I'm starting to build a PC to take with me to university when I go in September. I need it to be portable enough so I can take it on the train home at weekends and holidays. I'm not keen for a laptop, so is a Shuttle style PC the only way to go? I want it to be able to play all the current games well and be fairly futureproof. I 8 table online poker, so I need it to support 2 screens. Would the top case here - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/OcUK_Value_Cases.html along with a Abit NF95 GeForce 6100 Micro ATX (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-098-AB) be a good bet?
Portable PC for university
- Thread starter Jay1986
- Start date
Soldato
What's your budget? What else are you going to use the PC for?
With only the motherboard you specced you won't be able to manage 2 screens - the onboard graphics on have one output.
I'd recommend the Asus A8N-VM CSM and the ASpire XQpack for a cheap system. Obviously you can choose the CPU to suit the purpose.
With only the motherboard you specced you won't be able to manage 2 screens - the onboard graphics on have one output.
I'd recommend the Asus A8N-VM CSM and the ASpire XQpack for a cheap system. Obviously you can choose the CPU to suit the purpose.
p4radox said:The link you posted is invalid. Were you trying to link to the ASpire XQpack?
What's your budget? What else are you going to use the PC for?
With only the motherboard you specced you won't be able to manage 2 screens - the onboard graphics on have one output.
I'd recommend the Asus A8N-VM CSM and the ASpire XQpack for a cheap system. Obviously you can choose the CPU to suit the purpose.
I've a budget of about £600. I'm going to use it for gaming, poker, surfing, MSN, aswell as university work. Are small PCs like that hard to build as I've never built one before. This is what I've got so far.
Asus A8N-VM CSM Micro ATX (Socket 939) PCI Express Motherboard (MB-119-AS) £55.17
AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 90nm (Socket 939) - Retail (ADA3700BNBOX) (CP-121-AM) £93.94
GeIL 1GB (2x512MB) PC3200 Value Dual Channel Kit CAS2.5 (GE1GB3200BHDC) (MY-005-GL) £70.44
Connect3D ATI Radeon X1800 XT 256MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-044-CO) £170.32
OcUK Value Aspire X-Qpack Cube Case - Silver (CA-008-AS) £60.63
Western Digital Caviar SE16 250GB 2500KS SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD-046-WD) £58.69
Liteon SHM-165P6S-09C 16x DVD±RW/RAM (Black) - OEM (CD-048-LO) £22.91
Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000 Black - Retail (BV3-00007) (KB-051-MS) £28.14
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 4 7.1 EAX Sound Card - OEM (SC-037-CL) £35.84
Total £596.08
How does this look? What CPU Fan should I go for, don't want to spend a lot as I'm not planning on overclocking (for the moment). IS the PSU with the case alright for all this? Will everything fit inside? Anything else I need?
Soldato
Looks like a good spec.
Do you have good speakers to make use of the sound card? If not, stick with onboard.
2Gb RAM would be beneficial if you can cram it in.
CPU fan - the Zalman CNPS7700 is supposed to fit but it's tight - the CNPS7000 is also very good and will definitely fit.
The PSU isn't the best but apparently they've been improved and lots of people use them.
The system might be quite loud. If you want it quieter get a Zalman VF900 on the graphics card, a better 120mm fan and a new PSU if your funds allow.
Do you have good speakers to make use of the sound card? If not, stick with onboard.
2Gb RAM would be beneficial if you can cram it in.
CPU fan - the Zalman CNPS7700 is supposed to fit but it's tight - the CNPS7000 is also very good and will definitely fit.
The PSU isn't the best but apparently they've been improved and lots of people use them.
The system might be quite loud. If you want it quieter get a Zalman VF900 on the graphics card, a better 120mm fan and a new PSU if your funds allow.
p4radox said:Looks like a good spec.
Do you have good speakers to make use of the sound card? If not, stick with onboard.
2Gb RAM would be beneficial if you can cram it in.
CPU fan - the Zalman CNPS7700 is supposed to fit but it's tight - the CNPS7000 is also very good and will definitely fit.
The PSU isn't the best but apparently they've been improved and lots of people use them.
The system might be quite loud. If you want it quieter get a Zalman VF900 on the graphics card, a better 120mm fan and a new PSU if your funds allow.
