---- A gift for the LADY...where are the EXPERTS/PIMPS???? --------

[DaFOBulous1]

OK, here is the deal.

My girlfriend is transferring to the school she always wanted to go...unfortunately it's not going to be too near me.

So I want to get her a nice PC before she leaves and/or leaves me.

I was thinking of this:
http://www.svc.com/shtl-sb75s-99.html
XPC SB75S P4

It seems to scream cute all over but it's going to cost me a pretty penny so I'm open to getting an alternative. The shuttle seems to look better and the mini-pc cases I have seen are pretty ugly. However I can save a lot of money and have room for expansion.

The only requirement is that it needs to be Intel. I have a Leadtek 5900XT as a video card (assuming it fits), a pair of HyperX PC3200, and a WD 200 GIG SATA.

My future plans was to get her a TV tuner and Northwood CPU (suggested by some since it's a low-temp CPU). I wanted to get her a 9800 AIW and have the extra PCI slot to put in a wireless NIC card but that is too much of a hassle and I don't think it will be a big deal for her to have that.

Now I need your guys..ahem as well as ladies advice to build this. I'm in college too so Im in no means rich so I can't bust with parts that going to cost me 1K+.

 

[RobsTV]

Here is the new king on the block:

http://www.aspireusa.net/category.php?cid=41

You can choose from manly to girly case colors.
Do a search for reviews. Aspire X-QPACK.
Nothing can touch these....
Makes all the shuttles look.........Nasty..
They do make a boring unit as well, with no windows, and bla silver or grey color.

 

[ND40oz]

Well, I have that case and it's sweet looking. I also have a 5900XT in it, see my sig for it's parts. Cost me less then 600 to build, but I got the shuttle for 200 even. I got mine from censuspc when shuttle was having a christmas sale. Check shuttle to see what systems the are offering rebates on this month.

Edit: forgot the price of the video card, it was less then 750 to build.

 

[geecee]

What is she going to be doing with it? If she's just doing email, surfing and office apps, you can probably get one of the Sis-based Shuttles fairly cheap (like this or it's better looking cousin, this). This Soltek is not too bad looking either (i.e. boring) but fairly cheap and uses an actual Intel chipset, if that's a factor. I've had a Shuttle SS51G (predecessor to the two previously mentioned Sis-based Shuttles) for almost 3 years and it's still running today as a second machine. Very solid (if unspectacular) machine/chipset.

All of these are in the $160-$200 range. If you already have the vid card, memory and hard drive (you'll need to buy an inexpensive SATA PCI card for the Shuttles though), just add a CPU and an optical drive and you're set. If you just go Celeron and DVD-ROM, it would probably add another $100 at most to the cost.

EDIT: This Biostar might fit your needs as well, but it is a VIA chipest onboard. Take a look here and see what catches your eye and is in your price range.
EDIT2: Hmm...perhaps I misunderstood you completely and you were only asking for micro atx case alternatives to Shuttles and the like? 😛

 

[CrispyFried]

Originally posted by: DaFOBulous1
My future plans was to get her a TV tuner and Northwood CPU (suggested by some since it's a low-temp CPU). I wanted to get her a 9800 AIW and have the extra PCI slot to put in a wireless NIC card but that is too much of a hassle and I don't think it will be a big deal for her to have that.

To save a PCI slot there are usb wireless nics. Then you can stuff a audigy or something in the other PCI slot although the onboard sound should be fine. An AIW would be nice, make it an everything box.

Any of those would be good, but make sure its a Northwood P4. Id go with a smaller case, small electronics usually equals "cute" to my gf.

 

[DaFOBulous1]

Originally posted by: geecee
What is she going to be doing with it? If she's just doing email, surfing and office apps, you can probably get one of the Sis-based Shuttles fairly cheap (like this or it's better looking cousin, this). This Soltek is not too bad looking either (i.e. boring) but fairly cheap and uses an actual Intel chipset, if that's a factor. I've had a Shuttle SS51G (predecessor to the two previously mentioned Sis-based Shuttles) for almost 3 years and it's still running today as a second machine. Very solid (if unspectacular) machine/chipset.

All of these are in the $160-$200 range. If you already have the vid card, memory and hard drive (you'll need to buy an inexpensive SATA PCI card for the Shuttles though), just add a CPU and an optical drive and you're set. If you just go Celeron and DVD-ROM, it would probably add another $100 at most to the cost.

EDIT: This Biostar might fit your needs as well, but it is a VIA chipest onboard. Take a look here and see what catches your eye and is in your price range.
EDIT2: Hmm...perhaps I misunderstood you completely and you were only asking for micro atx case alternatives to Shuttles and the like? 😛

I appreciate everybody's advice so far. To clarify, it will be mostly for browsing, it will be mostly for homework (she is a EE major) and lil games like Sims 2. She has the Fujitsu Lifebook, those small lil things so if you know what those look like; that's her style.