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Help me build a tiny, yet "elegant" system.

K

Kil4Thril

2[H]4U
Joined
Sep 21, 2003
Messages
2,974
My wife's old Soltek Q-Bic finally gave up the ghost. So, I want to do a mini ITX setup. It will see Office , W7, some flash games/movies (killing the Atom boards :(), and streamed vids from my DirecTV. It's nothing too taxing, but she also likes to keep stuff until death (the dead machine is a Mobile Barton 2500/NF2/2GB/onboard graphics). My "plan":

  • Zotac 9300 WiFi
  • Q9400s
  • 4 GB memory

Here's where I get stuck: the case. This sits on a built-in desk in our living room, so it needs to look good, yet still be tiny (even passive, but I doubt that's gonna happen). Everything I can find is either large (Sugo 5), or hideously ugly/plasticky. What are your suggestions? I'll change anything above if it'll be a better deal/fit (AMD is fine, I'm just unfamiliar with their current stuff).
 
Will an Atom 330 handle the needs of this machine? If so, that makes it much easier to get what I want. She was fine with the Barton, if that helps.
 
As of now, I wouldn't consider an Atom system if Flash is part of the main usage, not even the 330.

I would go with a decent dual core CPU, E5200 or E7200, decent low-profile cooler like the Scythe Shuriken or MeOrb and put it into something like the Apex MI-100. Without the need for an add-on video card, you can go with a really small case.
 
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IsLNdbOi said:
Take a look at the PSile.
Click to expand...


That thing DOES look good. Let's say I go with a Quad core (AMD or Intel, doesn't matter), and 4GB. How much PSU do I need? Will the cases with the external 120-150 watt bricks work?
 
You could get one of those 150W PicoPSUs and find a low-wattage quad core like the Q9550S, but that's a pretty expensive processor. The case isn't cheap either.
 
Can you adequately cool a quad core processor in one of those thin Silverstones?
 
I don't know if the Zotac 9300 ITX is good at underclocking, but if it is halfway decent then you should stay away from the S quads (9400s & 9550s), as they are just underclocked normal quads...

9550s at spcr
 
IsLNdbOi said:
Can you adequately cool a quad core processor in one of those thin Silverstones?
Click to expand...

i would want to put a CPU that drew more than 65 Watts in the LC19, or more than 45 Watt CPU in the other two for both power and heat reasons, and that is just using on-board VGA so no expansion cards.
 
IsLNdbOi said:
What about a low wattage C2D?
Click to expand...


I can do literally ANYthing, as it is a blank slate. But, I don't want it to be useless in 6 months. Maybe a Shuttle for her......nope, they're mostly ugly, but still a possibility.
 
First, don't waste money on the "S" CPU's - the actual reviews show that don't consume less power, or generate less heat. Go with the Q8400 ($184), you loose 2m of cache total over the Q9400S ($299).

For the case I would recommend something from these guys (http://www.atechfabrication.com/index.htm) if you want pretty and functional. Not cheap though.
 
drgnfang said:
First, don't waste money on the "S" CPU's - the actual reviews show that don't consume less power, or generate less heat. Go with the Q8400 ($184), you loose 2m of cache total over the Q9400S ($299).

For the case I would recommend something from these guys (http://www.atechfabrication.com/index.htm) if you want pretty and functional. Not cheap though.
Click to expand...


Those cases are awesome, and damned expensive. At least I know there are options available. Maybe I should just go with a compact mATX setup so there isn't anything proprietary and I can use standard heatsinks and such. Maybe a Silver SUGO 1?
 
If you are going that route you might as well do an SG05. It's much smaller than the SG01. That is, if size is a big concern. The SG01 isn't exactly small, I have one sitting empty, it took up too much of a foot print.
 
is it possible to make a case your self? gonna be challenging to find anything elegant i would say but not impossible.
 
knothead34 said:
is it possible to make a case your self? gonna be challenging to find anything elegant i would say but not impossible.
Click to expand...


As a last resort, yes. IDK if I would have the time and/or skills to create what I envision, though.
 
Can anyone perchance tell me what the mounting spacing is for an SFX PSU? Also, the bolt configuration/spacing of ITX and Flex ATX motherboards? It looks like a MAY be able to redo her QBic case (brushed aluminum).
 
mITX mobo bolt pattern is the "inner square" of the mATX pattern.

There's a good image here.
 
Thank you. I'll tear into it after I finish this pizza. Hopefully, the actual standoffs in the case will match up properly to an ITX board.

Cool thing: it has http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151062power supply in it.

OK. I can pull off an ITX board with SFX power supply, and a cooler that can be 10cm high from the socket to the bottom of the PSU and Optical (if I use one). What do we have available? Also, since I am using this case, I can put in a decent graphics card as long as there is room for a PCI wireless (or it is built in).
 
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NichoTL said:
I don't know if the Zotac 9300 ITX is good at underclocking, but if it is halfway decent then you should stay away from the S quads (9400s & 9550s), as they are just underclocked normal quads...

9550s at spcr
Click to expand...

Right now, the Zotac 9300 doesn't do underclocking at all.
 
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