Need Small Form Barebones Help

[rohizz]

I want to make a Small Form gaming PC with a strong processor, a good top-of-the-line small form PCI-E video card, 2 gigs of RAM, and at least a 500gb hard drive. I have a question about a barebones case. Can I replace the motherboard from a barebones PC? Could I, by chance, make my build on this MSI Hetis 915 Lite Black, by replacing the motherboard? Or could any case, in general. To replace this mobo, what kind of motherboard would I need? Any help is appreciated. Thank you. Any other suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.

EDIT: I really like this sort of case. If anyone can suggest a similar case, preferrably <$100, and not barebones, so I can get my own motherboard, it would be very helpful. Thanks.

 

[GreenGhost]

I'm also interested to know. Most sff cases are like cubes, to allow standard PSUs. I'd like to know if any of these slim cases can take a modern video card, and if there are adequate PSU's that will fit them.

 

[cheesehead]

Many SFF barebones use mATX motherboards, but the really thin ones often use non-standard formats. In addition, anything that thin likely uses a heatsink mounted to the case itself; if the CPU's not in exactly the right place, it won't work.

I'd just try to get a SFF board, and build a case around it.

 

[rohizz]

Build a case around it? I don't really understand how you would go about doing that.

 

[DaveSimmons]

You might like the Antec NSK2400 microATX desktop case (review at SilentPCReview.com) or the Ultra Microfly microATX cube case (buy at TigerDirect, review at sudhian.com).

Both of these take standard microATX motherboards like the Biostar TForce (socket 939 with an A64 X2 makes a great combo). Both have 120mm fan mounts for exhaust and can be used with high-end video cards.

Slim booksize cases like the MSI often have problems with heat and noise if you try to put a decent video card in them.

 

[Steeeeve]

You got plenty of options.....mATX motherboards are good for SFF as you can replace them, things like the SHuttle have standard mobos that can't be replaced really (upgraded). My sig has a link to a bunch of different mATX cases (my website btw).

 

[DaveSimmons]

Nice site - FYI you missed a spot - fix me! (the temp graph)

 

[rohizz]

My current rig has a huge 5-yr old Antec Performance II case, and I'm fed up with its size. I'm looking for something like the XPS200. I'm going to be going to college and I want to be able to just take the actual PC back and forth from the dorm and home. Shuttles and even Micro cases look pretty big to me. Though, something as small as I want is going to have bad upgrade-ability with no room for a sound card, and such. But I don't mind. The size means the most to me right now.

EDIT: Amazing site by the way, thanks.

EDIT 2:On second glance, I really like that Aspire Q-pack, can Micro Cases use full sized PCI/AGP/PCI-E cards? I intend to be doing some good gaming.

EDIT 3: Can I build this build in a X-Qpack?

--Foxconn 6150K8MA-8EKRS Socket 939 NVIDIA GeForce 6150 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

--MASSCOOL 5T313B 70mm Ball Cooling Fan/Heatsink


--Athena Power AP-MP4ATX45 MicroATX 450W Power Supply

--AMD Athlon 64 4000+ San Diego 2000MHz HT Socket 939 Processor Model ADA4000BNBOX

--Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS Platinum 70SB035000003 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card

--SAPPHIRE 100106L Radeon X850XT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card

 

[DaveSimmons]

The Microfly and QPack both have 4 full-height slots. FYI, Sudhian.com has a QPack review too in addition to the Microfly.

The Microfly is only available from Tiger Direct, but it is a little deeper than the QPack so has less problems with PSU's and DVD drives bumping into each other

The Biostar TForce 6100 matx motherboard has a 5 star rating at newegg.com

Your Athena link isn't working so no idea on the PSU but otherwise the parts should work.

FYI, here's aQPack review that has some assembly tips - QPack

 

[rohizz]

totally helpful, thanks a ton.
My beef with the Biostar board is that there arent enough PCI slots....2 will be taken from the Video Card, and 1 from the Sound Card...so I'll need the extra room with the 3rd PCI slot on my mobo. However, thanks a lot for the reviews and assembly tips.