Any of you guys have experience with SFF PCs?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
M

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2000
9,173
6
81
My brother wants me to build him one but I've got no idea what to do since I don't know if the parts are different or what. I have experience with regular form factor computers. He wants to be able to lug it around between home and his studio. Can anyone point me in the right direction please and maybe suggest some parts/what to do please?

He's a landscape architect (or aspiring one :p) and primarily uses Adobe CS5, autocad 2011, and google sketchup 8.0. I really doubt he does anything too intensive but id like to build it with more intensive stuff in mind. He said "as cheap as possible" so I'll leave that up to you.

Thanks so much!
 
Lanyap

Lanyap

Elite Member
Dec 23, 2000
8,262
2,359
136
SFF normally requires unique parts based on manufacturer which makes it difficult to build from scratch. You need to get a barebones system or fully built like Dell, etc. I would get a max cost amount from your brother and check out the Dell small business outlet searching on "Small Form Factor". You also need to figure out if an Atom type CPU will handle your brothers needs or do you need to go with a standard dual-core/core 2 duo.

http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnline...earch.aspx?brandId=2802&c=us&cs=28&l=en&s=dfb
 
M

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2000
9,173
6
81
Well i've talked him out of a SFF PC since it seem it wasnt happening on his $700 budget lol. I suggested a powerful laptop that he could just hook up to a separate screen.

So, what should i be looking for in a laptop? I assume these are all memory intensive applications, so 6gb of RAM or so but we can always upgrade, and the HDD we can always upgrade as well. The processor I'd probably want to be an I5 at minimum, right? And im pretty sure these applications require good graphics cards, which is where i am TOTALLY lost...what a good GPU nowadays in a laptop? And of course it would need HDMI so he could hook it up to a larger screen in the future. I guess he wants to spend $700.

Basically i guess i am asking...what processor and GPU should i be looking for in a laptop?

Thanks everyone!
 
M

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2000
9,173
6
81
mfenn said:
You're not going to be getting very good build quality or a good GPU in a $700 laptop. I'd suggest going back to the idea of a SFF system built around a mini-ITX board.
Click to expand...

Aw crap, i was hoping i could find one on sale. It sucks because i think either way hes going to have to spend a ton (relative to his original budget).
 
M

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2000
9,173
6
81
Are those applications even reliant on gpu? I've not really used them. I know they require a lot of memory though.
 
D

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
670
126
4 GB is actually a decent amount of RAM for PhotoShop, and you can get a decent Core i5 laptop for $600 with 4 GB and a 500 GB HD.

You might be able to get a quad-core desktop with 4-8 GB for under $700, but it won't be SFF.
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,671
10,179
126
kazaam said:
Are those applications even reliant on gpu? I've not really used them. I know they require a lot of memory though.
Click to expand...

No, they don't require much GPU horsepower. Photoshop can eat some memory, but Autocad doesn't require anything special. You could split the difference in form factors and go with micro ATX system. Put a handle on top, and it'll be easy to carry. You'll be able to use somewhat standard parts, and not have stuff you don't need with a laptop.
 
P

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
Make sure you know what the storage requirements are for the files?

You would be surprised what you can buy at wal-mart in the way of a lap-top. They often have 17" models on sale in the $700-$800 range.

The trick is to have system that is both powerful and is portable if that is what you are going for. There is a forum for laptops here also.

Lanbox is fairly small, but you could go smaller with an MITX based motherboard.

I think this is cuter and you can put up to 6 Hard drives in here, or you can take out the lower hard drive cage and put in a video card. It is amazing how they have a giant fan that blows directly on the hard drive cage.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112265

This qualifies as SFF but you could go smaller. The problem is that the smaller you go the more you pay. If you have to purchase things like thin laptop dvd drives, or slot loading drives, that pushes up the price. Plus cooling could become a factor.

They probably make a cube that is just a little shorter with fewer drive slots.
 
Last edited:
M

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2000
9,173
6
81
piasabird said:
Make sure you know what the storage requirements are for the files?
Click to expand...

Well i figured we could always upgrade so it shouldnt be too big of a deal, especially with ever increasing capacities.

I'm happy that those aren't gpu intensive! Makes things easier.
 
Zap

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
kazaam, what is your brother's expectations of performance? What does he currently use? For instance if he's currently rocking a high end Core i7 then he may be disappointed with a $700 machine of any kind. However, if he's on an old P4 or old Athlon x2, then any new SFF $700 system would be even faster.

