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View Full Version : Mini/Barebones PC & Ubuntu



PartisanEntity
June 11th, 2007, 10:36 AM
I am interested in buying a cheap mini pc to use as a very basic server/remote desktop system which would be on 24/7.

Many of these systems seem to have specialised processors so I am wondering if they are compatible with Ubuntu? Would such a set up work? How quiet are they?

I would like to spend no more than around €200 on this.

Here is a list of some of the models available here:
http://geizhals.at/?cat=barepc&sort=p

I don't know anything about these mini pc systems and would really appreciate some info or pointing in the right direction.

Thanks in advance.

anaconda
June 11th, 2007, 11:46 AM
A friend of mine bought a small barebone, and now he regrets his desicion.. Because it is quite noisy. Now he thinks it would be better to buy a normal PC and soundproof it properly.. It wouldn't be THAT difficult to hide that to the livingroom.. ( he uses it as a TV/mediaplayer etc.)

I bet there are quiet miniPC:s out there, but the few I have seen have all been noisy... a laptop could be one quiet choiice..


Just my 2 cents...

PartisanEntity
June 11th, 2007, 11:54 AM
I already have a laptop, it's an AMD Turion powered Asus A6K, but it's quite loud and annoying so I don't leave it on at night.

I was under the impression that a mini-pc would be quieter, but if I get a mini-pc with no 3D graphics card and a modest processor shouldn't it be less noisy?

mips
June 11th, 2007, 12:00 PM
I already have a laptop, it's an AMD Turion powered Asus A6K, but it's quite loud and annoying so I don't leave it on at night.

I was under the impression that a mini-pc would be quieter, but if I get a mini-pc with no 3D graphics card and a modest processor shouldn't it be less noisy?

You are looking for something else. Maybe do a google search for mini-ITX to find small form factor x86 based boards. Stuff like VIA Eden, AMD Geode etc. might be a good option.

http://www.mini-itx.com/
http://www.via.com.tw/en/initiatives...head/mini-itx/
http://www.epiacenter.com/
http://linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8275095591.html

Unless you build a normal desktop with very low noise components.