@stretchneck, I am looking for various options to build music server/transport, have some questions on your set up and linear PS, but as a new member can't start conversations. Any chance you PM me?
you can get an old used small from factor (size of a fat reference book or smaller) from ebay or similar (dell, hp, lenovo or similar). Most come from air conditioned offices and they never have been pushed too hard. Get one win Windows pro so you can remote into the unit and run it headless if you want. Go to power options and underclock the machine by forcing a maximum processing at 10-20 per cent. Since all the unit does is play sound files, a office grade mid grade bobx (I3, I5 or Amd equivalent) will do fine even at that low speed. By lowering the cpu speed, you lower the heat on the CPU thus the cooling fan does not engage or runs so slow that is virtually silent. If you can get one with an external power supply, it will be even better.
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VIA, Gigabyte and others offer fan less PCs with CPU bonded to board, some are small. Like post card size PCB.
Here some of the banks use thin clients at branches, small box about the size of a Mac Mini. Zip tied to back of monitor at times.
Tablets with big memory cards, or connected through USB to external drives, are also an option.
There are also references to 'Car PC' in some parts of the net, I am barred form Alibaba in India, those may be useful.
This is quoted $135: https://www.dfrobot.com/product-1405.html
I searched for 'Taiwan fanless PC', and this was one of the results.
No ties to seller.
Here some of the banks use thin clients at branches, small box about the size of a Mac Mini. Zip tied to back of monitor at times.
Tablets with big memory cards, or connected through USB to external drives, are also an option.
There are also references to 'Car PC' in some parts of the net, I am barred form Alibaba in India, those may be useful.
This is quoted $135: https://www.dfrobot.com/product-1405.html
I searched for 'Taiwan fanless PC', and this was one of the results.
No ties to seller.
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Look out for Vincent Fong on YouTube he has some decent RPI cases with display for audio use. 7”, 5” and I think the 8.9 wave share one also.
There's some HP desktop at the local thrift. ~$10 - It's been there over a week - no one wants it. Strangest thing; imagine a desktop tower with no option card slots. No power supply inside either. Mostly cabinet with a little square MB, a fan, rack mounted HDD. I bet that would make a fine server / streamer. I'd have it but I already have everything.
By the overall cheapness of its design, I'd guess an AMD proc. So what, for streaming / serving audio it's fine.
By the overall cheapness of its design, I'd guess an AMD proc. So what, for streaming / serving audio it's fine.