Hello everybody! This is my planning thread for my second build MiniMonster. (Strange, as I haven't even started my first!) It is going to be a mITX gaming machine. Not exactly common, as far as I know, so I thought it would be fun. Also, I think I have a mITX fetish. Anyway, here are the specs as of now: Intel Core i5 3570K ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe ASUS ENGTX 560 Ti DCII TOP Silverstone ST45SF 450W PSU Patriot Gamer Series 2 8GB DDR3 RAM OCZ Vertex 3 60GB SSD Scythe Big Shuriken CPU Heatsink This is going to be a scratch build, designed for maximum portability. Here are my current Sketchup models. Can you see where I'm going with this mod? And here are the question parts. I'm thinking about putting them under the mobo, but if you have a better idea, please chime in. Also, if anybody wants to notify ASUS, sponsors are nice... Not that I expect anything on my second build. Anyways, I am really calling out to you guys for help. Thanks for reading!
You'll need a bigger SSD or another HDD, 60Gb isn't much to work with when it formats to ~55Gb and Windows takes ~15Gb (?)
15GB at the absolute minimum. I'd reccomend at least a 120GB SSD if you want everything to run off just that disk. Failing that; Laptop HDD's aren't that expensive, and are the same size as the SSD, so one of those could give you the extra storage space you need. The other issue you're going to have is cables. That PSU is going to have far too many cables, even for a build this meaty, so you may have to get inventive with your hiding, or outright cut them straight off.
Having my mITX-rig for two years I can tell you this... get yourself a watercooler like the Corsair H60 or Antec Kühler 620 and use a standard sized ATX PSU instead of the SFX PSU. My rig isn't really the most powerful in the world, but in my prevíous Sugo 05 the hardware got cooked, with the result of the fans spinning up making the system very noizy. Especially the GPU and the SFX-PSU get really loud. Having a watercooler also helps, as the air-coolers don't have a lot of space to the GPU, resulting in the GPU heating up even more. Now I've moved my system from a Sugo 05 to a LiLi Q08 a while back and installed a ATX PSU along with a Corsair H50 and it made the situation far better, but still it's not really optimal. My next system will be µATX instead of mITX again simply for the reason of the system running cooler overall, making it more silent. mITX isn't bad tho, and I'll never use something else for a HTPC or office PC, but those 65W CPUs and 200W GPUs aren't really a good pairing with these small boards. Just my experiences and thoughts, as you're still in the planning and nothing set in stone
Thanks for the info. I probably will upgrade the SSD, I hadn't thought about how much space Windows would take. I will probably also add a laptop drive for extra storage. (They're so tiny and cute!) On the subject of airflow, is there any way to go aircooled in this situation? I'm not sure I'm entirely comfortable watercooling, though the new all in one kits are quite reassuring. Thanks again for your help. Edit: Forgot to ask about power supply. How do you think one of the new modular PCP&C PSUs would do for this system? They have a 400W model!
As I said, to reassure enough airflow for the GPU I've opted for a Corsair H60 to cool the CPU. Works like a charm and is no more expensive then a good aircooler.
The H60 is an additional $20, but I really don't want to fry anything in here. So I think I'll follow jrs77's advice. Thanks bro, and +rep to you! I'm also going to start putting together a case in Sketchup. Today was the last day of school, so I have all the time in the world to spend inside, hunched over a keyboard, instead of outside in the beautiful summer weather. On a side note, I'd like to tell everybody that this build won't start for a few months, as I still have to clean the garage so I can have the space to put in a workshop, and then actually move all my tools/buy new ones. However, I am going to build this computer, even if I have to rob banks. (But not really. I don't advise you rob a bank.) Again, if anybody has any ideas, please please please please please tell me!
Same name as i used in my project. But hey its not copyright, so carry on. More min itx builds the better.
Like I said, it's a temp name. As soon as I picked it, I saw a project with the name. Pretty sure it was yours. The name is the other part that needs changing.
The H60 performs best as an intake like this: Fan -> Rad -> Case With that in mind, you need to make sure, that the H60 isn't blowing directly onto your GPU ofc. Something like this would be the best in terms of heat-management, allthough the resulting "cube" makes the case a little bit larger.
thats actually pretty similar to what I was thinking. The only real difference is that I'd turn it on its side so that the PSU was on the bottom.
Adding possible hardware 750GB Momentus XT SSHD Corsair AF120 Two Pack In more exciting news: I'VE PICKED A COLOR SCHEME! Blue and Copper. Yum.
So here is my mockup of the case. I want to do a suitcase-like thing, as it is going to be a LAN computer. The H60 will be cooled in a push/pull configuration, and the exhaust will be passive. The drives will all mount on a bracket that is connected to the top of the case (on the same plane as the PSU.)
Me again... Passive exhaust won't work. I've made enough experiences with my former Silverstone Sugo 05 and a Corsair H50 in that regard. The temps inside the case get really hot without an exhaust-fan, especially when your rad is pushing warm air into the case. Additionally, the SFX-PSU - allthough nice - really makes some noise with it's 80mm fan which is only 15mm thick instead of 25mm. Just my two cents tho
right then...hm. I am all in favor of unfried components, so I'll see what I can do in regards to exhaust. As for the PSU, do you think a PCP&C ATX PSU would work? I know I can get one powerful enough, (they just came out with a modular 400W), but I am wondering if they're a good company
I hope nobody was looking forward to this. After realizing my financial limitations as a 15 year old, I have decided to postpone (NOT ABANDON) this build until I can afford to both build a computer and a case. My only focus now is my main rig, which is small enough that I can still take it to LANs. Once that is bought, paid for, and modded, I will start thinking about this build again. On a lighter note, my grandfather has a garage filled with tools (that were made back when quality mattered) that he wants to get rid of. Guess which grandkid is into building things? Now I just have to clean the garage...Oi.
