YAM4HSFFT - Silent, custom-built, and deadly

[MercenaryForHire]

( Yet Another M4H Small Form Factor Thread )

After much cursing, haggling, and purchasing, my new mATX box is finally coming together.

Parts are in various stages of "assembled", "on the way" and "just ordered five minutes ago". I haven't decided which hard drive to put in yet, since I haven't got the IBM yet.

Intel Celeron 1.3 (Tualatin core)
Zalman CNPS3000+
MSI MS-6318 (VIA 694T mATX reference) motherboard
512MB PC133 SDRAM @ CAS2
IBM Travelstar 30GB ATA100 4200rpm notebook drive suspended in 3.5" bay
OR
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 60GB ATA133 7200rpm suspended in 5.25" bay
LiteON 16x48x24x48 DVD/CDRW combo drive
OEM Radeon 9000 64MB 128-bit (passive cooling)
IBM Netvista A20i case w/ 185W ATX12V PSU and 92mm rubber-mounted fan - the only fan in the machine.

I cannot hear this machine in operation. The P120 router machine I have sitting a dozen feet away behind a couch makes more noise. With everything else off, there is the faintest, tiniest hum from the hard drive. Air noise is nonexistant.

So take that, all you Shuttle-toting bandwagon hoppers. I custom-build my own small, silent, and powerful boxes.

:beer:

- M4H

 

[Psychosylph]

No bragging 'til we get a link to a pic of the case...

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Psychosylph
No bragging 'til we get a link to a pic of the case...

/resumes bragging
That 92mm fan is directly over the CPU, which is how I get away with just it

Edit - I'm considering repainting the blue front a different colour, such as green (and then add the 6" CCFL I have laying around) or perhaps "Ferrari Red".

- M4H

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Impressive :beer:

OK now I'll give you some feedback

For price, noise, and originality I give you all A+'s

For style, at this time, I'm forced to give you an F as that is oogly! IMO No way that monstrosity would be allowed to reside as my HTPC in it's present state, so the sooner you paint it the better!

For performance I can only give you a C+ since it is horribly bandwidth starved and doesn't possess the capacity to act as a main system replacement like most of our shuttle models do.

Yet, I'm forced to admit for what you most likely have invested it's a definite winner :wine: I do take exception to calling it powerful though, as my SN45G though obviously far more costly would eat it for breakfast and still be hungry :beer:

 

[Psychosylph]

Hmmm...

Yes, ugly. Yes, my SN41G2 would stomp it into the ground.

But, then again, if you could get a m-ATX nForce2 board with a passively cooled 9500Pro (or higher) in it...

Not bad, has possibilities. I especially like the swing out PSU; I have a case that is designed similarly and you have to slide the PSU out to work on anything...

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
Impressive :beer:

OK now I'll give you some feedback

For price, noise, and originality I give you all A+'s

For style, at this time, I'm forced to give you an F as that is oogly! IMO No way that monstrosity would be allowed to reside as my HTPC in it's present state, so the sooner you paint it the better!

That's not my HTPC, this is

For performance I can only give you a C+ since it is horribly bandwidth starved and doesn't possess the capacity to act as a main system replacement like most of our shuttle models do.

Gamer say what now? A Tualatin Celeron has plenty of oomph for most moderate tasks, and the R9000 will give it enough juice to handle some light LANing. And this time I won't have to be server.

Yet, I'm forced to admit for what you most likely have invested it's a definite winner :wine: I do take exception to calling it powerful though, as my SN45G though obviously far more costly would eat it for breakfast and still be hungry :beer:

/gathers up receipts ... CDN$405 (with the Travelstar) ain't bad, and everything but the HD is new.

- M4H

 

[DAPUNISHER]

The basic beige of your HTPC is much nicer, in fact that's a sweet lookin' lil' box

405$ Canadian final cost for your latest project isn't bad at all! :beer: Add a couple dollars for paint though

 

[iwearnosox]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: Psychosylph
No bragging 'til we get a link to a pic of the case...

/resumes bragging
That 92mm fan is directly over the CPU, which is how I get away with just it

Edit - I'm considering repainting the blue front a different colour, such as green (and then add the 6" CCFL I have laying around) or perhaps "Ferrari Red".

- M4H

How many animals have been tortured between those sheets?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
The basic beige of your HTPC is much nicer, in fact that's a sweet lookin' lil' box

405$ Canadian final cost for your latest project isn't bad at all! :beer: Add a couple dollars for paint though

Oh, I agree. I <3 the LittleOne, but it can't really do much for playing video or games. MP3s and VCD-grade video is about the limit.

Paint job, huh? What do you suggest? Blue parts turn green? Whole case repainted? This isn't gonna be an HT box, just one in my room.

Originally posted by: iwearnosox
How many animals have been tortured between those sheets?

<Sean Connery> Four, counting your mother, Trebek. </Sean Connery>

- M4H