Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / Considering building a Mini-ITX for a little brother

Author
Message
NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Apr 2005
Location: The Fifth Plane of Oblivion
Posted: 24th May 2007 23:41
Link
Going to be moving soon, and my little brother wants his own PC. There won't be space for a desk, so I'm considering a Via Mini-ITX. Aparrently armed with a "VIA UniChromeTM Pro II", it is supposedly powerful enough to do 3D - but what I want to know is how much. Does anyone have any experience with this chipset? His demands would not be massive - Underground II on lowest graphics at the max. Can it do this at 30FPS?


Since the other one was scaring you guys so much...
Back to top
Profile PM Website
bitJericho
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Oct 2002
Location: United States
Posted: 24th May 2007 23:51
Link
is that like... nfs underground ii?

well.. a itx board will not be very powerful at all... What about doing a mini-atx, which will be as powerful as a regular desktop, only super small

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
NeX the Fairly Fast Ferret
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 10th Apr 2005
Location: The Fifth Plane of Oblivion
Posted: 25th May 2007 00:00
Link
Yeah, but it has to be small. The appeal with a Mini-ITX is that it shouldn't cost more than 200-250 quid if I get the stuff from the right places and use his TV. Yes, I mean Need for Speed: Underground II. But you'd be suprised how low the graphics can go; All the shader effects can be turned off, the models' polycounts can be dropped miles, texture resolutions can be turned down and lighting can be altered to the minimalistic.


Since the other one was scaring you guys so much...
Back to top
Profile PM Website
bitJericho
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 9th Oct 2002
Location: United States
Posted: 25th May 2007 00:04
Link
Quote: "Yeah, but it has to be small."


Well, a mini atx case should be no bigger than a vcr, small enough to place a monitor right ontop of it (desktop style). But you are right a mini itx is super small, but with that you are very limited, including in terms of upgrading. ITXs are more expensive all around.

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
GatorHex
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Apr 2005
Location: Gunchester, UK
Posted: 25th May 2007 03:02 Edited at: 25th May 2007 03:04
Link
Forget it.

Just get a mini-cube or mini-atx tower instead. At least then you can have a decent graphics card in a PCI-E slot.

Trust me the Via chipset is slow and has about just enough power to play mpeg movies. The fastest I ever saw was just 1.2Ghz.

War MMORPG http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=106577&b=8
DinoHunter http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=98385&b=8
Back to top
Profile PM Website
Raven
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 23rd Mar 2005
Location: Hertfordshire, England
Posted: 25th May 2007 04:06
Link
What's the largest size the case can be?
As making a system for under £250 with reasonable power and TV-Output is fairly easy.

Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Phaelax
DBPro Master
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 16th Apr 2003
Location: Metropia
Posted: 25th May 2007 06:07 Edited at: 25th May 2007 06:07
Link
Get a nano-itx board and fit into a popcan. Or get a pico-itx board, only 10cm wide!

I'm not familiar with Underground II, but if he wants to play games you might want to consider a micro-atx board instead. At least then you could use newer graphics cards. And the case wouldn't really be all that much bigger than a mini-itx.

Or just buy a mac mini.


Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2024-11-18 17:26:11
Your offset time is: 2024-11-18 17:26:11