Mini-ITX

[gntlkilr]

Ok, here's a question for everyone who's ever built a mini itx system.

Scenario:
I need to replace my wife's computer. And I want something thats small, somewhat powerful (preferably Core2duo since getting one is fairly cheap). My wife just does the usual, firefox with an absolute crapton of tabs (seriously, like 25-30 in a window), 2-4Gb of DDR2, and a somewhat decent graphics for watching movies. I don't NEED a PCIx16, but it'd be nice.

SO here's the actual question. Where is a good place to get a good looking case with no modding, simple and elegant, like this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108097). Plus I need a mini itx board/PS, etc for a decent price. I was looking at iDOTpc (http://www.idotpc.com/thestore/pc/home.asp), but an, their boards are slightly expensive even before you add in AC and DC adapters. ISH. That and their cases are really......meh. And Newegg really doesn't have anything decent. I've never been a fan of Jetway, too many boards from them have died on me.

So where do you people get your wonderful toys?


PS. If my wife likes it, I'm allowed to build myself one too. Which of course, gets modded. I'm thinking of making it look like K9 from the original Doctor Who. Heh.

[Luke122]

You could try www.memoryexpress.com I've dealt there almost exclusively for the last few years, and have never had any complaints with them.

[crenn]

http://www.mini-box.com/site/index.html

[d_stilgar]

Dell Studio Hybrid (http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/desktop-studio-hybrid?c=us&cs=19&l=en&ref=dthp&s=dhs)

The studio hybrid is small, Core 2 Duo. Some people hate on Dell, but I've never had any problems with the. Yes, their cases tend to be low quality, but their monitors are really really great and My experience with their customer support has been good. The studio hybrid is beautiful, really; the best looking case for a computer that small.

However . . .you could always mod an ugly turd.

[Bopher]

www.directron.com (http://www.directron.com) My brother uses them for a few things and like them. Me usually its newegg or tigerdirect for me.

[ContraptionMaker]

Here's a couple for you to consider...

From Directron.com
Chenbro PC40523 MicroATX Desktop Computer Case, Front USB2.0 FPIO, w/ 350w Power Supply


http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/directron_2024_335705820

(http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/directron_2024_96788072)


Part Number: CS-PC40523


Regular price:$32.99http://us.st1.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com/Img/trans_1x1.gif


On Sale: http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/directron_2024_508014

http://www.directron.com/pc40523.html

From Mini-itx.com:
DIY Mini-ITX PVR Bundle - Fanless 800MHz Board, 512MB RAM, 120W PSU Kit, PVR Card and Dual Riser, PCI Wi-Fi Card, 60GB 2.5in SATA Drive and Cables


http://www.mini-itx.com/store/images/3701-01.jpg
(http://www.mini-itx.com/store/basket.asp?action=add&product=3704&qty=1&c=38)
• VIA EPIA SP 8000 Motherboard
• 512MB Kingston DDR400 RAM
• 120W Power Supply Kit
• 60GB SATA 2.5in HDD
• WinTV PVR-150 PCI Card
• Dual PCI Riser Card
• SATA Data and Power Cables
• UK Power Cord
• NEW: PCI Wi-Fi Card

$196.20
http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=38

You can also get this without the wi-fi card for $178.50

Not sure it this is what you are looking for but I think it would be a pretty good system for her.

Mini-itx also has this system if you want something a little more powerful...

Intel Atom Board, Case, RAM & HDD Mini-ITX Starter Bundle

1.6GHz Intel Atom Mini-ITX Board, Noah Case, 1GB RAM & 320GB HDD Starter Bundle


http://www.mini-itx.com/store/images/intel-bundle.jpg

(http://www.mini-itx.com/store/basket.asp?action=add&product=599&qty=1&c=44)


Drive upgraded to 320GB!
Our Intel Mini-ITX Case, RAM & HDD Bundle consists of all you need to build a full Mini-ITX machine:

- Intel <STRIKE>D201GLY2A</STRIKE> D945GCLF Atom Motherboard with a <STRIKE>1.2GHz Celeron</STRIKE> Atom 230 1.6GHz CPU
- Noah 3988 Mini-ITX Case measuring just 97 x 273 x 202mm
- <STRIKE>512MB</STRIKE> 1GB of DDR2 667 RAM
- Seagate Barracuda <STRIKE>80GB</STRIKE> <STRIKE>160GB</STRIKE> <STRIKE>250GB</STRIKE> 320GB 7200.10 3.5in SATA HDD 8MB Cache
- All required cables and adapters.
$268.20
http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=44

Hope this helps!

[Mach]

As you're in Germany, I'd second mini-itx.com. For US orders, I use logic-supply.com

[XcOM]

mini itx support is great, and they have some great deals

[d_stilgar]

http://www.mini-itx.com/store/images/intel-bundle.jpg

I have the case in that picture. It's pretty solid and (Eventually) I am going to mod it. It's bigger than I expected, but they all are. I am used to Mini-itx boards being stuck in Nintendos though.

[gntlkilr]

I think I'm gonna use directron since the AF is moving me to TX next week. Real fun.

but I've had nothing but good experiences with them before, I just never used them for anything but cases and hard to find items (Like IDE removeable bays, those are hard to find).

