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Sudhian Staff
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« on: August 25, 2003, 02:17:59 AM » |
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Introductionffice ffice" />>> By now you most likely know and love the concept of Small Form Factor PC's… aesthetically pleasing to the eye and just as powerful as your typical desktop system. But with their rapid proliferation over the past 18 months, which one do you buy? What comes to mind first is perhaps Shuttle, but other companies are quickly entering the lucrative SFF space including AMS Electronics. AMS is the US branch of Chyang Fun Industries, a Far East barebones PC maker since 2001.  They initially entered in to the SFF market with their unique “gBox†and are now succeeding this product with their latest edition to the SFF world, the E-Cubs EG65. Today we’ll take an in-depth look at the EG65’s features including a new case design which should impress even the most skilled modders among us.
>
The EG65 combines a slick new case design with the latest features of the Intel Springdale i865G chipset. AMS has come up with quite a few clever features which we'll take a look at through the course of this review such as built-in EL lighting, a blue LED CPU fan, integrated driver covers, and of course, the well known handle, a great feature passed on from the gBox. We've seen some pretty interesting SFF case designs pop up over the past year, and AMS has done a great job marrying the best features of the gBox with the latest innovations in cooling technology and case modding.>> > > Unless you've been in a cave for the past couple months, you're probably aware of all the great features of the Intel Springdale i865G chipset, but each motherboard manufacturer seems to add a few bells and whistles here and there to differentiate themselves. Here's what AMS came up with, detailed out in the E-Cube EG65 specifications:>> > > CPU: Intel Celeron/Pentium 4 Processor Up To 3.06 GHz+>> Chipset: Intel 865G + ICH5 Chipset - Up to 800MHz FSB with Hyperthreading Technology>> DDR: Dual Channel DDR 333/400 Up To 2GB>> Video: AGP 8X or Integrated Intel AGP 865G Graphics>> Mass Storage: IDE ATA-100 (PATA) and ATA-150 (SATA) Dual Channel Controllers>> Audio: AC 97 2.3 Compliant Audio With SPDIF In/Out>> Peripherals: Integrated USB 2.0 and 1394a>> LAN: Integrated 10/100 Mbps LAN>> Expansion: 1xAGP and 1xPCI Slots>> Cooling: Xross Blade Cooling Technology>> PSU: 220w Auto-Sensing Power Supply
CPU Fan: Integrated CPU Cooling Incorporating Blue LED Fan>> Lighting: Front Panel EL Lighting>> >Â > > Read the rest of the review... |
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Sudhian Staff
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« Reply #1 on: August 25, 2003, 02:17:59 AM » |
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AMS eCube EG65 Review
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Barnabas
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« Reply #2 on: August 25, 2003, 05:30:45 AM » |
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I'd been sold if it wasn't for the fact that you can't OC. =(
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macguyver
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« Reply #3 on: August 25, 2003, 09:12:30 AM » |
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No mention of different models from Chyang Fun Industries.
Chynag Fun lists models CF-EG65A, CF-EG65B, and CF-EG65C on their site.
It looks like the front panels have been modded and no side windows.
Anyone know if the different models are for sale?
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vudoodoodoo
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« Reply #4 on: August 25, 2003, 09:57:52 AM » |
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I don't like the front, but everything else is pretty slick. I like the material it's made of. Lucite like the Mac cases?
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devvingiorgio
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« Reply #5 on: August 25, 2003, 01:31:30 PM » |
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did they um, forget about allowing FSB adjustment ?
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powder
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« Reply #6 on: August 25, 2003, 01:43:58 PM » |
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I tend to like more traditional-looking cases myself...
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Ackatack
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« Reply #7 on: August 25, 2003, 04:35:18 PM » |
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I'm not a big fan of the handle as I usually end up stacking something on my case. Other than that the case looks pretty cool and the system looks decent.
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entasis
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« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2003, 04:57:49 PM » |
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I think the handle is removable; I stack stuff on top of my PC too!
This looks like a great system, with a 220W PSU. I haven't built an SFF PC yet, and will give the EG65 a lot of consideration, esp. if it comes in Black. at least until the new Shuttles come out in September. Updates on vendors/reseller information would be appreciated, especially New Egg, if anyone uses them. Also, I'd want to put in a 6-in-1 card reader in the ext. 3.5" slot, anyone have luck with them? Seems like they're problematic, based on what I see in New Egg user reviews. Thanks.
