[wadeski (old)]

Right i need some advice from someone with PC hardware knowledge.

I am not sure there is a PC like this out there, but lets see.

Does anyone know if i can buy / make a PC that is:

1) Very small (perhaps using that new Mini ITX form factor?)

2) Passively cooled, but at with a reasonably new chipset and graphics (at least Dx9 standard)

3) **the hard bit** Will boot off flash memory - like the kind of 4Gb flash drives we see in ipods, smartphones etc?

Is it possible to make something the size of a console, but that is actually a PC (with a very small hdd)?

Ideally it would boot XP, but i could use a fast-booting Linux build or something for browsing and email.

[mitsubishi]

i had such ideas, then i realized i needed a laptop.

[]$[Homie]

yes u can build a pc on that form factor obviously

all new mobos will carry the latest via/nvidia/sis chipsets (its the grfx card thats DirectX not the mobos as such)

and most new bios's will recognise usb flash devices and they can boot from them

how small a pc case goes im not sure of as its not something ive ever looked at (the problem will be fitting a passive cpu/grfx cooler inside a small case)

tbh imo ur best bet would be a laptop

[EnDYmiON]

I built a shuttle for my g/f's mom, it was something cheap, plus I had all the hardware anyways. I was impressed by the cooling, just a heatsink that had heat pipes leading to a radiator/small fan. It was super quiet and ran really cool. The only problem is that you don't get many expansion slots.

[wadeski (old)]

Ive used laptops and shuttles before but im hoping to go wayyyy beyond that in terms of size (small) and boot speed.

http://www.embeddingwindows.com/

I was even thinking of something like this, using embedded win98SE for a 3 second boot time. I dont know about the cost / functionality of that kind of system though...

[Jagged (old)]

you can get compact flash -> ide connectors so you can connect a CF card to an ide connector on a motherboard (or on the end of a ide cable, however you prefer.

[EL_PRESEDENTE (old)]

http://www.mini-itx.com/

[mitsubishi]

i believe those are still too wide and heavy though when you see them in person, with the prices of laptops that are now usually as affordable as a mid-end desktop, where you get a monitor, portabilty, quality of manufacturing, in a compact size for free, is it really worth it.

[EL_PRESEDENTE (old)]

well the main reason for a mini itx is for somthing like a pvr or dvr a laptops all fine and dandy but you can get mini itx cases that look like and fit in your living room



they basically use laptop parts due to sizes or if you want they are expensive but oh so pretty

[]$[Homie]

http://www.foxconnch...2&Sign=Tuckaway

and the one i have bought for desktop pc for work .....

http://www.foxconnch...0001&Sign=e-bot

all u need to buy is RAM and stick a HD in it and ur off 

and its about the size of a toaster (infact thats what they have been nicknamed in the office)

available from Maplin for £139 (without RAM and HD but inc a 2Ghz Celron)