Spec me an SFF! Paypal pint for a decent spec :)

[DanceswithUnix]

Biggest graphics card I have seem in a Shuttle is an old 9800XT in an old AGP+Athlon64 box. The guy had to dremil vent holes in the side of the case around the video card fan to get it stable, but the PSU was fine.

Try feeding your intended system into the PSU calculatr and see what it comes up with.

In terms of future upgradability, AMD have a far better track record than Intel where although they keep calling new CPUs socket 775 each new CPU requires a nwe variant of that socket to work.

AMD have stated that their next gen AM3 CPUs should work in AM2 sockets with a BIOS update as they will be backwards compatible with DDR2.

Personally I wouldn't spend that much on a CPU, but perhaps that is just me.

[timtim86]

So where are you now with this thing jonny? The sound isn't bad at all, though i use the optical out so I can't help much with the regular sound.

The G5 shuttles have poor graphic card cooling and space, and only two gigs of RAM, but you can put two HDDs in. I had a ST20G5 before this one.

AM3s, the next set from Athlon, will work in the SN27.

p.s. pretty sure the sd37/sn27 fit 8800 gtx,s.

[Jonny]

Pretty convinced I'm staying with this:

Shuttle XPC SN27P2 AM2 Barebone System £303.93
AMD AM2 Athlon64 X2 5000+ Dual Core OEM £185.93
Sapphire ATI Radeon X1950 Pro 512MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail £152.74
2 x 1Gb sticks PC5300 Patriot Signature Line RAM £125.00
Sony AW-G170AB2 18x DVD±RW x12 Ram Dual Layer DVD-Writer - (Black) OEM £19.96

Spent a while today toying with the idea of a Sugo, but I just can't do it!

I'll add a sound card to the shuttle above at some point.

Main issue right now is whether or not to go for the same rig but Core 2 Duo with a 6600 and wait it out for a decent PCI express sound card...

Decisions...

[timtim86]

well, like i said before, the only disadvantages to a SD37 is that it only takes 667MHz Ram (which you've bought already anyway) and has two pci-e slots, which is a nuisance if you have a pci-card something. However, there is an increasing amount of pci-e things, so if you feel like you'd prefer a C2D (which everyone agrees is a bit better right now) then i'd go for that.

Remember...Shuttles don't overclock well (i have my X2 5000+ at 2.9GHz at the min), and Amd will be back (lol)

Good luck choosing, I had the same issue when i bought mine.

[Jonny]

Damn...

You just went and evened it out even more.

I'm just going to sit here until I have a wave of inspiration, and then get whatever that wave tells me.

[timtim86]

I still like my athlon. Is either one more expensive? Maybe spend a little less on an athlon processor? That might sway you one way or the other!

[Jonny]

Both Shuttles are the same price, but I can't really find the intel version in stock for cheap, the AMD I can.

Processor wise, the e6600 is more expensive than the AMD by £10-£15ish.

[TheAnimus]

everyone has to admit the e6600 CPU is a better bet, less whattage (which is always important in SFF).

Personally i'd be tempted to squeeze up too matx, did you like the size of that silverston case?

PSU wise 350 really is enough, its mostly marchecture that makes people want 500w plus.

As for sound, most of those have digital audio out (optical).

If you really care about sound, you will be able to get some okay entry level hi-fi speakers and a reciver for about £120 that connect to the digital out.

[CrazyMonkey]

I would say dont go AMD, i do think it is a silly choice. Just please dont spend £180 on a AMD processor

Get a cheaper one they clock nicely on stock volts so...
Save some cash and pump it into somethign like graphics or a monitor or w.e.

[Jonny]

I think I've finally decided.

I'm going to bite the bullet and go for the Intel, and hope that a decent PCIe soundcard comes out.

Can anyone beat this for price?

Or find anywhere where it's all in stock, for a bit more?



Cheers,

Jonny



EDIT: I already have the RAM, that's why it isn't on the list.

I can get an OS for free from my Uni's MSDNaa, and I already have hard drives and thermal paste.

Just in case you were wondering where those things were

[mike306dt]

Why the 6600? Surely the 6400 would be faster than the AM2 5000? The shuttle would give you a little headroom for overclocking too no doubt?

[Jonny]

What does everyone think?

e6400 or 6600?

[mike306dt]

I've forgotten mate what you want this machine for, but the e6400 should be more than capable of a reasonable clock even in a shuttle. There's also the added bonus of the 6400 being £50 odd cheaper than the 6600.

[Jonny]

Looking around at various threads on "6400 vs 6600" and seeing crowds of people on other forums rooting for the 6600, I'll go for that.

FINAL SPEC!!!

Shuttle SD37P2
Core 2 Duo 6600
Sapphire x1950Pro 512Mb
2Gb PC5300 Patriot Signature Line RAM
Sony AW-G170AB2 18x DVD±RW OEM

Going to order it in the morning.

Anyone care to throw a last challenge at that?

[frosty15]

£670.22 with everything in stock do you?
Not sure if the Shuttle has IDE so specced a SATA DVD/RW



£11 better off in your pocket

[Jonny]

'fraid that's not the right card mate! I need a single slot one.

Good effort, though.