Foxconn Tuckaway

The aptly named Tuckaway from Foxconn is a small form factor barebones system based on Intel’s Socket 775 motherboard with the 915GL Express chipset.

One of the reasons the Tuckaway is so compact is that it has an external power supply. With the lack of an internal PSU and the passive CPU cooler, you get a near-silent PC.

Foxconn says the motherboard will support 800/533MHz Celeron D processors up to 3.06GHz and Pentium 4 models up to 3.2GHz, but we’d recommend you stick to slightly slower CPUs to help keep the internals cool.

The sturdy aluminium case lifts off and, just like the case of the Aopen XC Cube MZ915-M, the internals are crammed together. Installing all the bits and pieces can get fiddly, as it’s such a tight fit.

The 915GL Express chipset supports up to 2GB of DDR Ram via two slots, while also providing integrated Gigabit Lan, 5.1 audio and Intel’s integrated GMA 900 graphics. There is a x16 PCI Express slot, while a standard PCI slot is available should you wish to add a TV tuner card.

It is important to be careful when choosing which hard drive to use with the Tuckaway. The drive cage is a bit shallow, so drives with many platters (internal disks) simply won’t fit.

However, on the plus side, Foxconn provides the Tuckaway with a slimline DVD combo drive and a multiformat memory card reader. All major cards are supported bar the XD Picture Card. Two Firewire and six USB sockets are available, a selection of which are conveniently placed on the front of the case alongside microphone and headphone sockets.

The Tuckaway is expensive, but it is very well made and one of the better-looking mini-ATX cases we’ve seen. It might not be as small as Aopen’s XC Cube MZ915-M, and doesn’t support Intel’s range of Pentium M processors, but you do get more features for your money.

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If you're building a new PC or just upgrading your current system, choosing the right motherboard is crucial. So here's an in-depth look at the things you need to know  15 Nov 2005

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