I want to downsize my main pc from big, fugly, Dell mini-tower to something quite small. Performance doesn't need to be mind-blowing (currently use P4 3Ghz quite happily) but should last a few years (the Dell is on 5yrs) and no special hardware requirements except possibly Firewire input and 2 x gfx outputs. Noise is not really an issue either.

I'm trying to complement a Xbox360 and Humax PVR not replace them so it won't be for games and I'm not interested in any recording capabilities. I don't really play with my PCs, I just like to leave them alone and not cause me any problems. It'll store photos, music and video for TV playback and the occasional video editing, nothing extravagent.

Some items (DVD, HDD, Firewire PCI card) could possibly re-used but happy to buy a ready built unit if it works out better. Consequently, the budget is only around the £300 mark, can it be done? (Might spend a little more if it comes with an OS)

I'd look at an Intel-based Shuttle. Good solid design, small and run pretty quiet too.

www.microdirect.co.uk stock them and are good in general for PC parts. Shouldn't be too far from you either on Upper Brook St to pop in

I'm sure you could do a mid-range model with a reasonable Core2Duo in there for your budget.

Steve

I'd look at an Intel-based Shuttle. Good solid design, small and run pretty quiet too.

www.microdirect.co.uk stock them and are good in general for PC parts. Shouldn't be too far from you either on Upper Brook St to pop in

I'm sure you could do a mid-range model with a reasonable Core2Duo in there for your budget.

Steve

I normally buy components from Microdirect - so much easier to pick stuff up.

Looking at something like this: http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Product/41936/Asus-barebone-PC-system-Terminator-T3-P5G31A

Providing my CPU is 775 not 478, will I be able to drop everything I have into it and be running straight away?

Having got the tape measure out, I'm not sure i'd be saving as much space as I want with a shuttle type case.

My work PC is an IBM thinkcentre slimline desktop and I'm thinking that something in this format may be more suitable.

some more ideas: http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/118913-home-theatre-media-pc-advice-please/page__hl__media%20centre

Edited 27 January, 201016 yr by daiking

Unless you /really/ need the firewire / dual vga.... consider an Aspire Revo.

Unless you /really/ need the firewire / dual vga.... consider an Aspire Revo.

I've looked at those but its not really what I'm looking for. Normally I use a pretty basic laptop for stuff, my pc is for storage and downloading and importing from my video camera so needs a few things.

Having got the tape measure out, I'm not sure i'd be saving as much space as I want with a shuttle type case.

Sounds like you might be looking for mini/nano/pico-ITX - http://www.mini-itx.com - not only smaller than Shuttles but also with more variation in case dimensions if you have a specific space to fill. The main problems over the Shuttles are cost/power, depending on what you want to do with the machine and how quickly you want it to do stuff...

Rob.

Sounds like you might be looking for mini/nano/pico-ITX - http://www.mini-itx.com - not only smaller than Shuttles but also with more variation in case dimensions if you have a specific space to fill. The main problems over the Shuttles are cost/power, depending on what you want to do with the machine and how quickly you want it to do stuff...

Rob.

That is more like it. Looks like it might do the job. Just have a to wait a few weeks...

Sounds like you might be looking for mini/nano/pico-ITX ...