XPC Question

[omega2]

For those of you who have XPC (ie shuttle box), i have a question. Are the parts for the XPC standard components? The components I wondering whether they are standard components are not are the power supply and the CPU cooling. I do realize that the motherboard are proportiary, but what about the PSU and the CPU cooling. I can't recall, but I think i remember reading that the CPU cooling for these XPC can't use the stock CPU heat sink and fan because of the tight spacing in these XPC boxes.

So, assuming the power supply and the CPU cooling uses nonstandard components which I can buy off the shelf, are these parts for the XPC servicable?

One last thing, what's are your opinions are these small little boxes versus are desktop or laptops.

 

[wisdomtooth]

Personal mileage varies, of course... Some people love these cube boxes, and if it strikes your fancy, get it!

I don't like non-standard components, which is why I tend to build my own if I need a small computer.. Even horizontal desktop computers can be small if you are willing to sacrifice certain amenities like number of slots available and the amount of hardware you can cram into it. My HTPC for instance is only 12 inches deep, 15 inches wide, and 4 inches high.

HTH.