The attempts to implement the HTPC concept in a thin case like those of today’s DVD players are hardly usable. They are usually equipped with notebook-oriented optical drives and a rather noisy CPU cooler. The latter fact is understandable. Considering the use of low-profile heatsinks, there’s no talking about low-speed fans until mobile CPUs come to this area. But the concept of HTPC solutions implies a total lack of noise because who would ever bear to hear the incessant humming of the cooling system fans in the pauses between the songs or even as the background of quiet music compositions? Moreover, it would be odd to get a noisy system for $800, which is the bottom price for ready-made multimedia PCs.



Link: X-bit Labs