How are those Micro Cases?

[acelesson]

I was thinking about using it for my next platform fabrication. Any downfalls to having one of those small cubes? Is there limitations to the amount of peripherals I could use?

 

[DaveSimmons]

There are a bunch of reviews at www.Sudhian.com and some also at TomsHardware.com, plus a few on the main AT site. There is also a Small Form Factor forum here devoted to them, though I think Sudhian's forums are more active.

> Any downfalls to having one of those small cubes?

Heat limits, noise from smaller whiny fans. Much less choice of motherboards and chipsets (everything except the Asus Aria micro-ATX case uses custom motherboards).

> Is there limitations to the amount of peripherals I could use?

Severe limits for most cubes, 1 - 5.25" optical drive, 1 or at most 2 hard drives. One or 2 card slots (1-PCI, 1-AGP) often with limits on card length.

Small power supplies for everything except the Aria might not run ATI X800, almost certainly won't run nV 6800.

 

[acelesson]

Dave-

Thanks for the links to the reviews, they will certainly come in handy. Its a shame these cubes have such small PSU's.

 

[nortexoid]

there's only limitations for internal expandability/upgradability. there are only a couple PCI and memory slots. most come w/ an AGP slot now. the power supplies are generally not very powerful - but since i've had no first-hand experience, i'm sure they're adequate for such the components they're shipped w/ (i.e. a low power consuming mobo) plus the limited single 5.25" and 3.5" drives u can add. (u could actually add 2 3.5" drives if u don't use a floppy or internal flash reader or whatevever.)

 

[eelw]

The PSU found in Shuttle XPCs are small, but good quality. They will handle anything you can throw at it. Others at the Sudhian forums have put in P4EE, with Raptors in RAID with an 9800XT in the Shuttle without any problems. X800 also have been tried, but with either a P4c or A64 not an P4EE. A couple of people have even a Prescott working in the Shuttle. The only thing which has yet been confirmed to work on a Shuttle is the NV6800.

The only other downside not mentioned about SFF PCs is the cost. You are paying a 50-100 premium for the smaller case and MOBO.