I have some Logitech 4.1 Speakers which I spent £150 on a couple of years ago. Not quite sure which model though. Whats the onboard sound like? That RAM is definitely compatible with the mobo then? Good choice of graphics card? Just looked at the Zalman CNPS7700 and it says Please note due to the large size of this cooler please check you have the necessary space around the socket before ordering. This will definitely fit though you say?
Man of Honour
Better off in here. Small systems often have particular requirements and you usually can't just shove any old hardware in them. It may be quieter in here, but at least you get people who know what they're doing.Jay1986 said:
Soldato
Jay1986 said:
In that case you might as well get the Sound Blaster card and make use of your speakers!
The Ram will be fine. But something for you to consider: if you want to upgrade in future, it would be better to go for a single 1Gb stick now, and buy another 1Gb stick in the future and run dual channel. I'd recommend something like the Crucial 1Gb PC3200.
I have seen one user of these forums who managed to fit a 7700 into his QPack, but I can't remember his name. I'll have a look. To be honest, I'd just get a CNPS7000 or the newer CNPS8000 which is superior.
edit: It was Biffa, see this thread: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17511225&page=2&pp=30&highlight=aspire
Soldato
You want it to be portable but want 2 monitors? 
How will you take the two monitors home on the train?
How will you take the two monitors home on the train?
Leave my monitors at uni and use my parents ones when I'm at home. Thanks for all the help, I ordered this yesterday -
£79.95 x 1 - AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 90nm (Socket 939) - Retail
(ADA3700BNBOX) (CP-121-AM)
£46.95 x 1 - Asus A8N-VM CSM Micro ATX (Socket 939) PCI Express Motherboard
(MB-119-AS)
£54.95 x 1 - Crucial 1GB DDR PC3200 CAS3 (CT12864Z40B) (MY-030-CR)
£144.95 x 1 - Connect3D ATI Radeon X1800 XT 256MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI
(PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-044-CO)
£49.95 x 1 - Western Digital Caviar SE16 250GB 2500KS SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM
(HD-046-WD)
£4.95 x 1 - Western Digital Secure Connect Serial ATA Cable (CB-000-WD)
£19.50 x 1 - Liteon SHM-165P6S-09C 16x DVD±RW/RAM (Black) - OEM (CD-048-LO)
£51.60 x 1 - OcUK Value Aspire X-Qpack Cube Case - Silver (CA-008-AS)
£18.95 x 1 - Zalman CNPS7000B-CU Ultra-Quiet CPU Cooler - Retail (HS-007-ZA)
£15.95 x 1 - Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE 7.1 Sound Card - OEM (SC-040-CL)
£23.95 x 1 - Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000 Black - Retail (BV3-00007)
(KB-051-MS)
£7.95 x 1 - Akasa AK174CB-4BLB 120mm Blue LED Fan (FG-008-AK)
£79.95 x 1 - AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 90nm (Socket 939) - Retail
(ADA3700BNBOX) (CP-121-AM)
£46.95 x 1 - Asus A8N-VM CSM Micro ATX (Socket 939) PCI Express Motherboard
(MB-119-AS)
£54.95 x 1 - Crucial 1GB DDR PC3200 CAS3 (CT12864Z40B) (MY-030-CR)
£144.95 x 1 - Connect3D ATI Radeon X1800 XT 256MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI
(PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-044-CO)
£49.95 x 1 - Western Digital Caviar SE16 250GB 2500KS SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM
(HD-046-WD)
£4.95 x 1 - Western Digital Secure Connect Serial ATA Cable (CB-000-WD)
£19.50 x 1 - Liteon SHM-165P6S-09C 16x DVD±RW/RAM (Black) - OEM (CD-048-LO)
£51.60 x 1 - OcUK Value Aspire X-Qpack Cube Case - Silver (CA-008-AS)
£18.95 x 1 - Zalman CNPS7000B-CU Ultra-Quiet CPU Cooler - Retail (HS-007-ZA)
£15.95 x 1 - Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE 7.1 Sound Card - OEM (SC-040-CL)
£23.95 x 1 - Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000 Black - Retail (BV3-00007)
(KB-051-MS)
£7.95 x 1 - Akasa AK174CB-4BLB 120mm Blue LED Fan (FG-008-AK)