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Author Topic: The Best Things Come In Small Packages  (Read 47841 times)

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Offline Duce

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Re: The Best Things Come In Small Packages
« on: March 21, 2012, 01:43:10 PM »
Not a bad looking rig - I assume barebones is case only?  Pretty steep, if so.

Curious how hot it'll get when high end specced.  430 GT graphics will be a major bottleneck on a modern i7 system, as Spirantho said.
« Last Edit: March 21, 2012, 01:50:55 PM by Duce »
 

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Re: The Best Things Come In Small Packages
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2012, 02:22:06 PM »
Can also find the cases in bulk lots of 12 here, if any group of people are really after one.  $720 for 12 barebones cases.  To C-USA's credit, their version does seem to offer the custom chickenlips and Amiga logoes, where the below ones do not.

http://www.shop.perfecthometheater.com/HTPC-ITX2-Silver-Ultra-small-aluminum-chassis-Box-of-12-HTPC-ITX2-S-12.htm;jsessionid=70E5316CEFCE0D876642B288464D4125.qscstrfrnt06
« Last Edit: March 21, 2012, 02:25:41 PM by Duce »
 

Offline Duce

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Re: The Best Things Come In Small Packages
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2012, 02:39:36 PM »
If it doesn't come with the custom branding, their website has some very misleading info then.

"The AMIGA mini includes an engraved AMIGA logo (front) and Commodore logo (top) as well as a metallic Commodore badge on the front."

http://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_AMIGAmini.aspx
 

Offline Duce

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Re: The Best Things Come In Small Packages
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2012, 12:44:43 AM »
Quote from: WarPiper;684713
Apple has not included a opticle drive with the Mac mini since mid 2011. Which I think really sucks. I would buy the bear bones case from commodore to put a Mac mini board in it for the missing opticle drive.


You would really pay a $280 premium just to have a C=/Amiga logo on a case?  A case you can buy on eBay for $65, only diff being a logo?  If so, these guys might have a market after all, lol.

You can buy the external SuperDrive for the Mac mini for $80, directly from Apple.  It's USB and will work with other systems just fine.
 

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Re: The Best Things Come In Small Packages
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2012, 06:26:12 AM »
All fair and good to those who want to blow their cash on one of these - I certainly do not care where people spend their money.

I do, however get a little annoyed at people selling garbage that their customers will only have problems with.  There is no room for debate.  A 120 watt PSU is not enough.  It just isn't, and there are going to be all sorts of problems.

That 120 watt PSU isn't even HALF of what a basic mini itx i3/i5/i7 board with integrated gfx requires when it's all assembled with drives in full computer form.
Basic i3 Mini-ITX with 1 HDD, one optical drive, the add on wifi module, plus the fans that come with the case will pull well over 250 watts under 95% load.  This doesn't even factor in USB devices, etc.

I've built. worked on and sold 100's of custom made high end PC's, and I find it appalling that they would knowingly sell something like this with a 120 watt PSU like that.

EDIT:  The Intel i7 2700k (Sandybridge, LGA1155, 4 core/8 thread, 8 MB cache, 3.50 GHz, 32 nm) has a 95 Watt TDP.  This is the CPU they offer in the high end Amiga Mini that also contains the 120 watt Power Supply Unit.
« Last Edit: March 23, 2012, 08:04:22 AM by Duce »
 

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Re: The Best Things Come In Small Packages
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2012, 12:26:03 PM »
Middleman:  Enthusiasm is just super.  If you enjoy their products, honestly - nothing makes me happier.  You are obviously an intelligent fellow, so let me break it down to just common sense.

Now please explain to me how a 120 watt power supply unit is going to power well over 250 watts of gear in that new machine, min specs?  Are you starting to see why people get down the necks of the C-USA Bible Thumpers around here when simple facts are ignored?

Simple logic.  Use it.  The Amiga Mini is not a "start".  A 2700k all kitted out won't run off that PSU.  Period.  I know this well, just having built a new gaming PC with similar specs.  I put a 1000 watt PSU in this machine for safe measure.  It's not even functional if the PSU specs are correct.  Anyone that's ever read a "Computers for Dummies" book will tell you that.  I've used cases with the same Pico PSU's.  I had my SAM in one.  I found it weak for my tastes for my SAM 440, with one hard disk and one optical drive.

The CPU uses NINETY FIVE WATTS (+) of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY WATTS offered by the PSU.  The hard disks, optical drives, fans, wifi addons, etc do not run on warm feelings and best intentions.
« Last Edit: March 23, 2012, 12:29:27 PM by Duce »
 

Offline Duce

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Re: The Best Things Come In Small Packages
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2012, 02:08:19 PM »
I know, Optimus.  I'm well aware of the confusions of TDP and what they actually mean, was just citing raw numbers from Intel spec sheets to illustrate some provable data.
 

Offline Duce

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Re: The Best Things Come In Small Packages
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2012, 03:12:49 PM »
It puzzles me why they would dick around with this in a public fashion, tbh.

If they had built even one of the 2700k Mini machines, kitted out in top end spec, they would have learned very, very quickly that PSU that comes with the case is nothing more than a doorstop.

Surely in this day and age a company wouldn't just pull components out of a "dream PC" list on a website and offer it to the market without doing at least one build?

I mean, my 12 year old niece would see the glaring contradictions and impending nightmare of that PSU with those components, and her knowledge of computer builds goes about as far as plugging her iPad into the AC outlet to charge it.

I've been terribly critical of C-USA, but the truth is I couldn't care less who buys their product at what price as long as they enjoy them.  I don't buy prebuilt PC's because it's a foolish waste of money, but for the life of me it boggles my mind how they dropped the ball on this one regarding specs and that PSU.  And don't get me started on heat issues that will occur :)

I hope they have a better solution that simply is not yet listed on their website to remedy this, even if it only amounts to an external power brick at least the machine would run.
 

Offline Duce

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Re: The Best Things Come In Small Packages
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2012, 03:25:47 PM »
They do not have a good track record of providing believable photos, so a C= applique on a I/O shield doesn't mean much to me.

Remember the "factory photos" debacle?  lol
 

Offline Duce

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Re: The Best Things Come In Small Packages
« Reply #9 on: March 23, 2012, 10:38:19 PM »
"With the exception the VIC Slim, we do not intend to sell our current prebuilt products to any of the large "Big Box" retailers. Our resellers/configurators will have no competition in their locations, as we will limiting the amount of dealers in any one specific area. "

Erm, what happened to the plan that these things would be available on store shelves everywhere?  :lol: