Small size Desk/Net Top Help Please

Smiler · 13 Dec 2011 at 11:33

Hello folks,

I'm looking for a small PC to mount on the back of my monitor or possibly to sit under the monitor on its side and am after some advice.

I think I might have found the ideal machine in the Zotac Zbox AD-02 which uses an AMD duel core CPU which according to varied research out performs the comparable Intel Atom.
The plan would be to use a SSD and fill it with 8gb of ram to produce a nice little machine for under £300.

However, I would first like to know if there are any other better options before I comit to buy. I don't mind having a go at building something myself but I want it to be small and quiet.

Can anyone help?

Cheers,

Smiler.

panyan · 13 Dec 2011 at 11:38

this will outperform and offer much better future expansion than any of those pre-built boxes - the case can be put on its side like you want and the monitor on top

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i3-2100 3.10GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail £95.99
1 x Asus P8P67-M Intel P67 (Socket 1155) DDR3 MicroATX Motherboard ** B3 REVISION ** £94.99
1 x OCZ Agility 3 60GB 2.5" SATA-3 Solid State Hard Drive (AGT3-25SAT3-60G) £79.99
1 x Corsair Builder Series CX 430W V2 '80 Plus' Power Supply (CMPSU-430CXUKV2) £39.98
1 x Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KHX1600C9D3X2K2/8GX) £35.99
1 x Cooler Master Elite 360 Mini Tower Case - Black £28.99
Total : £390.04 (includes shipping : £11.75).

EDIT: it outperforms by quite some margin! http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/91?vs=289

Smiler · 13 Dec 2011 at 13:24

Hmm, I see what you mean. However the box is still quite large and it's an extra £100.

I've been trying to find smaller cases (Not bothered about having an optical drive), do you know of any?

Oh, where are my manors, thanks very much for putting that little lot together. Sorry, I just re-read what I'd written and it came across a bit blunt and rude.

beejjacobs · 13 Dec 2011 at 13:25

I agree with the above. However that's an expensive motherboard IMO, and p67 is useless with that set up as you can't use the onboard GPU. I'd get:

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i3-2100 3.10GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail £95.99
1 x OCZ Agility 3 60GB 2.5" SATA-3 Solid State Hard Drive (AGT3-25SAT3-60G) £79.99
1 x MSI H61M-E33 Intel H61 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard **B3 REVISION** £46.99
1 x Corsair Builder Series CX 430W V2 '80 Plus' Power Supply (CMPSU-430CXUKV2) £39.98
1 x Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KHX1600C9D3X2K2/8GX) £35.99
1 x Cooler Master Elite 360 Mini Tower Case - Black £28.99
Total : £342.04 (includes shipping : £11.75).

Or to save more money, a cheaper CPU:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-384-IN&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=2037

beejjacobs · 13 Dec 2011 at 13:28

Even smaller is mini-itx (however it then starts to get more expensive too) I had this case once and it's great, nice n small too. It's not really suited to have a monitor on it or be mounted on a monitor though.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i3-2100 3.10GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail £95.99
1 x Silverstone Sugo SG06B Mini ITX Case - Black (with 300 W PSU) £93.98
1 x OCZ Agility 3 60GB 2.5" SATA-3 Solid State Hard Drive (AGT3-25SAT3-60G) £79.99
1 x Asus P8H61-I Intel H61 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £64.99
1 x Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KHX1600C9D3X2K2/8GX) £35.99
Total : £382.94 (includes shipping : £10.00).

Similarly as above you can get the cheaper pentium CPU.

I believe this is the CPU you are talking about which beats the Atom?
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/91?vs=328

Even the cheaper Pentium I have suggested is MUCH better:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/406?vs=328

Smiler · 13 Dec 2011 at 13:42

Hi and thanks for the help.

Yes that's the correct AMD processor. It's also a compact looking case but still not quite small enough. I know I may be asking for miracles but space is becoming a bit of a premium.

I should perhaps just point out that this won't be used for any form of gaming. The most ardous task will be a bit of photo editing (basic stuff such as brightness and colour levels) and perhaps some light video editing in the future (compiling the odd home movie of holidays etc...).

Similar size cases for self builds seem to be rather thin on the ground which is making me wonder if motherboards would even be available.

Thanks again for your time both of you, it is much appreciated.

beejjacobs · 13 Dec 2011 at 13:49

No problem. If you want a really small case like you suggested initially, then it is very unlikely you will be able to build it yourself as there just isnt the components around like you say. A slightly bigger one, like suggested, will be a lot more powerful and upgradeable. Those AMD and Intel Atom CPUS are OKAY, but they really aren't that good. For everyday use I guess they should be okay though.

So, it depends how important it is that it is small. Up to you

panyan · 13 Dec 2011 at 13:57

just an idea - considering you want something very small, and your going to be doing photo editing - why not get a mac mini?

Smiler · 13 Dec 2011 at 14:14

A mac mini? I'll take a look. Will it still work with my router and home network? Wife has a windows 7 laptop and we have a windows based NAS hard-drive.

Cheers.