For a while I've wanted a home PC that I can leave on all the time without the noise bugging me - I've become quite sensitive to machine noise over years of working with computers. I'd use it to play MP3s off my network, then I'd think up other projects. It wouldn't need a monitor or a keyboard. It would just sit attached to the network, appliance-style, in the manner of a slimp3 but with the flexibility of a full linux system. Now the off-the-shelf hardware I need to make such a thing is available.
The Via Eden ME6000 motherboard is full of integrated components (TV output, network, firewire, 5.1 sound with digital out, etc) and has a fairly powerful processor that needs no fan on its heatsink. Combined with a stick of memory and a Morex 55W fanless external power supply, and booted diskless off the network, this system has no moving parts.
The bits arrived yesterday and after a bit of setup I got it booting Debian off the network and playing its first MP3 by the end of the evening. It's all-but-silent; the DC-DC converter makes a very slight high-pitched noise, a little like the noise a TV makes with the sound off. It'll be easily muffled inside some sort of box. The motherboard makes no noise at all. Playing MP3s with mpg123 takes about 7% CPU according to top.
Here's a picture:
The DC-DC converter is part of the Morex 55W PSU kit from mini-itx.com - see the picture at http://www.mini-itx.com/store/images/psukitL.jpg
I haven't tried running it off a battery, but it should be possible. The laptop-style PSU brick outputs 12v so I presume the DC-DC passes that through directly while also stepping it down to 5v for the other power lines. From my basic knowledge of battery technology, I understand that 12v is a nice easy voltage to supply.
Posted by: Matt Biddulph on February 7, 2003 10:39 AMi need more info abt diskless linux pcs...kindly revert back
Posted by: Sreekanth on March 14, 2003 06:19 AMWhere can I find one of these kits for less than $100?
Posted by: Jeremy on April 6, 2003 09:53 PMHi.
I want to learn more about this linux mp3 player.
what kind of configuration do you have?
I would be very happy, if you could help me.
Greetings,
Jens Vetter.
did u boot onto linux with pxe?
Posted by: Lekan on April 21, 2003 02:31 PMAlright Matt,
Just wondering as I am building my own same sort of thing, except its matx. Going to build some sort of customised shell for it as the casing...Anyway to cut to the chase Can you tell me are you able to run a DVD player off the Morex 55watt?
Most appreciated if you can give me an answer
James
;)
Posted by: ip address on May 4, 2003 08:56 AMI've used the EPIA ME 6000 as an apliance, too. I built it into a Morex Cubid 2699 micro case along with a slime line dvd rom and a seagate barracuda 120G silent drive. I am still a little bit concerned about the heat inside the case but the system runs smooth with more than a month uptime now. I use ipcop on it, an internet-gateway with dhcp, proxy, vpn support, mldonkey client and such...
Posted by: Carsten Otte on May 7, 2003 01:07 AMJames: I own an Epia 800, and the morex psu arent a match for a regular cdrom/dvdrom, but works fine with a slimline, as they use much less power.
I run my Epia800 in a Cubid case, without cpufan (only the 1 cm passive cooller) and without casefan.
This runs rocksolid, but the heatsink gets HOT when the cpu is used alot :)
current uptime: 57 days
Posted by: x0r on May 13, 2003 11:47 AMSo quiet lately. More comment please.
Posted by: postal code on July 24, 2003 02:39 PMHi ..I dont have alot of knowlege about creating your own hardware...just wondering if anyone can recommend me to a forum or school...
Ive searched the internet and find thousands of links to crappy webpages,...dated bbs and forum posts...I would like to hear from someone who has been there...
Posted by: Brad on September 23, 2003 07:25 AMthanikkonnum vere paniyille thayoly
Posted by: jins jose on September 30, 2003 07:49 AMDid you plug in an ethernet card with boot PROM into the PCI socket, or can the on-board ethernet controller boot off the network?
And you write "... then I'd think up other projects." How about a status report, almost a year later? Any cool projects?
Posted by: phliar on November 21, 2003 10:50 PMI used the builtin ethernet which is capable of PXE netbooting.
I haven't updated the information on this page because I fried the PSU for the board while moving flats. I'm hoping to get it up and running again before too long.
Posted by: Matt Biddulph on November 24, 2003 05:19 PMI assume you used Peter Anvin's PXELINUX package... did you have to set up a PXE server, or did DHCP/TFTP work?
I've ordered the EPIA 5000 and PSU. I'll let you know how it goes!
Hi.
I want to learn more about this linux mp3 player.
what kind of configuration do you have?
I would be very happy, if you could help me.
Greetings,
Jens Vetter.
Thank you, I just wanted to give a greeting and tell you I like your website very much.
Alright Matt,
Just wondering as I am building my own same sort of thing, except its matx. Going to build some sort of customised shell for it as the casing...Anyway to cut to the chase Can you tell me are you able to run a DVD player off the Morex 55watt?
Most appreciated if you can give me an answer
James
The mini-itx online store has several slimline DVD drives at http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=5 which they recommend for use with the Morex Cubid 3677 and 3688 cases. I believe those cases use the 55W power supply.
Posted by: Matt Biddulph on December 22, 2003 11:12 AM
Cool! can you run this off a battery? where did you get the DC-DC converter?
Posted by: steve on February 7, 2003 10:08 AM