What is best for a mobile system?

GordyHinky wrote on 5/19/2004, 12:54 AM
I'm wanting to build a mobile system. I'm thinking about a SHUTTLE box. I was thinking that I would use external firewire drives (multiple) or figure out some way to use external SATA. Does this sound like a stupid move? I'm thinking I may come to miss the additional PCI slots except that I can't think of anything that will go in the 1 slot other than my M-Audio Omnistudio PCI card.

Anyone have an opinion on this?

Comments

busterkeaton wrote on 5/19/2004, 1:18 AM
Why not a laptop?
GordyHinky wrote on 5/19/2004, 1:26 AM
Don't want a laptop. Plus I want to be able to use my PCI M-Audio card and possible bigger dual monitors and possibly SATA drives.
GordyHinky wrote on 5/19/2004, 11:58 AM
Anybody else on this one?
Jsnkc wrote on 5/19/2004, 12:05 PM
I've used those little shuttle PC's for a mobile DJ system, never tried it for video though. All I can say is they do tend to get a little hot since everything is crammed into one little box. I know for playing MP3's out to an amp everything is fine, but I know video editing is a little more intense on a system and you might run into cooling issues.
Cheno wrote on 5/19/2004, 2:52 PM
I've got two friends using the aluminum Shuttle cases for Pro Tools work and they're taxing them to death. Both love 'em. As for getting hot, these run cooler than any pc I've ever worked with with the heatpipe system they have built in. I'm looking at the same type of setup. Something portable but not to replace my current laptop.

I've seen systems with 3.0ghz HT procs running as low as $1200. Even the decked out Shuttle seem to be under $1500.

FuTz wrote on 5/20/2004, 3:42 AM

... whoah! any link(s) so we could *see* this marvel ? I can't figure out by reading your posts... looks very interesting!
GordyHinky wrote on 5/20/2004, 12:24 PM
Marvel? What are you talking about Futz? What would you like a link to see?
GmElliott wrote on 5/20/2004, 12:44 PM
You can do dual monitors with your laptop- I do it with my toshiba all the time!
FuTz wrote on 5/20/2004, 3:09 PM
I don't know; it seems to be a box that is a computer and very small and powerfull... kind of these boxes that some gamers use for LAN parties?
Somebody asks for a small solution but not a laptop...
GordyHinky wrote on 5/20/2004, 4:14 PM
I was considering this box.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=56-101-431&depa=0

http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=56-101-431-07.jpg

It's Pentium 4 based with an 875P chipset, SATA and Gigabit LAN. It has room for two hard drives and a DVDRW. I could put my M-Audio PCI card in the 1 PCI slot for a nice audio interface and decent audio monitors, plug a dual monitor card into the AGP slot and hook a shuttlepro controller up to the front of the box.

The only real question I have that nobody has answered is ...will multiple external firewire hard drives daisychained together be a problem?

This just seemed like a nice small configuration, but I'm not sure about heat issues and storage issues.

I JUST THOUGHT OF THE ONE BIG PROBLEM. CAN'T HOOK UP A CAMERA OR DECK VIA FIREWIRE IF USING THE 1 FIREWIRE PORT FOR EXTERNAL STORAGE. SHOOT!
logiquem wrote on 5/20/2004, 4:55 PM
Use USB2 drives!...
FuTz wrote on 5/20/2004, 5:44 PM
... specs indicate:

Front Panel Ports: 2x USB, 1x mini 1394 , Audio ports
Back Panel Ports: 2x COM, 2x PS/2, 1x SPDIF_In, 1x SPDIF_Out, 1x RJ45, 1x 1394 , 4x USB, Audio ports

I don't know, but there SEEMS TO BE TWO 1394 PORTS: ONE IN FRONT - ONE IN BACK ... you can probably plug cam in front and daisychained drives in back. Since daisychaining is no problem with most P4 laptops (same thing concerning heat problems) there shouldn't be with this box...

Ok, ciao Zippy... gonna use "the ITU switch" now... again.
Cheno wrote on 5/20/2004, 6:36 PM
"will multiple external firewire hard drives daisychained together be a problem"

DSE had one he used when training. I'm sure he put some firewire drives on it. I know he's doing VASST right now but may have some input. I'm not aware of why these wouldn't handle a firewire chain. I know some comments out there state that these run a bit hot.. those I know who own them have not had that problem.

Mike
GordyHinky wrote on 5/20/2004, 6:43 PM
The port on the front is a 4 pin (non-powered). I guess I could use a different cable. ITU? Zippy? Please explain.
algonquin wrote on 5/20/2004, 7:54 PM
I put one together about a year ago. 2.4ghz, 40 and 120gb drives, dvd burner, dual head video card and was going to use the PCI for a decent audio card. Had to get a firewire card instead-onboard firewire was nothing but trouble. Stuck with onboard audio which is just awful. But other than that, mine runs cool and fast. Schlep it around between home and work all the time.
GordyHinky wrote on 5/20/2004, 8:09 PM
Hmmm. That's what I was afraid would happen. I guess I'll just stick with a standard case and motherboard. It will cost me less money anyway.
GordyHinky wrote on 5/20/2004, 8:10 PM
Hmmm. That's what I was afraid would happen. I guess I'll just stick with a standard case and motherboard. It will cost me less money anyway.