• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

First Time Builder SFF or ATX? If SFF, Biostar or Soltek??

J

JamFish05

Junior Member
I'm planning to build my first home computer. I was at first going for the regular tower desktop, but my mom mentioned about putting it in my room. I really don't know if this will work, as my room is junky already. So I started looking at the pretty SFF. Should I get one of these, or not. I've read a lot of stuff on them so far, and they seem to have a lot of issues. I'm sort of a gamer(LAN parties I LUV!!), and I'm gonna take classes with lots of multimedia, but I really need something small. I might also go AMD 64 with whatever I get. What should I do?? Should I stay with the Towers or go with the SFFs? And if I do go with the SFFs, what should I get?? So far, my best brand picks are Biostar and Soltek. And advice on this, and other helpful hints on caring for SFFs?
 
I'm in the same boat as JamFish. I want to make a Doom3 box for as cheap as possible, but is also portable. There aren't many SFF that can O/C well and still be a powerhouse.
 
Same here too. Are there any MicroATX a64 NF3 boards that OC well? Another option would be to a well built small Atx case. Sort of like This, with the PS mounted on the side not above the CPU, but smaller and costs less. Does anyone make this?
 
I'd go for Soltek hands down. Biostar are solidly made, though uninspired, and cost less but Soltek is more advanced & offers more flexibility inside the case, which is impressively thought out & executed. I just got the 3801 after months of studying everything on the SFF the market & am very happy with it. Very fast & very quiet (impt consideration with a SFF) and tons of i/o ports. Soltek encourages oc'ing and just released a special oc'er's beta bios with unlimited potential to fry your chip. You can put in a full size video card (don't know about biostar there) and even s-ata raid.

All the reviews show it'll stack up to almost any tower in performance, but obviously you lose the flexibility of essentially unlimited bays--but for me that's a plus. Also its the only one out there with 64 bit/n-force 3 right now. Care & feeding are same as any tower, just don't drop it ;-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top