Flex ATX

[Will]

OK, this may seem a little off the wall in this forum dedicated to high-performance PCs, but I'm looking into building a flex-ATX PC for a mate. What is lacking from a search in google and the motherboard manufacturers sites is availability of these mobos and cases in the UK, and explaining about the supply of PCI/AGP wrappers (letting the expansion cards be mounted horizontally instead of vertically).

Does anyone have any links/advice/flames for me?

 

[S-Gray]

Hmm.. i think Dell do that sorta thing (Optiplex Desktops?) i had one... very nice design, no screws! heh

 

[Will]

*cough* Components, not systems

 

[xane]

I remember looking into the same things a while back, either the microATX (uATX) or FlexATX design. Points to note:

1. As most FlexATX motherboards have only one or two PCI slots, you expect them to have the basic stuff built in, like NIC, Soundcard, etc.

2. I don't think many FlexATX actually have AGP slots, although I have seen some, they are more likely to have the graphics card built in.

3. There are in fact two ways of using "low profile" PCI cards, one is using the wrapped adaptors that remount regular PCI cards horizontally, however you can also get "low profile" PCI cards too that go in vertically, this is more common on the 1U/2U case designs for server rack mounted PCs, you have to check.

4. When I did searching for a suitable FlexATX case, and bear in mind this was quite a while back, I did find most cases come with wrapped adaptors if they have horizontal slot holes, I also found FlexATX "squares" that mount the regular PCI cards normally, they are just very short squat boxes.

 

[xane]

recent article at Toms Hardware featuring a "mini-PC".

 

[Testin da Cable]

that thing actually looks kinda neat

 

[Will]

That's the article which got the ball rolling for me, but it's an all-in-one system, with no AGP slot.

I'll try to explain what I want.

I want to stick together a system, with a Flex-ATX case and motherboard, 15" LCD monitor, mid-range graphics card. I'm easy whether it's an Intel or AMD system, and I know there are Flex-ATX motherboards with AGP slots out there (Asus do two for starters), but I don't know a few thinks like cooling solutions, compatbility of expansion cards with the form factor, and if there is anything I should look out for.

If I was putting together a P4 system, I'd want Rambus, but I can't find any mobo's in the form factor which support it. In that case, I'd probably go for AMD, but there I can't find ANY mobos...

I'm going to have a proper look when I get home, but if anyone knows anything, it'd be greatful.