Stealth Computer launches fanless mini
The LPC-625F is a completely fanless design capable of full 1080p HD playback - but comes with an eye-watering price tag.
According to the guys over at PC Launches, the company has just announced the LPC-625F small-form factor desktop PC – which is designed to run completely fanless. Measuring a svelte 20cm² and just 6cm in height, it's a pretty dinky unit – but is capable of full 1080p playback via its on-board HDMI port.
The entire case of the unit is one giant aluminium heat sink, with cooling fins covering the surface to ensure that the 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo – upgradable to a 2.53GHz unit if you need the extra grunt – stays frosty. While the graphics chip – an Intel GMA X4500 – won't be a gamer's first choice, it does provide the power required for playback of any HD source you care to name over both HDMI and DVI.
Connectivity is provided via an on-board gigabit Ethernet port, but if you want the device to sit somewhere awkward Stealth Computer has said that a mini-PCI Atheros-based wireless card will also be available. Interestingly, the PC also offers an RS232 serial port – a possible indicator that the company is looking toward embedded applications and digital signage. Eight USB 2.0 ports offer plenty of room for peripherals, and the company has even thought to throw in an external SATA port for additional storage.
While the 90W power draw is perhaps a little on the high side – especially when compared to the competing Atom-based Habey box which draws just 13W – it's certainly an interesting device for anyone who needs a surprising amount of power in a small, quiet package.
All this neato stuff comes at a cost, however: Stealth Computer is looking for £1,104 for the base configuration with the slower CPU and just 1GB of RAM along side an 80GB drive. If you want to upgrade any of the specs – or add the optional wireless module – the price goes up from there.
Is truly silent computing worth the entry price, or is Stealth Computer hoping for a little much for its fanless box? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
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16 Comments
Discuss in the forums Reply£1k+ is rediculous - although sods law says that they'll actually sell quite a few of them to the embedded market, thus making it commercially viable and hence considered a "success" and therefore they won't see this as "overpriced" so something that could blatantly come down in price significantly never will...
Heck my backup PC with a few HDDs and full ATX board + graphics card takes up 100watts max. (per kill-a-watt meter)
I agree --and overpowered. My completely passively cooled HFX Mini HTPC runs a 2.4Ghz Core Duo CPU, 1 Gb RAM and 1Tb of HDD and uses no more than two-thirds of the power: 60 Watts instead of 90 Watts. And it cost me about £500,-- to build.
Don't agree with the reason behind the serial port though - it's probably there for automation purposes rather than digital signage. Most AV kit is controllable through RS232 (Sky HD boxes even have serial, although it's only one-way comms) - the ability to turn all other kit when using the HTPC.
build Log???
Log.
Article. :D
Nah they don't. I have a 40 inch LCD and it draws about 100 watts, half what the spec sheet says. The rated power draw is when the backlight is maxed out... which is just silly. In a darker room it only needs to be 20 or 30%.. in a bright room you still wouldn't have to go past 50%. I don't have a plasma so I don't know if you can cut down the power on those.