New Project: "tinyBEAST"

[Dr. V]

As some may know, Capper and the staff has so very kindly decided to send me a TT Lanbox, and I'm not making light of it!

This thread has been resurrected.

There is only one concern now: the motherboard.

Which mATX motherboard is the best one? And by best I mean closest to my *new* GA-P35-DS3L that I'm already replacing so I can build a system in my TT Lanbox.

In essence, I need to know the best OCing chipset that exists on a mATX motherboard.

Thanks guys!

P.S. The system is gonna be as follows:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6550
<Motherboard Here>
2GB Crucial Ballistix RAM (2 more GB to come soon)
GeForce 8800GT 512MB
160GB + 250GB (for now)
LG 20x Super-Multi LightScribe SATA
Thermaltake Blue Orb II (this actually beats, in a lot of cases, my current ZALMAN CNPS9500A which has my CPU extremely cool right now - can't wait)
Enermax Liberty 620W (the best deal on a modular I could find - please correct me if I'm wrong - from Canada Computers - Your Neighbourhood Computer Store and Service Centre - PC Systems and Hardware Components, Notebooks, Electronics, and more.)

[screwballl]

May want to look into MythTV or a linux based setup on the secondary hard drive to see how well that works for you.
Either way it looks like a great setup.
In your case, I would suggest the Q6600 and OC it
also would suggest the nvidia GPU in this case, maybe the 8800GT.. or you could start low like a X1950GT and when the new nvidias/amd GPUs come out you can upgrade then.

[onebxr]

If you are going to make this into a HTPC you are going to need a bigger hard drive. I used up 21/2 tb of space on mine already and I am looking to add another TB, I just gotta figure out how to fit it in my little box!
-1

[Dr. V]

Oh wow...hmm...

Well the thing is I don't foresee too much if any recording being done through Media Center (for example) on to the hard drive per say. In any case I have a plethora of space in my Uber Chakra to add more drives as I need them.

As for the CPU - that's what I was thinking as well screwball. However, for the GPU, the only one I'm buying is the one I'm keeping just because of money management and I'm a student and all that jazz. The definitive requirement is DX10.1. Just for the simple fact that I want no issues. So it's either the current 3000 series by AMD that don't even seem to be doing so well compared to the current nVidia cards, however they are mad cheap, or the new series from nVidia when they come out. I figure worst comes to worst I'll just use my 7900GS in tinyBEAST if I really need to, or hold off with integrated until the purchase time comes.

So it seems like the CPU has been decided pretty much for sure. Heatsink is really the biggest issue to be honest.

What I was thinking of doing is picking up a CRAZY CHEAP pre-built computer from a small store and just isolating the parts I need from it - again, cost-effective.

Thanks so far guys.

[Dr. V]

Quick thing. I was looking closely at both the ASUS P5E-VM HDMI (G35) and the ASUS P5E-VM DO (Q35) they're more or less the exact same board with the HDMI being more expensive and having X3500 Intel graphics and support for up to 800MHz DDR2, and the DO having X3100 Intel graphics and support for up to 1066MHz DDR2.

Basically, the only thing I'm worried about in that situation is the chipset. Which is better?

[onebxr]

you can never have too much hdd space! What about putting movies on the hard drive? You can turn your HTPC into a DVR, you can put all of your music on your HTPC. If you dont do any of these then why have a HTPC?
If you just want internet on your TV then just go buy a xbox 360 core and network it with your PC.
-1

[Dr. V]

Oh I have a plethora of movies already on my hard drive. DVR sounds extremely tempting and I do have certain shows that I love and always want to see and never get the chance to.

Hmm...looks like I'll be investing a lot more into my hard drives than I thought...good-up to you onebxr. I'll be keeping the 160GB I have in my Uber Chakra now, and my plan was to start with 500GB and grow as I need more space - but you brought great ideas to my attention that may not change the immediate purchases, but will change my future ones. I wouldn't consider having a system with more than 500GB per drive anyhow.

And in terms of internet on my TV that's not exactly what I was getting at. I'll have a 42" SHARP AQUOS in the very near future (a very generous x-mas gift from my cousins). With a good HD TV Tuner and the HD Digital Box from Rogers (my service provider for cable, internet, cell phone, home phone), that TV will be at its potential, plus I'll have a KICKASS monitor for my computer(s). And we all know DVI-HDMI is the way to go.

[Yellowhello]

I thing that should be mentioned is that you won't get a great OC out of a mATX board.

Also, as for the GPU, maybe get a 8800GT, or the new 512MB 8800GTS. That will last you some time, and I'm not exactly sure that the newer yet-to-come DX10.1 will fit in the SFF Lanbox case.

And have you thought about water cooling this build? HERE'S a pretty good worklog of a SFF water cooled build.

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

HERE'S a pretty good worklog of a SFF water cooled build.

Good lord, that looks like a nightmare!

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

Good lord, that looks like a nightmare!

Yeah, but a fully internal water cooled SFF with a 2900XT and a 2x120mm rad is amazing! Well worth the effort, IMO!