I need an SFF PC... any ideas?

[Lorn]

Could anyone be so kind as to help me out with a decent SFF PC that could accept at least a 9800 Pro? I'm trying to score a PC solution so that I can get my fix of HL2 and CS:Source. I love my Mac it's great - but it doesn't have HL2.

So, could I find something for under $500?

 

[Bateluer]

Any of the new Shuttle XPCs will take a 9800 Pro or greater. Problem is that, say an X800 XL video card, will run around 300, leaving you 200 for the rest of the SFF. Last I checked, the A64s XPCs were around 300 to 400, not including RAM, CPU, hdd, DVD . . .

Edit - One of the best

A Step down

s478 models.

Generally, 220W PSUs in SFF machines can handle 9800s and higher, but as always, more power is good.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Any of the new Shuttle XPCs will take a 9800 Pro or greater. Problem is that, say an X800 XL video card, will run around 300, leaving you 200 for the rest of the SFF. Last I checked, the A64s XPCs were around 300 to 400, not including RAM, CPU, hdd, DVD . . .

Edit - One of the best

A Step down

s478 models.

Generally, 220W PSUs in SFF machines can handle 9800s and higher, but as always, more power is good.

The new ones are nice. With the nForce or ATI chipset from S939, they accept PCI-E too. 🙂
They're also pretty cool. Lots of power in a tiny case. (Thinking of getting one myself.)

 

[Lorn]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
Any of the new Shuttle XPCs will take a 9800 Pro or greater. Problem is that, say an X800 XL video card, will run around 300, leaving you 200 for the rest of the SFF. Last I checked, the A64s XPCs were around 300 to 400, not including RAM, CPU, hdd, DVD . . .

Edit - One of the best

A Step down

s478 models.

Generally, 220W PSUs in SFF machines can handle 9800s and higher, but as always, more power is good.

Thanks a lot for your help. The second Shuttle one looks like what I need.

Edit - I think I'm going to go ahead and get that and then try to find some nice deals on what I need in the FS forum. I've already got a gig of PC3200 ram ready as well as an optical drive.

Those A64 cpu's sure are expensive, though. Hows the performance of an A64 over, lets say, an Athlon XP processor? My old PC was AXP 2700 oc'ed to 3200 with a gig of ram and it ran HL2 just fine. Are the A64's really worth it?

 

[Megamixman]

A lot better. An A64 3200+ will be and feel faster then an Athlon XP 3200+ Get a A64 3000+, it is well worth the money, plus i bet you could OC it to atleast 2.2Ghz making it atleast a 3500+. The Sn95G5 is definately what you want since you still want to use AGP.

 

[Albis]

If you're talking cheap, go with the SN45Gv2. It's an older model using the nForce2 chipset.

Buy a mobile barton 2400+ or 2500+ and stick some PC3200 ram and with a little overclocking you'll be running at 3200+ speeds in no time.

it's cheap and works great. i use that for now b/c college is expensive