Falcon CR51 Mini-itx system $147 Shipped

[Cusqueno]

NewEgg has the FIC Falcon CR51, a super small barebones system based on the Mini-itx format. This is great as a thin client, Linux web server or kid's PC. I will set mine up with a wireless NIC and flash drive for a super quiet workstation. The best price I can find elsewhere is $160 + $25 shipping. Some of the NewEgg specifications are lacking detail so I've inserted notes below.

FIC Falcon CR51 Small Form Factor Bare Bones PC

Chipset: VIA Apllo PLE 133 & VT8235 [Via Epia Series]
Processor: VIA C3 EBGA processor series [933Mhz]
System Memory: 168 pin DIMM memory sockets X 2, 512MB max [1 GB Total]
Audio: AC' 97 Codec onboard
Video: Embedded in PLE 133
USB: 1.1 X 4
Bays: 3.5' HDD X 1 CD-ROM X 1
Networking: 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet
Power Supply: 150W Flex with PFC
Expansions: Low Profile PCI X 1
Form Factor: Mini-ITX
Dimension: 294.5 X 135 X 260mm [10.24"(D) x 5.31"(W) x 11.75"(H)]

 

[Dea]

DOes it come ready for an OS? What size Hard drive is in it?

 

[Cusqueno]

This is a barebones system so no hard drive or OS is included. I have an old 10 GB drive lying around that I will throw in to setup a Linux config. Afterwards I will add a Compact flash with IDE adapter as the boot drive instead. If you're looking for a pre-configured system try iDOTpc.com. More expensive, but they do all the dirty work.

 

[tallest1]

Where does the CDDrive go? I can't tell from the pics

 

[Cusqueno]

The left side of the silver front panel comes off and it is mounted vertically. Here's a link to the PDF on the FIC website with the official specs.

 

[oniq]

.. must resist... temptation to buy.. good deal! If I didn't have too many computers I would surely get this.

 

[may]

Can I add a TV out to this system? I want to use it as a home theater pc.

 

[Groch]

Another little FIC system that is just as good a deal, and a better choice if you want more expandibility and horsepower is the Crusader CS-VC35. At $139 shipped it is ready for a pentium 4 and has the benefit of an AGP slot and firewire. Here is the link:

LINK

It'll be a bit bigger and significantly louder, but still a very slick system.

 

[Cusqueno]

iDOTpc.com has another version with a different motherboard that inlcudes hardware MPEG2 decoder, TV out and utilizes DDR.

iBox Falcon PC Pro

 

[DerProfi]

Originally posted by: may
Can I add a TV out to this system? I want to use it as a home theater pc.

The EPIA boards usually have video out, but I don't see any connectors on the pictures. Assuming it's got video out, two things concern me:

1. I've yet to see a video-out (other than on a recent console like DC, PS2, XBox) on any computer device that doesn't look like absolute crap. My expectation is that when plugged into a TV, the image on DVD movies will be indistinguishable from the image I get when I'm playing a movie on my standalone DVD.
2. I have no idea how loud this thing will be. It must be practically silent for my purposes.

BTW, if you're metrically challenged like I am, the size is 11.6" x 5.31" x 10.24"

 

[targg]

This box will play mpeg4's, but struggles a little bit on dvd's according to several reviews. You might get a skip or two now and then. The epia-m 10000 motherboard has the newer nehemiah processor and the mpeg2 in hardware, and plays both fine.

The most amazing lack of thinking i've ever seen in that this does NOT include an s-video out. If it did I would have grabbed it off the shelf and snarled at anyone else nearby on my way to the register. It WOULD have made a nice home theater PC with that inclusion, which all other EPIA type MB's i've seen have. Why FIC would make a nice little black and silver small form factor unit with a motherboard designed for home theater type applications and remove the s-vid out is beyond me.

By the way fry's was and maybe still is selling these for about $150-something WITH a slim DVD drive. I believe any dvd/cd you put in this needs to be a slim version. Outpost has the same unit but in true fry's fashion charges $199 for it, about 40 more than the store does.

