Want to build small kitchen pc- Help

[Token Joe]

I have never tried to build anything small so don't know where to get cheap parts or what to get. Here is what I want to do: build a resonalbly 1.4 gig proc, fast embedded video for kids games (no major 3d), in a case no more than 12 inches deep, 14 inches wide and 4 inches deep. Also need a cd drive and Nic. I want to mount it under the cabinets like a can opener. Have lcd already and making custum keyboard/mouse drawer. Any advice on what components and where to get cheap would be great, want to go as cheap as I can. Thanks.

 

[ScissorClaw]

I assume you mean 4 inches in height? That's gonna be a tough one to do. My video card (Nvidia 5200 is 4.2 inches in height. I'm sure they are some out there that will be not quite as high, but that won't leave you much clearance. I do like the idea of mounting it ike a can-opener. Maybe you have an old stereo component laying around that you can gut that fits the bill for this project. I don't have much knowledge in small form factor cases so I don't know any of their dimensions. Good idea though. I'll probably do the same thing when I have kids. Thanks for the idea! Do I have to pay royalties to ya?

PS Start off with the Mini ATX motherboards. I think they fit the paramaters you are looking for and then just build out from there. I would think you could find a couple of websites or guides on building inconspicuous PC on the internet.

PPS How cheap is cheaP?

 

[Tegeril]

mini-itx.com

Maybe...probably not the price you want (for the 1ghz version), but they are tiny.

Otherwise, look at mini-atx.

 

[TRUMPHENT]

I just scored a free 48x CDROM, 3.5" diskette drive, powersupply Dell case with a bad mainboard and a 7' 19" server rack. For free. I work in an office building and when a tenant moves out, they throw away a lot of valuable stuff. I start to drool when I see the big dumpster brought in. This isn't the one for normal trash/garbage. It's for renovation and construction. I can't wait for the next tenant to move in or out. You may not find everything you need but you can't find cheaper components!

I also got the ribbon cables from the Dell. Never saw them before. They have these nifty white plastic tabs on the connectors for easy pulling so as not to bend the pins on the drives. What's in your dumpster?😀

 

[Frightcrawler]

perhaps you could buy a small form factor pc? it probably wouldnt mount under the cabinet, but its small and powerful.

 

[Token Joe]

Thanks for the input, I figured I'd get an all in one board so no need for seperate video card. as far as a case if I could find a little desktop with a single drive bay I would be golden. I was wondering what the best all in one micro atx board would be though. Again would need to be at least 1 ghz. I have a 600 with 810 chipset and it just isn't enough. would like pretty good integrated video and a nic port. Any more suggestions for what and where to look would be great.

 

[piasabird]

Dell makes a small optiplex system but it comes standard with a 5400 rpm hard drive. I think it has a drive bay that can take a 7200 rpm drive. This thing is pretty small and it is not shown in the Home PC section on the DELL website. It is an Optiplex.

Dell Small Form Factor

There are some other companies that make Flex-ITX P4 or VIA C3 Motherboards.

Mini-Itx.com

 

[piasabird]

I have been looking at something else wich is totally different. It is not released for sale in the US. They just announced it in JAPAN. It is a Sony PSX. It is designed as what they call a PVR. It works like a TIVO or computerized VCR. It has a Satelite Receiver, and a DVD recordable optical disk. It also plays video games. This is something to look for. I would expect some different types of companies to come up with different products in the future. They also make some nice TV/LCD screens and some portable DVD players designed to be kitchen appliances and have flipdown screens. They make these for Cars Also.

 

[rhuss]

check out fic or newegg for barebones