Help me design Gaming SFF System

[Defector]

Time for a new gaming rig. I have built a few computers in the past (intel and amd), but never a SFF.

I want to go fairly high end to run a Dell FPW2405 panel that I have on order.

Thinking about.

SN25P
A64 3800 or 4000 90nm (not X2... which core? i'm a bit confused between the available ones)
7800GTX (is any brand a better fit in the SFF case?)
2 gig ram (OCZ since I hear that the SN25 may be picky with memory)
Dual 200-250 gb SATA HDDs (reccomendations are welcome... want to run in mirrored RAID mode using nForce onboard RAID)
DVD burner (reccomendations also welcome....)

Want to use it for Sturmovik flight sim, BF2, COD2 and UT

Thx to all on the AT Forum for any suggestions.

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: Defector
Time for a new gaming rig. I have built a few computers in the past (intel and amd), but never a SFF.

I want to go fairly high end to run a Dell FPW2405 panel that I have on order.

Thinking about.

SN25P
A64 3800 or 4000 90nm (not X2... which core? i'm a bit confused between the available ones)
7800GTX (is any brand a better fit in the SFF case?)
2 gig ram (OCZ since I hear that the SN25 may be picky with memory)
Dual 200-250 gb SATA HDDs (reccomendations are welcome... want to run in mirrored RAID mode using nForce onboard RAID)
DVD burner (reccomendations also welcome....)

Want to use it for Sturmovik flight sim, BF2, COD2 and UT

Thx to all on the AT Forum for any suggestions.

You might want to find a card that has an external power brick for the graphics card, or else your power supply might cave under the pressure.

 

[Ozoneman]

The power supply in the SN25P will handle the 7800gtx. My system is very similar to what you plan to build. It will work fine.

 

[Treyshadow]

I like mine!

Shuttle SN25P V2
A64 X2 4400+ OC'd to 2.6
Patriot LL 2x1GB 2-3-2-5
EVGA 7800GTX
2 x Maxtor Maxline 300 Gig HD SATA

Its been humming along with no issues

 

[Defector]

Two very nice sounding SFFs.... can I just have yours?

One question on the NForce4... (since I'm a noob with these)... does it have onboard RAID & is it easy to set up when installing XP Pro? Any issues with using this? I want to mirror the drives to save the hassle of one going down.....

 

[ShellGuy]

Just make sure you back up the system and run a striped system...


Will G>

 

[TheWhoDat]

About the GeForce 7800GTX.

How are you guys able to fit the eVGA and BFG 7800GTX in the sn25p?

I have the both, the sn25p and BFG 7800GTX OC and the card will not fit in, unless it is bent a little and I really don't think bending the card even a little bit is a good idea.

Thanks!

 

[Treyshadow]

Remove the shroud. It is not even in the new SN26P.

 

[RaiderJ]

Originally posted by: Hacp

Originally posted by: Defector
Time for a new gaming rig. I have built a few computers in the past (intel and amd), but never a SFF.

I want to go fairly high end to run a Dell FPW2405 panel that I have on order.

Thinking about.

SN25P
A64 3800 or 4000 90nm (not X2... which core? i'm a bit confused between the available ones)
7800GTX (is any brand a better fit in the SFF case?)
2 gig ram (OCZ since I hear that the SN25 may be picky with memory)
Dual 200-250 gb SATA HDDs (reccomendations are welcome... want to run in mirrored RAID mode using nForce onboard RAID)
DVD burner (reccomendations also welcome....)

Want to use it for Sturmovik flight sim, BF2, COD2 and UT

Thx to all on the AT Forum for any suggestions.

You might want to find a card that has an external power brick for the graphics card, or else your power supply might cave under the pressure.

The power supply in the SN25P has been shown to be more than stable, even when running DVD-RW, 2x Raptors, and a 7800.

 

[cerebusPu]

i dont like how teh Shuttle SN25P doesnt have a pci slot. cant put a HDTV or TV card in it for HTPC use.

 

[MSNY]

Originally posted by: Defector
Time for a new gaming rig. I have built a few computers in the past (intel and amd), but never a SFF.

I want to go fairly high end to run a Dell FPW2405 panel that I have on order.

Thinking about.

SN25P
A64 3800 or 4000 90nm (not X2... which core? i'm a bit confused between the available ones)
7800GTX (is any brand a better fit in the SFF case?)
2 gig ram (OCZ since I hear that the SN25 may be picky with memory)
Dual 200-250 gb SATA HDDs (reccomendations are welcome... want to run in mirrored RAID mode using nForce onboard RAID)
DVD burner (reccomendations also welcome....)

