This is real small

[ICIT2LOL]

Just found this surfing the new Intel i7 -3970X and how small can you fit USB's onto ??



Miniature Quad-Core Computer For Under $130 - Technology News - redOrbit

 

[Night Hawk]

Micro atx mini tower board! There you go! I saw a few like that only AMD models when going to shop for a board to fit into the NZXT Vulcan case 7 Pro x64 runs on. I ended up with a Phenom II X2 model on the board that only see two 2gb memory slots.

You may find one report interesting as it deals with a rating of the 8 best micro ATX and Mini-ITX motherboards as one buying guide for tiny boards that pack a punch. Some of these boards have a bit more for the size then you would typically expect any micro atc model to have as far as what you can plug into them.

 

[patio]

mini-itx.com - news

Have some fun perusing some of the creative Builds here...

 

[Night Hawk]

They are now starting to put some real work horses in smaller packages! To compete with the competition seen for hand held devices and to shrink wrap things down in size manufacturers are reworking designs to accomidate smaller formats.

Smaller case to begin with, smaller power requirements, great for Lan parties, etc. seems to be the growing trend as far as what would be considered desktop hardwares.

 

[whs]

That's all nice. But once you add a monitor, keyboard, mouse, modem, router and a couple of disks. your desk will be cluttered after all.

 

[Night Hawk]

You could get a tablet with a usb keyboard all in one case. I bought one of these for someone's birthday. Newegg.com - 8GB 10.1" Capacitive full Touch Screen Wifi Tablet w/ USB Keyboard Smart Cover Leather Case - [A8 1.5Ghz CPU, 1GB DDR3, 2160P HDMI output, Front 0.3MP Camera]

That's free of clutter as well as options to get anything done! :roflmao:

 

[bobafetthotmail]

It's a ARM processor, so it is basically naked smartphone/tablet hardware.
Wake me again when they put x86 processors in those things.

Also, Raspberry Pi has now 512 mb ram without changing the price. Frankly, I'd still prefer the Pi at 35$.
You can build cheap supercomputers out of it for the price of a top gaming rig.

 

[Night Hawk]

The AGPTek model there I doubt would be ARM since that is mainly the new MS Surface Tablet series that would even see those. As for the micro atx boards are not running any ARM processor. These run what a full size atx board will run as far as the cpu in most cases. These boards are regular but simply made mini sized boards.

They either run with core I5 or I7 for Intel or typically an AMD Phenom II or Atholon II model cpu. Some of them may even start seeing the new Octocores now out from AMD. That will coming along likely some time soon as well.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

I don't understand what you are trying to say... I know that mini-atx boards can support any CPU and GPU, but the thing linked isn't a mini-atx board. (it is far far smaller)

It states to use " Exynos quad-core ARM-based central processing unit.", which is an ARM processor, period. They also state that it runs Android, an OS that runs on ARM.

 

[Night Hawk]

That was in response to whs's post about still seeing clutter on the desktop once you start adding the keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc. even when getting into any micro atx or ITX anything. You apparently missed the point I was trying to make there.

That was simply to point out a tablet that offers a usb keyboard along with the carrying case. That allows you to set it up like a laptop. You wouldn't see clutter with that but at the same time can't do that much with it either!

 

[bobafetthotmail]

ah ok, nevermind. Sorry for the intrusion in your discussion.

 

[Night Hawk]

What me worry? Never!

It does bring up a good point however about the vast differences you would find when making a comparison to what a growing number of these boards can offer when compared next to some hand held gadgets! Some of the micro atx cases with carrying handles on them can run into some money however.

While I ended buying two Vulcans one for the 64bit Home Premium I put together for a family member and the other running the Pro x64 I would for remote projects when going to shop around I ran into a few model priced around $150-! micro atx case with handle: compare prices and read reviews - Bing Shopping

 

[bobafetthotmail]

actually, I have seen better m-atx and atx cases made by modding a bit an aluminum luggage, here is a video here a set of pics. either luggages can be bought for 40$ or less.

 

[Night Hawk]

I saw the YouTube video on the first link some time back and thought to myself just do a little work machining out a metal case and there you have it for far less then what they charge for some cases!

The second looks planned out far better as you look over the 2006 article there.That looks like a 17" or 18" for the lcd there.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

I'm actually seriously considering to place my full ATX gaming rig (still awaiting shipments) in one of those aluminum luggages i had around for years as I do need it much more portable and sturdy than most desktops and I can't stand the sight of any gaming case I ever saw.
Of course when operating it will be open (so I can avoid to cut it as I don't want it to attract a lot of attention when closed), and I have already a good sturdy motherboard/expansion slot support panel with screws I tore away from the last depressingly old beige case I put in the trash.
may post pics in the other if I assemble it in a luggage.

 

[Night Hawk]

That would certainly be a project as long you can effectively cut the openings as well as keeping them neatly done and correct to fit for optical drive and expansion slots along with the openings you would expect to see for P@/2, USB, and other.

The Vulcan case was bought here since it did have a carrying handle but was also quite a bit lower priced for a smaller portable case then when finding the ThermalTake model for twice as much as the alternative. The ThermalTeke model was lower and wider in shape seeing the one 5 1/4" in front and drive bay below and made of vinyl for the main portion of the casing itself with the plastic front face.

For a suit case project if metal that would solve the common ground issue for ESD. But can also bring up a shock hazard item when being made a portable as well. That was one concern for not wanting the vinyl case since plastic likes to be an esd factor at times.