Matx barebones or build

Relayer

Diamond Member
Oct 30, 1999
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I need a matx like the Shuttles in as small a case as possible. I would like to spend as little as possible also. Would it be a huge downgrade to go to an SIS661FX chipset from an Intel 845? Should I go with Intel 865? For now I will be using a P4 2.2GHz.

I'm thinking of this Shuttle. I could get this Skyhawk for around the same price and it has an Intel chipset.

Or should I get this Chenming case and this Asus P4P800-VM board.

I would like to use the P4 2.2GHz and need AGP.
 

cheesehead

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
10,079
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Intel chipsets the way to go for Intel processors. I would personally go with the 865P or 865PE; 400mhz DDR is very cheap these days, and you want a motherboard that can take full advantage of it in dual channel mode. (Although I'm not familiar with the chipset, it looks to only support single-channel DDR400).
On the other hand, the Shuttle is of known good quality, while the Eagle/Skyhawk is not. Although you would take a hit to performance, the Shuttle is, in my opinion, a better option. After all, it does'nt matter how fast it is if it breaks every other week and you need to ship it to Taiwan to get it fixed.
I should also mention that the mATX form factor is, in fact, much larger than the Shuttle's form factor. The Chenming case shown above would likely be a good 50% larger.
 

juggernut

Member
Oct 30, 2000
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Whats a good barebones cases with the 865PE mobo?? I am looking for the cases like the size of the shuttle cases. Thanks :D