Strict $600 limit; SFF or Micro ATX?

[Twinkie]

Hey, gang.

My brother is getting ready to go off to college so I figure I'd give him a hand building his SFF or Micro ATX system.

He has a budget of $600. From his current PC, he will be salvaging his video card and possibly some memory.

EDIT: And CD R/W drive

So far, I am looking at A64 systems and AXP-M systems, in either the SFF or Micro ATX variety. I'd like to get him something a little bit more upgrade-friendly, so I am leaning towards the A64 route.

For the A64, I was thinking:

A64 2800+
--HSF suggestion? Must fit into a SFF or Micro ATX.
512 Crucial Memory
--suggest a SFF barebones unit or Micro ATX barebone (or simply mobo)
Some hard drive


For the AXP-M system, I was looking at:
--suggest a SFF
XP-M, 2600+, hopefully bump the FSB to 400 MHz
512 Crucial Memory
Some hard drive


Suggestions? Would Micro ATX be his best bet, in your opinion?

 

[thuper]

I would definitely go with thi A64 choice.

I guess the choice of mATX vs SFF will depend on features on price, so you have to pick specific models.

Most SFF cases come with a HSF solution, and you don't have to pick a separate mobo and case, I think it's what I would go with.

 

[dudewth]

You can get him an Antec Aria (mATX), which is not much bigger than a shuttle. It is also cheaper depending on what motherboard you get.