Ahhhh...SFF research is driving me mad

C

Ceros

n00b
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Mar 25, 2008
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I'll be putting together my first SFF system for my aunt in a few weeks, who is interested in a portable and powerful AutoCAD/Solidworks station. I've put together a lot of desktops, but like I said, this is my first SFF build and all the compatibility stuff is driving me up the wall.:(

Updated...this is what I'm looking at now.

Case:
Silverstone SG01-BW (Aluminum) - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163078

Case Fans:
3x Arctic Cooling FDB 80mm - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186022

Bag:
Silverstone Pack - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999041
Pretty slick.

PSU:
Corsair 620HX - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001
I've had this in my desktop since it came out - love it, one of my all time favorite PC components, although it would be nice if Corsair sold a short cable kit like Silverstone does...the SS PSU's it's compatible with just don't seem to be very well reviewed.

Motherboard:
DFI LP JR P45 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136055
Want the latest NB/SB I can get and no integrated graphics...kinda wonder about DFI stability, as it's geared towards tweakers, but it's the only P45 in town.

Processor:
Wolfdale E8400 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
Was looking at the Yorkfields, but I worry about the thermals. I know my Q6600/pwm's can run pretty hot, even in a good sized P182 with an Ultima-90+120mm fan.

Heatsink:
NT06-E - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835220033

RAM:
Mushkin 2x2GB DDR2-800 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146726

Video:
Looking for the best videocard that will fit. Apparently AutoCAD now makes use of D3D, not just OGL, so gaming cards are outperforming workstation cards. I was looking at the GTX 260, but am now considering the 4850 due to size limitations.

Audio:
Integrated should be fine.

Hard Drive:
Intel X-25m - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167005
:cool:

Will also have an external 2.5" or 3.5" HD for backup purposes...leaning towards 2.5 because of the whole portability factor, but I also want E-SATA connectivity.

DVD-RW:
Sony 22x DVD-RW w/Lightscribe - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118025
 
1. Nope you gotta choose wether A: More video card room or B: Lighter frame is more important to you with the SUGO cases. Unless you choose a different case like the Lanbox or the SG03 or SG04.

2. Whats wrong with having onboard video? That definently narrows down your mobo options. It will just be disabled when you put on a seperate video card, so what's the big deal? Your just throwing money away paying for the DFI board as thats an overclocking board.

3. Unless you OC, don't worry about thermal problems with the SFF, just give it room to breath.

4. No need to purchase seperate HSF if your not going to OC, waste of money unless your really anal about noise, but it will run hotter with the NT06 vs stock HSF.

5. You can always add a E-SATA addon adapter for cheap if the mobo doesn't have it built in. Again, don't limit your mobo choices just for lack of E-SATA

6. Not aware of adapters for laptop drives. Whats the big deal with using a quality 5.25'' drive? Good quality ones don't vibrate/make much noise mostly *Keep in mind aluminum cases are gonna verberate and make drive noises louder vs steel cases*

Everything else looks good though I sure as hell wouldn't pay that price for a SSD HDD, but thats IMO.
 
1. Guess I could go with the Thermaltake and take out the HD bay, although I'm not sure exactly how much space that would provide.

2. I just don't like motherboards with onboard video if it's not being used. I guess I also have a stigma that onboard video = low end.

3. Do many people here run quad's in mATX's? I just have a hard time believing the temps stay down in such a cramped environment.

4. NT06 hotter than stock? From the pictures I've seen, it looks like the stock HS nearly touches the bottom of the PSU, which makes me wonder how much air it's getting with the much bigger PSU fan above it. When I first saw the NT06, I thought the design called for a fan on the underside, blowing upwards, but that seems uncommon.

5. Actually the DFI P45 doesn't have E-SATA available on the back, but I can just run a cable to a bracket.

6. Just weight and size.

And the SSD is gonna rock :D
 
Ceros said:
1. Guess I could go with the Thermaltake and take out the HD bay, although I'm not sure exactly how much space that would provide.

2. I just don't like motherboards with onboard video if it's not being used. I guess I also have a stigma that onboard video = low end.

3. Do many people here run quad's in mATX's? I just have a hard time believing the temps stay down in such a cramped environment.

4. NT06 hotter than stock? From the pictures I've seen, it looks like the stock HS nearly touches the bottom of the PSU, which makes me wonder how much air it's getting with the much bigger PSU fan above it. When I first saw the NT06, I thought the design called for a fan on the underside, blowing upwards, but that seems uncommon.

5. Actually the DFI P45 doesn't have E-SATA available on the back, but I can just run a cable to a bracket.

6. Just weight and size.

And the SSD is gonna rock :D
Click to expand...

1. Never worked with it so can't give first hand knowledge, love my SG01-F.

2. Poor assumption that has no information to back it up. Onboard vid does not = cheap mobo.

3. Quiet a few people do run Quads in SFF, take a look at SFF gallery. They run warmer, but its not a problem unless your OCing like mad.

4. The NT06 is designed for "quiet" usage using the "Silverstone" PSU 120mm fan to pull air through it, but usually results in a hotter CPU vs stock HSF unit. Other peeps have attached 120mm fans with mixed results.

5. You can't just run a SATA cable to a bracket or out the back, E-SATA is a totally different plug on devices, their not compatible. Basically, you CANNOT use a regular SATA cord to attach an E-SATA device to a SATA mobo connector.

6. If your that concerned about weight, use external DVD drive though you'll pay more for it and have more cords and cables to carry around and then, what have you gained?
EDIT: You can try this, but I have no experience with them and you'll need to buy the adapters as well.
http://www.slidirect.com/web/do/pub/sku/view?categoryId=10&id=40
http://www.slidirect.com/web/do/pub/sku/view?categoryId=19&id=38
 
Freezebyte said:
5. You can't just run a SATA cable to a bracket or out the back, E-SATA is a totally different plug on devices, their not compatible. Basically, you CANNOT use a regular SATA cord to attach an E-SATA device to a SATA mobo connector.
Click to expand...

Actually, you can turn internal SATA ports into eSATA port via a bracket adapter:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ATA+bracket&Ntk=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

But you will need an actual eSATA cable to connect the bracket adapter to the external hard drive itself.

EDIT: Edited for clarity
 
http://www.slidirect.com/web/do/pub/sku/view?categoryId=10&id=40

Actually that is what I'm looking for, but it would suck if you had to have two drives to fill the gap. I wouldn't even need the interface adapter because the connections are straight SATA...

28mekjo.jpg
 
Ah crap...too much trouble.

Anyone know what the shortest DVD-RW drive is?
 
Ceros said:
Ah crap...too much trouble.

Anyone know what the shortest DVD-RW drive is?
Click to expand...

Most current DVD/CDRW drives are pretty short though if you really anal about the length, you'll either have to check the specs on newegg or post at CDfreaks.
 
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