Fanless PC for clean room!

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#142456 13-Mar-2014 14:44

Looking to find some pre-built, small format, fan-less PCs to deploy in a clean area where dust and contaminate build up needs to be controlled.

I can see some really good boxes from QuietPC based in the UK, but not much in NZ...

They don't need to be high spec, they will just be running a few web-based apps and very basic Office and email functions.

I realise tablets are a potential alternative option and we may go this way, but there are other reasons for not jumping into using these!

All thoughts and alternatives welcome.

Cheers

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#1004987 13-Mar-2014 14:47

If everything's web based (it sounds like this may be possible) you might be able to go with something ARM based; the cooling requirements are small enough that a sealed metal case would be fine. Maybe look at the rPi or udoo as a starting point.

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#1004990 13-Mar-2014 15:00

Corsair have a fanless case, Heats up like nuts..

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#1004991 13-Mar-2014 15:01

ubergeeknz: If everything's web based (it sounds like this may be possible) you might be able to go with something ARM based; the cooling requirements are small enough that a sealed metal case would be fine. Maybe look at the rPi or udoo as a starting point.

it is a good idea, but they need to run at least Windows 7 as they will be domain members and will need to occasionally run Outlook and MS Office apps.

Not sure either those ARM options would handle that?!

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#1004993 13-Mar-2014 15:02

TimA: Corsair have a fanless case, Heats up like nuts..

Indeed and as we need a few of them in a corporate environment, I would prefer a pre-built and supported solution rather than building our own at this point!

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#1004994 13-Mar-2014 15:03

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TimA: Corsair have a fanless case, Heats up like nuts..

Indeed and as we need a few of them in a corporate environment, I would prefer a pre-built and supported solution rather than building our own at this point!

Out of luck then..
I dont know how you even plan on getting away with this, Not going to happen your going to have huge heat problems. But you said its a dustless environment? So having a PC what dust is it going to suck? You can get filters for them.

I could sort you out with ultra low power AMD setup that wont have any fans. There are a few cases that will run OK just from thermal movement.

lxsw20

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#1005011 13-Mar-2014 15:07

Try Jenlogix

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#1005012 13-Mar-2014 15:08

TimA:
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TimA: Corsair have a fanless case, Heats up like nuts..

Indeed and as we need a few of them in a corporate environment, I would prefer a pre-built and supported solution rather than building our own at this point!

Out of luck then..
I dont know how you even plan on getting away with this, Not going to happen your going to have huge heat problems. But you said its a dustless environment? So having a PC what dust is it going to suck? You can get filters for them.

I could sort you out with ultra low power AMD setup that wont have any fans. There are a few cases that will run OK just from thermal movement.

No, apologies for lack of clarity; it is a very dusty environment!

What we need are machines which will not ingest and build up the dust, harbour micro contaminants and the disperse back into the environment...or just die due to dust build up!

Something like this or this would probably fit the brief, but they are in the UK...

Could always import if we get desperate.

Tablet is looking more and more like the way to go TBH.

ubergeeknz

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#1005013 13-Mar-2014 15:08

Thinking out side the box. Is there any reason the PC needs to be in the same room? Why not cable the keyboard/monitor through a wall?

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#1005014 13-Mar-2014 15:10

Do you have citrix/terminal server infrastructure?

Thin Clients are fanless.

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#1005015 13-Mar-2014 15:10

lxsw20: Try Jenlogix

Looks promising - I will give them a call thanks.

ubergeeknz

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#1005019 13-Mar-2014 15:11

Thinking out side the box. Is there any reason the PC needs to be in the same room? Could you instead cable the keyboard/mouse/monitor through a wall?

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#1005027 13-Mar-2014 15:24

wasabi2k: Do you have citrix/terminal server infrastructure?

Thin Clients are fanless.

They are indeed - good point!

We do have a terminal server VM lurking around so that may be an option.

Good call ta!

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#1005031 13-Mar-2014 15:26

ubergeeknz: Thinking out side the box. Is there any reason the PC needs to be in the same room? Could you instead cable the keyboard/mouse/monitor through a wall?

Good thought and that may well be an option for some of the rooms, but probably not all, given the location of the device, maintaining the integrity of the room and the fact that the rooms/zones do get shifted around.

Will investigate though.

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#1005032 13-Mar-2014 15:27

lxsw20: Try Jenlogix

They are prepping some options/quotes for me.

Cheers.

Coil

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#1005034 13-Mar-2014 15:28

How about, Laptops?? If its very dusty maybe get some dust filters. What ever way you go around it a PC needs air across a heat sink. So your not going to be avoiding the ultimate factor here. You can get filters that you can clean once a month and the PC stays perfectly fine!

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