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Small Form Factor mATX advice please.

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by MightyBenihana, 8 Sep 2011.

  1. MightyBenihana

    MightyBenihana Do or do not, there is no try

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    Hi all,

    I have been lurking around these parts for years and consider myself to be reasonably knowledgeable when it comes to knocking together a new PC. This time around however I need to build a SFF system as I want to take it on a plane as carry on luggage.
    I am British, but I live in Brazil and the price of electronics here would make you cry.

    In terms of the case, I had all but decided on the Lian Li V354B, but having read the recent review on BT of the SilverStone TJ08B-E indecision has reared it ugly head again.

    I had planned on using a Corsair H60 with the V354 but it appears that I could fit a Dark rock cooler in the SilverStone, thus reducing the cost by a bit more again.

    The rest of the build will include:

    Asus Gene-Z MB
    2500k CPU
    GTX 570 TFiii (unless we all get a big surprise and some new cards are released by Novemeber)
    1 TB Samsung F3 HD
    128GB M4 ssd
    Corsair AX650 PSU
    Corsair 8GB (2x4) low profile vengeance ram (does this work in the Gene-Z as it is not on the PVL)
    Asus Xoner DS 7.1 soundcard
    Logitech S220 2.1 speakers
    Dell 2412m Monitor

    (Any recommendations on the above are more than welcome)

    I would really appreciate any help/recommendations about mATX/SFF cases from those that are familiar with them and also if anyone who has tried recently to take a desktop on a plane, if you could share that experience I would be very thankful.

    Thanks to everyone who helps, I hope you can calm my nerves in regards to the plane trip and bring some reason to my indecisive mind.
     
  2. r3loaded

    r3loaded Minimodder

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    That all seems good, except for the Xonar DS - it's a PCI card but the Gene-Z does not have any PCI slot. You will need a PCIe card such as the Xonar DX or D2X. Another issue that may crop up with a sound card is that on an mATX motherboard it will block a lot of airflow to the graphics card, so you might want to forego it completely and use the on-board audio.

    As for case recommendations, I have the Silverstone FT03. It's advantage over other mATX cases is that it takes up less floor area due to its orientation - it's taller than it is wide or deep. You might find that to be an advantage for when you take it on a plane.
     
  3. MightyBenihana

    MightyBenihana Do or do not, there is no try

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    Thanks, missed that one - one little headache avoided. I'll have a browse at the alternatives.
     
  4. MightyBenihana

    MightyBenihana Do or do not, there is no try

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    Thanks, missed that one - one little headache avoided. I'll have a browse at the alternatives.
     
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