Modern mATX Recommendations
Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:54 pm
Hey,
I'm looking to build a new system since my Athlon 3800+ is showing it's age.
My goal is to have a small footprint desktop, yet still have the power to play blu-rays/HD content and I'm value conscious. I'm thinking of getting a quad core Athlon II X4.
With that in mind, I think the only components I'd like to narrow down are:
1. Mobo (mATX recommendations?) The last SPCR article was for the AMD785G chipset and only the MSI board was mATX. I was disappointed to read that it offered poor fan control (no support in speedfan). Has this changed?
2. Case. I've never bought a mATX case before so I'm not sure what's a good recommendation. According to SPCR recomendations, the Antec NSK2400 is a good mATX case, but it seems geared towards HTPC functionality. Is there something better that's more desktop pc suited?
3. CPU cooler. I think this would depend on the mobo&case selection.
I also considered just getting a Apple MAC mini, but I'm not sure if it would be quiet enough. I know there's a little fan in there somewhere. It's hard to tell if it's quiet enough at an apple store though. I'd prefer that the only noise I hear would be the idle sound of a 5400rpm HD.
If anyone can provide some recommendations it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
- Edirol
I'm looking to build a new system since my Athlon 3800+ is showing it's age.
My goal is to have a small footprint desktop, yet still have the power to play blu-rays/HD content and I'm value conscious. I'm thinking of getting a quad core Athlon II X4.
With that in mind, I think the only components I'd like to narrow down are:
1. Mobo (mATX recommendations?) The last SPCR article was for the AMD785G chipset and only the MSI board was mATX. I was disappointed to read that it offered poor fan control (no support in speedfan). Has this changed?
2. Case. I've never bought a mATX case before so I'm not sure what's a good recommendation. According to SPCR recomendations, the Antec NSK2400 is a good mATX case, but it seems geared towards HTPC functionality. Is there something better that's more desktop pc suited?
3. CPU cooler. I think this would depend on the mobo&case selection.
I also considered just getting a Apple MAC mini, but I'm not sure if it would be quiet enough. I know there's a little fan in there somewhere. It's hard to tell if it's quiet enough at an apple store though. I'd prefer that the only noise I hear would be the idle sound of a 5400rpm HD.
If anyone can provide some recommendations it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
- Edirol