport.org (Stephen R. Savitzky)
Date: 26 Oct 2000 22:46:42 -0700
Subject: [svlug] Anyone know of a nice, _quiet_ Linux box?
I have a VALinux system under my desk at work at the moment -- very nice
machine, but the fans are LOUD. Anyone know of a place that makes
x86-based Linux boxen that don't make a lot of noise?
===
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2000 23:04:13 -0700
To: svlug@lists.svlug.org
Subject: Re: [svlug] Anyone know of a nice, _quiet_ Linux box?
From: Rick Moen <rick@linuxmafia.com>
begin Stephen R. Savitzky quotation:
> Anyone know of a place that makes x86-based Linux boxen that don't
> make a lot of noise?
Boxen that have PC Power & Cooling "Silencer" power supplies will
tend to qualify. When I've built systems in the past (go AMD!), I
usually throw out whatever hunk o'junk power supply / fan assembly
came with the case, and put in a suitable Silencer (or TurboCool).
They have 'em at Central Computer.
===
To: svlug@lists.svlug.org
Subject: Re: [svlug] Anyone know of a nice, _quiet_ Linux box?
From: steve@theStarport.org (Stephen R. Savitzky)
Date: 26 Oct 2000 23:25:33 -0700
Rick Moen <rick@linuxmafia.com> writes:
> begin Stephen R. Savitzky quotation:
>
> > Anyone know of a place that makes x86-based Linux boxen that don't
> > make a lot of noise?
>
> Boxen that have PC Power & Cooling "Silencer" power supplies will
> tend to qualify. When I've built systems in the past (go AMD!), I
> usually throw out whatever hunk o'junk power supply / fan assembly
> came with the case, and put in a suitable Silencer (or TurboCool).
>
> They have 'em at Central Computer.
Thanks -- that takes care of the noisemakers at home. For work, though,
I need someplace Purchasing can order a complete system from; preferably
someplace with a website I can use to cook up a configuration. As for
me, I _love_ Central; got my last three systems there (K6-2/ASUS P5A).
I'll look for the Silencers.
===
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2000 23:40:27 -0700 (PDT)
From: Wayne Earl <wayne@qconcepts.net>
To: "Stephen R. Savitzky" <steve@theStarport.org>
Subject: Re: [svlug] Anyone know of a nice, _quiet_ Linux box?
On 26 Oct 2000, Stephen R. Savitzky wrote:
>
> Thanks -- that takes care of the noisemakers at home. For work, though,
> I need someplace Purchasing can order a complete system from; preferably
> someplace with a website I can use to cook up a configuration. As for
> me, I _love_ Central; got my last three systems there (K6-2/ASUS P5A).
> I'll look for the Silencers.
At work, I've had wonderful experiences with ASL
Labs. http://www.aslab.com
===
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 07:10:14 -0700
From: "Jeffrey B. Siegal" <jbs@quiotix.com>
To: Rick Moen <rick@linuxmafia.com>
Subject: Re: [svlug] Anyone know of a nice, _quiet_ Linux box?
Rick Moen wrote:
> Boxen that have PC Power & Cooling "Silencer" power supplies will
> tend to qualify.
Be careful with Silencer power supplies. They're designed
only for systems with good air flow, limited cooling
requirements, and operating in ambiant temperatures not
above 75F.
The restrictions on the TurboCool power supplies are much
less strict (although they are a little less quiet, since
they run the fan full-time).
===
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 08:01:50 -0700
From: Don Marti <dmarti@zgp.org>
To: Wayne Earl <wayne@qconcepts.net>
Cc: "Stephen R. Savitzky" <steve@theStarport.org>,
Subject: Re: [svlug] Anyone know of a nice, _quiet_ Linux box?
On Thu, Oct 26, 2000 at 11:40:27PM -0700, Wayne Earl wrote:
> At work, I've had wonderful experiences with ASL
> Labs. http://www.aslab.com
I just tested one of their systems and the fans were loud -- just a
little louder than the ones in VA's standard desktop case.
I don't think the machine they loaned me made it into their official
product line though -- they sent me the parts from this one:
http://www.aslab.com/contents/workstations/Merlin60.html
mounted in the (easy to open but loud) case from this one:
http://www.aslab.com/contents/workstations/AS-ProDPX.html
The production version of the Merlin 60, a decent Duron box, might be
quieter.
