Micro Atx

[crazy_as_a_fox]

Looking to build a box to be used as an Ap for a community Wan so it will be running 24/7.Would love to get one of those smalll shuttle jobys but just not in the buget so I was thinking a micro atx,the reason I want to get it so small is because it will be downstairs in the kitchen.The other thing is can micro boxes take normall psu
Thanks

[Todd a]

Micro ATX cases normally cost a bit more and only run 150-250w. The PS is also a Micro ATX power supply.

What is wrong with the Shuttle cases. $300 for a case, powersupply, motherboard with integrated sound, video, nic, USB 2.0, FireWire, and TV-out with CPU cooler and case fans included is not that bad of a deal. The new nForce2 board one is just about out (some web sites got some reveiw samples this Holiday). If you assembled the system yourself with good quality parts, you are looking at a $100 case and $150 PS, plus some fans and heatsink you are looking at about $300. Now if you get a cheap featureless motherboard and a cheap'o genaric case and power supply, plus a junk heatsink, then you will likely have an ugly cheap computer with possible stability issues, but you could get them for half the price. These Shuttle systems are pretty well made and those surver power supplies are only rated for 200w, but I have seen them running a 3Ghz P4 and a Radeon 9700Pro. Those two alone draw over 150w. The only issue I have heard about is the cooling for the hard drives and this new case is supposed to improve the cooling a lot.

The only other good option is to make your own case. I was looking at server PS adn you can get a nice 300w Sparkel for $50-60 They are the same depth and height as a CDROM. If you put the two together you get a box less than 2" high and 10 inches wide and deep. A Micro ATX board runs about 9.5"x9.5". Find a box 10"x10"x7" and cut some holes for someCDROM in the front and PS in the back. Put down a sheet of insolating foam like what comes with a motherboard most of the time and drop the on top. Zip-tie it in place. Cut a blowhole in the front left and back right side and add some fans. Cut a spot for the I/O sheild and any expansion cards you want to have and add a few buttons for Power and Reset. I was looking to make one out of lexan and use the clear LED fans. Alsmost any Micro ATX motherboard would have worked.

Here is a picture of the box I was looking to make:

[crazy_as_a_fox]

Hi Todd
Should have mentioned that we are based across the pond in Dublin and the shuttle retails for more like $400.Still not bad at the price but I am not sure if the shuttle would be quite enough but defo on looks
Thanks

[Shinma]

Originally posted by crazy_as_a_fox
...The other thing is can micro boxes take normall psu ...

It varies. Some do, some do not.
Check with the chassis manufacturer.

[Todd a]

Also forgot about Flex ATX. These use smaller lower rated power supplies and the motherboards usually suck. That was what I was thinking about. Yes most, but not all Micro ATX cases use standard PS. I was looking on Directron for some good cases. Fong Kai Industrial (FKI) has an FK-611 with a 300w P4 power supply and it fits a 92mm fan in back. It even comes with thumbscrews to remove the side pannel and removable drive bays. It lacks a front fan, but the 92mm in back makes up for it a bit. It also looks pretty good.



Inwin looks to have a few good ones too for pretty cheap.