I'm planning on turning my system into a ssf pc (specs below), but i need some help choose which barebone system to purchase. the system must be able to support ddr400 ram, and AMD 2500+, SATA, and have enough power to support my radeon 9800np. I plan to use this system to mainly surf the 'net and play games. Any recommendations?
Help me choose an SSF
- Thread starter DarkKnight
- Start date
are there any ssf systems that have my requirements?? I've having trouble finding one that can support ddr 400 and the athlon xp
geecee
Platinum Member
- Jan 14, 2003
- 2,383
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You have three HDs listed in your setup. I'm not sure if there are too many SFF cases that offer three HD bays (unless you forgo the optical drive and use a 5 1/4 bay to hold a HD). You could get an external USB 2.0 case to hold one of the HDs if all three are essential. Also, when you talk about 400 mhz DDR support, I'm assuming you're talking solely about memory and NOT about FSB support? Or is your OC done through the FSB in this case and you need FSB support up to 400mhz?
This should be fine, although I don't know about how big your tuner card is and how well it would co-exist in that tight of a space with the 9800. I've never built an SFF AMD based PC so I can't speak intelligently about any issues that may be encountered. I've put together two P4 based ones (SS51G w/ 2Ghz P4 & Ti4200 & no-name Chyang Fun (?) with a 1.7 Cel and a Radeon 8500) and they have been solid and reliable (though at times a bit noisy). But neither of these systems are OC'd, nor are all the drive bays full (1 HD, 1 optical, no floppies) so I've never had power/power supply related issues that you may encounter with more/higher end peripherals drawing power. Also, I dont think this Biostar or the Shuttles officially support the 400 mhz FSB at the moment (I'm not sure that they're even capable of it, again never having built a SFF AMD box before).
EDIT:
OOPS, just noticed the Biostar only has 1 3.5" bay. The Shuttles have two but I guess these Biostars only have one. This has SATA though, which the two popular Shuttle variations do not (SN41G2 and SN45G). You could put an SATA card in the PCI slot of a Shuttle, but then you couldn't use your tuner card. These small systems are often about compromise.
Also, read the customer comments at Newegg, they mention some issues with the SATA and possibly problems with some high end video cards for this Biostar.
Check out this Soltek too. Again, no SATA though it does explicitly support the 400mhz FSB. As does the Shuttle SN45G, I've now noticed.
This should be fine, although I don't know about how big your tuner card is and how well it would co-exist in that tight of a space with the 9800. I've never built an SFF AMD based PC so I can't speak intelligently about any issues that may be encountered. I've put together two P4 based ones (SS51G w/ 2Ghz P4 & Ti4200 & no-name Chyang Fun (?) with a 1.7 Cel and a Radeon 8500) and they have been solid and reliable (though at times a bit noisy). But neither of these systems are OC'd, nor are all the drive bays full (1 HD, 1 optical, no floppies) so I've never had power/power supply related issues that you may encounter with more/higher end peripherals drawing power. Also, I dont think this Biostar or the Shuttles officially support the 400 mhz FSB at the moment (I'm not sure that they're even capable of it, again never having built a SFF AMD box before).
EDIT:
OOPS, just noticed the Biostar only has 1 3.5" bay. The Shuttles have two but I guess these Biostars only have one. This has SATA though, which the two popular Shuttle variations do not (SN41G2 and SN45G). You could put an SATA card in the PCI slot of a Shuttle, but then you couldn't use your tuner card. These small systems are often about compromise.
Also, read the customer comments at Newegg, they mention some issues with the SATA and possibly problems with some high end video cards for this Biostar. Check out this Soltek too. Again, no SATA though it does explicitly support the 400mhz FSB. As does the Shuttle SN45G, I've now noticed.
Yeah, you're going to have to look into compromising a bit. The SN45G would support 200FSB, but does not have SATA. 3 HDDs is too much to try to stick in these without making serious modifications. Could get an AIW card and a SATA card and use two hard drives. Keep in mind, though, that the SN45G may have issues with the 9700/9800 AIW and the power supply, necessitating an upgrade to the 250W PSU or a downgrade to a 9600AIW. Gonna have to do a little soul-searching as to what is most important to you and go from there.
'Course they're coming out with an SN41G2 V2 that will have SATA and the 250W PSU, but it is not rated to do 200FSB. Could get lucky, though. (I have seen some who have gotten their SN41G2s to 200FSB)
'Course they're coming out with an SN41G2 V2 that will have SATA and the 250W PSU, but it is not rated to do 200FSB. Could get lucky, though. (I have seen some who have gotten their SN41G2s to 200FSB)
oops shouldve gave more info, the only cards i'll put in are my radeon 9800 and my TV tuner. I will only have 1 hd (the 120 gb seagate sata). Lan, and sound will be onboard. The Tv tuner is pretty small so i don't think it will be a problem.
i just got done building biostar geecee linked to . working great. just have an XP2000 in it for now , but it's doing fine as a HTPC with an AIW vid card in it.
does have a noticeable fan noise with the fans running at full but using the supplied software it's very quiet. chips running at 40' according to it.
only trouble i had was installing winXP. it didn't like having the ATI card in during the install . i think it was a chip set driver issue. removed the card , installed windows and the chip set drivers,UNinstalled the nvidia display drivers, and installed the 4.1 cats. no problems then and none since.
I'm thinking of buying another.
good luck
edit : spelling
well it has 1 front 3.5 and also 1 3.5 hard drive bays. i have a 120 gig WD and a 160 segate with a DVD burner living quite nicely.
does have a noticeable fan noise with the fans running at full but using the supplied software it's very quiet. chips running at 40' according to it.
only trouble i had was installing winXP. it didn't like having the ATI card in during the install . i think it was a chip set driver issue. removed the card , installed windows and the chip set drivers,UNinstalled the nvidia display drivers, and installed the 4.1 cats. no problems then and none since.
I'm thinking of buying another.
good luck
edit : spelling
Are there any SFF's that can do support 400mhz fsb, SATA, and an athlon xp? Thats what I'm looking for
Try this:
http://matrix.sfftech.com/
Looks like the Jetway MiniQ 740AV is the only one that fits the bill.
http://matrix.sfftech.com/
Looks like the Jetway MiniQ 740AV is the only one that fits the bill.
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