Please help suggest a Tiny, Fanless, Windows 2000 Machine

[UndergroundLare]

Hi,

I'm currently shopping for a Windows 2000 computer that will:

- Be very small in Size (1L PC, Mini PC, Thin Client)

- Have USB 2.0, Wired Ethernet (Wireless would be a plus) 

- Have HDMI output

- Be capable of using solid state storage (Ideally a SATA SSD)

- Have a metal case (not an absolute requirement)

- Be Fanless / Passively Cooled (I would really like fanless - but could open up the search to a model with a very quiet fan)

 

The computer will only be used for nostalgic purposes to run the following software:

- Old versions of MS Office, Adobe Photoshop, AOL Instant Messenger, Winamp, Windows Media Player. 

 

The goal is a silent, high quality box that will serve as a miniature time capsule of the early 2000s. I am okay with making some modifications to the installation ISO, using nlite, adding drivers, etc. I would like to keep the tweaking at a basic to moderate level so I can easily reinstall the OS too much frustration.

 

The closest candidates I've found are:

Dell FX170 (no HDMI, plastic exterior)

HP Thin Clients - (no HDMI, plastic exterior, not a fan of the looks of the t5710. Not sure if t5720, t5730, t5740 or t610 are compatible with Windows 2000)

Acer Aspire Revo N270 with Nvidia Ion - (has a fan, plastic exterior)

2010 Mac Mini - (Has Full Windows XP Support, has a fan, and I am having trouble getting all of the drivers to install in Windows 2000)

Lenovo ThinkCentre m93p Tiny - i5-4590T - (Runs XP well. Will run Windows 2000 - but having trouble finding drivers for Windows 2000)

 

Please let me know if you have any suggestions on what hardware I should go and buy. My preferred choice would be a 1 Liter PC from Lenovo, Dell, or HP but I can't seem to find any with Windows 2000 Support.

 

Thanks for all your help!

Edited February 4 by UndergroundLare
Changed a couple words to improve clarity

[D.Draker]

13 hours ago, UndergroundLare said:

I can't seem to find any with Windows 2000 Support.

I'd say, it comes as no surprise after a quarter of century. What about Fujitsu-Siemens, Fujitsu, or just Siemens? 

You don't consider them? It'd be a perfect choice, as of they have lots of thin clients.

[Tripredacus]

Add "Industrial PC" to your search terms. Companies like Advantech, Logic Supply, Smartvue, etc.

[UndergroundLare]

On 2/4/2025 at 6:44 PM, D.Draker said:

I'd say, it comes as no surprise after a quarter of century. What about Fujitsu-Siemens, Fujitsu, or just Siemens? 

You don't consider them? It'd be a perfect choice, as of they have lots of thin clients.

Yep - its tough to find my ideal hardware. I just realized after reading your comment that Windows 2000 will reach the 25th anniversary of its launch date on Feb 17, 2025

I have never owned a Fujitsu Siemens thin client - but I do have a Fujitsu ScanSnap document scanner and it is amazing.

 

Fujitsu is appealing because they often have a metal case and good quality construction. The negatives are that they are generally some of the larger thin clients, and don't have HDMI output. 

I use this website to quickly reference the specs of various thin clients:

https://www.parkytowers.me.uk/thin/hware/hardware.shtml

 

12 hours ago, Tripredacus said:

Add "Industrial PC" to your search terms. Companies like Advantech, Logic Supply, Smartvue, etc.

I will start looking for Industrial PCs too.

 

Thank you both for your suggestions.

 

[D.Draker]

17 hours ago, UndergroundLare said:

Yep - its tough to find my ideal hardware. I just realised after reading your comment that Windows 2000 will reach the 25th anniversary of its launch date on Feb 17, 2025

 

Time flies.

 

18 hours ago, UndergroundLare said:

Fujitsu is appealing because they often have a metal case and good quality construction. The negatives are that they are generally some of the larger thin clients, and don't have HDMI output. 

Thank you both for your suggestions.

