My new build. A second Opinion?

[Arkaonco]

Well, Im getting ready to build a mini system and was wondering if you guys could double check this build and see if you see any potential problems.

I check'd the video card and it looks like it should fit, though I doubt I could get two in, even though it advertises Crossfire and 2x PCI E x16.



Case: Shuttle SX4482P

Core: Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 Wolfdale 3.33GHz

Ram: 4GB (2x 2GB) Patriot Extreme

HDD: 1TB WD

Graphics Card: Radeon HD 4850

Drive Bay: DvD/Blue Ray

Well, Let me know.

Im not going for high end gaming, I just really want something that has gaming as an option. Im still a little new to the hardware field, but I kinda know my way around. Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Thanx guys.

-Ark

 

[BG-0]

If you're not especially a WD fan, consider this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152102
Also, I think that the 1 GB vid mem version is totally not worth it, get this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770 or This: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121253
Can't really say anything about the Shuttle, seems awful to me... But. Get it if you want... Your headache. I'd rather use a mid-tower case, even for a HTPC or so, and get the MB on its own. But it's just me.
About the vid. card, people have fitted two 4850s in that, but they had to modify the main power connector...
CPU: consider this instead, for that price. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115043 Or just stick to E8500 or Q6600 to save a little...

 

[Arkaonco]

Well, I've never built a Mini before and I was looking for the ultra portability and I hate laptops.

Any other suggestions for smaller compact units?

 

[sup2a]

wow.... that's an....interesting...thing.... there is no way in hell i would ever build using that case... just building in a normal mid case can be hard enough at times... that's going to get awfully hot, its gonna need a lot of cooling, still, it looks like a decent system performance wise, CPUs are a tough one, of course limited to Intel right now, but you could go as far down as E8200 and not notice too much of a difference, my newest build had a E8400 and it runs really well and it saves $20-30 for an extra 0.16Ghz... then for the little extra money... It goes up and up, just for the extra couple of dollars, however i would say a E8600 is overkill. I would say the Q6600 would be a good choice for this build. The RAM... I cant remember if it was Patriot that had a few problems, either way i would suggest Corsair over anything, best quality by far.

how much experience have you had building computers? i would say that would be a tough one, i know i certainly wouldn't want to be using a case/mobo like that

 

[BG-0]

Hmm. http://www.mmartins.com/mmartins/pccasehandle/handlemod.asp
Put these on an ordinary mid tower case. Or... I think there are many ways to assemble a portable ATX-mobo-based computer. I heard that a friend of mine was about to order some briefcase-like thing with room for the mobo and other components and a LCD screen and kb and mouse... Never did, and they got out of stock. Of course, the heat issue might be as bad as with that shuttle...

 

[Arkaonco]

Yeah, but that still doesnt solve the problem of having to lug around a tower.

Well, maybe you could give me a better Idea.

Im wanting this thing mostly for Media. I have over 3TB of Movies (Im deployed and in the military So i have to keep it all on HDD's as I move around) and usually just watch movies on my laptop. However, Soon im going home and want to setup a little Media computer. Something I can hook to a TV or Projector and use as a Monitor to watch my movies or play PC games.

Before you start saying, "Windows Media blah blah" most of my movies are .AVI's that dont tend to like windows media player. If you get my drift.

So, im stuck using something FDD show or VLC player as the primary viewing source. Ipso Facto, a pre build media machine wont really help me.

At some point I would like to start getting a Blur ray DvD collection going, and will want HD viewing as an option (Hence the need for a video Card that could handle it), also why I put the blue-ray player in the case.

*whew that was a lot*

Hopefully that will give you some more insight and you might be able to suggest something.

In a perfect world, I would just get a Mozart TX and go with the big guns, but as I don't know what my Life situation will be. I still need something semi Portable.

I would prefer to keep whatever I get/make in the under a $1000 range. However, I understand that Im also wanting to do alot.

-Ark

 

[BG-0]

Well. One of the Shuttle reviews says this: Setup:
Q9450 modestly overclocked to 3.2Ghz at 1.2v -- haven't tried anything higher yet, 2 ATI 4850 Radeons, 4GB DDR2 memory, 2x1TB Seagate HD in RAID, LG Blu-ray BD-RE HD DVD
I really don't know how long this setup stayed alive because of the just enough power and the extreme heat, but I'd reckon that with one gfx card you'd be fine.. Still, that seems like a shady setup...

Another option, not necessarily any better in any way, but I just searched the parts for fun...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133044 + a new 60 mm fan
MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128053 or some else equivalent
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006 (more power than any device usable in that box can use) or if you want modular, as would be maybe better in a small case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001
295 - 20 rebates with the bigger PSU, 285 - 25 rebates with less powerful modular. +max 10 $ for the extra fan.

I will check CPU and RAM compatibility as soon as the gigabyte site comes alive. -.-*

Okay, at least this mem kit is compatible with the mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145194
Most CPUs need BIOS version 8j, Q6600 needs version 3. Anyways, it's a long list: http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_Model.aspx?ProductID=2534

 

[sup2a]

Well. One of the Shuttle reviews says this: Setup:
Q9450 modestly overclocked to 3.2Ghz at 1.2v -- haven't tried anything higher yet, 2 ATI 4850 Radeons, 4GB DDR2 memory, 2x1TB Seagate HD in RAID, LG Blu-ray BD-RE HD DVD
I really don't know how long this setup stayed alive because of the just enough power and the extreme heat, but I'd reckon that with one gfx card you'd be fine.. Still, that seems like a shady setup...

I did some research on the maximum power consumption and determined that crossfire consumes a maximum 375 watts under load. ATI's specification calls for a 450watt power supply, so this is close to the breaking point.

from THE SAME reviewer.
I dont see how its possible that PSU is just too small if you think about ti at full load that thing would need serious power, (the 375W of the cards themselves AND the power of the quad core could certainly be enough to push it over the edge, even without all the extra stuff. and not to mention the heat, a normal case would be having problems with the heat if not well ventilated, i think hes just talking rubbish.

when your looking at HDs if cash isnt a problem 1Tb aren't that bad an idea, however you can get 750Gb HDs at almost half the price, and end up with 1.5Tb for almost the same price.

 

[BG-0]

You have any opinions of the LANBOX? I wouldn't use anything smaller than a ATX mid tower in any build, because of the heat issues and stuff(e.g. space), but that seems to have quite decent cooling, 3x60mm fans and one bigger...

 

[Arkaonco]

LAN Box??

 

[sup2a]

yea, quite portable, almost like a cube, i know a friend with a lanbox, running 4Gb Q6600 quite cool look it up, it would be better than the other one i would say

 

[Arkaonco]

Ahh Sorry. Just realised what you meant. (Had a Duuurrrr moment)

Actually, I really like the LanBox Idea you suggested. I also really like the MoBo as that will give me something with 8 channel sound so i dont have to drop money on a new sound card right away.

Hmm..how is the heat in that lanbox though? You said new 60mm fan, is the other one just not good enough?

 

[sup2a]

well it doesn't seem that bad from what ive seen, had no heat problems running a Q6600 with stock cooler, however i haven't run anything really stressful on it, but for daily use it runs cool

 

[BG-0]

The new 60mm is just to fill a slot for it. Just to maximize cooling. And it's just 10 $ max. so it's totally worth it. Gotta check if there really is a slot for it... -.-* Could've read something wrong.

Yees: "Ventilation hole designed to hold an optional 60mm exhaust fan."