Should I upgrade: would SFF have better graphics?

[imported_maxx]

I am looking at maybe upgrading to a SFF PC after the holidays. I have looked at some reviews, but am wondering if someone can help with a few of my questions:

1st, my preference will be for an A64 system when I get there.

1. Which SFF is quieter?
2. Which SFF might have integrated video that would compare to the Radeon 8500 that I have right now (so I can ditch the card).
3. Are there any systems support 3 DIMMs? I have 3x512MB in my desktop, and I would like to reuse these in a new system.

Thanks.

--Maxx

 

[erikistired]

imho onboard graphics will never compete with a video card. you might want to look at the antec aria. it uses microatx boards so you can choose whatever you want, don't have to go with what they offer you (not all boards fit tho, ymmv).

 

[thraxes]

Asus Terminator with the ATI IGP 9100 chipset comes closest. But as fisher already said, an AGP card will always be better in the end.

 

[geecee]

Originally posted by: maxx
I am looking at maybe upgrading to a SFF PC after the holidays. I have looked at some reviews, but am wondering if someone can help with a few of my questions:

1st, my preference will be for an A64 system when I get there.

1. Which SFF is quieter?
2. Which SFF might have integrated video that would compare to the Radeon 8500 that I have right now (so I can ditch the card).
3. Are there any systems support 3 DIMMs? I have 3x512MB in my desktop, and I would like to reuse these in a new system.

Thanks.

--Maxx

1. Any of the newer SFFs (including A64 based ones) will be fairly quiet (at least after you get into the BIOS and change the fan speeds). I have a Shuttle 85GN4V2 (nForce3-150) and with its fans set to low, I can barely make it out, unless the room is completely silent. Some Soltek models are supposed to be quieter apparently, although they run at a higher temperature. If you get an A64 SFF, you can enable the AMD Cool 'n Quiet features, and can probably keep the fans spinning low and keep the temps down. Try sfftech.com or right here at AT for some reviews on SFFs and some specific A64 models.

2. Why ditch the 8500? All the A64 SFFs have AGP slots. You may as well just transplant the card. It will be better than any integrated video. I believe only some of the VIA based A64 SFFs have integrated graphics anyway - Unichrome - which is fine for 2D and not much else. For better integrated graphics (at this point in time), you'd have to go with non-A64. Maybe when the new ATI A64 chipset makes it to SFF-land that will change.

3. I haven't seen a review yet of a SFF that can take 3 DIMMs. For the simple reason of space (and possibly power??), they're all limited to 2 DIMMs. If you want 3, go with a matx board and an Antec Aria as someone suggested previously. (Of course, just because I haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. )

Hope that helps.

 

[Gioron]

I'd have to agree with the comments here, there are some boards that might fit your specs, but I find it hard to recommend them. Integrated graphics aren't great, and it'll be a stretch to find a board with 3 DIMM slots. I did a search on newegg for 3x or 4x DIMM slots on an a64 microATX board and came up blank (except for one misindexed board), and integrated graphics are so bad its hard to recommend them over your aging 8500 if you do any kind of gaming at all.