[Pc_Support] SFF Update: Foxconn NF4K8MC-EKRS, prices drop to $174 for the case+PS+mainboard

[Bryan J. Smith]

A couple of the guys over at SLUUG were drooling over my semi-SFF system
when I presented at two SLUUG meetings last month.  I carried in my
Notebook (bag w/strap over shoulder), 19" LCD (box w/handle in my left
hand -- although I could have carried it in my its stable base without
its outer box) and SFF box (box w/handle in my right hand) and a
wireless KB/mouse box (with a couple of cables in it, between my
notebook bag straps) all by myself.

Anyhoo, I just wrote a post on the system here per inquiry:  
  http://www.sluug.org/~archive/discuss/200508/msg00038.shtml.gz  

[ NOTE:  Archives username is "discuss" password is "freely" ]

I wanted to point out that the 10lbs. Chenming 118 w/300W ATX2.0 PS has
dropped to $75 now:  
  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811125485  

And a buck more ($76) if you want the plastic windows (adds a tad more
weight, maybe 11-12lbs., at least the Aspire X-QPack's did):  
  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811125484  

Of course there are always the Aspire X-QPacks as well with a 420W, but
only ATX1.0, not ATX2.0 with the split-12V.

I also wanted to point out Foxconn has updated my mainboard with a "K"
which now uses a Broadcom PHY to the nVidia MAC so full GbE is provided
(even though it's still the nForce4 standard chipset), and the price has
dropped to $79 (a full $10).  I don't know how that works, but it should
mean the MAC is _still_ directly connected to the HyperTransport and
using the forcedeth (or nvnet) driver, and not the legacy PCI bus.

Here was my aged board (Foxconn NFS4K8MC-ERS):  
  http://www.foxconnchannel.com/products_motherboard_2.cfm?pName=NF4K8MC-ERS  

And the newer version (Foxconn NFS4K8MC-EKRS):  
  http://www.foxconnchannel.com/products_motherboard_2.cfm?pName=NF4K8MC-EKRS  

And it's now $10 cheaper ($79) than when I bought the former in April:  
  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813186066  

Of course, my board is still here if you want to save a buck ($78, $11
off from when I bought it back in April):  
  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813186052  


-- 
Bryan J. Smith     b.j.smith at ieee.org     http://thebs413.blogspot.com
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The best things in life are NOT free - which is why life is easiest if
you save all the bills until you can share them with the perfect woman