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How thin can you make a system?

M

meyerkev

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jul 8, 2010
Messages
225
I've had an idea floating around my head for the last few years of replacing my father's old P4 desktop when it dies with an HTPC that will go in the spot where the DVD player/VCR is, and hook up to the TV. The difficulty is that that spot is only about 6 inches tall if that (but it's 2-3 feet across and about 2 deep). Can a computer fit into that spot? All it needs is a medium sized HDD (laptop ones work), and a DVD drive, and I still have the laptop DVD drive out of my Macbook Pro. Is it doable?

/Not looking for actual build advice yet, just wondering if it's possible.

Edit: Is it possible to get a laptop without a screen? Because then you could just face the DVD drive outwards (and on Mom's Sony VAIO, the power button as well), plug in a USB keyboard/mouse, and run an HDMI cable off the other side into the mess of cables.
 
You have enough space, you just need to find a way to...

1. make sure its not ugly
2. vent the heat properly
3. make sure its quiet

laptops can run w/o the screen.
 
450 said:
You have enough space, you just need to find a way to...

1. make sure its not ugly
2. vent the heat properly
3. make sure its quiet

laptops can run w/o the screen.
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks. I'll get back to you guys in a couple years when the P4 finally DIES.

Eh, it played Sins Of A Solar Empire on P4 integrated graphics on high graphics settings at 800*600 well enough. Just don't draw the entire (and I mean ENTIRE) enemy fleet into an ambush with mines. 150 mines interacting with 3 or 400 enemy ships at once plus a massive fighter engagement over in the corner usually meant you could go out to dinner in between frames.
 
What are you trying to accomplish?

1. Video recording and storage?
2. Video playback (maybe from a remote location)?

If your P4 stays on all the time, get something like the $100 Roku box. The Roku will play all the media on the P4.
 
meyerkev said:
Edit: Is it possible to get a laptop without a screen? Because then you could just face the DVD drive outwards (and on Mom's Sony VAIO, the power button as well), plug in a USB keyboard/mouse, and run an HDMI cable off the other side into the mess of cables.
Click to expand...

Well, you could just remove the screen. Take the hinges off and unplug the cables.
 
6" height is EASY. Post your requirements (see sticky for the Q's) and we'll jam on some specs/parts.
 
There are lots of case options under 6 inches in height. I personally use an Antec NSK 2480 for my HTPC, basically a bigger version of what DesertCat linked to above.

When the time comes, there are plenty of great system builders that can put something like that together for you - or you could always build it yourself :)
 
450 said:
What are you trying to accomplish?

1. Video recording and storage?
2. Video playback (maybe from a remote location)?

If your P4 stays on all the time, get something like the $100 Roku box. The Roku will play all the media on the P4.
Click to expand...

Just trying to replace the P4 tower with something that doesn't take up most of an entire room sometime down the road. He really doesn't use it enough to justify having a desktop sitting in the corner, but a PC that could also run his media collection, and sits under the TV (thus freeing the room) that he can quickly flip to in the morning to check the weather while not breaking the budget re: power sounds good.

Machupo said:
6" height is EASY. Post your requirements (see sticky for the Q's) and we'll jam on some specs/parts.
Click to expand...

Don't bother. If nothing else, his TV is 8 years old, and can't even accept any connections past Red/Yellow/White cables. Also, I'm haven't seen his house in 3 months so the height is from memory, and it might be less.
 
Last edited:
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