BTW, anybody read their LinuxWorld complaint? "We were pleased with
the initial booth selection. After receiving the requested floor plan
ten months later, we were surprised that the floor plan has been
significantly changed. We were dismayed that the changes were made
without informing us."
http://www.aslab.com/contents/events.html
===
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 09:11:36 -0700
From: hvrietsc@yahoo.com
To: "Stephen R. Savitzky" <steve@theStarport.org>
Cc: svlug@lists.svlug.org
Subject: Re: [svlug] Anyone know of a nice, _quiet_ Linux box?
On Thu, Oct 26, 2000 at 10:46:42PM -0700, Stephen R. Savitzky wrote:
> I have a VALinux system under my desk at work at the moment -- very nice
> machine, but the fans are LOUD. Anyone know of a place that makes
> x86-based Linux boxen that don't make a lot of noise?
same here man. i am going deaf. isn't there a way in sw to lower the fan speed
until the system gets too warm or something? (anyone in valinux listening)?
===
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 09:56:57 -0700
From: Don Marti <dmarti@zgp.org>
To: hvrietsc@yahoo.com
Cc: "Stephen R. Savitzky" <steve@theStarport.org>,
Subject: Re: [svlug] Anyone know of a nice, _quiet_ Linux box?
On Fri, Oct 27, 2000 at 09:11:36AM -0700, hvrietsc@yahoo.com wrote:
> same here man. i am going deaf. isn't there a way in sw to
> lower the fan speed until the system gets too warm or
> something? (anyone in valinux listening)?
I don't think you can change fan speed in software, but Jason Collins
said he was going to try the Digital Doc 2 on a homebrew project:
http://www.thetechzone.com/reviews/cooler/amk/digitaldoc2/
===
To: Rick Moen <rick@linuxmafia.com>
Subject: Re: [svlug] Anyone know of a nice, _quiet_ Linux box?
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 11:06:46 -0700
From: J C Lawrence <claw@kanga.nu>
On Thu, 26 Oct 2000 23:04:13 -0700
Rick Moen <rick@linuxmafia.com> wrote:
> Boxen that have PC Power & Cooling "Silencer" power supplies will
> tend to qualify. When I've built systems in the past (go AMD!), I
> usually throw out whatever hunk o'junk power supply / fan assembly
> came with the case, and put in a suitable Silencer (or TurboCool).
While this is related only at the power level, I'm curious if you've
played with San Mehat's IPMI code at all? I'm looking at using the
IPMI kernel module on an N440BX-based system to use the hardware
watchdog feature. Per what I read this should work fine. I'm a
smidge cautious about this however as the box in question is several
hours drive away from from me and I'll be doing the whole thing over
the wire.
===
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 11:39:03 -0700
From: Rick Moen <rick@linuxmafia.com>
To: svlug@lists.svlug.org
Subject: Re: [svlug] Anyone know of a nice, _quiet_ Linux box?
begin J C Lawrence quotation:
> While this is related only at the power level, I'm curious if you've
> played with San Mehat's IPMI code at all?
I've looked at it, and it's good stuff, but I don't own any machines
on which it would be useful, alas.
===
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 12:29:46 -0700
From: hvrietsc@yahoo.com
To: John Mark Walker <jmwalker@valinux.com>
Cc: hvrietsc@yahoo.com, "Stephen R. Savitzky" <steve@theStarport.org>,
Subject: Re: [svlug] Anyone know of a nice, _quiet_ Linux box?
On Fri, Oct 27, 2000 at 10:04:32AM -0700, John Mark Walker wrote:
> Well, I have one of these boxes under my desk - as you might ascertain
> from my email address - and I haven't noticed any noise issues. I'm
> interested in hearing which boxes you have and I'll forward the info to
> our product people.
>
if you do not hear the noise then i guess you have already gone deaf. HELLOOOO!!!
Anyway just joking: these things are too noisy for under the desktops, as a server
it would be ok i guess. mine is the desktop SX series. nice machine but noisy.
can i just cut the power to at least one of the fans?
===
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 14:01:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: Rafael <raffi@linwin.com>
To: hvrietsc@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [svlug] Anyone know of a nice, _quiet_ Linux box?
