Planning Request for comments On design

Hey,

I'm liking this new mini-Itx trend. So I made a design too. The goal was to use normal parts here; the case can accommodate a full length GFX-card, a normal ATX psu and a few 3,5 hard disks (two pictured). The CPU is cooled by a corsair H55.

The enclosure is not really detailed yet, I added in the vents and that's it. I'm planning to use wood and make an inlay on the sidepanels. If it ever comes that far, that is.

the box itself is a little over 13 liter, more when you count the space underneath for the cables.
The big question here is if the two 80mm will be supplying enough air for a slow moving 120(psu) and a slightly faster moving 120(H55), or if I should make some more vents, and if so, where?

 

I'd feed the radiator cool fresh air, rather than warm case air.

Optical drive ditchable?

Would it be worth knocking together a shroud (cardboard, whatever) to link the GPU's intake fan to the outside so that it could draw fresh air too? I just don't know

Other than that, it looks so snug that you'll almost have to build the case around the components, I approve.

 

At that size, getting air out of the case isn't the issue. Getting any air to move at all inside will be. Once you put in all the hoses and cables, all the extra space is gone.

 

While the in the case air may be a bit warmer, I don't think it'll make a huge difference, as the GPU is not influencing the warmth.(it inhales and exhales from the backside of the case trough its own vents) So it'll be only the chipset and the hard disks. I'd like to overclock, but not too extreme, so I don't think a few degrees are going to make a huge difference.
The optical drive is ditchable, but I don't think it'll make a difference, as it is tucked away under the GFX-card and I like having one for those moments you need one. (I have this nice collection older games that I fire up once in a while)

Yeah, I was kinda afraid for that. I guess I'll have to see when I come round to building. Do some crazy wire magic or remake some cables to make them perfect length...


Thanks for your comments and approvition (or whatever the noun of 'to approve' is)

 

Approval

 

Looks good!

One point I would make is don't underestimate the room needed for the psu cables, I did and it was a right pain to do.

 

Like Archtronics wrote:

Plan a little more space for cables. But so far it looks good.

 

you guys are serious about the cables huh.
Is it a lot of work to remake them to custom lengths?

 

It isn't exactly hard to do, just very time consuming. If you take the time to sleeve them all nice as well; you have to cut them, sleeve, crimp (depending on how you're approaching the sleeving) and such. I think it'd be worth it for a build like this. Extra cable will just interfere with the airflow that would be super important here.

 

Lemme just check something.

Card is 'standard' and exhausts through the back underneath the case.

Lower 2x80mm are intake.
Upper 120mm is exhaust
PSU exhausts next to CPU

Question >>
Is there a side vent for the GPU to get fresh air from?
Would the hot air exhausted by the GPU go into the PSU?

Also, note that the ITX mobo can't be the ASUS z77 deluxe as that will have a mini-board blocking the 2x80mm. Jus' saying.

 

Lemme just check something.

Card is 'standard' and exhausts through the back underneath the case.

Lower 2x80mm are intake.
Upper 120mm is exhaust
PSU exhausts next to CPU

Question >>
Is there a side vent for the GPU to get fresh air from?
Would the hot air exhausted by the GPU go into the PSU?

Also, note that the ITX mobo can't be the ASUS z77 deluxe as that will have a mini-board blocking the 2x80mm. Jus' saying.

 

Yes. However, the card will most likely be a XFX HD 7950 so it has a lot of 'fanpower' of itself, but will 'throw air around', so maybe I should make a few vents to the side too? To approach a testbench-situation?

Not really, the CPU is cooled by the Corsair H55 (the darker brown box), and the PSU is oriented downwards, so it expels air from the case, away from the CPU (and Motherboard)

Yes. Most of the side panel the GPU fans point to will be open.

No, It will be exhausted underneath the case, on the other side of the intakes (i hope)

Yes, i noticed. But that board is really expensive too, and the ASrock Z77E-ITX is also recommended by anandtech. I don't think the Asus one has that much more to offer, so I thought of going with the ASrock one. Any toughts about my MB choice are welcomed too. (paired with a ivy bridge, maybe an i5 3570K)

The idea is that the GPU has it's own air circulation; the the "cooling side" of a GPU points away from the CPU.
Here is a attempt at visualizing:


So, any thoughts? (no laughing at my Sketchup skills)

 

Mm. Fair point, my bad about the PSU fan direction

I see no problem with your design. I don't suppose you could make a PSU grill on the outside, that way it doesn't steal air from within the case? (If that even matters that much)

Also, like everyone else, I will say that the cabling will be a mighty biach. I'm also designing an ITX case and right now, the cabling images in my head are not pretty at all.

You might consider making some kind of partition at the bottom so exhausted air goes up the outside of the back of the PSU + mobo instead of being recycled by the side intake fans?