Are there any SFF that fit my requirements?

[aceO07]

I'm not a person to do lots of upgrades, so when I make a purchase it's usually to use for the next 2-4 years. I upgrade when it breaks or there is something much better.

In this case, I'm looking for a new setup. I prefer SFF. I have a LianLi case right now and it's big and I feel like I don't need all that space. I like the look, but it's huge.

Here's what I'm looking for in a SFF:

1x external 3.5" bay (floppy, just cause)
2x internal 3.5" bays (hdds)
1x external 5.25" bay (dvd writer)
1x pci-e 16x slot (in case get bored of onboard graphics)
2x pci slots (ati hdtv tuner, creative labs audigy 2 zs)
2x ram slots (2 is better than 1)
sata (this is the new thing, right?)
intel mobo (just cause)
QUIET (please!)

I don't want a case that is too colorful. I like the look of the shuttles. If LianLi had a shorter tower, removing 3 of their 5 external 5.25" bays, it'd be perfect. Ultimately, I'm looking for something QUIET, upgradeable and pleasing to my eyes.

Does such a thing exist that matches my requirements? I prefer smaller over bigger.

 

[IlllI]

2x pci slots

sorry, you will never see a sff with 2.
1 max

 

[cheesehead]

I've seen some with 2 PCI slots. However, you'd need to get the motherboard and case seperately.
For example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128304
This motherboard is a Gigabyte, but it's pretty well rated, so it can't be all bad. It's got integrated video, 2x SATA ports, a PCI express x16 slot for graphics, and 2 PCI slots. It also seems to support AGP, although I have no clue of how that works.

Here's a case that would work with it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811145004
(The power supply is'nt very good, though.)
It's not incredibly small, but it will hold all of your stuff and has two external 3.5" bays. (It's only got one internal bay; however, you can use one of the external bays for a hard drive and just leave on the little plastic cover.)

 

[aceO07]

Thanks Cheesehead. It's not really the shape I want though. I'm too picky for my own good. I want a tower configuration. Despite the fact that my LianLi is horizontal now. It fits perfectly under my desk that way. But for a case that's on my desk, I prefer a tower. So, micro-tower is what I am be looking for. Thanks for leading me into the direction.

I think the shuttle would be perfect for me if it had 2pci slots and graphics(agp/pcie) slot. I guess there haven't been any really important peripherals out that really use the pci slots and aren't already onboard.. Do people buy network cards, besides wireless? I'm just reluctant to give up my audigy 2zs. It's not the newest or best, but it's a near recent purchase. And definitely not giving up the ati hdtv tuner.

 

[aceO07]

Micro-ATX mini tower. Now to see if any of them support 2x 120mm fans. Any smaller fan seems to be too noisy for me. Yes, I'm hopeless.

Any cases that are similiar to the new dell case design? I think they're really good design for silent operation.

 

[IlllI]

microatx is not = to a shuttle sff. just keep that in mind. matx is much larger. and as far as finding a matx case supporting 2x 120mm fans??? good luck with that because i doubt you will ever find something like that standard in a matx. this is the closest you would probably get, but if you wanted 2x120mm then you would have to do some modding. or get something larger

 

[funboy6942]

You need this case, which is the real deal not the knock off above linked. This one comes in several colors and has a 420 watt psu

Then stick in this mobo if you can live with 2 PCI slots

OR this one that has 3 pci slots

Both MOBOS hae the same onboard graphics but the Jetway has the larger and smaller pcie 16 slots.

If refurb is your thing then you can get the Jetway for around $60 bucks and the ECS under $60 at chiefvalue.com

The case was reviewed by anandtech HERE which they gave a great review on AND said it was quiet to the point they could here the hdd over it.

So there you go. Can hold 2 hdd's, 2 dvd roms, will have onboard video (ATI BTW), both can have upto 4 gigs of memory, 2 or 3 pci slots so you can stick in your sound and hdtv wonder card, has 1 120mm fan and the psu has a exhaust fan as well to keep the insides cool, and it is a 939 socket so plenty of cpu choices can be had for it now and in the future.

I think by far this is your best bet for what your looking to do because all other sff's will only have one pcie and one pci slot and thats all

 

[IlllI]

i'd stay away from those refurbs though. i see it as 50/50 at best, and probably too much hassle to repack, reship etc.

 

[cheesehead]

That Qpack looks sweet. (For the record, the one I submitted is entirely different, and half the price.)
Aspire PSU's tend to be garbage, though.

That JetWay motherboard is sweet, but he specified Intel based. I prefer AMD, but that's his choice, not ours.

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: skunkbuster
i'd stay away from those refurbs though. i see it as 50/50 at best, and probably too much hassle to repack, reship etc.

See thats where I beg to differ. Everything I have bought so far from Chiefvalue has been a refurb. About 6 things so far, few mobos, cpu, sff, dvd rom, graphics card to name a few off. And each one of them has shown up in the orginal packaging, smelled brand new, and the sff I bought from them not only came looking new but the original tape and staples on the box were still intact with NO signs of even been open before.
I wouldnt have any problems buying refurb. And aside of what I bought from Chief I have bought almost 90% of everything thing else refurb from somewhere else with NO problems with any of it. Its really no diff then buying used from the FS/FT section IMO and saves me alot of money.

Originally posted by: Cheesehead

That JetWay motherboard is sweet, but he specified Intel based. I prefer AMD, but that's his choice, not ours.

I missed that so HERE HE GOES
Problem solved so we can all sleep good tonight
OH and no that one is new not refurb

 

[IlllI]

See thats where I beg to differ. Everything I have bought so far from Chiefvalue has been a refurb. About 6 things so far, few mobos, cpu, sff, dvd rom, graphics card to name a few off. And each one of them has shown up in the orginal packaging, smelled brand new, and the sff I bought from them not only came looking new but the original tape and staples on the box were still intact with NO signs of even been open before.
I wouldnt have any problems buying refurb. And aside of what I bought from Chief I have bought almost 90% of everything thing else refurb from somewhere else with NO problems with any of it. Its really no diff then buying used from the FS/FT section IMO and saves me alot of money.

good for you. but refurb = ymmv. there are no guarantees with refurb, and i personally would pay a few extra $ to get something i know for a fact hasn't been used or damaged and returned to them.