Ideas for a SFF PC

No_Style

After a fiasco with my HP ZE4560US laptop (It died, may it rest in pieces.) I've decided to build a SFF PC as a replacement. With the laptop, I was basically letting my sister use it as a desktop replacement. Anyways, long story short, I don't want another laptop and I decided an SFF would be neat.

I want some objectives cleared up for this SFF PC.

- It must handle light gaming.
- Must handle heat and sound levels well.
- Expandability, this PC may end up as a Media PC one day.
- Must be AMD based.
- Try to keep costs as low as possible.

I was looking at this: Shuttle SN25P

S939 (Meaning it can take on a X2 3800+) and PCI-E.

Other specs for the timing being include:

1 GB RAM
X800GT
A64 3000+

Suggestions? Comments?

Zardon

sounds good, however personally i would go for the 3200+ not the 3000+ due to the cache.

No_Style

Ah yes. I'd probably up it to a 3200+ as well.

No_Style

Any thoughts on the "Shuttle XPC ST20G5 Xpress200 S939 PCIe Barebones CUBE System"?

Some reviews said it was ok, but as always don't expect the IGP to carry you through many games. The stability and compatibility issues worry me though (read HardOCP's conclusion if you want a good technical rant on issues).

If I did get this, I'll be skimping out on the video card. (I'm trying to cut costs here)

pr0digal jenius

Being an intel man, and due to the massive heat differences(big plus in an SFF), I'd look inot the Asus S-Presso chassis, a high clocked northwood, and a beast of an AGP card(6800GT?)

No_Style

Expandability is a big thing on my mind these days. S939 has life in it, although M2 is supposed to take over it (Damn you AMD and your socket frenzy). In any case, the fact that I can't get my hands on a Northwood chip makes an Intel based SFF even more difficult. I saw the S-Presso though, looks ok.

Zardon

I dont think any socket has life in it to be honest, id just go with the best system you can get at the best price. I still think there is plenty of performance life in a high clocked P4, especially for a general use/media based SFF system where HT plays quite a part, as you say you would be skimping on the video card its not going to be a replacement gaming rig I take it? id just shop around get the best deal regardless of platform.

one of my shuttles has a P4 prescott at 4.25ghz, its pretty quick, stable too

No_Style

Well after some shop arounds and thinking.. I've decided on the following:

Shuttle ST20G5 XPC Barebone System - ST20G5 @ PCCyber for $467.50
AMD Athlon64 3000+ S939 Processor @ ShopRBC for $189
2 x Crucial PC3200 @ PCCyber for 2x $69 ($138)
Maxtor 120GB DM10 7200RPM 8MB SATA, 3YR, RoHS @ ShopRBC for $99
NEC 3540A 16X Dual-Layer DVD±RW Drive BLACK, No Software, OEM @ ShopRBC for $60
Panasonic 3.5" Floppy Drive, Black @ ShopRBC for $14

$1112.625 (Tax Included)

The biggest thing about this setup is the price. I can throw an X2 in it and any other PCI-E video card when I can. (BTW, I confirmed that the 3000+ has 512KB of L2 cache as well) Overclocking will not be in the equation which is why I chose the more "traditional" setup. This is most definitely not a gaming rig now, but I wish to leave options for it to become one.

I've looked around beyond the reviews of major tech sites down to the forum level and a lot of SN25P buyers aren't too happy, but buyers of the ST20G5 appear to be content.

BTW, What kind of SFF do you have there, Z?

P.S - This way, I won't be stuck with a X800GT when some killer AIW deal comes along. The ST20G5 also has a PCI slot, unlike the SN25P which has a 1x PCI-E slot which I cannot use for at least another year or more. Again, expandability options are plenty from my point of view.

pr0digal jenius

unless you're running RAID, or that's a promise SATA controller, i'd can the floppy...there really is barely room for a hard drive and a a CD burner and still have room to plug in cables, much less a floppy....plus floppy mounts fit HDDs, for later expansion once you fill it with moves

Zardon

I reviewed an alienware SFF a while ago which is a p4 based system. based around a modded SB77G5 http://eu.shuttle.com/en/desktopdefa...70_read-10059/

Ive a 3.8ghz prescott in it at 4.25ghz, 2 gig of OCZ DDR4200. 160 gig barracuda. 6800 GT OC. those PSUs are amazing for the output.

daedal

Check out OEM Express too. They've got some really cheap parts. They're located around the Grayhound Bus station.. like a block away or so. Can't remember the road's name.

fobis

No_Style, I'd go with the ST20G5 if your choices are that or the SN25P. The SN25P has been plagued with problems left and right such as frequent bad BIOS flashes. Also, you may want to look at the Biostar iDeq 330P.