Anyone used a Tiki or Fragbox or x51 as a "notebook"?

[Wolfpup]

I've gotten the possibly whacky idea in my head that what if, instead of buying a new notebook, I bought a small desktop like Dell's x51 or Falcon's systems? They're annoyingly expensive or low end compared to normal desktops, BUT beefy by notebook standards, and like the x51 doesn't seem THAT much bigger then a 17" notebook. Not sure how they'd stand up to being thrown in a bag daily though...

EDIT: Looks like the x51 has Optimus, which I don't want, but sounds like you don't HAVE to use Optimus, can just plug it in to the video card directly, which is user replaceable as I understand it (though somewhat limited as to what you can put in it, I guess).

 

[corkyg]

The Tiki will also need a monitor and a keyboard. The Dell (Alienware) X51 is a possible contender for what you want to do.

 

[Wolfpup]

Yeah, the x51's cheaper, though also has a smaller, and external power supply, and is limited to "only" a Geforce GTX 660...which frankly isn't bad for what I need! I could "make do"

I'm just wondering if the size of an x51 or a Tiki would really make throwing it in a bag every day practical. They don't SEEM like they're that much bigger than a 17" notebook, and I hauled around my original Xbox 360 a bit years ago, and it wasn't too bad, and these are supposed to be similar...

Not sure how they'd hold up from that abuse either...

 

[Jack Flash]

If you're moving it daily there's no question; desktop replacement. Cost really isn't astronomical for the power they have (7970M = underclocked desktop 7870, 680M = underclocked desktop 670)

Just beware the muxless 7970M and broken Enduro drivers.

 

[ahgem2000]

need to buy this

 

[Wolfpup]

One of the things I can't stand about portables now is Optimus...and now this Enduro. I don't want it! I don't even use my systems off battery! I hear about nothing but problems with them, to the point where on the notebook side I'm avoiding HP's Intel systems, and the Alienware M17x-R4, just because of Optimus :-/

I feel like we were FINALLY getting drivers and things straightened out on notebooks, and then they add this switchable graphics stuff and it makes things a horrible mess again.

Then too...integrated graphics. Okay, so AMD and Intel's integrated stuff isn't a complete joke now, but still, they're blowing hundreds of millions of transistors that could be going towards more cores or cache! Oh well...

That was one of the reasons I was kind of thinking about moving back to desktops lol

 

[Jack Flash]

Alienware uses muxes (requires a reboot of the system) to allow you to switch the integrated GPUs off completely, so you don't have to worry about Enduro or Optimus.

Also, if you buy an i7-3720QM or higher in an Alienware M17x or M18x you can overclock it.

 

[Zap]

I've gotten the possibly whacky idea in my head that what if, instead of buying a new notebook, I bought a small desktop like Dell's x51 or Falcon's systems? They're annoyingly expensive or low end compared to normal desktops, BUT beefy by notebook standards, and like the x51 doesn't seem THAT much bigger then a 17" notebook. Not sure how they'd stand up to being thrown in a bag daily though...

My LAN box

It fits in a notebook messenger bag that I have. I've taken it to several LAN parties, and have flown with it a number of times.

If I were to build it again, here's the parts I would use.

ASRock Z77E-ITX motherboard
Core i5-3570K
low profile cooler such as Scythe Kozuti or Shuriken
8GB Samsung low profile RAM
basic slim optical drive
most SSDs I can afford (at least one 512GB)
second 80mm exhaust fan
low profile Radeon 7750 such as this one or this one, but not the HIS because it is a dual slot cooler

Radeon 7750-800 benchmarks (AFAIK the low profile versions are 800MHz core)

 

[Wolfpup]

Alienware uses muxes (requires a reboot of the system) to allow you to switch the integrated GPUs off completely, so you don't have to worry about Enduro or Optimus.

Also, if you buy an i7-3720QM or higher in an Alienware M17x or M18x you can overclock it.

My LAN box

It fits in a notebook messenger bag that I have. I've taken it to several LAN parties, and have flown with it a number of times.

If I were to build it again, here's the parts I would use.

ASRock Z77E-ITX motherboard
Core i5-3570K
low profile cooler such as Scythe Kozuti or Shuriken
8GB Samsung low profile RAM
basic slim optical drive
most SSDs I can afford (at least one 512GB)
second 80mm exhaust fan
low profile Radeon 7750 such as this one or this one, but not the HIS because it is a dual slot cooler

Radeon 7750-800 benchmarks (AFAIK the low profile versions are 800MHz core)

Thanks and thanks!

I actually saw the x51 at Best Buy this weekend, and was able to just physically pick it up and stick it in a notebook bag. It SEEMED to fit just fine in this one Targus 17" bag.

This actually seems like a real possibility for me!

I do wish it had a larger PSU so you could use a Geforce GTX 680 on it, and it would be nice if it had room for a full sized drive + SSD...or even two 2.5" drives, and it's a bit disconcerting that the GPU fan seems to blow right on the hard drive, but...dang, it's midrange-notebook priced but higher end and at least a bit more upgradeable...

 

[Skott]

Zap's Lanbox is pretty cool. You could also build a rig using the Silverstone SG05 and it can hold and run a GTX480. That's already been proven. Silverstone also makes the Fragbox for FNW. It is basically a modified SG01/02. The SG05 would be smaller though. Not as small as Zap's little guy but it can let you run more powerful GPUs. The SG07/08 would allow you to run even bigger and more powerful GPUs than the SG05. There are alternate choices for the expensive rigs Alienware and FNW produce. You just have to look around.

Edit: If you are dead set on getting a gaming notebook look at ASUS and Sager. Better quality and a more reasonable price IMO. Just buy from a third party store like XoticPC, GenTech, PCTorque, etc., You will get better customer service.

 

[Zap]

Zap's Lanbox is pretty cool. You could also build a rig using the Silverstone SG05 and it can hold and run a GTX480. That's already been proven.

480? Try GTX 680. At least, the ones that aren't ginormous triple slot triple fan extra PCB five heatpipes sticking out monstrosities. But yes, reference-sized GTX 680 fit in the SG05 fine, and the 450W PSU can power it fine too.

The ISK 300/310 are quite a bit smaller than the SG05, however.

FWIW the weight would probably be quite similar, as the ISK cases use quite thick metal so they are heavy for the size.

Besides the ISK 300, I have two of the SG05 as well.

 

[Skott]

480? Try GTX 680. At least, the ones that aren't ginormous triple slot triple fan extra PCB five heatpipes sticking out monstrosities. But yes, reference-sized GTX 680 fit in the SG05 fine, and the 450W PSU can power it fine too.

The ISK 300/310 are quite a bit smaller than the SG05, however.

FWIW the weight would probably be quite similar, as the ISK cases use quite thick metal so they are heavy for the size.

Besides the ISK 300, I have two of the SG05 as well.

I meant 680. Typo fingers there. Heh heh

 

[atomheart]

As far as lugging around an x51 I would suggest against it. I have an Asus g75 laptop that I carry in an Everki Beacon backpack and it's quite heavy (the laptop isn't the only thing in the backpack) I can't imagine throwing an x51 on my back to carry or worse, in a messenger bag.

Maybe I'm not strong enough, who knows

 

[Zap]

As far as lugging around an x51 I would suggest against it.
...
Maybe I'm not strong enough, who knows

It all depends on how long you are carrying it.

For LAN parties, you are lugging it between where you parked to the table you are sitting at.

With a notebook computer, people tend to carry it with them wherever they go (for example, a student roaming around campus) so weight becomes more and more of an issue.