On Fri, 27 Oct 2000 hvrietsc@yahoo.com wrote:
> On Fri, Oct 27, 2000 at 10:04:32AM -0700, John Mark Walker wrote:
> > Well, I have one of these boxes under my desk - as you might ascertain
> > from my email address - and I haven't noticed any noise issues. I'm
> > interested in hearing which boxes you have and I'll forward the info to
> > our product people.
> >
>
> if you do not hear the noise then i guess you have already gone deaf. HELLOOOO!!!
>
> Anyway just joking: these things are too noisy for under the desktops, as a server
> it would be ok i guess. mine is the desktop SX series. nice machine but noisy.
Complaining about noise? Take out your Metalica CD.
>
> can i just cut the power to at least one of the fans?
Yes, disconnect all fans and the machine will run very quiet, as a matter
of fact it will go so quiet that you won't need to work anymore :-)
One option is to disconnect fans and insert frozen plastic things (can't
remember the name right now) in disk bay. Need to run a cron job to remind
you to replace them every few hours.
Another option is to watercool the computer with evaporation technique.
Need to modify the machine but the advantage would be moist air and
flowers in the room will appreciate it.
Liquid nitrogen is another option.
Or move the machine into another room and connect to it with old VT100.
That's as quiet as you can get.
It's unfortunate they don't use squirel (?) cage type of fans which tend
to run with less noise. Boxer fans are spining faster usualy and generate
more noise. Good computer design calls for fans mounted on rubber buffers.
Maybe you can remove the fans and tape them back in place so that the
chassis won't transmit all the noise to your desk. Mount computer on a
soft pads, that will soften the noise too.
Need more innovations? You'll find them here on SVLUG.
===
Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2000 18:33:38 -0700 (PDT)
From: Deirdre Saoirse <deirdre@deirdre.net>
To: Don Marti <dmarti@zgp.org>
Subject: Re: [svlug] Anyone know of a nice, _quiet_ Linux box?
On Fri, 27 Oct 2000, Don Marti wrote:
> I don't think you can change fan speed in software, but Jason Collins
> said he was going to try the Digital Doc 2 on a homebrew project:
> http://www.thetechzone.com/reviews/cooler/amk/digitaldoc2/
I have at least two linux boxen where you can, but they're not standard
Linux boxes either. (Netwinder and TiVo, the latter not being easily
user-settable)
Actually, though, I think the netwinder is just setting the temperature
threshhold for the fan to kick in, not the fan speed.
I would, however, like a quieter fan for Adelie.
--
_Deirdre * http://www.sfknit.org * http://www.deirdre.net
"You had thesaurus flakes for breakfast again, didn't you?"
-- Eric Williams
===
Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2000 19:21:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Higashi <mhigashi@hooked.net>
To: "Jeffrey B. Siegal" <jbs@quiotix.com>
Subject: Re: [svlug] Anyone know of a nice, _quiet_ Linux box?
On Fri, 27 Oct 2000, Jeffrey B. Siegal wrote:
> Rick Moen wrote:
> > Boxen that have PC Power & Cooling "Silencer" power supplies will
> > tend to qualify.
>
> Be careful with Silencer power supplies. They're designed only for
> systems with good air flow, limited cooling requirements, and
> operating in ambiant temperatures not above 75F.
>
> The restrictions on the TurboCool power supplies are much less strict
> (although they are a little less quiet, since they run the fan
> full-time).
I don't think the Silencer is quite as limited as you say. The specs on
www.pcpowercooling.com show the 275w ATX Silencer and the 300w ATX Turbo
Cool as having the same environmental range, up to 50 degrees C (132F).
The Silencer has a 28 CFM fan and emits 34db of noise, the Turbo Cool has
a 35 CFM fan and emits 44db of noise.
Mike
===
Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2000 07:37:40 -0800
From: "Jeffrey B. Siegal" <jbs@quiotix.com>
To: Michael Higashi <mhigashi@hooked.net>
Subject: Re: [svlug] Anyone know of a nice, _quiet_ Linux box?
Michael Higashi wrote:
> The Silencer has a 28 CFM fan and emits 34db of noise, the Turbo Cool has
> a 35 CFM fan and emits 44db of noise.
Hmm. It doesn't look like that's the one I remember reading about. I remember
reading about a "Silencer" power supply that controls the fan using a
thermostat. This one looks like it just uses a quiet fan but it runs all the
time. Looks good.
===