Need Advice for First SFF build

[DivideByZero]

I'm new to SSF systems and I'm thinking of building the following in a couple of months and would really appreciate your opinions.
Thanks guys.

AMS E-Cube - $265.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=56-101-607&depa=1

3.0GHz Pentium 4E - $189.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-116-171&depa=1

1GB Corsair XMS Memory - $267.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-504&depa=1

Maxtor 300GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive - $207.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProdu...&depa=0&CMP=EMC-neemail102204&ATT=Maxtor300GB

Giga-byte nVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT - $390.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-125-151&depa=1

Sony 8X DVD+/-RW - $65.99
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-131-235&depa=0

SAMSUNG 910V-Black 19" LCD Monitor - $479.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=24-001-162&depa=0

Total: $1862.99

 

[pmondo]

Get a monitor with a better response time something like 16 ms and lower.

 

[Fezdog192]

If you build it in a couple of months, remember that those items might be much less expensive than they are now, and your list will most likely change dramatically. Get all the money together, and THEN budget it out.

 

[Fanatik]

In your system i noticed you have some components that will get very hot and this is not good for SFFs. I would advise against prescott. They get very hot. I have a 2.8 and luckily the all-copper zalman 7000 barely fits in there and it keeps it in the mid 30s. Also maxtors are known to run very hot. I would go with a WD or a Samsung. Thats the only things i have a concern about. Everything else should work out fine.

Later

 

[BrianTaylor]

Avoid that AMS! I have a silver AMS EG-65 and the cooling in it is terrible. I have even purchased their upgraded HT800 heatsink and fan and it still gets up to 60C even with the sides off. Sides on, it quickly shuts down as I have it set to shut down at 66C. I am preparing to mod it and add vent holes by the video card and a 92mm fan on the other side to pull air through. Hopefully that will get temps to an acceptable point.

Also, find a 3.0C instead of E. Will run a little cooler and at stock speed usually performs a little better than an E.

If you are looking for something in the same class, the Shuttle SB75G2 is a ton better than the EG-65. After spending about 2 months trying to get the EG-65 tolerable I got pissed enough I just grabbed an SP75G2 and it is a ton better than the EG-65. Cools a lot better and has overclocking options.

Brian Taylor

 

[DivideByZero]

Thanks for all of the great feedback guys.

I didn't realize that the AMS runs so hot.

Brian: do you think I'd be better off with the P4 3.0C Northwood http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-116-163&depa=1 and a SB75G2? Does the included heatpipe work well?

I still have few months to go - waiting on my year-end bonus , but I wanted to start looking around at what's available.

 

[BrianTaylor]

The ICE cooling system in the Shuttle's works better than any other system I've seen included with a SFF PC. I personally run a 2.8C in a SB75G2 and it works great. I have my 2.8C overclocked to 3.25 and I have under-powered it to 1.325 (from 1.525) to give me a max loaded temp of about 52C.

Also, I just added a 92mm fan to to exhaust on one side of my AMS, and about 30 1/2 inch holes on the other side to let air in over the video card. The results are less than stellar. Dual prime95 it maxes at 59C, which is pretty bad in my opinion. I've never really trusted the on-board sensor, so I always touch it the HSF housing to verify the temp. 59C seems accurate, it's pretty damn hot. Now though I think I have actually caused a problem. The 92mm side fan pulls so much air that the rear exhaust for the upgraded 800HT HSF hardly puts out any air at all. I guess the next step is to go back to the stock cooler and see what temps I get with it.

Brian Taylor