Mini ITX / SFF replacing for my ageing gaming PC

[s_kinton]

right think I decided on this now, with the monster cooler option

GeForce 9300-ITX WiFi - Zotac FG9300-G-E - £115 ish (no availability yet)

Definately ensure you get the new revision. The old versions do not support wake on USB!! Meaning when you put the PC to sleep you have to physically hit the power button - very annoying if you're using it as a media PC with a remote.

I've just built an ITX system, but based around AMDx2 with the Zotac 8200-ITX WIFI in an Akasa Enigma case and external laptop style PSU.

[McPhee]

I've been running an mITX gaming rig since the SG05 was released (May-ish). If you've got any questions feel free to ask

Your main concern will be power. For example, your original spec with the 4870 + a Quad is pushing what the PSU is capable of. Also, on the SATA thing - you can buy an eSATA to SATA connector and use that to give you an extra SATA port. This is what I'll be doing when I get my SSD next month Oh, and get one of those Zalman Fanmate things to control the front fan, last I tried BIOS fan control wasn't very good.

Also, are you planning on using a 3.5" hard drive in this machine? I had heat trouble over the summer with one, lack of airflow I think. No problems with 2.5" drives though, can fit at least three in there (one in the slot, one strapped underneath and one on the case floor).

[tinners]

Ta. Hadn't really thought about the psu. I am planning the 2.5 velociraptor and a 3.5 750gb spinpoint. Might think about replacing that with a 2.5 500gb then.

[arthurleung]

I've been running an mITX gaming rig since the SG05 was released (May-ish). If you've got any questions feel free to ask

Your main concern will be power. For example, your original spec with the 4870 + a Quad is pushing what the PSU is capable of. Also, on the SATA thing - you can buy an eSATA to SATA connector and use that to give you an extra SATA port. This is what I'll be doing when I get my SSD next month Oh, and get one of those Zalman Fanmate things to control the front fan, last I tried BIOS fan control wasn't very good.

Also, are you planning on using a 3.5" hard drive in this machine? I had heat trouble over the summer with one, lack of airflow I think. No problems with 2.5" drives though, can fit at least three in there (one in the slot, one strapped underneath and one on the case floor).

If you get a SP35P2 or something similar around the £250 mark you can fit both your quad an a HD4870 in there. Power usage is well under half the rated output with an overclocked quad and a HD4770, there won't be much difference with a HD4870.

[tinners]

If you get a SP35P2 or something similar around the £250 mark you can fit both your quad an a HD4870 in there. Power usage is well under half the rated output with an overclocked quad and a HD4770, there won't be much difference with a HD4870.

The SP35P2 is about two years old now though, isnt it ? DOes look quite tempting given it is £150 at ebuyer.

I am also a bit concerned wit the the inability to upgrade a Shuttle.

[tinners]

OK so I have decided on this setup:

1 x Window 7 Professional Upgrade
1 x Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2
1 x Shuttle XPC Prima Series SP35P2
1 x XFX HD 5770 1GB DDR5 DUAL DVI
1 x 300Gb Velociraptor (from the "Current Bargains" section of the forum)
+ current Q6600, 4Gb RAM, 750Gb storage drive and Pioneer BDRom drive

Thanks to everyone for their help on this. Hope it arrives in time to be setup for a CODMW2 session next week.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

OK so I have decided on this setup:

1 x Window 7 Professional Upgrade
1 x Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2
1 x Shuttle XPC Prima Series SP35P2
1 x XFX HD 5770 1GB DDR5 DUAL DVI
1 x 300Gb Velociraptor (from the "Current Bargains" section of the forum)
+ current Q6600, 4Gb RAM, 750Gb storage drive and Pioneer BDRom drive

Thanks to everyone for their help on this. Hope it arrives in time to be setup for a CODMW2 session next week.

I would also look at the Sudhian forums as they are the largest Shuttle and SFF forum AFAIK:

http://www.sudhian.com/index.php?/forums/viewforum/4/

I have the earlier SD37P2 and for £150 the SP35P2 is a bargain IMHO!!

There is also a dedicated case for the P2 series Shuttles too:

http://www.ambros.co.uk/product/1230...arry-case.html

[tinners]

Just a post to say thanks and that this is now all up and running. Been hammering MW2 for the last few days on it (it's amazing how great everything runs on a fresh install of XP with nothing but Steam installed on it !)

Shame about the lack of driver support for the 5770 (no drivers work except for the ones on the bundled CD ????)

poor job amd/ati , you release the 5770 and not support in these drivers for it . one very unhappy customer here , the drivers that came with it are rubbish when crossfired !!!!

Anyway that said I get 60FPS @ 1920x1200 and very cool running compared to 8800GTS. Shuttle is a bit noisy but still quieter than my last setup.

Am very happy with the upgrade, and installing the Shuttle only took about 20 minutes.

[vicar]

The SP35P2 is a good buy, did you have to change the case fans or are you happy with the slight clicking noise?

Glad you are happy with the upgrade.

[tinners]

Am very happy with the cost, which was not much more than the Zotac motherboard I was looking at.

Would like to change the fans just looked a bit of a PITA to do. Already managed to cut myself on the CPU heatsink whilst fiddling around with the card reader floppy thing.

One bit of advice to anyone else buying one is to update the BIOS straight away. With the out of the box BIOS it wouldnt boot with any of my RAM. Had to get some rubbish old ram to make it boot (but needed to be in the right slot). With the latest BIOS all works great.