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Rebuilding Media Center PC
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27. March 2009 @ 23:33 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
I have an old PC in my basement that I would like to use as a Media Center PC. Currently it is in an old bulky case. I was wondering how safe it would be to run the entire computer off a sheet of plastic. Basically screw down the motherboard to a piece of plastic and hide the computer under my sofa. The computer is an old P4 1.3GHz Socket 423. All I want to use the computer for is watching videos off a network and a WD Passport external HDD.
How safe is this and would Windows XP or Windows 2000 be better for a computer doing this stuff networked to a bunch of other XP computers?
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28. March 2009 @ 00:27 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
I see cooling and noise as the major issues.

You will need minimum airflow to keep things from heating up and eventually cooking. In a sealed the case the power supply fan is usually enough to handle this.

There is also the issue of dust collecting on the components and exacerbating the heat problem.
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28. March 2009 @ 10:47 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
The system doesn't need much cooling as it is. Dust is something that I haven't thought of. If I was to seal it in a plastic case you think it would be fine?
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1. April 2009 @ 05:19 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
I doubt dust would be a huge concern unless you have pets or a VERY old couch. I have seen systems running fine with the case stuffed full of dust. Also, airflow should not be a big problem under a couch...there is plenty of air under there, and most couches are not airtight.

If you do have pets, you can get a cheap (~$20USD) case online.

...Or you could get a rubermaid container and mount a pair of fans with fan screens on opposite ends of the thing.

Windows 2000 is probably your best bet, you don't have enough GHZ there to waist on XP.


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AfterDawn Addict

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1. April 2009 @ 06:32 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
I'll give it a try this weekend and post back. Thanks.
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