Aopen XC Cube Small form factor systems

DanGDanG I AM CANADIAN Icrontian
edited May 2004 in Hardware
Hey guys, I'm thinking of moving to a system like this. We sell them at work so I can get one for cost instead of retail price for a shuttle system.
My only current problem would be hard drives and the lack of space inside one of the SFF systems, but I could easily pick up another 2 or 3 usb2 or firewire drive cases and move most of my drives there and hook them up through a USB hub(yes I know they wouldn't be as fast compared to being hooked up directly, but I'm not too concerned about that, they're mostly for storage).
I'm more concerned about cooling and power issues. It will be a P4, probably my current 2.6C, my LG DVD-RW, a 10k 36gb raptor, probably one of my 120gb WD SE drives, my radeon 9800pro and my ati tv wonder.
The Aopen systems use active cooling for the CPU and have a 220 watt power supply, so I don't think it would be too much of an issue, or am I just looking for trouble with those parts? I know that I wouldn't be able to overclock much, if at all, and I would switch out the internal fans for a pair of the TT smartfan2's.
This would be the one I'd be looking at, but not from newegg, they just have the best pictures of it.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=56-140-001&depa=0

Any thoughts on this?

Comments

  • DanGDanG I AM CANADIAN Icrontian
    edited April 2004
    Anyone?
  • LincLinc Owner Detroit Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    Essentially the question is will a 220 watt PSU run this:

    P4, probably my current 2.6C
    LG DVD-RW
    10k 36gb raptor
    120gb WD SE drives
    radeon 9800pro
    ati tv wonder

    Thoughts? I think that's rather shaky myself.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited May 2004
    The PSU should be just fine. My main concern would be putting 2 high speed drives like that in a system with no airflow across the drives. I would NOT put the raptor in there, period.
  • SpinnerSpinner Birmingham, UK
    edited May 2004
    Under normal circumstances, I would scream a big NO in the face of using a 220W PSU for a modern system, but in this case (if you excuse the pun), I think it would be fine. The PSU will be tailored to support the specs the case was designed to carry, so they wouldn't have put something in it that couldn't handle the candle.

    I've had a few dealings with Aopen cases, cases which have also come with Aopen PSU's, and I've had no problems. Admittedly I've never dealt with cube PC systems made by them, but I think you’re safe.

    However, as folk have already said, I wouldn't put the Raptor in there, especially not as it would be the 2nd of two hard drives.

    Cheers
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    As the owner of a SFF, I can tell you right off the bat that hot drives will cause problems. I would bypass the raptors in favor of something a bit more conservative on heat and speed.
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    Wow... seriously.. do not put Raptors in a small form factor..

    I have two raptors in my normal rig.. they get hot enough that if you touched them.. you could get a burn! You would generate so much heat inside the enclosed tight space of a SFF.

    Sorry mate, pick something else for the sake of your components :)
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited May 2004
    I have two raptors in my normal rig.. they get hot enough that if you touched them.. you could get a burn! You would generate so much heat inside the enclosed tight space of a SFF.

    Umm... this is a Bad Thing, Shorty. You should seriously consider getting some cooling on those things.
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    Geeky1 wrote:
    Umm... this is a Bad Thing, Shorty. You should seriously consider getting some cooling on those things.
    I do have cooling on them ;) Im just emphasising the point about how much heat a bare pair generate.. before you put them in a small form factor :)

    I have a 35CFM 80mm blowing across them, they stay nice and cool :)
  • SpinnerSpinner Birmingham, UK
    edited May 2004
    Dan wrote:
    I do have cooling on them ;) Im just emphasising the point about how much heat a bare pair generate.. before you put them in a small form factor :)

    I have a 35CFM 80mm blowing across them, they stay nice and cool :)
    Yep, when I first got mine, I frequently cooked eggs and other morning food on them, my computer for a while was like my second kitchen. Now though, I have 2 slow blowing 80mm's dedicated to cooling those fierce little dinosaurs. Not because I want to, because I need to.

    Cheers
  • DanGDanG I AM CANADIAN Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    Thanks for the help guys.

    I guess I'm going to be looking at loading xp on one of my WD SE drives instead of the raptor.
    More storage is a good thing anyways.

    I'll post pics before durning and after the install if I go this way(which I probably will).
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    yes I know they wouldn't be as fast

    Firewire or USB external drives will about 1/2 the speed of the same drives on IDE. Concerning the heat generated by a pair of internal drives - even if they are actively cooled, that heat will instantly blow all over your other components in such a small case in less your case ventilation is excellent.
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