Fanless Atom Board

[jameson_uk]

Anyone seen anything about fanless Atom mini-ITX boards coming out?

I believe the TDP of the N230 is 4W (and the Via C7 is 7W ?) I have a feeling though that the extras that go with it (the Intel ICH7 controller etc) are just going to make the Intel offering use more power overall?

I am going to be replace my server (only a NAS box 95% of the time) so I want something which uses hardly any power. Was going to go down the Via route but these new Atom processors look good (and also very cheap)

[Tom]

The Atom chips really, really shouldn't require any form of active cooling. The TDP, even for the 'high-powered' versions, is only 2.4W (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Atom_microprocessors#.22Silverthorne .22)! :eek:

There's a lot of motherboard designs here (http://mini-itx.com/2008/06/05/atom-boards-aplenty-at-computex), which don't have active cooling. Although it's mentioned that this may not stick, it would be daft when you consider that I have a fanless Eden with a 7W TDP (http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_VIA_Eden_microprocessors#.22Esther.22_.28s tandard-voltage.2C_90_nm.29).

Just a matter of time, really. I'd watch J&W if I were you.. The 780G ITX board they've shown off at Computex (http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/06/06/j-w-780g-mini-itx-has-niche-htpc-features/1) is absolutely awe-inspiring! :D

[jameson_uk]

The Atom chips really, really shouldn't require any form of active cooling. The TDP, even for the 'high-powered' versions, is only 2.4W (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Atom_microprocessors#.22Silverthorne .22)! :eek:These are the mobile versions. The desktop ones (which feature in the exsiting mini-ITX board and presumably will feature in others) are have a massive TDP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Atom) of 4W single core and 8W dual core :cool:

Just a matter of time, really. I'd watch J&W if I were you.. The 780G ITX board they've shown off at Computex (http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/06/06/j-w-780g-mini-itx-has-niche-htpc-features/1) is absolutely awe-inspiring! :D
Looks a bit more powerful than I need. Looks like it would be great for a HTPC but I am looking for something low powered with almost no consumption.

[LSG501]

wouldn't mind knowing this myself, the current info on the eee pc desktop is looking like its going to be useless for any hd content playback (no controller chip) so considering making my own version up instead if theres one with the right bits (I want the controller chip whatever its called). And besides its not exactly hard - case + psu, drive(s), ram and mb plus linux/windows os :) although it may be slightly more expensive.

[Tom]

These are the mobile versions. The desktop ones (which feature in the exsiting mini-ITX board and presumably will feature in others) are have a massive TDP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Atom) of 4W single core and 8W dual core :cool:

Ahh right, I'm getting confused between Diamondville (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Atom#Diamondville) (what you're after and what isn't included in this article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Atom_microprocessors).. Yet) and Silverthorne, which is targetted at mobile devices, as you say.

Though 8W TDP should still be doable with passive cooling. The 7W chip I have doesn't get any hotter than about 40c. Not sure why'd you'd even need dual-core for a NAS either! :)


Looks a bit more powerful than I need. Looks like it would be great for a HTPC but I am looking for something low powered with almost no consumption.
No I know; not quite my point. My point was that the innovation in that board made J&W a worthy manufacturer to keep a close watch upon in the future. Perhaps they'll pull one blinder of a passive, dual-core Diamondville chipset out too? :)