IBM Think Center S50: The Ideal Corporate Small Form Factor
by Wesley Fink on October 21, 2003 10:55 PM EST- Posted in
- Systems
IBM Think Center S50: Noise Level
Corporate clients are normally even more concerned about PC noise levels than even the pickiest home users. To see how the IBM Think Center S50 compared, we ran the noise level tests that we have been using in all recent SFF system reviews.Sound levels of the IBM Think Center S50 were measured on a desk, with the S50 in the provided holder that mounts the computer on its side. To be consistent with earlier data, Sound Level was measured on all 4 sides, in the center of the side, 4" from the chassis. Our Sound Level meter is capable of measuring as low as 35db, using either A or C weighting with Fast or Slow Dynamic Response. We use A weighting and Fast response because they are most like how we actually experience sound as humans.
The IBM S50 was equipped as provided by IBM, with a 3.2 P4, 512Mb DDR333 memory, CDRW, a floppy drive, on-board Intel Extreme Graphics 2, and 7200RPM Hard Drive. Since the unit was mounted in the side stand, left is the same as the top of the machine and right is equivalent to the bottom of the S50.
The IBM is superbly quiet, trouncing any other machine that we have tested for Sound Level. The decibel scale is logarithmic, which basically means that, unlike a linear scale, small changes in value actually represent large changes in sound level. Theoretically, a 3db increase in value is twice as loud. However, many studies show the human ear does not perceive 3bd as twice as loud, and that 10db may be a better value for the perception of twice as loud. The IBM measured 3.2db to 9.5db quieter than the outstanding, quietest SFF we had previously tested. This makes the IBM anywhere from half as noisy as the very quiet Soltek to 8 times more quiet. It is a remarkable accomplishment that IBM has achieved such incredibly low sound levels in a very small PC.
IBM does not have the same high-speed fan options offered on competing SFF systems we have reviewed. Therefore, high fan-speed settings were not compared.
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Anonymous User - Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - link
You are missing the point #9, the machine isn't designed for high performance enthusiasts. Its designed for people who call the computer case a modem.If you want a high performance machine, you will rarely pick up machine designed for a corporate enviroment.
Anonymous User - Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - link
Shalmanese, what the hell is the point of selling an SFF with a 3.2GHz processor if you claim that no one buying this SFF is going to notice the difference between a 3.2GHz CPU and a 500MHz CPU? You're missing the point; IBM is selling a high-end PC with a high-end CPU that doesn't perform nearly as well as other SFFs, and that's a big deal for high performance enthusiasts.Anonymous User - Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - link
Try inserting a USB-memory-dongle, Bluetooth-dongle etc. in the front USB-ports here... will not work...Anonymous User - Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - link
does anyone know who designs ibm computer cases?whoever it is, must be the same guy that has been designing them for the past 10+ years.
they all kind of look the same from, as long as i can remember...unlike some other companies (hp/dell etc) that seem to change every couple of years...
Shalmanese - Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - link
Seriously, how many people in a typical office environment would notice a 10% drop in performance in content creation? The average user would probably not be able to tell a 500Mhz and a 3.2Ghz apart in typical usage.Joony - Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - link
Personally, I think the Dell GX270 is a better looking SFF PC. Performance is also quite decent! only thing bad compared to the IBM is only a half height AGP and PCI slot. The place I work at have hundreds of these and servicing them is very easy for IT people like me. Go Dell, whoo!(Posting from my Dell Latitude D600 :D)
AgaBooga - Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - link
Its good to see more SFF competition. Hopefully they will become increasingly popular over time.Anonymous User - Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - link
Wow, this computer kicks ass for non-gamers/graphics designers. I wouldn't mind having one!!Anonymous User - Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - link
Not so fast #1. The law office that i worked in just replaced all 40 of their workstations with Shuttles!Anonymous User - Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - link
Where are the comparisons to Dell SFF business systems and Compaq EVO business systems!??Apples to apples, people... it would be rare that a business would buy a SFF kit and build their own PCs..