Suggestion for SSF Build

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RadicalRevolution

n00b
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Mar 8, 2010
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Hi guys, I am very interested in building a SFF before going back to Asia for good.

So my main concern will be portability, going through airport check, and will easily fit the above hand carry compartment since I will be hand carrying it throughout the trip.

I will be reusing some parts from my current setup:

Intel Core X6800 w/Zalman 9500 (I wonder if the Zalman would fit the SFF :confused:)
4GB G.Skill DDR2
EVGA 8800GT
Asus Xonar STX
500GB Wester Digital HD

Now to the questions:

1. What case would be suitable for all these parts? With size and portability in mind

2. What would be a suitable PSU and Motherboard? Would like to keep both $200 or less :D

3. I was thinking of getting the Sugo Pack as a carrying bag, is there any cheaper carrying bag than the Sugo. ;) Since I will only be using the bag for this trip


Cheers,
Eric
 
how much traveling do you plan to do with it.. Honestly more then once a year & I Would say get a laptop. This is coming from someone who used to work for the TSA (airport security). At once a year take your pic of pretty much any micro or miniITX case that will support your full height video card.
 
1 and 2) If max portability is the goal here, I'd recommend the following setup:
$90 - ZOTAC G43ITX-A-E LGA 775 Intel G43 HDMI Mini ITX Intel Motherboard
$100 - Silverstone SG05B mITX Case with FSP SFX 300W PSU
---
Total: $190 plus tax and shipping.

You will have to use the stock HSF or get this HSF:
$50 - Silverstone NT06-E HSF

Also, you will have to ditch the sound card. But it's a pretty small case and will definitely fit the above hand carry compartment

3) Not sure.
 
bastage said:
how much traveling do you plan to do with it.. Honestly more then once a year & I Would say get a laptop. This is coming from someone who used to work for the TSA (airport security). At once a year take your pic of pretty much any micro or miniITX case that will support your full height video card.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, but probably not more than once a year. The main goal is to bring my setup back to Asia. But I want it to be hand carry instead of checking them in. I don't think I can hand carry my current Tower setup. So yea, I am looking to get as much as my setup into a SFF.

Danny Bui said:
1 and 2) If max portability is the goal here, I'd recommend the following setup:
$90 - ZOTAC G43ITX-A-E LGA 775 Intel G43 HDMI Mini ITX Intel Motherboard
$100 - Silverstone SG05B mITX Case with FSP SFX 300W PSU
---
Total: $190 plus tax and shipping.

You will have to use the stock HSF or get this HSF:
$50 - Silverstone NT06-E HSF

Also, you will have to ditch the sound card. But it's a pretty small case and will definitely fit the above hand carry compartment

3) Not sure.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help.

Ditch the sound card? Is there any way that I can utilize the sound card? Since my primary use will be for gaming, I really want a great sound system.
 
RadicalRevolution said:
Ditch the sound card? Is there any way that I can utilize the sound card? Since my primary use will be for gaming, I really want a great sound system.
Click to expand...

AFAIK, there are no mini-ITX mobos with a PCI-E x16 slot AND a PCI-E x1/PCI slot. So you would have to go with a larger mobo and case. The second smallest gaming capable case I know of is the "Da Box":
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1455817

But it'll cost about $180 alone for the cheapest version.

If you're willing to go with a larger mATX case, then please tell us what features you're looking for in a mobo. Ie. RAID, number of RAM slots, etc,
 
Last edited:
Danny Bui said:
AFAIK, there are no mini-ITX mobos with a PCI-E x16 slot AND a PCI-E x1/PCI slot. So you would have to go with a larger mobo and case. The second smallest gaming capable case I know of is the "Da Box":
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1455817

But it'll cost about $180 alone for the cheapest version.

If you're willing to go with a larger mATX case, then please tell us what features you're looking for in a mobo. Ie. RAID, number of RAM slots, etc,
Click to expand...

Wow, that is expensive.

Yeah I think I can probably do a mATX case instead of the miniITX. Would the sugo 1 or sugo 2 fit all my parts?

My only requirement is just fitting my parts that is listed in the first post and fitting inside the Sugo Pack carrying bag.
 
Make sure you factor in cooling. Can't stress that enough. I built one and it sucked because it got too hot. bleh. I ran it with the case half open when I gamed.
 
How about those:


SG02- $70.00

CM 500w ATX PSU - $40.00

find nice mITX AM3 Mobo is here:

319_20100211_7251.jpg

from sapphiretech.com: an AMD-based m-ITX board with a PCI-E x16 slot.

mITX Motherboard will fit into SG02.. ;)
 
^ hey guys, thanks for the advice.

Well, I am not looking to switch over to AMD since I will be reusing my Intel X6800.

The thing about mITX boards is that I couldn't fit any sound card in.

I think the cooling for the CPU should be enough?

Even my current setup, I only have Zalman 9500 and never once have any heating issue. But what are you recommendations?

I really need someone to make a list for me on what I should ADD on top of what I already have.

The main things I will be reusing will be the Intel X6800 CPU, G.Skill Ram, 8800GT, and Xonar STX sound card.

I am trying to fit all that into the Sugo-2.

What mATX board should fit all those, and what PSU should be enough to power them up?

Thanks guys!! :)
 
RadicalRevolution said:
The main things I will be reusing will be the Intel X6800 CPU, G.Skill Ram, 8800GT, and Xonar STX sound card.

I am trying to fit all that into the Sugo-2.

What mATX board should fit all those, and what PSU should be enough to power them up?
Click to expand...

How about an Intel DG45ID board?

For the power supply, you'll want something modular for such a small case. An advantage to the SilverStone Strider series is that you can add SilverStone's short cable kit. The ST60F should give you plenty of juice.
 
GMERGOD said:
CM 500w ATX PSU - $40.00
Click to expand...

That's very very very very low quality PSU. Would not recommend that for any kind of system, especially for the price.

@ RadicalRevolution
1) Looks like you're going for the SG02. Not a bad case.
2) PSU wise, I would recommend this PSU:
$120 - Corsair 650HX 650W Modular PSU

While yes the ST60F is a good quality PSU and the short cable it is an advantage for SFF cases, the Corsair 650HX is of far better quality than the ST60F. The higher quality + the higher amperage on the +12V rail (52A for the 650HX VS 48A on the ST60F) is worth going for.

That leaves you about $80 for the mobo if that $200 budget is a strict. With that said, I highly recommend going for the Intel mobo that funklizard linked to.

HSF wise, the Zalman 9500 will not fit into any SFF case. You can either use the stock HSF or these two HSF that are compatible with the SG02:
$35 - ZALMAN CNPS 8000 92mm HSF
$51 - Silverstone NT06-E HSF
 
RadicalRevolution said:
Thanks for the advice, but probably not more than once a year. The main goal is to bring my setup back to Asia. But I want it to be hand carry instead of checking them in. I don't think I can hand carry my current Tower setup. So yea, I am looking to get as much as my setup into a SFF.



Thanks for the help.

Ditch the sound card? Is there any way that I can utilize the sound card? Since my primary use will be for gaming, I really want a great sound system.
Click to expand...

You could use the DFI MI P55-T36 board if you can afford to change the CPU, has a Realtek ALC888 codec wth Creative X-FI, sounds good to me
 
P5E-VM HDMI
If you can find one, that is. If you lived in Sweden or around, I could sell you mine, but it looks like you are in the US of A...
 
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