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Small form factor computers
Anybody here own a SFF.... small form factor computer?
If yes...Im curious if they use standard parts such as hard drives and optical drives and memory |
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wrote in message ... Anybody here own a SFF.... small form factor computer? If yes...Im curious if they use standard parts such as hard drives and optical drives and memory Don't own one, but I'm getting ready to build one based on a biostar kit for a friend. They use standard hard drive, optical drive, memory and CPU, as well as standard video cards and expansion cards. The ony thing non-standard is the mainboard and (in some cases) the CPU cooler. You might also find some with non-standard power supplies. IF you go that route, choose a SFF system with as much built-in stuff as possible. While the SFF use standard parts, they are so small that they can't fit much. For example, you will be lucky to get one AGP slot and one PCI slot and one bay for one standard optical drive. I've read some models can fit two hard drives, but I wouldn't plan to install more than ONE hard drive in an SFF system, even if it's possible, due to extra heat and airflow problems that would create. So whatever features you need in your system, try to find an SFF that includes as many of them as possible, as you might be limited in adding new features (internally, anyway) later. But they are just a tad more expensive to build than a desktop, while still being semi-portable (most have optional carrying cases) and offering more upgrade potential than a notebook. -Dave |
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But they are just a tad more expensive to build than a desktop, while still
being semi-portable (most have optional carrying cases) and offering more upgrade potential than a notebook. -Dave Thanks for reply Dave!! That helped a lot Im curious abt them for not only myself but also for my 18 yr old nephew who is off to college next year. He has a Gateway that has shot craps..... and Im contemplating putting together a SFF unit for him. It would be nice for the portability reason you mention. Plus it is somewhat "fixable" whereas laptops are not. But Im also interested in them myself as my current Dell PC is getting "long in the tooth also". LOL |
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Don't own one, but I'm getting ready to build one based on a biostar kit for
a friend. Which Biostar model will you use? Is it Intel based? Will you buy it from NewEgg? IF you go that route, choose a SFF system with as much built-in stuff as possible. While the SFF use standard parts, they are so small that they can't fit much. For example, you will be lucky to get one AGP slot and one Good idea on getting as much built into motherboard as possible |
#5
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"Dave C." wrote in message ... wrote in message ... Anybody here own a SFF.... small form factor computer? If yes...Im curious if they use standard parts such as hard drives and optical drives and memory Don't own one, but I'm getting ready to build one based on a biostar kit for a friend. They use standard hard drive, optical drive, memory and CPU, as well as standard video cards and expansion cards. The ony thing non-standard is the mainboard and (in some cases) the CPU cooler. You might also find some with non-standard power supplies. IF you go that route, choose a SFF system with as much built-in stuff as possible. While the SFF use standard parts, they are so small that they can't fit much. For example, you will be lucky to get one AGP slot and one PCI slot and one bay for one standard optical drive. I've read some models can fit two hard drives, but I wouldn't plan to install more than ONE hard drive in an SFF system, even if it's possible, due to extra heat and airflow problems that would create. So whatever features you need in your system, try to find an SFF that includes as many of them as possible, as you might be limited in adding new features (internally, anyway) later. But they are just a tad more expensive to build than a desktop, while still being semi-portable (most have optional carrying cases) and offering more upgrade potential than a notebook. -Dave Try this site for more info: http://www.mini-itx.com/ Hope it gives you some answers Pete |
#6
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Thanks for reply Dave!! That helped a lot
Im curious abt them for not only myself but also for my 18 yr old nephew who is off to college next year. He has a Gateway that has shot craps..... and Im contemplating putting together a SFF unit for him. It would be nice for the portability reason you mention. Plus it is somewhat "fixable" whereas laptops are not. But Im also interested in them myself as my current Dell PC is getting "long in the tooth also". LOL My friend has a teenager approaching college age also (it will be his system). -Dave |
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wrote in message ... Don't own one, but I'm getting ready to build one based on a biostar kit for a friend. Which Biostar model will you use? Is it Intel based? Will you buy it from NewEgg? I'm probably going to go with the following model for my build, but the black version of it. I particularly like the nforce2 chipset with xp processors, which is why I'm leaning toward that model. But biostar makes several SFF systems for Intel P4 processors, with either Intel 865 or SIS 651 chipsets. I haven't looked to see what Newegg has available. I buy most of my components from www.mwave.com BTW, if you do decide to build SFF, you might want to look for a compact keyboard to go with it. mwave sells one (harman?) in black for less than twenty bucks. One of the nice things about the SFF is the portability. I can't imagine carrying a full-size keyboard with one would be much fun though. -Dave http://www.biostar-usa.com/ideqdetai...del=ideq+200nb |
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#9
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Check out:
http://www.marksmusiccomputers.com for one example system. Mainboard has standard 2 IDE channels, but the case used only has room for one laptop HD and one slimline CD. One DIMM slot, but you can get up to 1 gig sticks, so that shouldn't limit you drastically. pix include closeup of rear panel.. HTH. "Pete" wrote in message ... "Dave C." wrote in message ... wrote in message ... Anybody here own a SFF.... small form factor computer? If yes...Im curious if they use standard parts such as hard drives and optical drives and memory Don't own one, but I'm getting ready to build one based on a biostar kit for a friend. They use standard hard drive, optical drive, memory and CPU, as well as standard video cards and expansion cards. The ony thing non-standard is the mainboard and (in some cases) the CPU cooler. You might also find some with non-standard power supplies. IF you go that route, choose a SFF system with as much built-in stuff as possible. While the SFF use standard parts, they are so small that they can't fit much. For example, you will be lucky to get one AGP slot and one PCI slot and one bay for one standard optical drive. I've read some models can fit two hard drives, but I wouldn't plan to install more than ONE hard drive in an SFF system, even if it's possible, due to extra heat and airflow problems that would create. So whatever features you need in your system, try to find an SFF that includes as many of them as possible, as you might be limited in adding new features (internally, anyway) later. But they are just a tad more expensive to build than a desktop, while still being semi-portable (most have optional carrying cases) and offering more upgrade potential than a notebook. -Dave Try this site for more info: http://www.mini-itx.com/ Hope it gives you some answers Pete |
#10
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I'm a college prof and noticed that when I surveyed
my students this year more than half of them had notebooks. Is there some REAL reason to have a laptop while in class itself? In your opinion that is? |
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