Smallest PC - Physical dimensions???

[luca brazzi]

If I can get remote desktop working on my big box, its going to live in the cupboard under the stairs

Therefore, I won't need a powerful PC to remote manage it, but need it to be physically very small and quiet, as its going to (hopefully reside in a cupboard, with just the power cable, keyboard, mouse, and graphics cable coming out to the soon to be much smaller desktop surface.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to the smallest PC (modern) that I can get. Currently looking at the Shuttle range, but a few pointers on these would be helpful, plus any other suggestions. Happy to build it myself.

Thanks peeps.

LB

[chim_girl]

from Adam...

Have a look at Overclockers, go to the 'Barebones' section, Shuttle aren't the only ones to offer this kind of kit.

[docevi1]

If you are going remote why not get something like an old 200/266/<450 or similar which runs fanless as you don't need anything modern...

[slinky]

have a look here

oh, and while you're at it.. have a look at some of the projects pages... some of them are rather impressive..

slinky

[Bodo]

Got to be one of these?
www.epiacenter.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2

As small as a DIN car radio.

[luca brazzi]

Thanks guys....looking at them all now.

Bodo's link to PCs the size of a car stereo looks very appealing indeed.

Looking at overclockers now.

Ta
LB

[agent006]

Compaq TC1000 terminals will run a remote desktop client. They're rather small.
www.freeliant.com/ClientEq.asp?pg=UnderTheHood

Try the original compaq ipaq range too.

[luca brazzi]

Thanks to Bodo, it seems this is going to be the one:


Size of a car radio, with a reasonable amount of power for itself, plus a number of ports....will be mounted into the sideboard

All in, I think it works out to be around £350 inc. vat. Cool. Just have to wait for the tax rebate to materialise

Will keep you updated.

Many, many thanks as always, for taking the time to help me find a solution.

LB

[john_p]

Why not get a 2nd hand laptop? New battery, wireless card, docking station .. very small, and you can either plug everything into it and use the main screen + keyboard, or undock it and use it in front of the telly etc..


>> Edited by john_p on Friday 31st December 01:21

[matt_t16]

Bodo said:

Got to be one of these? www.epiacenter.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2 As small as a DIN car radio.

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't those just blades with their own PSU and Optical drive?

Either way I think one in the T16's lower din slot with a fold out TFT in the upper slot would be rather tasty.

Matt

[Bodo]

Luca, I think they're a good choice since the 600MHz model may run fanless as well.
Matt, they're a dedicated form factor for consumer use and embedded applications. It's called Mini-ITX (as the link in slinky's post), and they're 17x17cm and have the CPU soldered right onto the board. I've seen them used in servers as well; two boards horizontally in a short 1U case.

More info here: www.viaembedded.com/product/index.jsp

[luca brazzi]

Already have a really old laptop, runs XP just and with a wireless card, can surf anywhere. But the screen is small, and its not a nice piece of kit.

I don't think they're dumb devices....I looked at speccing one with

Travla C134 Mini-ITX Case (EPIA M)
VIA EPIA ME6000 Fanless Motherboard
Ultra Low Profile 256MB (19mm) PC2100 DDR DIMM
20GB Seagate 2.5" 5400RPM Hard Drive
TEAC DV28E Slimline 8 X DVD

The specs of the mobo are:
VIA EPIA-M Mainboard Specification
Processor - VIA C3/EDEN EBGA Processor, C3 1GHz with Fan/ Eden 600 MHz Fanless
Chipset - VIA CLE266 North Bridge
System Memory - 1 DDR266 DIMM socket
- Up to 1GB memory size

