PC for a narrowboat

[scotty6435]

Fair enough a 3.5" HDD will pull another 10 watts of power but put it this way: Look a the power rating of a single lightbulb.... think the generator can take it? You're going to be kicking yourself if you get an 80 gig HDD and the slim DVD will cost you £100 more on top of the price of a similar spec full-sized drive.

If you want a small, power efficient system just get a laptop witha USB 2.0 TV card

[Mike Fishcake]

If you want a small, power efficient system just get a laptop witha USB 2.0 TV card

That's probably the most sensible option, and more flexible as well.

[autopilot]

On the power side, if it's a 12v DC suply it will be worth looking into the growing in-car PC scene. More specifically the Opus 150W Car PSU or simular. With that you don't need the energy wasting DC to AC then back to DC convertion. Makes a massive difference in power consumsion and you will be able to run it for much longer periods without the engine/generator running.

http://www.karputer.co.uk/karputer.php
http://www.stevieg.org/carpc/

That said, i would go with a laptop. You can carry that up onto the deck/roof and enjoy some PC action while sunbathing

[oshta]

Yeah, i agree that the laptop would be more flexable, and possabley better.
- I was tring to condider all angles and possabiltys.

Scotty. I know 10w is a huge amount, but it all addes up, the whole room is only lit with an 11w lamp! - And tis not running off a genny, its runing off batterys, charged up during the day of the engine.

Dom. The case i was planning to use is the "Cubid 3677 Mini-ITX Vehicle Case 12V" which uses the Morex 60 or 80w 12v PSU. Very simular to the Opus, only a bit more PC-like. - Thanks very much for the links tho.

Daniel