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Help with a SFF

N

New Start

Weaksauce
Joined
Feb 10, 2005
Messages
99
I gave up on building computers and overclocking quite a while ago, the last thing I had was a P4 1.6 (Northwood I think it was called, been too long) when it first came out that I overclocked to 2.4GHz and ran great the entire time. But I gave up on desktops and bought a laptop that I've been using since.
Now my laptop is borked and I would like to get a desktop so I could have a big screen (Dell 2001FP).

95% of my computing is web surfing, the other 5% is encoding and burning DVDs, CDs, digital photo browsing, and maybe a quick photoshop here and there- no games at all.

What I would like is a small form factor PC that isn't over the top or too expensive. The 1.5 Pentium M (Centrino) in my laptop was always fast enough, altho I wouldn't mind it being faster.

What I would like is a DVI output for the 2001FP (but I don't want to go too crazy on the video card since I don't play games), midrange DVD/CD burner, serial ATA with a fast hard drive altho it doesn't have to be very large. That's pretty much it, just a fast but not too expensive SFF PC that will last.

Any ideas of which model I should go for? And how much more will it cost than a full size PC of the same specs?
 
Thinking about it more, I would also have to buy a dvd burner and Windows XP. Maybe it's better just to get the pre-built one from shuttle?
 
If you're not gaming, something along the lines of an ATI 9200 should be fine. It has good 2D quality and won't eat up your budget.

As far as a CPU, I would try to find something like a P4 2.6-2.8C. I would try to keep away from the Prescott-cored CPUs as they may run a little hot in that system.

I'm using a WD SATA HD. I like SATA especially in SFF because the less cable clutter you have, the cooler the system will run. Airflow restrictions are killers in SFF systems.
 
BigBadBiologist said:
I just saw this:
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductdesc.asp?description=56-101-416&depa=1

it must be a pricing mistake or something.
Click to expand...
Maybe I should jump on that?

I read a review on newegg about how a Prescott will not work well with SP1, what is the highest non-Prescott P4?

From what I could see, the ATI 9200 doesn't have DVI output. But this with the ATI 9200 seems to have it and is a great price: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-140-026&depa=1
 
Is this good?? It comes to $560.50. Am I missing anything? Should I change anything? I assume that's not a Prescott processor?
___________________________________________________________________
Shuttle XPC Barebone System for Socket 478 at 533/800MHz FSB Intel CPU, Model SB65G2
Item# N82E16856101416
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Shuttle USB Digital Card Reader/Writer INTERNAL, Model PC12
Item# N82E16820212001
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Samsung 16X DVD±RW, Model TS-H552B/WBCH Black, OEM Bulk
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Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD800JD, OEM Drive Only
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Intel Pentium 4/ 3.0E GHz 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - Retail

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APOLLO ATI RADEON 9200SE Video Card, 64MB DDR, 64-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "Devil Monster 3 Radeon 9200SE 64" -RETAIL
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any CPU with an E is a prescott. You can get up to a 3.2GHz northwood CPU. You want to look for a CPU with a C. That video card should be fine. The SE means a slower version, but it would be pretty much only slower for 3D.
 
I'm having trouble understanding this. I am looking at 2 P4 northwood processors. One is 400MHz FSB and the other is 533, but the 400 is more expensive?

Which one should I get with the motherboard included on that shuttle barebones?

What type of memory should I get to go along with it (I'm looking for 512MB)?
 
I have this Shuttle (SB65G2). It isn't that quiet (in my opinion), and the LEDs, like most shuttle XPCs, are ANNOYINGLY bright. Even if you can stand the noise of this system next to your monitor, you'll go blind trying to avoid starring at the big bright blue power LED. After about a month with this model I decided that under the desk, out of sight, out of hearing is the best place for it -- and it's been there for the past few months.

Other than that -- I'm running a P4 3.0C in it with 1gb of RAM, no issues what so ever.

good luck,

yass

New Start said:
Is this good?? It comes to $560.50. Am I missing anything? Should I change anything? I assume that's not a Prescott processor?
___________________________________________________________________
Shuttle XPC Barebone System for Socket 478 at 533/800MHz FSB Intel CPU, Model SB65G2
Item# N82E16856101416
Save to Buy Later
...
Click to expand...
 
The 400FSB CPUs (really 100MHz FSB) are just more compatible with older mobos so they have a certain price premium. You want an 800MHz FSB CPU (really 200MHz). These are the Northwood "C" CPUs.

/edit: I ended up buying one of the Shuttles that I linked to. It was just too good of a deal to pass up. :)
 
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