[kasperl]

Ok, I have finally found the software to turn a very old computer in a media-center like thingy.

Pentium II 266Mhz
64 MB RAM
CD player
CD burner
Don't even begin to think of the vid card
Working sound
TV-Tuner
2*4GB HD's.
Win98 FE
Network card

One of the 4GB HD's will be replaced by a 40GB one containing all my music.

The software (www.xlobby.com), will probably run on it, and so will MP3's. However, this thing will have to be absolutely silent. Completely, totally, silent.

Now, since total silence is impossible, I'll settle for just really quiet. There are a few problems however.
-  Water cooling is not an option, due to me lacking the time and energy to install it.
-  A limited budget. €100,- (Euro's, in case the character isn't displayed)
-  The processor is most likely Slot 1. Yes, Slot 1, in case anyone remembers it.

I'm aiming at replacing the PSU and the CPU fan, plus any casefans I might or might not encounter. If the thing has a cooled northbridge (unlikely), I'll put something passive on it.

For the PSU I'm looking for brands that are good or bad, and what to look for. As for what it's supposed to power, only the stuff listed above.

For the CPU fan, I'm really fearing. Antiques aren't really my thing, and looking all over for something aged more then 10 years isn't my thing (whisky excluded). Is there any way to mount a modern fan on a CPU like this? If not, then where can I get a new fan for a CPU like that?

If you think there is any money left after the silencing, is there anything in this computer worth spending it on? I might replace the sound-card.

There is still an old TNT2 16MB RAM lying in a closet here somewhere, would it be worth the bother to try and put it in? The thing is AGP 1 or 2, so it might just work.

[Liberator]

Acutally, I have one of those, although it's a 350 I think.  it seems to run okay with an only loosely fitting HSF, so you should be okay with some passive cooling.

[kasperl]

I'm looking at something more then 'should be ok', since I might run this thing to download 'stuff' while I'm at school. I don't want to come home to find that the damn thing blew up, and I sure don't want to come home to find out the house is on fire.

EDIT: On the other hand, where might I find some truly passive cooling for a processor like this? It'd be grand if it actually worked passive, for silence and such.

[Liberator]

You might check this out..

Sorry I'm not more help.

[kasperl]

Thanks for the note anyway, it means that I have at least some clue about the heat production. I've seen mentionings of Pentiums floating in their own solder, as close as a procesor might come to drowning in it's own blood. So if your Pentium can run on something near passive, or at least without the assistanse of a 747's turbine, it tells me something.

Now, the problem with the fans that you listed is that they're the standard of standards, meaing cheap, reasonably reliable, and most likely louder than the one in the computer right now. I'm quite happy to be proven wrong, but it looks like that, anyway. And I need a Dutch reseller, I'm not buying stuff over the web. (Lack of a credit-card, and being a minor have something to do with that.)


EDIT: I may have found something, but it is only described as a " Generic Passive Slot 1 Cooler      €5.00".  Does anyone think this thing might actually work? If I can't find it anywhere else, this'll cost me another 20 euro's or more for a train ticket to go and get the thing....

[mitac]

There're plenty of such coolers at ebay, just take a look via international search or such and make sure they're delievering to the Netherlands. I've seen some for a mere ~4 Euro at ebay.de. PM me if you need a link.

BTW, you should check the maximum size of HDDs supported by the motherboard's bios. It could cap at 32 GB, maybe even at 8 GB.

[kasperl]

Well, as I said earlier, any store where I can't go to a decent real life shop and throw the part back into someones face is out of the question.

As for the BIOS, I'm hoping it'll be ok. I used to have an even older computer cappping at 2,2GB per partition or something like that, but I still got most of a 20GB HD working on that. In theory, a total storage of 15GB would be enough, even. Could I circumvent that limit by buying a PCI IDE card?

[mitac]

The maximum partition size is determined by your OS's capability, i.e. the file system. Since FAT32, implemented with Win98 IIRC, this should not be much of an issue. Question is just if the bios detects a 40GB HDD correctly. But even if it doesn't, you can use the HDD just the same way as usual, the remaining GBs just won't show.

Can you find out the motherboard's producer and model? It should be printed somewhere on the motherboard.

[kasperl]

I haven't  had the case open recently, and the computer isn't in my room right now. I was planning on first getting a good look at the costs and stuff, and then starting with opening the case up.
I'll be sure to have all the files on the 40GB HD backed up before inserting it.

As for the PSU, what brands to go for, and what brands to avoid?

[Stealth]

you'd probably be able to get by with just a heatsink.

seriously

[kasperl]

Ok, I'll try that. Now, I need a silent PSU as well. I'm not looking for a monster here, just something good enough to run all the stuff listed above, while being totally silent.

[Stealth]

"all the stuff above", yeah you'll be safe with a 150W power supply, even lower you wouldn't be pushing it.

[Liberator]

okay, i punched "silent PC power supply" into google and got this.  you may find it interesting and useful.

[Sandwich]

Use a modern processor underclocked to something rediculous like 400Mhz.

[Turnsky]

or get your mits on a older celeron series (i.e pre 1ghz if they're still around) something you could get with pocket change, anyway.

[Liberator]

If you'll read the entire thread, he want's to use an old Slot 1 Pentium 2.

[kasperl]

1) €100,-
2) No web shops
3) No time to search for all too many antiques.

So basicly, the rig already there is what I'd like to be using. And Stealth: that's good to hear, any specific brands?

[Vertigo1]

Originally posted by mitac
The maximum partition size is determined by your OS's capability, i.e. the file system. Since FAT32, implemented with Win98 IIRC, this should not be much of an issue.

Well, that partially true.  A rig that old more than likely has an 8GB cap in the BIOS, so it won't pick up anything past the first 8GB no matter how big the drive is.  He might be able to use a dynamic overlay to bypass that.  I'd rather just buy a seperate PCI IDE controller and use the onboard controllers for the CD drive(s) rather than fight with a dynamic overlay.

[WMCoolmon]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned the obvious-

Build a beer storage unit adjacent to the CPU. For added cooling effect, you could use a couple 5 1/4" bays, angle the bottles downward, and place a large amount of ice at roughly the level of the CPU. Bonus points if you manage to figure out a way to fit a Freon cooler in there, AND make it quiet enough for normal use.

Not only do you save on space, it eliminates the necessity of going to the kitchen - or using a coaster.

Although, like Stealth says, I don't think you need anything more than an oversized heatsink. If it needs more than that, no biggie - I've gotten at least 3 Pentium IIs while they were en route to the garbage pin.

[Carl]

dude, just stick it in the fridge.