Questions about current bits into SFF

Madhog · 30 Jul 2008 at 08:40

So we just had a study area built into our dining area, and me and the missus both have large PCs, housed in Gigabyte Aurora 3Ds, and they're just too big for the study area we've had built.

With this in mind, I did some checking, and SFF would be the ideal solution, in fact, the Shuttle XPC SX38P2 Pro is really the perfect size.

Now, I have perfectly good bits in my current PCs, and basically want to know if I would be able to fit these into that Shuttle?

The bits I have are:

Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz, 2400 Mhz
OS Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS
DVDRW Optiarc DVD RW AD-5170A ATA Device
HDD Seagate 320gig X2 in a RAID0 config
Wireless Netgear RangeMax N PCI Card

So, I'd like to not have to replace any of them bits if possible, to reuse them.

Would they fit in ok?

Will I be able to just plug everything into a Shuttle case, switch on, and do whatever, or, will I have to format the drives and start from new?

Do I literally just unplug my CPU and lob it into the Shuttle, and does the shuttle have its own CPU cooling system or am I going to need to buy something?

Will my windows licence work ok? I'm not going to try using the same licence twice.

The GFX card seems quite thick to me, and is quite long too, is that normal and will that be ok? My graphics card is HERE

Also, I was thinking of ordering myself OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400C5 Dual Channel Vista Gold Series DDR2 and then putting four 1GB DDR PC2-5200 sticks that we currently have into my missus's. Will this all work too?

Other info that might be helpful:

We surf the internet, email etc. We play WoW. Thats it pretty much. No FPSs etc.

I wont be planning on SLiing up, am happy with the cards as they are atm, but if there was an option for that, what is it? No need for lots of room inside, this config will do me fine for a while yet.

So, any comments / advice welcome!

Madhog · 30 Jul 2008 at 09:23

Oh and if I could get say a Lian Li with mobo (same as the shuttle) or something else similar, please say so! Size cant be any bigger than that shuttle though please.

Madhog · 30 Jul 2008 at 11:37

Another way to say this is, what Im after is..

1. Will that shuttle above work?

2. Reading a reply to another post, replied by Slick, what other options have I got? Like a Lian-Li case + mobo + what else?

Madhog · 30 Jul 2008 at 13:08

The thing about the Lian Li case is, its 5 cm longer than the shuttle, and the Shuttle is the perfect size for under the worktop, as in it fits with nothing extruding from under, I know the difference is only 2 inches, so might measure up and ponder that tonight.

Which is the best Lian-Li for the bits Ive got then and what else would I be best getting. ie mobo, cooler, PSU etc? I dont have a budget as such, I dont mind paying for good quality stuff, but dont need extreme performance type stuff and would like to keep costs down as much as possible if I can seeing as I need 2 sets.

Also, I take it in any case, because Im going to be attaching my HDDs to a new Mobo, will I need to reinstall my OS?

Madhog · 30 Jul 2008 at 13:18

Hmm the Sugo 03, according to another site, has dimensions of a depth of only 31cm which is 1cm shorter than the Shuttle.

What else would I need with this?

Also just thought, I dont think I have DVDs for my OS, they are on a partition on my RAID (dont hate me, it was a Packard Bell system!), will I be able to connect all this up and still either run my OS as is, or will I need to reinstall, and if so, how?

Madhog · 30 Jul 2008 at 20:12

Ok so my current board is an P5N-E SLI with the nVidia nForce 650i SLI chipset.

The only SFF mobo I can see close to this is theGigabyte GA-73PVM-S2 NVIDIA GeForce 7100 / nForce 630i Chipset (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard with a nVidia 630i chipset.

Would that be close enough to my 650i or does this look like Im gonna need to buy new copies of Vista and do a format and reinstall?

If that IS the case, could anyone recommend a decent combo of

Case
Mobo
4 GIG Ram
CPU Cooler
PSU

I'll want to use my 8800 GTS graphics card, current HDDs and DVDRW. No overclocking, no demanding games, just the internet and WoW.

Thanks in advance and sorry for being such a numpty.

Madhog · 31 Jul 2008 at 08:52

Hmm arse heh. I'd not thought about the RAID, so annoyingly it seems that Vista would continue to work providing my RAID worked, which unless I went for something with the exact same RAID controller, wont? Seeing as I cant get the same on a mATX I might just forget this for the moment and try and find a smaller ATX case.