This does have a single low profile PCI slot available, so if you were able to find something like a low profile pci video card with tv out, you might have something.

Or you could get an EPIA-M 10000 for $165, put it in a smallish case you already have, or shell out another $75 for a black mini-itx case. Drop in a small quiet drive, a dvd-rom, and a stick of ram and you've got a pretty capable, very quiet, very cool running HTPC...

 

[cmetz]

This deal is an EPIA motherboard and a mini-ITX case & PS - it doesn't appear to include anything else. A quick web search says you can get those ala carte yourself for about as much, so shop around a little if this is seriously what you want.

The C3 chips are underpowered. HOWEVER, they are also very energy efficient, which means that they're good for PCs you might leave on all the time (servers, firewalls), and they're good for home theatre PCs which need to not have loud fans.

The EPIA-M motherboards add DDR SDRAM support and a MPEG-2 decoder in the video chipset, and so if you were looking to build a HTPC, you'd likely be much better off with one of those than with the motherboard in this deal.

 

[ericboo]

I just ordered my second Iwill XP4 which is an Intel 845GV chipset with 533FSB, onboard VGA, LAN, 4-USB 2.0 for $160 aftre rebate.

Epia's are underpowered compared to Shuttle, G-box, Iwill and the SFF PC's.

 

[vladgur]

Originally posted by: targg
This box will play mpeg4's, but struggles a little bit on dvd's according to several reviews. You might get a skip or two now and then. The epia-m 10000 motherboard has the newer nehemiah processor and the mpeg2 in hardware, and plays both fine.

It is quite possible that Epia-m 10,000 will include nehemia processor, but Epia-m 1000 does not have the nehemiah core....

 

[vegetation]

Beware -- based upon the photos on newegg, this unit uses the infamous nasty power supply with a 40mm fan, similar to the Shuttles. Your system will not be quiet unless you do massive case modifications to ditch the 40mm fan.

 

[targg]

...And for anyone who gets the same bright idea that I did...

The 40mm fan was so damn loud in that channel well power supply that I tried removing the fan and the exterior case from the power supply, figuring perhaps the open airflow in the case would be sufficient to keep it cool. Well it was a heck of a lot quieter. About a month later I got some smoke and no more power supply.

However...since I dont have anything in the front mounted 5.25 or 3.5" bays of my sv24/25 (just a hard drive in the back) I WAS able to mount a 145w small ATX supply in the front of the case rather than hunt for the original channel well replacement that was 3x the cost. I was a little tempted to cut a small square hole in the top of the case and mount the power supply there, sorta like a hemi

 

[cheapgoose]

aww...it's so cute.

 

[clarkmo]

At Newegg, they have this mobo. for $145 and this case for $129.
You pay a little extra but it should meet your entertainment pc needs.

 

[vegetation]

I wonder if anyone makes an external power brick type mini case, preferably fan-less? All these mini systems with that cruddy internal 40mm power supply fan just makes me shake my head.

The 40mm fan was so damn loud in that channel well power supply that I tried removing the fan and the exterior case from the power supply, figuring perhaps the open airflow in the case would be sufficient to keep it cool. Well it was a heck of a lot quieter. About a month later I got some smoke and no more power supply.

 

[clarkmo]

Originally posted by: vegetation
I wonder if anyone makes an external power brick type mini case, preferably fan-less? All these mini systems with that cruddy internal 40mm power supply fan just makes me shake my head.

The 40mm fan was so damn loud in that channel well power supply that I tried removing the fan and the exterior case from the power supply, figuring perhaps the open airflow in the case would be sufficient to keep it cool. Well it was a heck of a lot quieter. About a month later I got some smoke and no more power supply.

Here's one.

 

[targg]

I've seen those cubid cases cheaper. The only thing that would make me pause is some cross information regarding them. I see some companies selling them with the epia and epia-m boards. Then again i've seen some companies saying to NOT run the faster epia or the epia-m's with anything less than an 80-90w supply (these cubids are 50 or 55w). Considering a board with a big stick of ddr, a hard drive and a dvd-rom in it, i'd be more than a little bit concerned about anything under 75w myself.