amd 64 Micro ATX - MSI K8MM-ILSR

Tex

It was to cheap to pass up. I been wanting a little Shuttle XPC style cube computer to hook up to the TV/Stereo upstairs. Should be fun to play with for 50 bucks anyway. I better go scarf a cheap cpu next. Basicaly going to be a MP3 server and tivo type box witha huge IDE drive or two.

Tex

Here is the specs. I'll let ya know how it shakes out.

Model# K8MM-ILSR
Supported CPU: Socket 754 AMD Athlon64 Processors
Chipset: VIA K8M800 + VIA VT8237
RAM: 2x DIMM for DDR400 Max 2GB
IDE: 2x ATA 133 up to 4 Devices
Slots: 1x AGP 8X, 3x PCI, 1x CNR
Ports: 2x PS/2, LPT, COM, LAN, VGA, 2x IEEE1394(Rear 1), 8x USB2.0(Rear 4), Audio ports
Onboard Audio: 6-Channel Realtek ALC655
Onboard LAN: VIA 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet
Onboard SATA/RAID: 2x Serial ATA, RAID 0/1
Onboard Video: On-board S3 Unichrome, shared up to 64MB
Form Factor: microATX

edcentric

I keep looking at these (and a few others) and say 'they can't be any good at that price'. But they are so tempting.
I'll be looking for your updates.
Are there any 90nm CPUs for 754?

Tex

Don't know. I'll just be getting the cheapest one I can find basicaly. It doesnt need to even be a amd 64 really for my intended target but my whole house is now either opteron or amd 64 so why not one more? (grin)

Tex

GHoosdum

What case are you going to put it in?

I was considering this mobo when I did an HEPC build. I wound up going with Socket A to save 50 bucks though.

Tex

Something cheap and small. Antec has a cube that looks like the shuttle xpc style cases but I don't want to pay that much so I'll be scarfing around for a knock off copy of theirs or something. Wish it had gigabit LAN onboard though.

I may just make a little clear plexi case for it.

Its actually gonna also be used for Robin to have a small easily moved around computer she can take with her to her moms house in case she has to VPN into work while she is visiting.

Would almost be easier to just upgrade her mom's box though.

Tex

Here is Antecs case.

GHoosdum

The Aria is what I'm using. It's very well-built. It is a bit on the expensive side, though.

Tex

Thats why I was shopping for a cheap knock off/copy but I may have to bite the bullet. I like the case. How much room for a big heat sink? I run the huge zalman round coolers and like the noise. It needs to run 24/7 reliably or I would water cool it..

I have watercooled 4 boxs but not sure I trust it 24/7 espcially as compared to a fan when I am not even OC'ing or anything. I would do it only for the noise, and it would be on 24/7.

Tex

GHoosdum

The acceptable heatsink size varies depending upon where the CPU socket is located on the board. If it's too far south, it will interfere with where the wire bundle comes out of the PSU. The PSU kind of has a notch in it (it's a very irregular shape) to accomodate the HSF. I've been able to put on both an SLK-800A and an AX-7 with 80MM fans under the PSU, on boards where the socket is closer to the I/O ports than the K8MM-ILSR's socket (the clearance was tight near the low-hanging portion of the PSU). The socket on the K8MM-ILSR looks like it's in a very good location to be used with the Aria case. You just might be able to fit that big honkin' Zalman on there. If not, it will almost certainly be able to fit a Thermalright.

Tex

The zalman might be tricky but I don't mind getting one of the cheapest slowest cpu's that will maybe even run cooler also. Its not like it needs speed to do mp3 serving and video capture. As cold as the house usualy stays hee in the mountains I hope cooling won't be a major pain.

I'm also renting this house so getting it on my gigabit network two floors down would be a royal pain. I'll have to look into a wireless router also.

Gee it just keeps adding up. Ka-Ching... Ka-Ching

Tex