Mac Mini Sized PC

[hennessy1]

I am looking for a computer the size of the current or last gen mac mini with the same computing power. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on companies with those types of specs for a pre-built computer.

I don't want the mini because of the inaccessibility to parts inside it.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Here is my favorite small machine for the price:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-013-_-Product

Better hardware value than a mini.

It doesn't give you what you want though, and nothing will in a complete package. To get what you want 100% (ability to swap parts) you need to looking into building a Mini ITX machine. They really don't make value priced pre-built Mini ITX machines- it is still a niche.

Mini ITX is hard but a lot of fun. I am on my second built, and taking into account the smaller parts is a challenge.

 

[hennessy1]

Nope that one looks perfect to me. I've built several itx systems just never in the size of the mac mini. Now for this system is the optical drive replaceable and if so is it a standard size?

I assume it can do some sort of onboard raid as well with the 2 hdds?

 

[DaveSimmons]

> is the optical drive replaceable and if so is it a standard size?

If you want blu-ray they have the -BD model for $100 more, search "asrock core"

> I assume it can do some sort of onboard raid as well with the 2 hdds?

Check the ASRock website to see if that's possible.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Here is the Blu Ray one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-014-_-Product

According to the Intel Spec sheet for that chipset, it supports SATA RAID 0/1/5/10:

http://www.intel.com/Products/Notebook/Chipsets/HM55/HM55-technicaldocuments.htm

 

[hennessy1]

Is the listed ram spped the fastest it will take and downclock anything higher to that or will it go higherer? If so what is the highest for 8gb?

 

[PoopyPants]

no offense, because i think its a nice system too, but they are charging a MASSIVE premium for that system.
you can get a i3 laptop, and a damn nice one, with ATI or Nvidia graphics for that kind of money.

and 1080p on that crap a$$ intel video chip isnt going to work, you will be ranking on the cpu pretty hard and propably have really choppy video.

i assume its the 4500HD video chip?

for that much money they could have easily given you 6 gigs of ram and the nvidia 9600M chipset or ION 2 chipset.

in my eyes you are better off buying a zotac itx board and building your own, and i guarentee you would spend MUCH less.

 

[hennessy1]

I know i can build a nicer system for the money and I have. Thing is this is for a small office pc and its size is what is attractive. So I won't be taxing the graphics much at all.

 

[Zap]

no offense, because i think its a nice system too, but they are charging a MASSIVE premium for that system.

There are some reasons for that:

1) Nobody else is making anything like that (tiny but more powerful than Atom) so they can charge whatever they want.

2) Volumes are probably low right now so their cost is higher than usual (actual notebooks are probably much higher volume).

3) Cost of notebook components such as the CPU are usually higher than desktop components.

Still, you guys are right in that you can build something similar for less. I count around $450 w/o the remote control for something similar (Core i3, H55 ITX, tiny chassis, slim BD drive). Knock off an easy $100 or more if you don't need BD.

Athenatech A1001BB or APEX MW-107V $70 (different fascia but same tiny chassis/PSU, one of the smallest that still has ODD)
ECS H55H-I $80 (or choose more expensive Gigabyte/Intel/Zotac/etc.)
Pentium G6950 $90 (or choose more expensive Core i3/etc.)
Samsung slim DVDRW $30 (or choose $150 BD)

That puts it at around $270 plus shipping and/or tax. Add $100 for a boot SSD and $80 for 4GB RAM for a $450 mini system that's ready for an OS.

 

[shortylickens]

ARRGGHHHH!
When the fuck did Newegg fuck up their interface again?


Also, nice computer.

 

[Zap]

ARRGGHHHH!
When the fuck did Newegg fuck up their interface again?

There's a thread about it in General Hardware.

 

[shamans33]

For the amount of money you're spending, you should think about building your own...it doesn't take much work.

Here's 2 examples for the case and power supply. The rest you should be able to figure out with your itx experience...

1) http://www.mini-box.com/M350-enclosure-with-picoPSU-80-and-60W-adapter

2) http://www.in-win.us/products_pccase_series.php?cat_id=1&series_id=49

I've used both. The in-win case may require a non-stock cpu fan (since height clearance is pretty small).

 

[gorobei]

the dell zino series is supposed to be pretty good price and performance wise. You are supposed to be able to configure it for whatever role htpc, whs, torrent box, blu-ray, etc. Main limitation is it's only amd cpu.

Probably wont be really interesting until fusion parts come out.