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Spec'd out my first SFF build...thoughts?

F

Fach

n00b
Joined
Sep 16, 2005
Messages
5
Can I get some feedback from you guys? I am looking to keep this as far under $1k as possible as I would like to add a Dell 2005FPW as well. There will be no overclocking at this point but possibly in the future. I am looking forward to enjoying F.E.A.R. and AOE3 in all their glory with this box:

  • ASPIRE X-QPACK-NW-AL/420 Black/Silver Aluminum MicroATX Desktop Computer Case 420W Power Supply - Retail
  • JetWay A210GDMS-Pro Socket 939 ATI RS480 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
  • ATI 100-435513 Radeon X800XL 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
  • AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA3800BVBOX - Retail
  • OCZ Peroformance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model OCZ4002048PFDC-K - Retail
 
I would exchange the dual core for a 3200 and get a better video card unless you're heavy into multi-tasking.
 
that and get a shuttle sn25p. qpack is inferior! get a 7800gt or 850xt b/c FEAR will own anything less and I have no idea what sound u will get from the jetway board. trust me get a 3200 oc it with the sn25p and fear will run tops np.
 
Shuttles are nice unless you want a sound card a video card and something else. Otherwise it is the Shuttle which is the lesser of the two.
 
Fach said:
Can I get some feedback from you guys? I am looking to keep this as far under $1k as possible as I would like to add a Dell 2005FPW as well. There will be no overclocking at this point but possibly in the future. I am looking forward to enjoying F.E.A.R. and AOE3 in all their glory with this box:
Click to expand...
Good system - VERY similar to what I've got, actually. You'll LOVE that dual-core CPU and 2gb of ram...makes perhaps the biggest single difference in day-to-day usage "feel" over previous gen hardware.

And the X-QPACK is a smart buy - can take a full-size ATX power supply, and gives you motherboard upgrade options for the future (for example, when Crossfire or SLI mATX comes out ;) )

Couple comments, though:

- The integrated audio on the Jetway is very good, true. Azalia HD-audio and all. Still, an Audigy 2zs Platinum can be had on eBay for very CHEAP anymore - and the drive bay on that is not only very functional, but damn cool looking in the X-QPACK. :D The acceleration of EAX 1-4 effects in games will also keep performance up (although, on a dual-core CPU, you've got the CPU cycles to spare!)

- Replace the PSU. Seriously, the X-QPACK PSU *sucks* for ANY kind of overclocking or heavy taxing of the system at all. If you really - REALLY - plan on running every last thing in that system *stock*....you are okay. EVERY thing - video card and all. For ANY kind of overclocking, though, you'll need a better PSU. Which is not much of a problem, as full-sized PSUs fit just fine if you've got a "short" DVD drive (Lite-On, etc).
 
dderidex said:
Good system - VERY similar to what I've got, actually. You'll LOVE that dual-core CPU and 2gb of ram...makes perhaps the biggest single difference in day-to-day usage "feel" over previous gen hardware.

And the X-QPACK is a smart buy - can take a full-size ATX power supply, and gives you motherboard upgrade options for the future (for example, when Crossfire or SLI mATX comes out ;) )

Couple comments, though:

- The integrated audio on the Jetway is very good, true. Azalia HD-audio and all. Still, an Audigy 2zs Platinum can be had on eBay for very CHEAP anymore - and the drive bay on that is not only very functional, but damn cool looking in the X-QPACK. :D The acceleration of EAX 1-4 effects in games will also keep performance up (although, on a dual-core CPU, you've got the CPU cycles to spare!)

- Replace the PSU. Seriously, the X-QPACK PSU *sucks* for ANY kind of overclocking or heavy taxing of the system at all. If you really - REALLY - plan on running every last thing in that system *stock*....you are okay. EVERY thing - video card and all. For ANY kind of overclocking, though, you'll need a better PSU. Which is not much of a problem, as full-sized PSUs fit just fine if you've got a "short" DVD drive (Lite-On, etc).
Click to expand...


Thanks for the feedback guys. Will the stock cooling be acceptable with the components I've listed?
 
It would, but I think that if your spending that much money on a system, you should invest in cooling to match it.

The PSU is the base of your system. Get atleast a 450+ watt name brand psu (OCZ, Antec, Fortron, Xclio...)
 
Tagan 480w is super great and you will never hear it.
 
Here are my revised specs:

  • ASPIRE X-QPACK-BK/420 Black Aluminum 1.0 w/ ABS plastic front panel MicroATX Desktop Computer Case ATX 420W power supply Power Supply
  • JetWay A210GDMS-Pro Socket 939 ATI RS480 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
  • ATI 100-435513 Radeon X800XL 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
  • Thermaltake Silent Purepower W0014RU ATX 480W Power Supply
  • AMD Athlon 64 3500+ ClawHammer 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor
  • OCZ Peroformance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model OCZ4002048PFDC-K
  • SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive
  • Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive
  • LITE-ON Black IDE DVD Burner Model SOHW-1693S Black
  • Zalman 7000 HS

Total is ~$1400......a little more than I wanted to spend but oh well....
 
if you want to shave some bucks off, i'd dump the raptor. seriously, hard drive speed wont make much of a noticeable difference.
 
Soymilk said:
if you want to shave some bucks off, i'd dump the raptor. seriously, hard drive speed wont make much of a noticeable difference.
Click to expand...

Can you give me a recommendation on an SATA alternative?
 
venice is the newer revision core, it runs cooler (and more efficient?) than the clawhammer core. and if its only a few bucks diff, newer is better.
 
Skin said:
Id look at somthing like this

Dont get a thermaltake powersupply. Get this if you want somthing stable.
Click to expand...

Ehhh...first recommendation isn't bad. I'd go for a Barracuda 7200.8, myself, over the 7200.7s. Somewhat quieter. Better drive overall, but the 7200.7s are no slouch. Seagate Barracudas are DEFINITELY the drive of choice for SFF builds, though. Quiet, cool, fast.

As to the PSU...I'd recommend sticking to "name brands". Antec, Enermax, etc.

Something to think about in general, though, is that an "ATX 2.0" PSU (with the 24-pin ATX power connector) doesn't really get you anything with the Jetway board, as it follows the standard ATX spec - 20-pin power connector. Since you are getting a video card that doesn't take a 6-pin "PCI-E" power connection, you don't even get anything from "dual +12v rail" power supplies. In fact, you LOSE something, as the second +12v rail is just about useless!

You basically want a PSU with a single +12v rail with 20A or better available on it as the "ideal". Excessive figures cited is usually suspicious unless the price matches (IE., a PSU advertising 30A on the +12v rail and only costing $35 is likely stating false specs and should be avoided).

This PSU I would consider just about the "ideal" for your build.
 
dderidex said:
As to the PSU...I'd recommend sticking to "name brands". Antec, Enermax, etc.
Click to expand...

The people that make XClios' PSUs are the same people that make power supplies for Ocz, Antec, and Fortron.
 
Skin said:
The people that make XClios' PSUs are the same people that make power supplies for Ocz, Antec, and Fortron.
Click to expand...
*shrugs*

The PSU you recommended still has two +12v rails - 15A on one and 17A on the other.

Given that his *entire system* will be running on the 15A rail and not one component will be running on the 17A rail (okay, okay, so the DVD drive and floppy drive will be), I'd say that PSU is a dud for him. Half of what he is paying for (the loop for the +12v rail is a fairly huge chunk of the PSU, and definitely so for PSUs with 2 x +12v loops) he won't even be ABLE to use, so it's rather a waste.
 
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