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Sudhian Staff
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« on: April 02, 2003, 11:21:40 AM » |
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Biostar launch iDEQ SFF brand
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Sudhian Staff
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« Reply #1 on: April 02, 2003, 11:21:40 AM » |
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In a press release yesterday, Biostar announced the launch of a new family of SFF machines known collectively as the iDEQ. Four models are available initially: the iDEQ 200S, iDEQ 200N, iDEQ 200T and iDEQ 200V. These are based on the SiS651/962L (Pentium 4, FSB 533MHz), nVidia NForce2/MCP2-T (AthlonXP, FSB 333MHz), Intel 865G/ICH5 (Pentium 4, FSB 800MHz) and VIA KM400/VT8235 (AthlonXP FSB 333MHz) chipsets respectively. All support AGPx8 other than the 200S.
The front of all machines feature one 5.25" bay and one 3.25" bay, two USB 2.0 connectors, one Firewire, SPDIF input, microphone and headphone sockets. The rear of each machine sports a further two USB 2.0 connectors, SPDIF output, one Firewire, one LAN, VGA, two PS/2, line-in, line-out and microphone. At 210 X 323 X 180 in dimensions, these are approximately the same size as the popular Shuttle SFF machines (5mm lower, 10mm longer and 23mm wider).
They feature a built-on 6-in-1 compact flash reader in place of the floppy disk, temperature controlled fan and improved internal wiring. Components are installed via a side panel.
A key feature of the machine is Biostar's Linux-based multimedia application called StudioFun that supports multimedia music and videos, with remote control support, without needing to boot into Windows. A rival for Windows Media Centre Edition?
The first review systems will be hitting the streets towards the end of the month, when we hope to bring you a more detailed look at these new machines. |
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DoPeY5007
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« Reply #2 on: April 02, 2003, 01:23:15 PM » |
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looks like they want to boot out MSI's MEGA system
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BlueMax
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« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2003, 01:46:06 PM » |
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Well, this has no MP3 player so it should be MUCH cheaper!  Any other details? |
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ansalmo
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« Reply #4 on: April 02, 2003, 02:45:31 PM » |
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They look quite nice with the sliding front - saves on stealthing mods! Shame about the ugly Biostar logo though. With any luck it'll be on an easily-removable sticker..... And what's this about "components are installed via a side panel". Keyhole surgery, anyone?  |
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TheEagleCD
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« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2003, 08:09:40 AM » |
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It looks like a nice system but I'd like to see more than a few CAD screens before commenting on the case design....
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fall-apart
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« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2003, 09:09:50 AM » |
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So, is it only Shuttle that puts the S/PDIF output on the front? I'm starting to see a whole lot more small cases with the output on the back... I guess that's the advantage of being a 2nd generation case designer...
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Ultim8pc
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« Reply #7 on: April 03, 2003, 03:10:11 PM » |
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You'll find info about this product in my recent CeBit SFF article. We have some samples coming & hope to post info soon! Cheers Nigel |
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robshagwell
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« Reply #8 on: April 03, 2003, 04:52:32 PM » |
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dudes...
all these SFF cube barebones all look the same to me...
i'd rather build my own SFF using a standard microATX case. (though the low-profile pci slots are a pain in the arse)
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hkoverclocker
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« Reply #9 on: April 03, 2003, 09:53:27 PM » |
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<< dudes...
all these SFF cube barebones all look the same to me...
i'd rather build my own SFF using a standard microATX case. (though the low-profile pci slots are a pain in the arse) >>
Why build a microatx case, wouldn't it be better to make and design your own SFF using the flex-atx boards that are now avaliable? microatx cases mostly look the same anyways, unless you make a special design for it ^^
As for this bio star case, I think it looks quite dull... But it could be fun to mod =P
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UglyShoes
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« Reply #10 on: April 04, 2003, 12:38:30 AM » |
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Nice looking. I like how they don't have as many jacks on the front. Thats one of my complants of the shuttles. All the ports on the front. I can see maybe having 1 usb, 1 fire wire, and a head phone jack. Other then that I want them in the back hidden away. I have yet to use any of the front jacks on my SN42G2. These new one's look nice and clean.