Thanks for the inputs everyone, I'm scoping stuff now.

[d_stilgar]

A couple good motherboards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500012
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121359

The intel Atom is a great processor. It's not going to do games or HD multimedia, but it is a great bang for the buck.

[.Maleficus.]

Dell Studio Hybrid +1. It's not as fun as building but it's a very cool machine and meets all your requirements.

[gntlkilr]

@ d_stilgar & .Maleficus
I can't own a dell anymore. I had a couple bad experiences with owning a laptop or two from them. Thus the reason I switched to Asus laptops. I'm probably the 1 person out there with the bad luck enough to have a bad experience with them. Go figure. But you are right, the hybrid is a neat little rig.

@d_stilgar again
I don't need to play Chrysis on it, but HD multimedia is a must, I want something along the lines of this (http://www.logicsupply.com/products/ms_9803). A Mini-ITX with SATA, 1 PCI (for wireless, I'm picky about the brands I use), and able to use a Core2Duo.

EDIT: I ordered that ms-9803 board, 2 Gb of OCZ DDR2 800 RAM, a T7800 (2.2Ghz 800 FSB), and a slot loading DVD burner. Got it all from logicsupply.com (http://www.logicsupply.com). I also got a case from a local dealer here in Germany, a Silverstone LaScala 12-B (http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/directron_2022_1094480568). So all I need now is a power supply, and I already have the HDD. So yeah, my wife's PC is ordered. But I'm in a middle of a move, so I had it delivered to my Mom-in-law's place. I'll see her on Thanksgiving or Xmas, so I should get it then. But yeah, its pretty much done. WOOHOO!!!

[Bopher]

But I'm in a middle of a move, so I had it delivered to my Mom-in-law's place. I'll see her on Thanksgiving or Xmas, so I should get it then. But yeah, its pretty much done. WOOHOO!!!

Ahh, military moves. Sometimes I miss all the confusion. :D Good luck with it.

[gntlkilr]

Ahh, military moves. Sometimes I miss all the confusion. :D Good luck with it.

Yeah, it was fun fun fun................

But Im in TX now. Bought a house since the rental situation here straight up SUCKS in this town. But hey, it means I get a man cave. I get a whole half of the garage just for me. And I've already drew out the plans (in the process of CAD'ing it now <--yes, that is now a word) for walls, a ventilated linux farm cabinet of sorts, shelving and a workbench or two. Heh.

Pics to come soon.

[gramatton]

Welcome to the dirty south my friend. Stuff here pretty much sucks. What part are you in?

[Eclecticos]

You should take a look at the new Shuttle XPC's (http://us.shuttle.com/barebone/BareboneHome.html)

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/9158/1212454141xpcyu3.jpg


Shuttle Inc., market leader in the mini-PC segment and manufacturer of Multi-Form-Factor solutions, announces the availability of the Shuttle Barebone D10 which was presented at IFA. As the first mini-PC of its kind, the D10 comes with a 7" touchscreen display integrated into its front panel.

As a multimedia control centre for home automation, home servers or in the field of video surveillance, the Shuttle Barebone D10 opens up a wide range of possible applications. The innovative factor for a Shuttle mini-PC is its stand-alone operation without requiring an additional monitor or input device. Thanks to the integrated screen, it plays back MP3 files or a radio stream without having to switch on a large, power-consuming flat-screen television. The touch-sensitive screen in this cuboid measuring just 30.5 x 20 x 18.5 cm (DWH) is a real eye-catcher and acts as a control panel.

On the basis of the Intel G31 Express chipset, fast Core 2 Duo processors and up to 4 GB of DDR2 memory can be used. The two SATA interfaces allow for connecting large hard disks. Modern TV or video capture cards fit into the PCI-Express x1 slot. The package is rounded off by Gigabit LAN network, six-channel audio and four USB connectors. A heatpipe cooling system keeps the device and its components cool while the necessary power is provided reliably by an effective 100-Watt power supply.

[gntlkilr]

Welcome to the dirty south my friend. Stuff here pretty much sucks. What part are you in?

@gramatton: San Angelo. Its a quiet little town from what I've seen. About 95K people. Mostly a farm town thats being developed. Imagine Abilene, but with more trailer parks. LOL

@Eclecticos: I was looking at shuttle, but honestly, for what you get, it costs too much. Don't get me wrong, good parts, great workmanship, but just too much. My wife plays at the MOST, Sims 2. Mostly, she runs 15-20 tabs in firefox and thats the most taxing thing she does. Thats way too much machine for her. But thanks tho!

[nevermind1534]

Newegg has many barebones atom PCs now, from various manufacturers.

[gntlkilr]

Newegg has many barebones atom PCs now, from various manufacturers.

Yeah, I saw that, but the Atom chipsets don't really support what I want. I spent a bit, around $800 US, and I got my wife a really decent rig that does exactly what she wants, and it gave me a reason to steal her parts for my linux cluster. :D

[gramatton]

Ah, you're pretty much in the heart of Texas man. Weather has been getting real rediculous here, 70 one day, 30 the next.