Best SFF for Socket A set up?

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
5,001
126
Just getting into the SFF world as space in my den has become next to nothing (thanks kids!).
I don't want to jump in and get an entirly new system as Im fairly happy with what I have right now (well sure I'd like to upgrade but thats too much $$ right now for me.

So I'm looking for a SFF box that can handle the following:

AMD 2500+ @ 3200+
2x512 RAM
1 x 37gig Raptor
BFG 5900nu (takes dual slots on AGP/PCI)...

I have no other cards in the machine (well except 1 firewire card I could live without).

I just need a box that will handle the OC, is small and runs quiet...

Please advise and thanks in advance!
 
Jun 22, 2004
126
0
0
I have a smiliar setup in an Antec Aria, except with a 6800nu and a PATA 120gb hdd instead. The Aria runs quiet normally, but it does run a little hot. I ended up cutting a hole in the side and installing a 80mm case fan, which really helped with temps a good bit. I'm not too familiar with how much heat a Raptor and the 5900 puts out, but I can't imagine more (If it does I can't imagine by much) than my setup. I don't know much about SFF cases that aren't cubes, but the only other cube ones that I can think of are Shuttles. Unless I'm mistaken, the Shuttles only have one PCI slot on the motherboard (and only support for 1 PCI slot in the case), as opposed to the 3 PCI slots that come with mATX motherboards and in the Aria case.

Anyways, I really like my Aria and the fact that it has 3 PCI slots. The heat isn't out of control, just a little too high for my liking. But either way, it gets my vote, due to its small size, lack of noise, and the fact that its made by Antec.