hehe ok. anyway i've reconsidered the options and decided to use


GIGABYTE P965-S3 instead of BIOSTAR TFORCE 965. cheaper mah.

You've changed from Biostar TF 965P to Gigabyte P965-S3, it is cheaper but is it a good board to OC compared to TF 965P?

have a read.
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2871

please note that in my guide, it's not about OCing. it's about cheap but quality boards. of course i try to include an OCable board in there in case people want to try it out.

bro, ur blog is down?

yeah server down for now.

This post has been edited by goldfries: Jun 28 2007, 01:51 AM

site is up - please use the logo / image on my siggy (the one below) as indicator of site availability.

bro goldfries. i notice in your guide to get an lcd that can support dvi input. may i know wat is the advantage of dvi input? can use for what purpose?

cards these days are using DVI port already, most cards bought will give you DVI > VGA converter.

by using DVI port, you're using digital signals rather than analogs. you get clearer output on your monitor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface

goldfries,

Just wondering, why do you recommend Acbel 450watt? Is it really good PSU? Needed to know cause i have someone who wanted to assemble a rig and i am using yours as a reference to get the best stuff..LOL..

it's cheap and decent brand.

i'm using CoolerMaster, which later i found it AcBel manufactures for them. you can go for Silverstones too.

just try not to stick to iCute or whatever cheapo PSU. i admit, i use iCute, powerlogic and unknown PSUs too but i use them with knowing th risks. just that when it comes to recommendation, better recommend better product la. hehe.

This post has been edited by goldfries: Jun 29 2007, 09:46 AM

Ok.Thanks alot. I used CM before as well and found them as an OK PSU. Did not face any trouble at all during my time but some review stating that they are not too good when OC. Was in the mood to help my friend get other different brand and in the same time, let me experience the difference in them. Can we get Silverstone PSU at around that price? i could look into Acbel as well though..

NOTE : RAM prices have increased. (yes, checked with suppliers......)

I will update the guide accordingly.

However since I've generally bloated the price of most of the components, therefore the total price should still be around the stated total price.

and according to one of my supplier, processor price also have increased but I didn't go into detail on that one, AFAIK the Pentium E2140 price went up to around RM 300. hrmm....... well just note that, so that you won't be surprised if the price quoted was higher than as stated on the guide.

Thank you.


Akachester : browse around the price for silverstone la. i don't keep full tracking cos a lot of other things to do. PC is just a hobby of mine.

Hi goldfries,

I am looking into setting up a mATX computer and would like to ask you whether you or anyone else here could help me out. I have gone through your website and your setup are generally on ATX. Therefore, i was hoping if there might be any chance i can get a recommendation on a mATX computer?

First of all, i am interested to setup a SFF computer, primarily after falling in love with the SG03 (got poisoned kaw kaw after seeing ianho's review) and is giving myself around 3 months before setting it up. Therefore, i would love to know what might be a good recommendation here.

This is my requirements :

- Must have the SG03B
- Does not need Graphic Card, Sound Card, Harddisk.
- Will be used as a secondary rig, primarily for browsing, working and minor gaming.

I might accomodate a budget or RM2k for this rig and hopefully, i am able to get a full mATX rig with this budget. No monitor, speakers etc is needed. Anyway, since i am totally new in mATX setup (ok, i admit i dont like matx last time but changed my mind after seeing the SG03), i would like to know is there any special issue i could take note when setting up a SFF computer?Thanks..

akachester,

if u r planning to go for AMD AM2 socket, im suggesting u to get the same board as mine: Biostar TForce TA690G

this board has a great multimedia output and quite oc-able too..the price is around RM250-RM280..i bought mine from Viewnet for RM280

or if Intel, Abit Fatal1ty F-I90HD might be a suitable choice

anyway what is the purpose of building this SFF rig?

This post has been edited by kalakatu: Jul 7 2007, 06:03 PM

Update #3 - 7th July 2007

* Price change : RAM price increased.
* Specifications change : ATi Radeon X1950 Pro to nVidia GeForce 8600GT, due to lack of availability of the former




ehh. the boards used in my guide many ARE microATX. refer to the first few AMD specs, they're mATX board la.

ABIT NF-M2S http://www2.abit.com.tw/page/en/motherboar...PE=Socket%20AM2

anyway i don't know why Silverstone call them SFF cos they look like microATX casings to me. last i know SFFs were like those EPIA M-1000, Shuttle XPC and Biostar iDeqs using their really small PSU and small footprint mobos (BTX and so on balbalbla)

now let's compare.....

SilverStone SG03 : 200 mm (W) x 360 mm (H) x 312mm (D)
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_c...?pno=sg03&area=

CoolerMaster Elite 340 : (W) 195mm x (H) 370mm x (D) 385mm
http://www1.coolermaster.com/index.php?LT=...-340Elite%20340

now compare those to a Shuttle
Shuttle G5 3300 : 310 x 200 x 185
http://us.shuttle.com/G5_3300m.aspx

and Biostar iDeq : 215mm x 355mm x 185mm (W x D x H)
http://www.biostar-usa.com/ideqdetails300....del=IDEQ%20330P

so if you measure them in cubic mm dimension, you'll see the Shuttles and Biostars are really small and even mATX boards can't fit.

perhaps mATX casing are considered SFF these days?

thats it..i used to thinking that mATX and SFF are the same..or is it wrong?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_form_factor

if referring to Wiki, even the first picture is not an mATX casing.

however if you read further, seems like mATX tower casing are considered SFF BUT with a clause Because they are very similar to full-size tower cases, microATX tower cases are are not always recognized as small form factor cases.

Regarding comparison between SFF and mATX, i also not sure how they differentiate it though..Some call it mATX, some call it SFF. Even SS is calling the SG03 as SFF..LOL...

Anyway, let me know if i am not supposed to ask recommendation questions here ok..Thanks..



Well, for now, my aim is really Intel as i already have an AMD rig around. For one reason, its because i love the SG03 and there is down to no way i could fit my current rig hardwares into the SG03. Therefore, i thought of getting another rig which i can use and share it with my family..LOL..And it will need to include the SG03.LOL...

About the Abit Mobo, i thought of it in the first place and thought about the single PCI slot being too less. I know this is mATX mobo but i prefer it to have 2 though. Besides, it cost much much higher at RM400+ i think..

sorry im quite n00b about Intel, so thats the only mATX motherboard that came across my head..
and i think its quite hard to find the good and cheap mATX mobo for Intel..
thats why i recommended the AMD AM2

i think this is the mobo inside my SFF.

what i hate about my SFF is that it doesn't support my printer / scanner. and it doesn't support my USB WiFi devices

the initial idea of using it as a BT / P2P rig and having it directly output to my 29" TV and sound system is screwed due to the lack of WiFi support. then the secondary idea of using it as Scanner / Printer host failed too.

double bummer there.

so in the end it's just file-sharing / P2P rig. ho hum. so much for the DVD-RW drive in there.

This post has been edited by goldfries: Jul 9 2007, 03:00 PM