This may seem crazy, but I actually want to build an extremely cheap desktop. The idea is that I could reuse my 256GB M.2 SSD, 4TB HDD, and 8GB of some DDR-3 UDIMM 1600 RAM I have laying around. I'm not worried about buying a case, monitor, mouse, or GPU (no GPU for this build). I was somewhat curious about those embedded systems with the CPU soldered onto the MB. Would like to keep it to a mini-ITX or Micro-ATX form factor. What is essential here is to keep the cost as low as possible while still being able to do the tasks I hope to accomplish.
Budget: Ideally under $100 for PSU, motherboard, and CPU, though I could stretch that to $200 if the temptation is strong enough.
What this will be used for is the very basics: web browsing, Netflix/Youtube, SNES/N64/PSX ROMS, 90's games (Diablo 2, Master of Orion 2, Civilization 2 era), and light programming. Essentially I want a computer to give me something for typing/light entertainment.
The idea is to have an ulta-low powered PC that I can leave on 24/7 to act as a home server for the 4TB HDD, and give me a light workstation for school work/Netflix/old school gaming for when I am home. This will be my "Windows" machine (Windows 10) and backup computer, while my Linux laptop is my main computer at the moment. I currently have Windows 10 installed on the SSD which I will be using.
The M.2 makes it weird, unless your willing to go Pcie M.2 adapter card. AM1 and most off the shelf integrated Celeron boards don't have Native M.2 for an SSD, so you'd have to adapt.
The Sugo is a good little case that you can fit a lot into. As for the M.2, you'd need a pcie adapter like this one:
You have to be careful that you choose the correct adapter though. The one I linked supports both PCIE M.2, and Sata M.2, whereas most only support PCIE.
Using a PCIe to M.2 adapter is perfectly OK. Remember, main considerations are: Price, low power consumption, and enough grunt to do the required tasks. Also, don't worry about picking out a case either....still trying to decide on that route :)
What M.2 specifically do you have? If its NVMe or AHCI and Pcie based you might have issues trying to boot it on an AM1 or Integrated Celeron platform. Sata based should be fine though.
In this build that actually makes a lot more sense than any high performance m.2 SSD. I am pretty sure am1 has native support for that drive on a few boards. I'll look at mine in a minute.
Haha actually, that helps. mSata is an older connector so its more common on budget boards and such. You could go H81 and a Pentium, like this: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Y4k2pg The Gigabyte board I selected has Native mSata onboard, and full size ram slots for your DDR3.
Just looking through PcPartsPicker and filtering for boards only with mSata, there doesn't seem to be any AM1 options. Very odd. I would have thought AM1 boards would be first you'd logically put an mSata on if you were OEMing boards.
Holy crap, I think you are right. I was way off on that one.
In that case go with the pentium build or so. That way you don't have to get an additional adapter and still have the option to throw in a dual NIC and make it a router later on.
Yeah I looked through all the itx AM1 boards trying to find one as well. Most all of them have Mini Pcie which might work, as sometimes, Mini Pcie and mSata are interchangeable. But, because non of them have the screw to secure the longer mSata drive, I think its probably a safe bet to say they're only wired for Mini Pcie.
Oh, LOL... I just did a quick search for mSATA to SATA and you can stuff the mSATA SSD into a 2.5" case with standard SATA connection. So in the end it doesn't seem to be a big problem at all.