Free SSD with select mini barebones

[Zap]

List of "select" barebones expires 8/27 "or sooner if funds expire"

The SSD will be bundled after you add the barebones to the cart. It will be an OCZ Agility 3 60GB. Not only is the $60 price of the SSD discounted, but there is also a $10 rebate on the SSD making it a net -$10 on the barebones.

If anyone wonders which one to buy and what the differences are, the choices are Atom, VIA, AMD E-350, AMD E-450, and a few Shuttle systems that takes desktop CPUs.

I would recommend the cheapest Foxconn E-350 barebones for $155+shipping (minus $10 after rebating the SSD). Just add around $20 for a 4GB DDR3 SODIMM and you have a complete computer the size of a broadband router with built-in WiFi and comes with a VESA monitor mount. Or, $20 more for the same thing with USB 3.0.

 

[RPD]

Damn... this is really, really tempting. Wouldn't the E450 be better suited for an HTPC?
Er well I guess I'd have to figure out something for more storage externally.

 

[Zap]

For external storage, get the $175 unit with USB 3.0.

The E-450 has a 60MHz faster CPU, slightly faster graphics and maybe supports faster RAM. I don't think that little bit of difference would make or break HTPC usage. For HD video if the software supports GPU acceleration then all is good with either APU. If not (Silverlight/Netflix, I'm looking at you) then the extra 60MHz of the CPU probably won't help much.

 

[pbroussard]

just the deal I needed to push me over the edge. thanks Zap!

 

[sunilx]

Zap: It seems both Foxconn E-350 models have 2 x USB 3.0 on front panel.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&Description=BAREBONESSD&bop=And&CompareItemList=-1|56-119-072^56-119-072-TS%2C56-119-050^56-119-050-TS

 

[VirtualLarry]

If they both have USB3.0, then what is the difference between the two Foxconn E-350 book PCs? Is there any difference other than color?

Here's an idea. Turn one of these into a low-power WHS2011 box, using USB3.0 external HDs.

I was thinking of
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148889

and
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416443

along with the white foxconn E-350 unit, which I believe has gigabit. It should serve files much faster than one of those overpriced NAS units with the little mini-processors running embedded Linux.

 

[sunilx]

VirtualLarry: I posted link to side by side comparison. The *only* difference I can see is the White model supposedly supports DDR3-800 (??) and Black one DDR3-1066 (??).

You be the judge.

 

[TemjinGold]

So OCZ SSDs are officially bad enough that they need to pay you to take one?

 

[VirtualLarry]

As far as I know, the E-350 systems take 1066 RAM, so I'm not sure why one is specced out as 800 RAM. I suspect that may be a a typo. Or perhaps a Foxconn mobo limitation.

 

[Zap]

Zap: It seems both Foxconn E-350 models have 2 x USB 3.0 on front panel.

I missed that, so you are absolutely right. I guess maybe the white one doesn't sell as quickly as the black one, so maybe discounted?

I personally would have no problems saving $20 for a white one.

So OCZ SSDs are officially bad enough that they need to pay you to take one?

Heh, apparently.

 

[SunRey]

Thank You!

 

[Macgyversite]

Save the $20 and get the White one. Great deal for a Web surfing Streamer HTPC. Add a portable USB Blueray drive for the Whole HTPC effect sans Dolby 5.1 tho. :-(