 

Weren't there an adaptor from DVI to HDMI? I remember they were popular in that Era. 

Welcome.

[D.Draker]

 

[Tripredacus]

They are not reliable as a straight adapter. It comes down to whether the computer sends the correct signals and also on the monitor. I stopped using them because I kept running into scenarios where the adapter would work on one computer but not another, or various displays not working with them. There are also situations where you can get no video during boot, in Setup, in text mode (Windows or Linux), etc. HDMI to VGA has the same issues but usually worked more than the DVI variety.  They are cheap enough to try if you have a lot of hardware to use, but I wouldn't bank on it or recommend to someone with just 1 computer because the possibility exists that they could end up with something they can't use.

[UndergroundLare]

I'm willing to use an adapter, but will try to avoid it - mainly just for having really clean aesthetics. I realize my criteria is a little bit crazy

 

[D.Draker]

On 2/6/2025 at 11:01 AM, Tripredacus said:

They are not reliable as a straight adapter. It comes down to whether the computer sends the correct signals and also on the monitor. I stopped using them because I kept running into scenarios where the adapter would work on one computer but not another, or various displays not working with them. There are also situations where you can get no video during boot, in Setup, in text mode (Windows or Linux), etc. HDMI to VGA has the same issues but usually worked more than the DVI variety.  They are cheap enough to try if you have a lot of hardware to use, but I wouldn't bank on it or recommend to someone with just 1 computer because the possibility exists that they could end up with something they can't use.

The ones you buy on Ali-express or E-bay, maybe. Those that came with your videocard are good. That said, I'm talking only about known brands of GPU. Never had any troubles with them. Only one case of a weird discolouration when I used a  very long HDMI cable with it. And as for the inability to enter BIOS during post, HDMI is designed that way. HDMI isn't designed to be used with monitors, DVI, VGA  and DispalyPort are. HDMI is more like when you want to connect your PC to a high-end receiver or a huge TV to watch 2160p James Bond or X-files. Besides, there's no electronics inside of those adapters.

[D.Draker]

12 hours ago, UndergroundLare said:

I realise my criteria is a little bit crazy

Nothing wrong with a desire to have a quality product. Of course it's always advisable to purchase the ones that have a good, gold coating.

[D.Draker]

12 hours ago, UndergroundLare said:

I'm willing to use an adapter, but will try to avoid it - mainly just for having really clean aesthetics.

While I feel you, I can't imagine a scenario where you sit and stare at the back of your beautiful PC with that ugly adapter sticking in your face for longer than 30 seconds.

Then another solution might include purchasing a dedicated, slim GPU with HDMI. Something like nVidia 400 series have drivers for Win2000.

Just make a better research on the forum for exact models.

[Saxon]

There's a modded driver for 600 series, the link should be somewhere on the forum. Most of 500 series would work, too. Especially the ones that were re-branded off 400 chips into "new" gen.

[D.Draker]

11 hours ago, Saxon said:

There's a modded driver for 600 series, the link should be somewhere on the forum. Most of 500 series would work, too. Especially the ones that were re-branded off 400 chips into "new" gen.

A modded driver for 600 series might not work, yes, I'm Captain Obvious. 500 had a huge increase in their TDP, they aren't quiet. He wants quiet.

I had a 560 Ti, I couldn't wait to get rid of it. One could fry eggs on the cover. I don't even mention about the noise on the allegedly "silent" model made by MSI.

[D.Draker]

11 hours ago, Saxon said:

600 series

Are mostly huge arse-kickers. no way he fits one of those into a slim case.

[Karla Sleutel]

11 hours ago, D.Draker said:

While I feel you, I can't imagine a scenario where you sit and stare at the back of your beautiful PC with that ugly adapter sticking in your face for longer than 30 seconds.

 

Thanks for a good laugh, guys, sorry for the off-top.

When I lived in Denmark, we had a mini ATX Fujitsu at work, they were incredibly quiet. Fans would spin up only during summers, and only under a considerable load like encoding.