SOLTEK - Soltek Qbic EQ3801 nForce3 250Gb SFF Review

Primarily, it is similar to most other small form factor PCs in that it’s a little cube, with a centrally-located CPU, two memory slots, a rack for drives, and two expansion slots – an AGP slot out by the outside edge of the case and a PCI slot just inside of it. The EQ3801 distinguishes itself by offering two optical drive bays, while other SFF PC cases in the “cube” category only offer one. What’s more, the EQ3801 is based on the new nForce3 250GB chipset, which brings some new technology to the table.

…In general, Soltek’s Qbic EQ3801 is a fine small form factor PC. The addition of a second optical drive bay is a curiosity that some users might appreciate, but honestly we would rather the system be a little smaller instead. The nForce3 250Gb platform this barebones system is built on provides some nice benefits – good performance, SATA RAID, Gigabit Ethernet with Nvidia’s excellent firewall application, and good BIOS tweaking options.

…If performance is your primary consideration, or if you really have use for two optical drives in your SFF system, this is a good buy. We haven’t seen the new nForce3 250Gb chipset in other Athlon 64-based cubes yet, and the benefits of that platform add some real value over older chipsets. If you’re building a SFF PC to use as a do-it-yourself PVR, you’re better off with something a bit quieter and smaller. It’s also not a good choice for those who are new at building PCs, because the cramped case and finicky construction process doesn’t lend itself to novices.

Soltek Qbic EQ3801 @ ExtremeTech