CHEAP system critique please

[Duvie]

For 81 bucks that shuttle board comes with usb 2.0, onboard firewire (connection for cases that have front or side mounted usb, firewire, surround c\sound speakers...

I would for that system not spend much more the 50 bucks max for a case. I got my wife a black (scorpio) case with a 300watt power supply and I have here 2100+ at 2700+ with less then default vcore.

 

[sciencewhiz]

What good is all that hardware without an operating system and word at a minimum?

Does she want speakers too?

 

[Aosh]

Yea, you guys are right....if the case is the most expensive part of the system, it's kinda weird huh? Any suggestions? I think the Lanboy is a bit too flashy for her...

 

[Aosh]

She has speakers and software.

 

[Bonesdad]

Keep the shuttle board, it's perfect for her needs and is VERY stable. Since you are not OCing, you can go for any case...does she want/need her PC to be a showpiece? You can get a case for less than $40 with a PSU or without PSU and get a FOrton PSU for $27. Nice and quiet. Already have monitor/keyboard/mouse/modem/OS?

 

[Aosh]

Ok, I just took another look at the mobo...
Shuttle Mobo MN31N

The only MN*** model that newegg carries is the Micro ATX one. Is this the same one everyone is talking about??

I don't mind Micro ATX, am just confirming.

 

[Duvie]

Yes it is very common to have these fully load onboard component mobos to be micro form cause this is no need for all the pci slots when they have taken care of the sound and the lan for you. The one nice thing is they still do give you an agp slot, just in case she becomes a gamer and wants to get a high end gamer card.....


I agree get a aesthetically pleasing case with front usb connectors and at least a 300watt PSU..Should be had with shipping (usually averages 15 bucks) in the 40-50 range. I would get a mid tower though as I like the large feel and airspace for cooling. MOst cases will come with a side fan. At stock she should be fine with just that cooling.

 

[Aosh]

a 220W Micro ATX would be insufficient & too hot you think?

Do Micro ATX fit in ATX cases?

 

[Confused]

Yep, Micro ATX boards fit perfectly fine in ATX cases, all the holes etc are in the same place


Confused

 

[Aosh]

Would the Barton be too hot to be running in a MicroATX case (1 40mm fan)? I figure, she just wants a barebone PC, so maybe a MicroATX case would fit her needs (that is only if the AMD can take the minimal cooling)

 

[Bonesdad]

Originally posted by: Aosh
Would the Barton be too hot to be running in a MicroATX case (1 40mm fan)? I figure, she just wants a barebone PC, so maybe a MicroATX case would fit her needs (that is only if the AMD can take the minimal cooling)

Nope, it will be fine...I have the 2500+ running on that mobo now...CPU temps are 39C. Having the larger case will allow her to upgrade if necessary in the future...it's a good bet

 

[Geotext]

Originally posted by: pyrojunkie
No problem for a non-gamer to use the onboard GeForce4 MX graphics. No issues with it on quality.

I also think that Asus is always a quality board so never overpriced, but concede you can get a similiar performance board in a less expensive price.

How good is the onboard GeForce4 MX graphics? I haven't looked at onboard graphic in a long time, and the Intel 810 and 815 I saw were TERRIBLE.

 

[Ardan]

Yes the Intel ones were terrible but this isn't Intel we're talking about, is it?
I have seen the integrated video and it is perfectly fine for the customer. You have to remember what he said: she does little, if any, gaming and isn't a power user so there won't be overclocking, there won't be the need for a GF4 Ti4200-128m or an ATI Radeon > 9200 etc.

I also have the SLK3700AMB and I recommend it to you for this system. I wanted it for the perfect blend of being a) aesthetically pleasing and (b) very useful/practical. It definitely succeeded on both. It looks great and has great quality not to mention it is QUIET! It has the option for a front 120mm fan and a rear 120mm fan. You could get a low-spinning 120mm fan to go with that system and provide very adequate cooling and yet also be very quiet. It also has rubber grommets and the like to use on HDs and CDROMs which totally silenced my system. I have a 2500+ in mine with a low-spinning 120mm in the front and a medium-spinning 120mm fan in the back and it is relatively quiet, yet the 2500+ OC'd to 2083MHz is at 103 F under load .

I would also recommend 2x256Mb PC2700/DDR333 from Crucial because it is VERY CHEAP and also of very high quality. You don't need PC3200, especially being that the FSB is not 400Mhz, but 333Mhz...so why bother? If she isn't a power user, she isn't going to care because we can all confirm that system will be a performer. Why buy what you don't need?

As far as monitors go, I would say to go for maybe a Viewsonic G70fb (or whatever that is) or the NEC's 17" SuperBright DiamondTron. I can't remember the model number, but I saw it in a Graphic Arts Lab once and it looked FANTASTIC. It is also guaranteed to be cheap, being that you could find a good 19" G90fb for her on Dell right now for $230.

 

[Geotext]

Originally posted by: Ardan
Yes the Intel ones were terrible but this isn't Intel we're talking about, is it?
I have seen the integrated video and it is perfectly fine for the customer. You have to remember what he said: she does little, if any, gaming and isn't a power user so there won't be overclocking, there won't be the need for a GF4 Ti4200-128m or an ATI Radeon > 9200 etc.

You're correct. This isn't Intel. But another problem I noticed with previous onboard video was that simply functions, such as openning files or scrolling pages, took longer with the onboard video vs. even an inexpensive dedicated video card. Again, this was few years back. So, just for 2D function, is the onboard video now exactly the same as a seperate video card?

Just wondering

 

[Ardan]

Originally posted by: Geotext
You're correct. This isn't Intel. But another problem I noticed with previous onboard video was that simply functions, such as openning files or scrolling pages, took longer with the onboard video vs. even an inexpensive dedicated video card. Again, this was few years back. So, just for 2D function, is the onboard video now exactly the same as a seperate video card?
Just wondering

I do agree with you on intel's lack of quality onboard video (STILL), but nvidia really nailed it down well. I don't recall seeing a desktop onboard video solution looking any better than the one in nForce2 boards / Ultra 400 boards. I say desktop because my sister has a 2.4Ghz P4 HP Laptop with integrated ATI Radeon video and I must say that is some spectacular onboard video. The DVD quality blows me away, and it plays games she has bought recently with ease. She enjoys playing the sims and it plays as if you had a GF4 or Radeon 9600 Pro in there (very smooth movements). I think ATI and NVIDIA have nailed it well, but not intel. Yes it was bad 2 years ago...but I guess that nothing brand new starts out spectacular does it? Well I guess the exceptions would be Bill Parcells of the Dallas Cowboys (not my fav football team tho) and Ron Gardenhire of the Minnesota Twins (my fav baseball team!) eh? haha

By the way, i'm glad you didn't see what I said as hostile. I looked at it after I sent it and thought it could seem like i'm being mean or something :-S.