Looking for advice on buying a SFF PC

TomMM · Post by **TomMM** » Wed May 19, 2004 9:17 pm

I'd like to buy a SFF PC in Canada that is reasonably quiet, small, light, and cool (as in temperature).

I heard that the AMD XP-M 2500+ CPU is cool (35W), not too expensive, and it fits in regular MB's. That sounds great, but the SFF systems that I've heard of seem to be for Intel CPU's. For example, here are 2 that sound good but are for Intel:

AOpen XC Cube
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article140-page1.html
Shuttle Zen XPC
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article139-page1.html
Hetis 865GV
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_sp ... &class=npc

Some other things that would be nice, but aren't necessary:
- minimal graphics power (I'm not playing any games)
- holds up to 2 SATA HD's
- DVI for video out
- available in Toronto
- CardBus slot?
- no software (I'll install Linux myself)

I guess I could build a system myself, but I prefer not to. If I do, here's a small case that sounds good:
Antec Aria SFF case
http://silentpcreview.com/article146-page1.html

Also, I'd rather not get into under or over clocking. And I'm willing to pay for reliability, but I don't want to spend a ton (ie. the Hush is too $).

If I do end up buying an Intel machine, which CPU should I buy? Here's what I know so far:
- prescott cpu's are too hot.
- celeron 1.7 & 1.8 are hot (relative to their speed).
- P4 1.6A, 1.8A, and 2.0A are very good, but it's hard to get the right ones.

One last point. What's the best place to buy stuff like this in Toronto? The only place I know of is EPROM (http://www.eprom.ca).

RaNDoMMAI · Post by **RaNDoMMAI** » Thu May 20, 2004 1:20 pm

Here is the one i was thinking of getting

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 428&depa=0

It has on-board video and I think it is perfectly suitable for non-gamers

Here is a thread i had about it
http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=12771

I was talking to people who had this SFF and could not get it quiet, in the end i am undecided if i want to do this project our not. I always tell people when i build them a Pc it will be a good bang for the buck and very quiet. I would hate not to live up to that.

This thread has pics of it and i think it is quiet, waiting for a reply
http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=12799

I think the mobile2400 is better then the 2500 as it is 25 bucks cheaper and OC just as well.

I am not sure what shuttles have SATA and the only MATX mobo i found that had SATA was this one
http://www.tcwo.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st ... P0-K0Qr2YZ

That is if you decide to go with the aria.

all shuttles have their own mobo

hope that helps you start
~RaNDoM

flyingsherpa · Post by **flyingsherpa** » Thu May 20, 2004 2:47 pm

the XC Cube comes in an AMD model as well, the EZ18. in fact, i have one sitting on my floor 5 feet away. unfortunately it was damaged during shipping so i can't run the damn thing

the documentation for it is not so great (and since i can't boot it i can't look at the bios, i can't be sure) but the EZ65 (intel) version goes down to Vcore 1.1V so i assume this one does too, so it should run XP-M's just fine (thats what i am planning on doing with it). it has an AGP slot so you could add DVI if you want. but it does not have SATA (but mine came w/ SATA cables for some reason), unlike the EZ65. it does have dual VGA... just not sure what to do with that.

and, IMHO, the case is beautiful. just wish i could fire it up.

TomMM · Post by **TomMM** » Thu May 20, 2004 7:05 pm

RaNDoMMAI wrote:Here is the one i was thinking of getting

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 428&depa=0
...

If I go for a shuttle I think I'll stick to the Zen. If I buy a non-Zen and then mod it to be quiet, it will end up being too much work and money.

I am not sure what shuttles have SATA and the only MATX mobo i found that had SATA was this one
http://www.tcwo.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st ... P0-K0Qr2YZ

Yes, that MB sounds fine. The chipset it uses (KM-400) is listed by VIA as 'mature', but I don't see anything wrong with it.

Thanks,
Tom

TomMM · Post by **TomMM** » Fri May 21, 2004 7:54 am

flyingsherpa wrote:the XC Cube comes in an AMD model as well, the EZ18

Ah, good to know, thanks.

Here are the spec's for the two XC Cubes:
http://solution.aopen.com.tw/products/XC/EZ65/en/specs/

I see that the chipset is the nForce2-GT.

Tom.