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any suggestion for an micro-ATX mobo and case ?

R

rT10

Member
I want to build a small LAN machine. NE1 have NE suggestion for a micro-ATX mobo with an AGP slot? prefferably AMD chipset.

I also need help on getting a micro-ATX case too 🙂

 
Just look around a bit for a case, but I think the best micro-ATX mobo would be the Abit nForce motherboard.
 
best way to go is picking up the aopen H340D from directron (aopen info page)

it's got a p4 ready 180watt psu...w/ that u'd be able to slap in any mATX SIS 650 mobo and p4 northwood (1.6a @ 2.133ghz or higher)

u can use all the integrated components - video, audio, LAN, etc.

the video on the SIS 650 is supposedly faster (or at least on a par) w/ the integrated nfarce GF2 MX graphics

check out this board (from MSI)...should priced extremely well (under 100)
 
While I would consider an nForce board, a newer SiS board is well worth considering too. Both have decent-level onboard equipment and around GF2MX graphics speed. I'd put the nForce ahead for more reliable video, but SiS ahead for stable chipset and probably half the price. If the price difference is that great, save the money and put it towards the SiS + another video card for gaming and instand dual-monitor capability. 😀

For cases, I recommend avoiding low-profile expansion slots, which is too bad since some low-profile cases look downright handsome!
The best alternative I've found yet is the CasperII which can be a tower or desktop - your choice. 🙂
Here's the directron page - LINK - where all the mini-cases are. CasperII is in two flavours - I'd choose the P4-ready one just for the larger power supply. 😉
 
the case is nice but almost twice as high....i mean, if u're gonna go LAN case, u might as well go as thin as u can without jeopardizing anything.

yeah, u have to use low profile cards in the aopen flex case, but there's some decent AGP low-profile cards floating around...geared pointed one out - and Gigabyte Radeon 7000E w/ 64MB RAM and TV-Out.

low profile sound cards?...too easy to find....

the only thing i like better about the casper is the color...black...however, it's of cheaper quality than the aopen H340D...also, the aopen does come w/ feet for standing it upright (tower/vertically)
 
Casper II - 5.3"W X 13.3"D X 12.9"H
Aopen H340D - 15.71"(D)x12.76"(W)x3.74"(H)

flip the CasperII over into a desktop and it becomes:

Casper II - 13.3" (D) x12.9"(W) X 5.3"H
Aopen H340D - 15.71"(D)x12.76"(W) x3.74"(H)

Not really that much difference. It's 1.5" thicker to allow plain expansion cards, but it's not as deep. Provided there's nothing WRONG with it, gimme' the standard expansion slots. 😀 This is just me, however. Opinions may vary. 😉 Some cards I want down the road (like pro-audio) simply don't exist in low-profile. Which is too bad since I really like the look of this case.
 
hmmm...i didn't notice that the casper was actually more shallow than pretty much every other flexATX i've come across...interesting.

i still don't like the thickness! (height)...but i suppose it depends on your needs...i do like the fact that u can use a standard PSU, can't u?

i'm still hunting for nicer cases....i really like the black V2000 @ directron, but it's a shame that they ship w/ a proprietary 150watt psu, with no replacement for it.

i can't go back to a white case...major dilemna.
 
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