Here's one possible super compact and lightweight solution that does not have GPU acceleration:

Core i5 quad core $200
mini ITX motherboard $110
8GB RAM $80
Windows 7 $100
Mini-Box M350 case with 120W Pico PSU and power brick (case is really small and aluminum, power brick is like that of a notebook AC adapter) $100
500GB 7200RPM notebook HDD $70
 
dave_the_nerd

dave_the_nerd

Lifer
Feb 25, 2011
16,992
1,621
126
Maybe something like this? Add in a CPU, HD, RAM, Optical, and you're done. And a monitor, of course. Not the super-latest tech, but plenty good enough, especially if you're not gaming.

I'd probably go with 8GBs of RAM if you can afford it. CS5 is 64-bit capable, and will use >4GB of RAM if you have it.

The onboard GPU will probably be okay for the time being... although CS5 has some features that will be accelerated with a fairly modern GPU, the extra heat and expense may not be worth it up front.

Anyway, take a trip to the hardware store for a cheap, ugly handle and you're pretty much set. Should be WAY under $700, fully equipped.

But I'm old-fashioned and like the Shuttles.
 
M

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2000
9,173
6
81
Davidh373 said:
Just curious, what does SFF stand for?
Click to expand...

small form factor! IIRC lol.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. Zap, that seems like a great idea, i may very well end up going that route.

Any ideas how much gpu acceleration would benefit programs like these? I know he said sketchup is a 3D model builder or something.

Also, hes using an AWFUL laptop...3gb RAM, newer celeron, 250-320gb hard drive, and really crappy onboard GPU.
 
M

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2000
9,173
6
81
Zap said:
kazaam, what is your brother's expectations of performance? What does he currently use? For instance if he's currently rocking a high end Core i7 then he may be disappointed with a $700 machine of any kind. However, if he's on an old P4 or old Athlon x2, then any new SFF $700 system would be even faster.

Here's one possible super compact and lightweight solution that does not have GPU acceleration:

Core i5 quad core $200
mini ITX motherboard $110
8GB RAM $80
Windows 7 $100
Mini-Box M350 case with 120W Pico PSU and power brick (case is really small and aluminum, power brick is like that of a notebook AC adapter) $100
500GB 7200RPM notebook HDD $70
Click to expand...

Soo...anyone have recommendations for individual parts and where to get them from? I quite like this idea. Would it be possible to add in a discrete gpu later (prolly w/ new psu)? Should I ask this in a separate thread.
 
Last edited:
Zap

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
kazaam said:
Any ideas how much gpu acceleration would benefit programs like these? I know he said sketchup is a 3D model builder or something.
Click to expand...

I do not know. See my next comment.

kazaam said:
Also, hes using an AWFUL laptop...3gb RAM, newer celeron, 250-320gb hard drive, and really crappy onboard GPU.
Click to expand...

Well then... if that's what he's otherwise using, then even dropping the CPU down to a dual core Core i3 would probably run circles around that notebook.

kazaam said:
Soo...anyone have recommendations for individual parts and where to get them from? I quite like this idea. Would it be possible to add in a discrete gpu later (prolly w/ new psu)? Should I ask this in a separate thread.
Click to expand...

The case and PSU I mentioned both would not have the power for a discrete graphics card. If you want to stay small yet have that possibility, here are some case suggestions:

Antec ISK 300-150 or ISK 310-150
These are the same case, with different fascia. They can hold two 2.5" drives and one slim (notebook) optical drive. They also have one low profile slot and 150W should be enough for a quad core with a low profile graphics card. The case is fairly small, but is heavy because it uses thick steel.

Apex MI-008 or Apex MI-100 or Thermaltake Element Q
These are all the same case, just looks a bit different from the front like the two Antecs above. The PSU is mediocre at best, but the case can handle one 3.5" drive, a normal optical drive and a normal sized graphics card (albeit not more than around 9" long). The big selling point of these is the low cost and use of "normal-sized" desktop parts.

Silverstone SG05 or SG06
These can hold even bigger dual slot 9.5" graphics cards and have better quality power supplies, but start just over $100.
 
M

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2000
9,173
6
81
Thanks so much for the info. I'll start looking around for parts and see what case he wants. Last question...

Whats the likelihood i would find a quad core laptop for $1k or less? Also, how are the quad core processors from AMD nowadays?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom