Powerful Fanless PC

[JMotzi]

I'm currently using this for image processing, not audio - but it shows that it's possible to make quite a powerful fanless computer these days.  In normal (not stress testing) operation, the heatsinks are very close to ambient and the processor, etc quite cool.

 

Passively Cooled PC with 65W-CPU & 47W Workstation Graphics

 

 

[Harpy]

You could check out Frozen CPU.  Liquid cooling is pretty effective and quite.

[JMotzi]

Yes Liquid cooling is well proven.  "Quiet" however is a very relative term.  For example, a cubicle office environment (where the air conditioning is often used as white noise to mask other noises) is actually quite noisy compared to perhaps a home environment.  In that office environment, one might not be able to hear a spinning disk for example.  Likewise, a home computing environment with "silent" PCs can reveal noises that we completely unknown before. For example, the loudest noise in my computing environment now is the hum of my monitor.  Each layer of noise removed reveals another source.  It's like the removal of excess salt as seasoning - the other flavors are revealed.  It has been a nice journey and I enjoy the music at my desk so much more now.

[Ralf11]

I hope you mouse clicks are not disturbing

[Harpy]

I was thinking a passive stand alone radiator.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/21234/ex-wat-269/Aquacomputer_Airplex_GIGANT_1680_External_Radiator_-_Copper_Fins_33302.html?tl=g30c95s667#blank

 

You would just have a pump running.