Basic workstation am crazy to want to use a matx or itx board?

[H2oyeller]

Hello,
Could use help advice or what ever else you want to throw at me. Needing a new workstation for the office. Using cs4 for various image work for web and catalog (inhouse). Using dual 19" monitors will probably grab something larger sooner or later. Currently thinking of the following:
Core i7 930
Nividia gpx960
So now the MBoard. Am I crazy to think about putting a work station in a sff case? Thinking something like the silverstone sugo or a similar lian li case. Ok the itx board probably will not make the cut as they only seem to have only two slots for memory. So that would be a max 4g right? Bit whimpy. But the matx boards have four slots. That would seem to be enough, right? Let me know if I'm whacked, but if so at least find me a small tax case.
Thanks

 

[H2oyeller]

Oops should be gpx460.

 

[wielander]

Hello,
Currently thinking of the following:
Core i7 930
Nividia gpx960
So now the MBoard. Am I crazy to think about putting a work station in a sff case? Thinking something like the silverstone sugo or a similar lian li case. Ok the itx board probably will not make the cut as they only seem to have only two slots for memory. So that would be a max 4g right? Bit whimpy. But the matx boards have four slots. That would seem to be enough, right? Let me know if I'm whacked, but if so at least find me a small tax case.
Thanks

The i7-930 is socket LGA1366. There are no LGA1366 mITX motherboards. Those motherboards you are looking at are LGA1156, I hope. You could go with an i5-750 (the i5-760 through i7-870 are all just higher clocked versions of the same processor).

There's no reason why you can't put those components in a well ventilated mITX case (Like the Lian Li PC-Q07). You can use 4GB sticks for a maximum of 8GB of ram; that may be enough for your applications. Keep in mind that your expansion options are going to be limited on an mITX motherboard, though. If you need firewire, wifi, USB 3.0, or SATA III, make sure it is built into the board.

You don't really have to sacrifice anything by going with an mATX motherboard and case as opposed to a full ATX build (except Crossfire/SLI maybe). Here's a really nice silverstone mATX case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163159

Also consider this awesome Lian Li mATX size ATX case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112218&cm_re=pc-a05n-_-11-112-218-_-Product

 

[gkay09]

^ Why not a mATX ?? IMO you get very good LGA 1366 mobos in mATX form factors...These have 6 RAM slots for Tri-Channel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131658
No SATA 6GB/s or USB3.0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188051

CASE -
LIAN LI PC-V351B Black Aluminum MicroATX Desktop Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112222

Or the Sugo case that you wanted -
SILVERSTONE SUGO SG02-BF
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163112

The above 2 mobos support standard ATX PSUs, but make sure you get a Modular PSU for obvious reasons...
With the possiblity of SLI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007657%20600014022%20600029977&IsNodeId=1&page=2&bop=And&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&CompareItemList=58|17-139-012^17-139-012-TS,17-151-088^17-151-088-TS,17-256-035^17-256-035-S01,17-207-007^17-207-007-TS
Else this would suffice
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022

 

[H2oyeller]

Thanks wielander and gkay09 for your information. Yes, I see that no mITX boards for LGA1366. When I started to think small I stated to waffle on the processeor and thought maybe LGA1156 may work. But wow 4 gig memory moduals - unbelievable. But probably best to go LGA1366 even though I have given up on the idea of upgrading my systems as it seems the sockets keep changing as well now. Curse them! Anyway are mITX boards for LGA1366 likely in the furture? Curious on how long these transition take to the smaller boards.
Ok so let me see what I can put together in a mATX setup. The new USB 3.0 and sataIII ports would be nice. Would appreciate your feedback on my components to follow shortly. Thanks!

 

[wielander]

Anyway are mITX boards for LGA1366 likely in the furture? Curious on how long these transition take to the smaller boards.

There will most likely never be any mITX boards for LGA1366. If anyone was going to do it, it would have been done already. It is due to be replaced Q3 2011.

LGA1156 motherboards were released less than a year ago. mITX motherboards were available withing a couple months.

 

[H2oyeller]

Basic Workstation as follows:
Case: Lian Li PC-v-352B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112279
gkay09 this case looks like the update. Has usb3.0 and sd card reader + for me.

CPU: Intel Core i7 930.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225
will probably grab one at micro center $200.00.

Motherboard: Asus Rampage III
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131658

Memory: Patriot Viper II Sector7 6GB (3 x 2GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220503

Power supply: Seasonic X650 Gold
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151088
Seems like this one is a no brainer. However (always something right) On my last desktop build in a Thermaltake lanbox I used the Silverstone Modular 600w psu and was able to pick up a set of shorter cables it made a huge difference. Wonder if Seasonic offers a short cable pack?

GPU: Nvidia GPX460 EVGA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130566
Will check around on these as prices seem to have gone up lately maybe the gigabyte cooler would be better?

Hard Drive: WD Caviar Black 640GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136544

CD/DVD Burner: Asus Black 24x
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Windows 7 Professional 64bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116758

So will she fly or melt? Looks like about $1400. Shipping and tax about $1500. Am I missing anything? Or maybe something else.

Thanks again for your input/help.

 

[wielander]

Basic Workstation as follows:
Case: Lian Li PC-v-352B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112279
gkay09 this case looks like the update. Has usb3.0 and sd card reader + for me.

That case is an update. I personally think it is unnecessarily large for an mATX case, though. The footprint is huge, bigger than most ATX tower cases. [strike]It's 6% larger in volume than the PC-a05n which can fit a full size ATX motherboard.[/strike] It isn't much smaller in volume than a PC-a05n which can fit a full size ATX motherboard. The Silverstone SG04B-F mATX case is much more compact.

 

[H2oyeller]

Looks like I probably need to check out the measurements. Thanks for the info I'll do some investigating on the cases.

 

[Dougie Fresh]

This looks like an even newer update:

Lian-Li PC-V354
http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=546&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=63

 

[Dougie Fresh]

I also think the Lian-Li PC-Q08 would be better suited to a powerful video card vs. the Lian-Li PC-Q07.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2010/07/20/lian-li-pc-q08-review/1

 

[H2oyeller]

This looks like an even newer update:

Lian-Li PC-V354
http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=546&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=63

This one may have potential. Looks like egg has it for $150. Certainly should keep things cool with those 2 front fans.

I also think the Lian-Li PC-Q08 would be better suited to a powerful video card vs. the Lian-Li PC-Q07.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2010/07/20/lian-li-pc-q08-review/1

Both of these are mITX cases. And since it appears there are no mITX boards for socket LGA1366 the mITX option no longer exists. But I would agree with that large front fan it would appear the PC-Q08 would be the cooler of the two.

 

[coldsleep]

Hard Drive: WD Caviar Black 640GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136544

For $5 more, you could have a 1 TB Samsung Spinpoint F3, or a Seagate 7200.12 1 TB hard drive.

 

[gordon_81]

an i7 930 is $199 at microcentre, if you are only buying from newegg i would look into the i7 950 its only $299 now

 

[H2oyeller]

an i7 930 is $199 at microcentre, if you are only buying from newegg i would look into the i7 950 its only $299 now

Usually buy from Newegg. But will go get the i7 930 from microcenter. And what ever else they may have cheaper while I'm there. Thxs.

 

[H2oyeller]

Best answer selected by H2oyeller.