Wow... check out the ASUS Pundit. I'd never seen this case before. Looks way nicer than the Shuttles. I should replace my HUGE Dell with one of these bad boys. Just thought i'd share for those like me who hadn't seen it.

That is very nice!!! Hmmm.... <looks at shuttle on the desk>

Neat little box. I was interested, until I read:

Graphics: 256-bit SiS 315 Integrated Graphics (Faster Engine Clock)
Expansion Slot: 2 PCI

Can't take it to a LAN party, therefore not interested.

What's wrong with using a PCI video card at a lan party? I have never been to a lan party, but from what I gather, back before the Shuttle XPCs had AGP slots people happily got along with PCI cards.

I would just get a Shuttle box though...

You always play the latest games at LAN parties. I couldn't imagine Unreal Tournament 2003 with a PCI video card.

OK, like I said, I have never been to a lan party and doubt I ever will. Last game I played over the internet was C&C: Red Alert and I stopped when I was finally good enough to beat my friend.

I didn't think PCI cards were that much slower... but then i haven't been paying attention. Don't they still release PCI versions of the latest and greatest cards? That was the case when i last got my GeForce 4 at least...

Yeah, but see, AGP is *better*. So say the specs, anyways. And we all know that going to a geek^H^H^H^HLAN party with "inferior equipment" is very bad for one's rep.

OUCH... I know I always feel like a geek when I go to a lan party. But they sure are a lot of fun!

The highest PCI based ATI card is a 9200 and the fastest one on the NVidia side is a FX5200 card. Neither card comes close to the higher end video cards that either side has on the market.

Yeah, but see, AGP is *better*. So say the specs, anyways.

It is for several reasons, most relating to the fact that PC manufacturers have let PCI slots on modern motherboards stagnate. If a PCI-X 133 video card existed, I am sure it could do everything an AGP version could. But the only place I have commonly seen any PCI slots beyond the ancient 32bit 33mHz slots is in servers, or high end workstations.

Or in Apple machines. Every G4 has 64bit PCI slots. Machines since the G3 have had one 66MHz slot.

ATI's top chips are AGP-only. I suppose with an AGP/PCI bridge they canbe made to work. But that would be like putting a 90HP motor in a Porsche 911. It's going to look good. But it's not going. Anywhere.

I'll keep my Shuttle system. I don't like the ASUS' flip panel in the front covering USB, Firewire & headphones. Besides, my Shuttle looks better, IMO.

New Shuttle systems aren't limited to 533FSB and SIS graphics either.

Bruno

Besides, my Shuttle looks better, IMO.

Dunno. That Asus doesn't look too bad. I am pleased with the way that my Sony DVD rewriter matches the silver colour of my Shuttle case, though.

Try attaching picture again.

Nice. The ASUS Pundit seems like a great answer to the Dell Optiplex GX260 (sorry I couldn't find much of a better link). I built out a lab of student-use machines with these things. They're small, quiet, and have DVI output to drive nice big flat panel displays. The lack of kick-butt graphics is a feature for a student lab. Go play your games elsewhere. The only feature Dell has that I don't see on the Pundit is a built-in speaker. For lab machines, you need enough sound that beeps will be heard, but not enough to usefully play music. For that, you've got headphone jacks.

Now, if what you're trying to build is a home theater PC, the Pundit is precisely what you want. It's got fancy audio and every possible kind of video out. I suppose you could make some claim that an HTPC needs to also be a kick-butt gaming machine, but that wouldn't matter much to me.

Still, since I'm not buying anything new right now, the world will probably have migrated to these new BTX cases and motherboards by the time I need new gear. Then, you'll start seeing every manufacturer having better products in tiny form factors.

Another cool toy, used by a friend of mine as a home firewall, is one of these American Portwell tiny boxes. You have pull the hard drive to install the OS, but then you get a tiny 2U tall box with 3 Ethernet jacks.

Then there's of course the Hush

So if I need something just powerful enough to run Win98, have a bit of memory for an app, and be small, what do I want? Something with a VIA EPIA board looks like it might be interesting, but I'm not sure. Onboard audio probably unnecessary, it's to give to someone to run atcsmon on, and that's going to need a good soundcard, e.g. the onboard is probably crap for it.

I'd like to see a small PC like the Asus or a shuttle, with one of these http://littlepc.com put inside of it. Not sure what I'd do with a "2 in 1" PC, but I'd love to have the extra cash to find out!

Hey Loren

If you like that one, take a gander here and here....

Saaaaaaaaaaweeeeet..too bad it is so many bones but what can you expect for custom work?

Those cubits are sweeeet. Nice simple design. That second link's not working though... =]

mini-itx.com got slashdotted today...I would expect them to be a little slow for a while.

Except mine looks like this...



And I have a Yamaha CDRW in an aluminum case. The attached picture is actually someone else's machine, but looks identical to mine. Mine will be living under my TV in my living room. Another (similar) unit will be my new main machine. I've also got an aluminum face in black and also at least one or two slot-load. I have about 5 or 6 extra faces that I should probably get rid of.

Bruno

how much?? black?? pictures? =]

Got any extra non-slot load silver ones ?