Thread: baddest sytems I can build?

That Zotac board is the one that I am looking at.

The PC is going in the cabin of a boat (doesn't need to be ruggidized as it's dry) It does however have to be small. I am thinking of using an external DVD burner so that it can be remotely mounted away from the computer itself.

It's main job will to be running a program called MAXSEA. It gets data from the internet via sat, then desplays it, routes etc on the computer. The computer they have now is slow at running it. I'm sure a C2D would be adequate. My main concern was the heat sink.

examples of the boards with the c2d built in? cost isn't so much a factor here provided it is justifiable. I already mentioned SSD and they shot that down as unnecessary.

My main concern was the heat sink and it's size. That M350 Case will probably be how I proceed, but now, it's board and proc selection.

It will be running XP.


Sorry for the out of order thoughts, I just typed as things came to mind!

The M350 can fit a stock heat sink and fan for most CPU's with a TDP of 65 watts or less, so you're good there. Also, low-profile heat sink/fan combos can be had on Newegg for $20-$30.

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure the M2-ATX won't fit in the M350. You'd probably have to go with a PicoPSU or the M3-ATX.

Wow, that is a pretty hefty program! what are the specs of the system they are using now?

What is your budget, and space requirements? (i know you need it small, but we would need dimesions of the install area)

and for anyone else interested, here is a copy-paste of the minimum and recomended requirements

minimum:
Processor: 32 bits (x86) 1 GHz cadenced
RAM Memory: 1 GB
Hard Disk Capacity: 40 GB
Video Card: DirectX 9 (WDDM driver, Pixel Shader 2.0 and 32 bits per pixel); minimum graphic memory :
MaxSea Navigator : 128 MB
MaxSea Explorer : 256 MB for NavNet3D radar display
Screen Settings: 800 X 600 / 16-bits
CD/DVD - ROM Drive 24X recommended for MaxSea Installation
Operating System : Windows XP x32 SP2 or Windows VISTA 32 capable / Windows VISTA 32 Prenium Ready Computers.
Used Ports : USB / Serial
Network Ethernet 10/100 Mbits connection Base-T

recomended:
Processor: 32 bits (x86) 2 GHz cadenced (Core Duo)
RAM Memory: 2 GB
Hard Disk Capacity: 120 GB
Video Card: DirectX 9 (WDDM driver, Pixel Shader 2.0 and 32 bits per pixel); minimum graphic memory :
MaxSea Navigator : 256 MB
MaxSea Explorer : 512 MB for NavNet3D radar display
Screen Settings: 1024 X 768 / 32-bits
CD/DVD - ROM Drive 24X recommended for MaxSea Installation
Operating System : Windows XP x32 SP2 or Windows VISTA 32 capable / Windows VISTA 32 Prenium Ready Computers.
Used Ports : USB / Serial
Network Ethernet 10/100 Mbits connection Base-T

based on the recomendations, i would say that you should plan on using a video card, instead of onboard graphics, and at least a core 2 duo processor, and a gig or 2 of ram. Will they be using the computer to do anything else? Than you will need a even heftier system... also, i am not completely familiar with the program, or satillite interent, but the slow speed could also be related to the program relying on the internet connection-- i know that satillite ISP Hughesnet (sp?) has horrible upload speeds-- so if the program has to send large ammounts of data, the network could be the cause.

that's the most intensive program

the rest is just email, picasa, browser, etc and won't be at the same time.

I think you copied the same specs twice as they look identical to me!

The sat system is called a Fleet 33. It is slow, but downloads the data once, then has to regen the maps and things. That's what takes all the power. While slow, it's amazing that you can still get net in the middle of the atlantic!