Octopus Overlords

The server box we currently use for the kid's computer is chugging along horribly (probably because the old 1GB RAM has been woefully inadequate for years). I'm building a $500 box around the BitFenix Prodigy case and mini-ITX form factor:



The goal is to get a machine that can serve as a file backup and run LEGO, SEGA Sonic Racing and other kid games. A power gaming system is not required, and later upgrades are expected. Before watching Starship Troopers on Rifftrax with hepcat, I went with this:

Gigabyte GA-Z87N-WIFI
Intel Core i3-4130 (3M Cache, 3.40 GHz)
Kingston 8GB HyperX (PC3-12800) CL9
Gigabite Geforce GTX 650 Ti
LG Blu-ray with DVD Burner
WD Blue 500GB SATA
Corsair CX430M

At the last minute, I decided to lower the Wattage on the Power Supply because I leave this box turned on all of the time and the Intel i3 really does have a lower power draw. The video card is overkill for a 6 year old running on a spare 1050p monitor.

Started to say you could go cheaper on the video card.

I went with only a 1GB video card, so the price was $125 in-store. It's pretty small and runs a larger fan. I was only going to spend $75 on a NVIDIA card, but I started to get worried about the SEGA Sonic Racing -- one of the kid's favorite games. Its power draw is pretty small and overall ratings are great for its category, so I bent the budget a little.

heh its gunny how fast stuff changed. I got my GTX 560ti 1g card in 2011 and it was like $250. I think that one you got it about the same as mine and cost so much less Damn tech lol.

I build a bunch of Shuttle mini-ITX boxes back in the day. They all eventually died because of the PSU. Just too small.

The video card market is strange. I am also running a 560 Ti that's 2 years old and its ratings are still 25-30% faster than the 650 Ti. The power requirements of the new card is around 1/2 the older one, I believe.

The new system replaces an old Shuttle style box, and I'm impressed with how 4 more inches of height really matters for the layout.

The upgrade for my machine is going to be a 500 Gig Samsung EVO SDD. I just have to work out the data transfer from my boot drive to avoid a system reinstall.

double tap

I got a nice 650ti to upgrade my son's older Shuttle SFF box. It was a big step up from the 8800GT. He loves it.

The top 'decade' of each 'century' number are better cards than the bottom 'decade' of the higher 'century'. Click the link for a visual representation from GeForce themselves.

How did the build go? I am thinking of accelerating my build-a-new-rig plans, since my current box recently had a serious brain fart that required a clean Windows installation to fix. I'd like to go mini-ITX, just for funsies.

Lovely case, very easy to work inside, except you need space on the right for USB plugs. I ended up getting a fan power converter for the third fan. Runs very quietly but I have to make sure the kids don't put stuff underneath -- the PSU vents in from the raised bottom.

I would recommend making sure you use the Windows 7 64 bit DVD rather than throwing in the first disc you find -- for the full 8 GB memory. Completely forgot about that issue!

Should have said you need space OUTSIDE the side of the case for USB ports.

So, has anyone built in a DAN Case A4-SFX? It looks like fun.

Interesting idea of fun you have there...

It's been four years since my last build, and I'm getting the itch...

It's a terrible time to build a new box. Video card prices are insane thanks to the bitcoin mining asshats. I just had my old one die and almost died myself of sticker shock when shopping for a replacement. I ended up paying 50% more than I would have for the same card in back 2016. Ram prices are also insane right now.

The last time I posted in this thread, I managed to exercise self-restraint for about a year before caving and building an ITX machine. It's been almost five years since then, and I am feeling that hankering again. This case just looks so nice...

AWS260 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 10:04 pm The last time I posted in this thread, I managed to exercise self-restraint for about a year before caving and building an ITX machine. It's been almost five years since then, and I am feeling that hankering again. This case just looks so nice...

I really like the looks of that Fractal Terra. Though I recently just ended up ordering a KXRORS S400 for my new build.

It has a handle!

"Does not occupy desktop space, is a beautiful decoration on the desktop."

It's an inside-out Tardis!

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2024 2:33 pm "Does not occupy desktop space, is a beautiful decoration on the desktop."

It's an inside-out Tardis!

Somebody on Reddit turned his into a "Marshall Amp."

Nice. My first thought on seeing it was that it was full of poker chips. It's not ugly - but it's also not a decoration.

Well, it's happening.



Apparently there's something called cable management that I really ought to look up.

Seriously just looking at that picture stresses me out.