SFF Gaming System

I've had a look around a few various threads at the SFF options - MicroATX, MiniITX, Shuttles, and various HTPC cases.

What I'm after is a slimline tower style case than is going to be able to power a 5850 (or maybe a HD4770?) and Phenom II X2 720. Money isn't much of an issue, my budget is upto £1000, but ideally about £600-700.

I'm open to all suggests but worktop area is restricted, hence the preferance of a tower.

Looking for high-efficiency, mid/high end components with low power consumption. Can I have some suggests for possible builds to consider? I really like the look of the Asus P2-M3A3200 but realise this is too small for the kind of power I'm after. It can house the processor, but is limited to slimline graphics cards like the 3450 :(

All suggestions welcome!

You may possibly be best waiting for the 32nm i3/i5 chips which are effectively 'quad-cores' and will come in a relatively low power bracket and you know what kind of power the Core iX series put out ;) - provided you can wait till say Q1 2010 ?

I'm really struggling to find a suitable case to be honest, a SFF case that can stand upright and accept a full size graphics card (2 bay high, full width)

Really like the look of this Silverstone http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Silve...-with-300W-PSU

But I'm struggling to tell if it will fit a 4770. Mini review here suggests that it would fit though, as it comes with L-shaped PIC-E brackets (confirmed by Paul @ Scan)

Have a look at my system review I did last week, it may help you.

http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...k-warning.html

Can I get some opinions on this following spec:

Plan on having an internal 80Gb SSD and 500Gb (2.5") external which will (by default) be plugged into a USB to provide 500Gb external storage, which can be disconnected and taken with you easily...

I've gone for low power components (65W cpu), 5770 gpu is similar to a 4770 from what I can gather power wise (slightly more power hungry during load). Interpreting from these two charts:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/gra...5770-review/10
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/gra.../xfx-hd4770/12

The 5770 should be pulling 278W at load, compared to 239W for a 4770, and 288W for a 4850. Based on the same set-up rig which is:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bit-tech system set-up notes

Intel Core i7 940 processor (operating at 3,709MHz – 22x168.6MHz) (140W)
MSI Eclipse SLI motherboard (Intel X58 Express with three PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots)
3x 2GB Corsair TR3X6G1333C9 memory modules (operating in dual channel at DDR3 1,349.4MHz 9-9-9-24-1T)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 250GB SATA hard drive
Enermax Galaxy DXX 1000W PSU

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Obviously this SFF kit I'm proposing is using low power components compared to the test rig for the CPU (65W), DVD drive, Mobo and Hard Drives. Thus I feel the max power consumption of this unit should be well below 278W at load, probably more likely around 200W (there's a 75W saving on the CPU alone).

SG05 http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=982116 £64.16
Zotac 9300M Wifi http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Zotac...Board-Graphics £99.12
Intel 9400S http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Intel...ache-8x-Retail £178.18
CPU Cooler http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Scyth...M2-AM2plus-940 £25.29
SATA Adapter http://www.lambda-tek.com/components...prodID=B256581 £13.00 (approx. delivered)
80Gb SSD http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=174734 £142.00 (approx. delivered)
500Gb Ext. HDD http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/500GB...20-FA-GO-BLACK £76.92
4Gb RAM http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/4GB-C...Unbuffered-CL5 £72.04
Slim DVD/R http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Optia...SATA-Black-OEM £32.19
XFX 5770 1Gb http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/1GB-X...-DL-DVI-I-HDMI £126.01
Windows 7 http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Micro...-of-e-Scan-ISS £82.88
22" Monitor/Tv Combo http://www.ebuyer.com/product/143850 £200

Approx £1100 total.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cptwhite_uk

Can I get some opinions on this following spec:

Plan on having an internal 80Gb SSD and 500Gb (2.5") external which will (by default) be plugged into a USB to provide 500Gb external storage, which can be disconnected and taken with you easily...

I've gone for low power components (65W cpu), 5770 gpu is similar to a 4770 from what I can gather power wise (slightly more power hungry during load). Interpreting from these two charts:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/gra...5770-review/10
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/gra.../xfx-hd4770/12

The 5770 should be pulling 278W at load, compared to 239W for a 4770, and 288W for a 4850. Based on the same set-up rig which is:



Obviously this SFF kit I'm proposing is using low power components compared to the test rig for the CPU (65W), DVD drive, Mobo and Hard Drives. Thus I feel the max power consumption of this unit should be well below 278W at load, probably more likely around 200W (there's a 75W saving on the CPU alone).

SG05 http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=982116 £64.16
Zotac 9300M Wifi http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Zotac...Board-Graphics £99.12
Intel 9400S http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Intel...ache-8x-Retail £178.18
CPU Cooler http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Scyth...M2-AM2plus-940 £25.29
SATA Adapter http://www.lambda-tek.com/components...prodID=B256581 £13.00 (approx. delivered)
80Gb SSD http://www.expansys.com/d.aspx?i=174734 £142.00 (approx. delivered)
500Gb Ext. HDD http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/500GB...20-FA-GO-BLACK £76.92
4Gb RAM http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/4GB-C...Unbuffered-CL5 £72.04
Slim DVD/R http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Optia...SATA-Black-OEM £32.19
XFX 5770 1Gb http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/1GB-X...-DL-DVI-I-HDMI £126.01
Windows 7 http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Micro...-of-e-Scan-ISS £82.88
22" Monitor/Tv Combo http://www.ebuyer.com/product/143850 £200

Approx £1100 total.

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Have you considered using a Silverstone SG03 case??

Also there is this Shuttle SFF which is very good for the money:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/154749

I have the earlier SD37P2 which is based around the 975X chipset and it is an excellent SFF.

The case has room for a dual slot graphics graphics cards,three hard drives and an optical drive.

The SG03 is much larger compared to the SG05 (over twice the volume infact) and absolute minimum size while maintaining full desktop power is the key factor for this build.

The SP35P2 you linked too seems interesting, but again is nearly 50% bigger by volume. I know the components listed should fit together very nicely in the SG05, and the full system should be realtively quiet once built, it also has intregrated wifi. I'll have to consider the Shuttle further and see if it offers an acceptable solution for the potential cost saving. Thanks for bringing it to my attention CAT :)

You can fit an ATX power supply in SG-05/06. Depending on how neat you want it to be you may have to mod.

If you have the PSU sticking paritally out the back you can leave the drive change intact. An example

If you want it internal then the drive cage needs removing. An example