Want to use it for Sturmovik flight sim, BF2, COD2 and UT

Thx to all on the AT Forum for any suggestions.

Using this LCD with my Shuttle and it's awesome. Also great with DVD's and live TV...

 

[Kartajan]

I would recommend the following:
Western Digital Raptor WD740GD (OS Drive)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3500641AS 500GB (Storage Drive)
PowerColor T55E-P03 Theater 550 PRO PCI-Express x1 Interface Tuner Card (TV if you do that)
eVGA 256-P2-N516 Geforce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
Microsoft Windows XP (MCE or Pro) W/SP2
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Manchester 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA3800BVBOX
CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Model TWINX2048-3200C2PRO
Shuttle SN25P AMD Socket 939 AMD Athlon 64 FX/Athlon 64/Sempron nVIDIA nForce4 Ultra Barebone
Shuttle Black IDE DVD Burner Model CR40 (black)
Subtotal: $2,069.94

Reasoning: Dual Core Processor for "multitasking" (and the occasional MT game)
No RAID; The raptor gives you nearly the same level of raw speed (as in most can't tell the diff) with a higher level of reliability; The 500 G for massive storage
The TV tuner is the only x1 PCI Express that i've even heard of as of yet

(Note- This is what I will get for me once the $$$$ is available...)
Edit: I am running a 2005FPW now...)

 

[aigomorla]

uhhhh... personally i would do this if i was going to build a SFF

SD11G5 motherboard:
Pentium M (socket 479)
Intel 915GM + ICH6M chipset
PCI Express Interface
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900
Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit EAX HD 7.1
Serial ATA
DDR2 400/533
Mini PCI port

Get a Intel Pentium M 770 2.13GHz 2MB 533FSB. See if bios will let u oc it. And dont be fooled about the low MHZ on a P-M. Anyone that knows mobile processors will tell you, p-m's can pwn mid range A64's.

2 GIG's of DDR2 ram your choice

Then u can probably install a 7800GTX without worrying about the shuttle's crappy PSU not supplying enough power.

Whatever 2 hard drives u want.

1 optical Drive.


Remember its a mobile processor, so it will generate less heat. You should google benchmarks on p-m processors if your still in doubt about there performance.
Less Heat + More power to GFX = GG :]

 

[heedoyiu]

you have to think to that the 7800s consume less power then the 6800s

 

[natep]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
uhhhh... personally i would do this if i was going to build a SFF

SD11G5 motherboard:
Pentium M (socket 479)
Intel 915GM + ICH6M chipset
PCI Express Interface
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900
Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit EAX HD 7.1
Serial ATA
DDR2 400/533
Mini PCI port

Get a Intel Pentium M 770 2.13GHz 2MB 533FSB. See if bios will let u oc it. And dont be fooled about the low MHZ on a P-M. Anyone that knows mobile processors will tell you, p-m's can pwn mid range A64's.

2 GIG's of DDR2 ram your choice

Then u can probably install a 7800GTX without worrying about the shuttle's crappy PSU not supplying enough power.

Whatever 2 hard drives u want.

1 optical Drive.


Remember its a mobile processor, so it will generate less heat. You should google benchmarks on p-m processors if your still in doubt about there performance.
Less Heat + More power to GFX = GG :]

He wants a gaming rig. All the benchmarks I find about Pentium M and A64 show the A64s ahead. The Shuttle PSU is also fine for all the stuff he wants.

 

[Defector]

Ok.... update.

I got the FPW 2405.

Rig is up and running and is AWESOME.

SN25P, 2GB OCZ Gold, A64 4000+, Evga 7800GTX (with the huge black heatsink), WD400GB SATA 32, NEC 3550A DVDRW.

Took out the fan duct and installed all the above. Used the Shuttle SATA cable (the short blue one, not the longer blue ones that are already inside the case).

Loaded XP Pro SP2
Installed chipset driver (no ide or activearmor) to get lan working
DL and install A64 driver
DL and install nVidia Forceware
Install VIA sound driver from MOBO CD.

Loaded COD2

Played for 3 days straight at 1900x1200..... COD2 all the way through to the end. Not one single shutdown or error.

COD2 rocks, and so does the SN25P. Even fits INSIDE my desk, but I do leave the doors open so air can circulate. I'm thinking of building in a couple of fans into the side of the desk for a total stealth install.

The eVGA 7800GTX fits, without the CPU fan duct. No heat probs or instability so far. The card is so long and the heatsink so thick that there is no way for it to fit with the duct, unless you cut the whole corner off it. I will leave it out unless I have heat problems. If so then I will cut it, and customize the duct with some plastic sheet and tape to re-fit.

Thanks to everyone that helped.

 

[BlingBlingArsch]

pics!?