Where to buy a Shuttle PC with 2x PCI-E slots?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Where to buy a Shuttle PC with 2x PCI-E slots?

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#89989 13-Sep-2011 00:56

hi guys, im looking for a shuttle pc (or similar small box pc) that has 2x PCI-E ports, decent specs, but doesnt have to be a super computer, mostly just a file server, tv server, occasionally ill do some developing on it, and maybe some transcoding/encoding. anyone know where to buy them in NZ?

pricespy isnt turning up much, and good old pbtech dont seem to have much.

TIA

1 | 2

3267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#520285 13-Sep-2011 05:59

Try Playtech. Got my old Shuttle from them and they do lots of HTPC type stuff. Maybe also Computer Lounge.

You can never have enough Volvos!

jpollock

600 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#520313 13-Sep-2011 08:34

It can be really, really hard to get replacement parts for Shuttles, and their power supplies keep failing. I just had to buy a power supply from the US because NZ just can't get parts.

---
http://blog.jason.pollock.ca

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#520317 13-Sep-2011 09:03

Niel: Try Playtech. Got my old Shuttle from them and they do lots of HTPC type stuff. Maybe also Computer Lounge.

cheers, tried computer lounge already, hadnt looked at playtech but they dont seem to have much.

jpollock: It can be really, really hard to get replacement parts for Shuttles, and their power supplies keep failing. I just had to buy a power supply from the US because NZ just can't get parts.

im after a small computer, dont want a mini tower or desktop, and i need room for 2x PCIE cards, doesnt have to be a shuttle model, just something similar.

jpollock

600 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#520476 13-Sep-2011 14:23

reven:

jpollock: It can be really, really hard to get replacement parts for Shuttles, and their power supplies keep failing. I just had to buy a power supply from the US because NZ just can't get parts.

im after a small computer, dont want a mini tower or desktop, and i need room for 2x PCIE cards, doesnt have to be a shuttle model, just something similar.

Sorry, I don't have any other options, just relating my personal experience. I've had 4 shuttles, and 3 have failed, all with duff power supplies, not in warranty, but just shy of 3 years. Amazingly, the oldest one is the one that hasn't failed (8+ years old)!

However, I don't have any other options, particularly if you're looking for something that will take a couple of PCIE cards.

Jason

---
http://blog.jason.pollock.ca

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#520486 13-Sep-2011 14:49

cheers, i may get this off trademe http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=406427523

ive pretty much fallen in love with mac minis and small computers (towers are just too big and bulky), but sadly need PCI-E for DVB-S2 cards, so wanting a small box for that. i really thought there would have been more options these days...

jpollock

600 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#520501 13-Sep-2011 15:14

Ah, DVB-S. If it was DVB-T, I'd recommend an HD-Homerun.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDHomeRun

Perhaps this?

http://www.elgato.com/elgato/int/mainmenu/products/tuner/netstreamsat/product1.en.html

I've got a HDHomeRun at home, and it worked pretty well, but I never really got it integrated properly into the house, XBMC/Boxee didn't support the audio codec Freeview NZ is using. :)

---
http://blog.jason.pollock.ca

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#520513 13-Sep-2011 15:30

yeah i have a hdhomerun for DVB-T, but wanting DVB-S2 for sky. not a huge fan of elgato, and besides thats only a single tuner i believe and requires external power (which about 99% of usb ones seem to require)

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

Niel

3267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#520569 13-Sep-2011 17:36

What is your budget? Industrial PCs might be an option if you have cash to burn, but it pays for itself in the long run having reliability. Advantech is locally supported and one of the lower cost industrial PC options. We've had a backlight driver fail on a 6 year old PC, replacement module (!) was about $20 and delivery was considered to be delayed because it took 5 days from AU. Might be an issue for mission critical stuff, but for us end users getting such support even on a 6 month old product is amazing (and this was a 6 year old product).

After 7 years my Shuttle PSU failed, but I fixed it myself being an electronic engineer. It was the typical failure - dried-up capacitors (also the cause of most modem failures). New models fail sooner because with the credit crunch companies had to cut cost and use cheaper components.

You can never have enough Volvos!

jpollock

600 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#520601 13-Sep-2011 18:59

reven: yeah i have a hdhomerun for DVB-T, but wanting DVB-S2 for sky. not a huge fan of elgato, and besides thats only a single tuner i believe and requires external power (which about 99% of usb ones seem to require)

:) It sounds like you know exactly what you want! Good luck, I'd be interested in knowing what you finally end up with.

