Login at Kodi Home

**patseguin** · 2014-04-19, 01:09

I've had a home built i3 machine with an nVidia 630, SSD, 8GB RAM, but the box is a minitower that sits next to my TV. I was thinking about a newer i5 based NUC or Zotac box that could sit behind my tv out of site. I've heard the NUC's are nice but their fans whine. I don't know if that's true or not. Can anyone recommend a small i5 or i7 system that can run OpenElec and play 3d blu rays and HD audio?

**patseguin** · 2014-04-20, 02:31

Well the Nuc's look nice but I've read about whining problems with the fan and the Zotac I have has been rock solid. I just want a higher performing mini PC that I can hide. My homemade htpc is small but not nearly small enough.

eluSive_NZ · 2014-04-20, 04:24

(2014-04-20, 02:31)patseguin Wrote: Well the Nuc's look nice but I've read about whining problems with the fan and the Zotac I have has been rock solid. I just want a higher performing mini PC that I can hide. My homemade htpc is small but not nearly small enough.

I bought a NUC Celeron N2820 last week. Cannot hear the fan at all (sits under TV, open shelf)
The fan speed is customisable in the BIOS, I've set mine to 20% minimum.

locust · 2014-04-20, 07:16

I have an i3 Haswell NUC in our bedroom and I have never heard it even once. The slightest bit of environmental volume like a light breeze or fan or anything will be louder than it.

It's seriously a complete non issue IMO, maybe some people have hypersonic eardrums though

g4ptek · 2014-04-20, 08:57

i think NUC is good, my friend have this, it's quiet

**nooryani84** · 2014-04-20, 09:08

The i3 Haswell NUC is only audible if the CPU is working intensively... otherwise I'd say it's easily drowned out by ambient noise.

**patseguin** · 2014-04-20, 12:04

Thanks for the feedback guys.

xbs08 · 2014-04-20, 12:07

I also have a DN2820 and I can ear the fan when there's total silence but even then it's a very low sound. Not an issue at all.

Endeavour79 · 2014-04-20, 12:11

I bought a Zotac Nano AD12+ and I'm really happy with it. Very quiet and fast.

**patseguin** · 2014-04-20, 12:14

Well even though it's a tad on the large side - about 11" wide and 8" tall I managed to fit it behind my TV. My center looks cleaner and the machine is really quiet. I still would like to eventually get an i5 or i7 nuc or Zotac.