2011-06-24, 21:54
This build was based on eskro's Zacate build you can find here.
Here are the components I purchased:
Total cost shipped to my door was $306.90.
The build went smoothly but I thought I would post up some pictures and a couple tips I found along the way. Keep in mind, this build does not have an optical drive of any kind, so if you're going to install Windows, you'll need another computer and at least a 4GB flash drive.
Here are all the components laid out on the table ready to be assembled.
Make sure you install the RAM prior to installing the Motherboard in the case. I also recommend that you also connect the front USB header along with the audio header, power switch and LED before installing the board.
Here is the board + RAM
When installing the motherboard, keep in mind that there are no "traditional" standoffs with this setup. The small risers on the case function as the standoffs. Additionally, there is no indication of what screws to use where, so you'll want the smaller ones with the flat ring for the motherboard.
The HDD took me a couple minutes to figure out because of using two brackets. Attach the OCZ 2.5" to 3.5" adapter to the bottom of the SSD using the flat screws. Then install the case rail system to the sides of the OCZ adapter plate. You'll want the connectors on the SSD to overhang the back of both plates.
You'll also need to really push on the plastic rails because the nipple that holds it in place is larger than the holes in the OCZ adapter plate. Then secure it with one screw on each side.
Now it's time to install the drive in the case. If you look in the bag, you'll find two (2) very small wood screws. Those are the ones you need to use to attach the assembly to the case. They go in from the top and actually cut threads in the plastic rails you attached to the SSD earlier.
It's really not as hard as it sounds. Just take your time or you'll put the bracket on the wrong way and not be able to get at the connectors at the back of the SSD.
Here is what it looks like with the SSD installed.
Now, on to the fan. This is where things got a little weird. There is only one place to mount the fan and no way to attach it to the case. You basically just have to jam it in there, but oddly enough, it fits snugly and doesn't more around. The issue is that there isn't much of the fan that actually lines up with the holes in the case as you can see in the second picture.
It will be a little snug to fit the cover on the case because the fan is there, but it does work. Keep an eye out for the cables, since there isn't much room and one of them can get stuck in the case fan.
Here is where to install the fan in the case.
Here you can see that there isn't much of the fan aligned with the holes in the case.
When installing Windows, make sure you enter the BIOS first, as IDE mode is the default for the HDD operation. You'll want to change that to ACHI before you install the OS. Once you have the OS installed, you'll want to install all the drivers on AMD's website for the E350 motherboard. I just copied them to a flash drive and transferred them that way. I wouldn't recommend using the included disk, since they probably are old drivers anyway.
After install you'll want to follow all the normal SSD tweaks to optimize performance and drive life. If you need help with them, please ask and I'll be more than happy to help.
As for the performance, it's pretty darn quick. A lot faster than I thought a dual core 1.6GHz would be, that's for sure. The SSD does help immensely from what I can see. I don't know if I would run this thing using a traditional HDD.
The only complaint I have concerns the video card and my 720p Panasonic Plasma. There are some very nice members helping me with that problem right now, so stay tuned for the resolution.
You can follow along here if you want. It starts at the very bottom of page 3.
Hope that helps out someone considering this particular build. I'll try and get up some videos of it's performance here shortly.
Here are the components I purchased:
- APEX MI-008 Black Steel Mini-ITX Tower ($49.99 + $9.99 Shipping)
- ASRock E350M1/USB3 AMD E-350 ITX Motherboard ($114.99)
- G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) RAM ($26.99 + $0.99 Shipping)
- OCZ Vertex 2 40GB SSD ($89.99)
- SilenX IXP-74-09 120mm Case Fan ($12.99)
Total cost shipped to my door was $306.90.
The build went smoothly but I thought I would post up some pictures and a couple tips I found along the way. Keep in mind, this build does not have an optical drive of any kind, so if you're going to install Windows, you'll need another computer and at least a 4GB flash drive.
Here are all the components laid out on the table ready to be assembled.
Make sure you install the RAM prior to installing the Motherboard in the case. I also recommend that you also connect the front USB header along with the audio header, power switch and LED before installing the board.
Here is the board + RAM
When installing the motherboard, keep in mind that there are no "traditional" standoffs with this setup. The small risers on the case function as the standoffs. Additionally, there is no indication of what screws to use where, so you'll want the smaller ones with the flat ring for the motherboard.
The HDD took me a couple minutes to figure out because of using two brackets. Attach the OCZ 2.5" to 3.5" adapter to the bottom of the SSD using the flat screws. Then install the case rail system to the sides of the OCZ adapter plate. You'll want the connectors on the SSD to overhang the back of both plates.
You'll also need to really push on the plastic rails because the nipple that holds it in place is larger than the holes in the OCZ adapter plate. Then secure it with one screw on each side.
Now it's time to install the drive in the case. If you look in the bag, you'll find two (2) very small wood screws. Those are the ones you need to use to attach the assembly to the case. They go in from the top and actually cut threads in the plastic rails you attached to the SSD earlier.
It's really not as hard as it sounds. Just take your time or you'll put the bracket on the wrong way and not be able to get at the connectors at the back of the SSD.
Here is what it looks like with the SSD installed.
Now, on to the fan. This is where things got a little weird. There is only one place to mount the fan and no way to attach it to the case. You basically just have to jam it in there, but oddly enough, it fits snugly and doesn't more around. The issue is that there isn't much of the fan that actually lines up with the holes in the case as you can see in the second picture.
It will be a little snug to fit the cover on the case because the fan is there, but it does work. Keep an eye out for the cables, since there isn't much room and one of them can get stuck in the case fan.
Here is where to install the fan in the case.
Here you can see that there isn't much of the fan aligned with the holes in the case.
When installing Windows, make sure you enter the BIOS first, as IDE mode is the default for the HDD operation. You'll want to change that to ACHI before you install the OS. Once you have the OS installed, you'll want to install all the drivers on AMD's website for the E350 motherboard. I just copied them to a flash drive and transferred them that way. I wouldn't recommend using the included disk, since they probably are old drivers anyway.
After install you'll want to follow all the normal SSD tweaks to optimize performance and drive life. If you need help with them, please ask and I'll be more than happy to help.
As for the performance, it's pretty darn quick. A lot faster than I thought a dual core 1.6GHz would be, that's for sure. The SSD does help immensely from what I can see. I don't know if I would run this thing using a traditional HDD.
The only complaint I have concerns the video card and my 720p Panasonic Plasma. There are some very nice members helping me with that problem right now, so stay tuned for the resolution.
You can follow along here if you want. It starts at the very bottom of page 3.
Hope that helps out someone considering this particular build. I'll try and get up some videos of it's performance here shortly.