Someday maybe i will get my perfect polished chrome ball computer.
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lemming
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« Reply #11 on: April 04, 2003, 05:29:58 AM » |
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Any indication that they will be selling the motherboards separately? Can't see a Flex ATX mobo on their site...  |
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hkoverclocker
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« Reply #12 on: April 04, 2003, 10:32:28 AM » |
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<< Any indication that they will be selling the motherboards separately? Can't see a Flex ATX mobo on their site... >> They probably will, it should only be a matter of time... I also agree that there are too many ports on the front on most SFFs, whats worse is that they usually don't have a flap or something, and even on the best designed SFF cases, they stand out like a sore thumb... |
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NinjaChinchilla
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« Reply #13 on: April 04, 2003, 08:56:23 PM » |
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I like the ports being in the front. Adding some cheap cover would just make it look corny.
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hkoverclocker
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« Reply #14 on: April 05, 2003, 01:10:20 AM » |
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<< I like the ports being in the front. Adding some cheap cover would just make it look corny. >>
That is if the cove is corny...some covers look very good...
as for ports, they are convinient, but do we really need all of them?
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Odie
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« Reply #15 on: April 05, 2003, 04:30:59 AM » |
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It seems like some companies are treating the number of front ports like an arms race...  |
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mabhatter
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« Reply #16 on: April 05, 2003, 04:50:31 AM » |
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Those giant plugs on PS2 and Xbox stick out too. What about that big rectangle slot on VCRs..come on!
There about as tastful as you can get and keep getting better with each version. If they killed off PS2/serial from the back [riser card?] they could have more room to remove ports too.
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hkoverclocker
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« Reply #17 on: April 05, 2003, 09:44:24 AM » |
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<< Those giant plugs on PS2 and Xbox stick out too. What about that big rectangle slot on VCRs..come on!
There about as tastful as you can get and keep getting better with each version. If they killed off PS2/serial from the back [riser card?] they could have more room to remove ports too. >>
Hmm...dunno...PS2 ports don't seem to stand out much (since all ports are populated)...
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hkoverclocker
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« Reply #18 on: April 05, 2003, 09:52:46 AM » |
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<< It seems like some companies are treating the number of front ports like an arms race... >> If companies want an arms race that people will aprecciate, than how about gradually phasing out the old ports? |
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TheBlindMan
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« Reply #19 on: April 07, 2003, 01:26:32 AM » |
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<< It looks like a nice system but I'd like to see more than a few CAD screens before commenting on the case design.... >> Here's a pic of the real thing from Tom's Hardware |
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TheBlindMan
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« Reply #20 on: April 07, 2003, 02:07:30 AM » |
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<< Why build a microatx case, wouldn't it be better to make and design your own SFF using the flex-atx boards that are now avaliable? microatx cases mostly look the same anyways, unless you make a special design for it >>
hkoverclocker,
Do you have a source for an Nforce2 FlexATX board? AFAIK you've got to buy into the whole barebones package just to get the board. At $350+/- that really stings.
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hkoverclocker
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« Reply #21 on: April 07, 2003, 06:42:34 AM » |
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<<
<< Why build a microatx case, wouldn't it be better to make and design your own SFF using the flex-atx boards that are now avaliable? microatx cases mostly look the same anyways, unless you make a special design for it >>
hkoverclocker,
Do you have a source for an Nforce2 FlexATX board? AFAIK you've got to buy into the whole barebones package just to get the board. At $350+/- that really stings. >>
Forgot about that... =P, hmm..but shuttle will start selling their flex-atx boards with nforce2 soon, so it probably isn't the greatest of problems (although it'll still be ripoff..) okay, I agree, cheaper with m-atx =P
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ral
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« Reply #22 on: July 16, 2003, 12:58:31 PM » |
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i really hope someone will soon start to sell capable flex-atx boards... or i have to build my own semi-sff with a shuttle mn31n or similar. OR i'll wait until shutlle shows their redesigned xpcs - if i can hold off so long.  |
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