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Contemplating my new XPC computer specs **PLEASE COMMENT**

N

nmcglennon

Golden Member
Ok I have decided to scrap the idea of upgrading, so now I am going to build a new computer, and I was thinking of using the following parts:

What I will buy:
Shuttle SN45G XPC nForce2 400 Ultra MCP-T
AMD Athlon XP 3200+ (2.2Ghz, 400FSB)
GeForce FX 5900 (NV35)
2 DIMMS 256 MB PC3200 DDR
SONY DVD-R/RW (DVD: 2.5/2.5/4 CD: 10/24/40) DW-U10A-BK-OEM
Klipsch Promedia 5.1 Speakers

What I already have:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
WD 180 GB HD 7200 RPM
MS Intellieye Explorer
Logitech Cordless Elite Duo Wireless Keyboard
HP Photojet Scanner
HP Deskjet 695c
Wacom Graphire Tablet
21" Sony Trinitron Monitor
Microsoft Bluetooth Wireless USB Network Adaptor

I don't immediately see any problems with this, but I wanted to get you guys' input on it. I want a smaller, faster, more stable system that I won't have to upgrade for awhile. I will be giving my computer I built last year (see rig in sig) to my family for payment in some of the parts I need for a new one. My old computer is freaking loud, and it sucks transporting that case to and from college and home. I do alot of graphics work, and I do alot of gaming (BF1942, RtCW, etc.), and want to be able to play HL2 with full effect. The only thing I worry about is fitting the gfx card in the XPC, and maybe the system overheating.

Please post comments about this! Recommendations are good too...
Thanks in advance!!
 
er.... you might want to tune down a little. That's a lot stress on a not even true 200 watt power supply. Just my 2 cents.
 
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: nmcglennon
the gfx card?
Click to expand...

Yes. The FX series sucks power - and why the hell are you throwing that much money away?

- M4H
Click to expand...

my thought exactly. i was about to mention that you could get a pair of WD Raptor hard drives and a PCI SATA card and really make this rig fly if he was content to toss a grand for a computer.
 
My final suggestion is to toss the damn Shuttle SFF-fad case you're looking at and get an aluminum minitower, like the Antec Lanboy. More powAr, more expandibility, more cooling.

- M4H
 
First of all money isn't the issue. My parents are paying for half the components and the other half are going to be paid by work.

ya I thought the GeForce FX card would suck power, but if I want top of the line graphics what else should I go with? don't they all (pretty much) eat as much power?

If I don't go with the FX 5900, I still want a gfx card that has Direct X 9 capabilities, so that leaves me with ATI or the GeForce FX. I think I might run into some problems with the NVidia NForce 2 board drivers and an ATI gfx card driver. Assuming I don't though, would it be a better option to go with an ATI card (power-wise)?
 
Are you sure that the FX 5900 series cards would even FIT in an SN45G with room for proper cooling? The heat sinks on those cards are pretty bulky, and there isn't much space available between the AGP slot and the case cover.
 
Originally posted by: yodayoda
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: nmcglennon
the gfx card?
Click to expand...

Yes. The FX series sucks power - and why the hell are you throwing that much money away?

- M4H
Click to expand...

my thought exactly. i was about to mention that you could get a pair of WD Raptor hard drives and a PCI SATA card and really make this rig fly if he was content to toss a grand for a computer.
Click to expand...

If you wanted to use the WD Raptor drives in a Shuttle XPC, you should probably get the SB61G2. It already has a Serial ATA port.
 
Originally posted by: ultimatebob
Are you sure that the FX 5900 series cards would even FIT in an SN45G with room for proper cooling? The heat sinks on those cards are pretty bulky, and there isn't much space available between the AGP slot and the case cover.
Click to expand...


Ya I might just rule out the FX 5900 card, but I might fall back on one of the smaller FX, less powerful FX cards
 
Your config should be fine except for possibly the graphics card. I don't know about the FX5900, but the FX5900 Ultra has a HSF that will not fit in the case. Get a 9700Pro or 9800Pro - it runs fine in mine. It is possible that the config will be too much for the PSU, as some have a similar high-end config in their SN41G2s and have issues that may be attributable to the PSU, but there seem to be more that have run it successfully - including me.

jhbball - No, it's not available, yet.
 
SN41G2
XP 2100+, currently working on overclocking it...
Radeon 9700Pro
2 X 256MB XMS3200
Maxtor 80GB, 8Meg HDD
Samsung (48X burner, 16X DVD) Combo Drive

Works like a dream - easiest nForce2 setup I've had...

Oh, yeah, and I can carry it like a football!!!
 
Doing a lot of graphics work doesn't mean you need such a monster video card, all those gigatexels/sec are only really useful for gaming with textures, so back it off to something which doesn't have (or need!) a huge heatsink or a fan. Also, the 3200+ probably (almost certainly) will draw too much power to run at all, get a 2600+ at the most. Like others have said this is probably too much too hot without going for a large (or anyway, larger) case with a bigger PSU and some serious cooling.
 
Revised specs:
Shuttle SN45G XPC nForce2 400 Ultra MCP-T
AMD Athlon XP 2600+
Radeon 9700Pro
2 DIMMS 256 MB PC3200 DDR
Bluetooth Dongle
Klipsch Promedia 5.1 Speakers

I scratched the DVD burner for awhile, and I lowered the gfx card and processor.
Hopefully that won't overload the power supply, yet give me a kicka$$ machine.
 
Originally posted by: DoctorBooze
Doing a lot of graphics work doesn't mean you need such a monster video card, all those gigatexels/sec are only really useful for gaming with textures, so back it off to something which doesn't have (or need!) a huge heatsink or a fan. Also, the 3200+ probably (almost certainly) will draw too much power to run at all, get a 2600+ at the most. Like others have said this is probably too much too hot without going for a large (or anyway, larger) case with a bigger PSU and some serious cooling.
Click to expand...

Well I found out that the better the gaming card, the better it is used for progs such as 3D Studio Max, and such. ALSO, I do gaming, and I want to be able to run HL2 on this box with some of the better settings...

I am thinking about modding the XPC case and add a couple of fans... or would that draw too much power?
 
Yes the better the card the better graphics programs work. BUT if your not
Pixar or Square Pictures there is no point in pissing away money for
something so powerful in a sff. The half life 2 demo played at E3 was w/ a GF4/1.8Ghz
and the vid clip was recorded on a Radeon 9800 Pro/2GHz+ Athlon.

If you want something powerful and that will allow u to continually upgrade
inorder to keep up with the changing gaming requirements, you should seriously
get a mini tower or a mid tower. The Lian Li mini tower is cool!

hope that helps
 
sorry for sounding like a broken record... hehe... but does anyone know the release date of this shuttle? hopefully this month?🙂
 
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