Jason

---
http://blog.jason.pollock.ca

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#520694 13-Sep-2011 21:34

Niel: What is your budget? Industrial PCs might be an option if you have cash to burn, but it pays for itself in the long run having reliability. Advantech is locally supported and one of the lower cost industrial PC options. We've had a backlight driver fail on a 6 year old PC, replacement module (!) was about $20 and delivery was considered to be delayed because it took 5 days from AU. Might be an issue for mission critical stuff, but for us end users getting such support even on a 6 month old product is amazing (and this was a 6 year old product).

After 7 years my Shuttle PSU failed, but I fixed it myself being an electronic engineer. It was the typical failure - dried-up capacitors (also the cause of most modem failures). New models fail sooner because with the credit crunch companies had to cut cost and use cheaper components.

dont want to spend over $850 (at the very very max), anything more and i couldnt justify it over a new mac mini.

not to worried if i have to replace some parts after 3 years, im a programmer am use to building machine etc.

might just go with that shuttle off trademe, cheers for all the help guys.

BarTender

3606 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#521493 15-Sep-2011 14:46

reven: dont want to spend over $850 (at the very very max), anything more and i couldnt justify it over a new mac mini.

not to worried if i have to replace some parts after 3 years, im a programmer am use to building machine etc.

might just go with that shuttle off trademe, cheers for all the help guys.

You should look at something like a HP DC7800 or similar Small Form Factor PC. As they have pretty rock solid components. I have one of these and it comes with a PCIe 16 and two normal PCIe's.

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#521496 15-Sep-2011 14:50

BarTender:
reven: dont want to spend over $850 (at the very very max), anything more and i couldnt justify it over a new mac mini.

not to worried if i have to replace some parts after 3 years, im a programmer am use to building machine etc.

might just go with that shuttle off trademe, cheers for all the help guys.

You should look at something like a HP DC7800 or similar Small Form Factor PC. As they have pretty rock solid components. I have one of these and it comes with a PCIe 16 and two normal PCIe's.

thanks for the suggestion but thats too big. want something i could potential put next to a tv.

jpollock

600 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#521499 15-Sep-2011 14:59

reven:
BarTender:
reven: dont want to spend over $850 (at the very very max), anything more and i couldnt justify it over a new mac mini.

not to worried if i have to replace some parts after 3 years, im a programmer am use to building machine etc.

might just go with that shuttle off trademe, cheers for all the help guys.

You should look at something like a HP DC7800 or similar Small Form Factor PC. As they have pretty rock solid components. I have one of these and it comes with a PCIe 16 and two normal PCIe's.

thanks for the suggestion but thats too big. want something i could potential put next to a tv.

It won't take full height PCI-E cards either. The riser's only for PCI cards.

---
http://blog.jason.pollock.ca

BarTender

3606 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#521522 15-Sep-2011 15:30

jpollock: It won't take full height PCI-E cards either. The riser's only for PCI cards.

I don't need full height PCI-E cards, the TeVII S480 is a low profile card for DVB-S2 x 2, as well as the HVR-2200 for DVB-T.

The SFF PC's aren't all that much larger than Shuttle IMHO, wider, but skinnier. And sometimes smaller than an AMP, depending on how big the AMP is.

I'm slowly building my HTPC, and I am using the DC7800 as it's a small enough PC to sit nicely next to my AMP. Still working on getting the TeVII cards, but have a HD6450 so the picture is great.

Ragnor

8218 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#521589 15-Sep-2011 17:17

reven:

dont want to spend over $850 (at the very very max), anything more and i couldnt justify it over a new mac mini.

+1 for the avoid "Shuttle", it was a innovative concept back in the day but you can DIY way better these days imo.

eg: What about a Lian Li Q08 which is (W) 227mm x (H) 272mm x (D) 345mm with DIY internals?

http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=480&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=64&g=spec

Something like:

CASE: Lian Li Q08 ~$200
PSU: Antec Neo 520w ~$99
CPU/MOBO/GPU: ASUS E35M1-I ~$200
RAM: Kingston 4GB (2x2) DDR3 ~$110

Add hdd, os and your DVD-S cards as needed

Edit: Hmm actually that mini itx board I list above only has one PCI-E slot, you might have to go up to mATX and Lian Lian v354 for two PCI-E slots.

Perhaps Zotac or Super Micro have a Mini ITX or Mini DTX board with two PCI-E, haven't looked myself.

1 | 2