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Adam
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« Reply #9 on: August 26, 2003, 01:18:02 AM » |
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Hey folks... Adam here (author of the review). We just got confirmation from AMS that they will be shipping a black version of the eCube EG65! I'm looking forward to that one myself.
Wis
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Owen
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« Reply #10 on: August 26, 2003, 03:28:34 AM » |
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Hey Adam, will the black version look like this? (i.e. only the faceplate is actually black) |
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NYSportz
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« Reply #11 on: August 26, 2003, 10:05:30 PM » |
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How bright is the LED fan? My next PC is going in my dorm room and I don't want to be kept up because of a bright LED fan.
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Adam
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« Reply #12 on: August 27, 2003, 01:22:42 AM » |
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Owen - Not positive, but I doubt it. Honestly, that'd be pretty lame to just modify the faceplate color. I'd guess the entire unit will be in black.
NYSportz - Not very bright, it'll add a nice eary glow to your room. Go for it. It definitely won't keep you up at night.
Wis
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Owen
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« Reply #14 on: August 27, 2003, 08:02:56 AM » |
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Not really black to me, more towards very dark grey. Which has a nice quality look to it, and more appealing than Shuttle's G2B line. Can't wait till we get to see high res pics on those  |
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NYSportz
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« Reply #15 on: August 27, 2003, 01:18:35 PM » |
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After reading the Sudhian and OCAddiction reviews, I'm pretty much sold on this machine. A couple things I'd like to see addressed in a review is if the machine can handle a ~3 Ghz processor along with a 9800 Pro, and more quantitative (or better yet, comparative) remarks about noise.
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Thalaxis
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« Reply #16 on: August 27, 2003, 01:22:36 PM » |
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I think that I'm also convinced. The machine's specs (at least what's listed at ChyangFun's web site, I hope I didn't mis-spell that) indicate that it will handle a 3.6 GHz Prescott. I'm planning to stuff 2 hard drives in mine, a 160 GB SATA drive and an 80 GB ATA drive, but then the first thing I intend to do with this machine after I get all of my software installed, is snag some DV off of my friend's camcorder and start chopping it up, so I'll be needing the space  |
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Rayzor
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« Reply #17 on: August 27, 2003, 02:56:43 PM » |
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Quote
Originally posted by: Thalaxis
...[text]..., is snag some DV off of my friend's camcorder and
start chopping it up, so I'll be needing the space
Forgive me my newbie-ness, but I'm curious what you mean by that. I thought DV access on a videocamera is just another name for IEEE1394 and firewire. Which the e-cube already has... |
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Neo
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« Reply #18 on: August 27, 2003, 03:37:07 PM » |
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Quote
I'm planning to stuff 2 hard drives in mine, a 160 GB SATA drive and an 80 GB ATA drive, but then the first thing I intend
Looks like the pushed down 3.5" door can get some pretty good cold air in for the second hard drive. I was thinking about putting two HDs in this baby, but was worried about temperatures. Now this looks like a good set up! |
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TheEagleCD
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« Reply #19 on: August 27, 2003, 03:39:24 PM » |
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@Thalaxis: I'd skeptical about the "Prescott" support you mention in your post. No board (at this point in time) can claim to be Prescott compatible, because not even Intel knows what it will take to support the Prescott! There are some characteristics which may increase your chances, but be very skeptical about anyone who promises Prescott support...
Just my 2c.
BTW, the machine looks great. But the lack of OC features is a very significant (and negative) factor in my opinion...
TheEagleCD
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Ackatack
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« Reply #20 on: August 27, 2003, 03:43:22 PM » |
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DV is the actual format in which the video is stored on the tape (or other media) when recorded by the video camera.
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entasis
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« Reply #21 on: August 27, 2003, 05:12:45 PM » |
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OK, so when and where is this going to be available, especially the black/dark grey version? I don't find anything by Google searching...
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BlueMax
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« Reply #22 on: August 28, 2003, 10:11:25 AM » |
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Whoa...... nice looking unit. Competition is good..... very good!  |
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Klas
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« Reply #23 on: August 28, 2003, 11:12:33 AM » |
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AMS_Gbox: Quote
Black color will be avaialble some time in the mid-month of September.
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MojoRising
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« Reply #24 on: August 28, 2003, 08:29:18 PM » |
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Looking at the photo on the Chyung Fan website of the back of this rig. Is that power supply ATX form factor??
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