Recommend me a quiet SFF used mostly for...

[tfboy]

Music work.

My old man's getting quite serious into software-based music production, i.e. Cubase and all that.

He's bought a firepod (multichannel firewire-based audio I/O) which is to offer his mic/line inputs and MIDI.

Currently, he's using his old Sony laptop (PCGRX316MP) which has the benefit of a 1600x1200 resolution and firewire built in in small package that's very quiet. However, the CPU, 256MB of RAM and slowish lappy HDD are a bottle neck and I'm contemplating building him a faster desktop-based PC but in a SFF

He used to have a desktop but he's just got rid of that because it was bulky and more importantly too noisy.

No mega power requirements. Spec-wise, I was thinking along the lines of a:
3000 winnie
1GB RAM
Medium sized HD
Graphics don't need to be fast in 3D but do require dual DVI for connecting to 2 20" flat panels.

I realise maybe no SFF currently offers dual DVI so I'm probably looking into a SFF mobo offering at least AGP or PCI-E and adding a third-party card.

What Shuttle would be most appropriate, or would another SFF do the job?

As I said, raw power isn't that important, and I'd like to keep it as cheap as poss. On-board sound quality doesn't matter either because the firepod is used.

TIA

[!nfil]

Hi there,

I would most likely take a look at either the Shuttle ST20G5 or SN95G5V2 (V3 if it comes out). The ST20G5 has the capability of being able to support up to 3 monitors through Ati's SurroundView when an Ati PCI-E Graphics Card is installed. This may benefit him if he wants to add a 3rd monitor to his setup in the future.

Otherwise I would take a look at the SN95G5V2 if the ST20G5 is not in your price range as it is uses AGP rather than PCI-E. Though you may find problems regarding support of the Venice Cores as it really is a hit or miss situation at the moment. Hopefully V3 should sort out some of these problems but it hasn't hit retail yet.

Here are some reviews to get you started:

ST20G5
SN95G5 (Note: This was Version 1 at the time the review was written.)

[tfboy]

Hmm thanks for that.
The ST20G5 looks like what I'm after, and that Surroundview looks nice

I'm not too bothered about the ability for a 3rd monitor, but having at least DVI on board is a good start

Also, as budget is of the essence I would need to find a dirt cheap 939 core. And as I want an emphasis on quietness, I guess a lower speed one which I can potentially underclock / undervolt makes sense.

Looks like it's going to cost me about 500 notes though once I add cpu, hd, and RAM.

[tfboy]

Had a quick chat to my dad about it and he likes the idea... Maybe a crimbo present in the brewing

A bit off topic, but does anyone know how this surroundview works? Is it purely a case of once you've installed the drivers for the add-on ATI card, you get 3 monitors in the display properties? Also I'd need to find out which connections you use (DVI/VGA). Will have a look at the Shuttle's manual

[!nfil]

Yep, you only have to install the drivers and then enable it in the bios. I think you will need to use DVI for it to work. Don't take my word for it though!

[tfboy]

Yep, it needs to be enabled in the Bios.
However, with the on board graphics, you get a DVI and a VGA so that gives you dual-head out of the box.
Add another ATI dual head card and you have have FOUR monitors (at least one VGA)

Now that's nice

But I think I'll settle for 3 DVI 4 is just plain rude

[Gorgeous]

How about

Enermax CS10068 MicroATX Desktop/Tower Case Black with 270W PSU @ 53.99

MSI RS480M2-IL @ 62.33

128MB XFX GEFORCE 6600 PCI-E DUAL DVI *Passive Heat Sink* @ 75.20

AMD Athlon 64 3000 32/64Bit CPU S939 "Venice" 90nm *OEM* @ 82.60

Gigabyte GH PCU21-FD-83x83x90mm @ 16.45

1Gb (2 x 512 Mb) Corsair TwinX, DDR, PC3200C2PT, Cas 2, Lifetime Warranty @ 87.83

250Gb Maxtor Diamondmax Plus 10 (7200rpm,16MB) SATA NCQ - Lead Free @ 74.84

Samsung Writemaster TS-H552U Black 16x16 DVD±RW Dual Layer DVD Writer, OEM @ 26.54

Total = £479.78

Enermax case looks way sexier than some of the shuttles.
Costs can be saved by shopping around, getting cheaper ram, smaller hd. And its hell trying to find a "cheap" dual dvi ATI card so i went for nvidia.

Thank you for shopping with Gorgeous....please leave a tip

And by sexy case i mean it ^^

[d3m0n5]

lol
sexy my ass
i mean it

get the SN25P
it's the quietest model out there, the first generation ICE system sucked ass, the P chassis ICE system is way better.

[tfboy]

It's a bit big that case, gorgeous. Sorry to let you done, honey, but it ain't for me

Hmm SN25P. I hadn't seen that one before. So you reckon it's quieter than the ST20G5 ?

[Atomic]

ST20G5 is close to silent unless your hammering the CPU! (or in a very hot room)

[Gorgeous]

It's a bit big that case, gorgeous. Sorry to let you done, honey, but it ain't for me

Hmm SN25P. I hadn't seen that one before. So you reckon it's quieter than the ST20G5 ?

Honey?

I be a man....dont care if your not getting the case I am...as soon as my student loan comes through

[tfboy]

Honey?

I be a man....dont care if your not getting the case I am...as soon as my student loan comes through

Sorry, was doing a / impression. Obviously not very good at it

Good luck with the case. Looks nice, but probably a bit too big for my old man's liking