VGA - Integrated VIA Unichrome AGP graphics with MPEG-2 Accelerator

Expansion Slots - 1 PCI
Onboard IDE - 2 X UltraDMA 133/100/66 Connector
Onboard Floppy - 1 x FDD Connector
Onboard LAN - VIA VT6103 10/100 Base-T Ethernet PHY
Onboard Audio - VIA VT1616 6 channel AC'97 Codec
Onboard TV Out - VIA VT1622 TV out
Onboard 1394 - VIA VT6307S IEEE 1394 Firewire
Onboard I/O Connectors - 1 USB connector for 2 additional USB 2.0 ports
- 2 1394 connectors for 2 1394 ports
- 1 Front-panel audio connector (Mic and Line Out)
- 1 CD Audio-in connector
- 1 Buzzer
- 1 FIR connector
- 1 CIR connector (Switchable for KB/MS)
- 1 Wake-on-LAN connector
- CPU/Sys FAN/Fan 3
- 1 SMBUS connector
- 1 Connector for LVDS module
- 1 Serial port connector for a second com port
- ATX Power Connector

Back Panel I/O - 1 PS2 mouse port
- 1 PS2 keyboard port
- 1 Parallel port
- 1 RJ-45 LAN port
- 1 Serial port
- 2 USB 2.0 ports
- 1 VGA port
- 1 RCA port (SPDIF or TV out)
- 1 S-Video port
- 3 Audio jacks: line-out, line-in and mic-in; can be switched to 6 channel output

BIOS - Award BIOS- 2/4Mbit flash memory

System Monitoring & Management
- CPU voltage monitoring
- Wake-on-LAN, Keyboard-Power-on, Timer-Power-on- System power management
- AC power failure recovery

Form Factor - Mini-ITX (4 layer)
- 17 cm x 17 cm

I think its a PC (prepares to look real stupid)

But I'm having problems getting remote desktop to work with my PC and Laptop, which is the key bit for me, before going down the route of another device.

I've started another thread about remote desktop here:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=146126&f=95&h=0

where your help will be immensely appreciated.

[ErnestM]

Is this too big Luca?



That's the computer, right there, tucked behind the monitor - winxp home - P4 2.8ghz - 200gb hd - 512mb ram and no wires anywhere except power...

Available from SonyStyle.com in the US for about $1700


ErnestM

[luca brazzi]

Hi Ernest...bit big, but definitely too costly. And I'm only looking for an averagely specced PC.

Still keen on the car radio sized machine at the moment.

LB

[squirrelz]

Try this place - they do lots of small low power systems:
www.mini-itx.com/store/

[luca brazzi]

squirrelz said:

Try this place - they do lots of small low power systems: www.mini-itx.com/store/

That's where I found what I'm currently keen on.

One question though>

If its only the video display that get across the network, is 54Mbps enough to give a decent refresh rate onto a 1280x1024 monitor?
LB

[rmhodv]

I quite like the look of these. click me. There are quite a few in the range. Hope it helps.

[john_p]

I just don't see the point of paying a premium to get a much smaller PC when all you need it for, I assume, is remote desktop (when you fix it)

Yeah, the mini-itx stuff looks funky and I'd love one - but the laptop with docking station would probably be just as good, and get the job done with a lot less hassle.. I assume you have to keep the laptop somewhere anyway so it may as well be on the desk chargingup in a docking station

[docevi1]

matt_t16 said:

Either way I think one in the T16's lower din slot with a fold out TFT in the upper slot would be rather tasty.

Not just rather tasty, but a great idea IMO. Make sure the TFT is touchscreen as well.

I've been toying with the idea for some time but can't find the space to install one in the Marlin. IMO, it'd be a great idea as you could install something like MS AutoRoute as a complete portable map solution, an MP3 player and something to download/view pictures from my digi camera on. Add wireless connectivity and you can then download all your images remotely when you get home/add different music...

There is already something that does this on the market, but it's essentially a big PDA with all the stuff a PDA normally does along with full internet browsing and the like - it's simply too much.

Personally I'd love to do it, but ensure that the "PC" and the screen are completely detachable, so I don't have to leave them in the car when I park up

[ywouldi]

PWellsie said:

I saw a shuttle-type case last christmas when I was looking for a new PC. It was entirely aluminium I think, and came in a huge range of funky-freash colours, except I can't remember what the company or the case was called and can't find it again. Anyone know what I am on about?

May have been the Cubit from Hoojum (or Hoojim!) a very very nice case for the Mini-Itx boards. Have been lusting after one for a while but my budget cant stretch to that!

Ben