Any interest in PicoPSU based Mini-ITX case?

geostation said:
Looks great...
What is the width like.? Personally prefer to keep the case horizontal tucked away below the monitor... Can post some pics with the case horizontal.
Click to expand...

The width is currently 92 mm. Low profile expansion card brackets are about 80 mm in height. It'd be pretty tall for a horizontal case... similar in height to a 2U rack unit. Also, at 21-24 cm in height, this case may not be as wide horizontally as some monitor bases.

For a horizontal case, I'd personally like something around 60 mm or less in height, and be fairly wide, maybe even so wide as to have a slot loading optical to one side, instead of over top the motherboard. I guess I imagine something that could double as an HTPC case.
 
@turboborked: Glad you like the idea! I like the idea of a cube, but also like the smaller footprint of a tower. I'd be interested in possibly doing a minimal sized cube design also.
 
I love this idea. The tower feel too, as opposed to more horizontal design, which are so overdone =P. I myself am looking for something that can support a very low power graphics card.
 
loneindustries said:
Thanks for the link! I was looking at those just the other day after someone mentioned ecosmartpc.com in another thread. Quite a nice selection of desktop/HTPC cases. Interesting they have such powerful power supplies. Wonder what they are?
Click to expand...

They use a 12V 180W DC-DC power board that's the same idea as the picoPSU in that the 12V is coming from the AC adapter and it converts it into the 12V, 5V and 3.3V the PC needs except it's a board and is connected to the mobo with a wiring harness kinda like an ATX PSU but with a lot fewer connectors.

The AC adapters are all 12V output. The 12V 150W AC adapter is actually a Dell AC adapter.
 
EnzoFX said:
I love this idea. The tower feel too, as opposed to more horizontal design, which are so overdone =P. I myself am looking for something that can support a very low power graphics card.
Click to expand...

Awesome! Thanks for posting. Hopefully you didn't have your heart set on the venting shown in my last photos. I'm currently going with something that breathes a lot better.

Hoping to post some internal photos soon, though there's not much to show as it's pretty basic.

The dimensions have also grown a little. I've had to make room for PicoPSU wires which generally go out from the motherboard, and there's quite a few motherboards which have the power connector at the top.
 
Stardog Champion said:
They use a 12V 180W DC-DC power board that's the same idea as the picoPSU in that the 12V is coming from the AC adapter and it converts it into the 12V, 5V and 3.3V the PC needs except it's a board and is connected to the mobo with a wiring harness kinda like an ATX PSU but with a lot fewer connectors.

The AC adapters are all 12V output. The 12V 150W AC adapter is actually a Dell AC adapter.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm curious to see what it'd take to allow the use of these in my design (optionally). Might be pretty hard without increasing size, or limiting the number of SSD/HDDs.
 
Any preference between these three rectangle vent cut-out sizes (small, medium, large)? Take into consideration that the spacing between cutouts isn't really consistent between the three.

Note: The gap between each fan will get a little smaller, and may also be filled in with cut-outs.

9578341602_a855c60496_c.jpg
 
Last edited:
I don't know how you'd test this but I have noticed different vent designs have different acoustics as the fan draws/blows air across them. Some are noisy, some are not. So -- whichever is the quietest is what I'd choose.
 
Stardog Champion said:
I don't know how you'd test this but I have noticed different vent designs have different acoustics as the fan draws/blows air across them. Some are noisy, some are not. So -- whichever is the quietest is what I'd choose.
Click to expand...

Ya, that would not be cool if I designed a case that makes a whistling noise ;)

I'm hoping if I maximize the free area ratio, I won't have any problems. I figure the more free/open area, the better the airflow, and the least resistance and noise.
 
I like the middle one the best. It just looks right. Not sure exactly, but it looks balanced and proper. I see you moved the power button to the rear? Or is that something else? Personally, I like how DD did that as well on cases like their Lan Tower. Makes for a super clean front.
 
CMadki4 said:
I like the middle one the best. It just looks right. Not sure exactly, but it looks balanced and proper. I see you moved the power button to the rear? Or is that something else? Personally, I like how DD did that as well on cases like their Lan Tower. Makes for a super clean front.
Click to expand...

I like the middle also. It's closest to my original goal, which was the Ford SVT Raptor grille. :) Despite wider spacer, it still has a free area ratio of about 60% (smaller has 70% FAR).

Yes, those images do have the power button on the rear. Haven't decided for sure, but I'm leaning that way. One nice thing about having it on the front is, it's close to the motherboard header. Bottom-rear isn't too bad, as the wires could run along the bottom of the case.
 
Looks good to me. I think you could go front or rear. Front you get the advantage of having your switch and power LED in the same unit. Rear you may need to go with a separate power LED if people even want one.
 
Have you considered venting the entire top? Also, I like the front power button, but maybe raise it up just a little? It looks weird jammed down at the bottom of the case. Also, I don't see where you a pulling air from for the GPU. You might not have gotten to that stage yet, though.
 
@ellroy80, I did consider venting the entire top, but wasn't happy with the result. I have moved the button up a little since that photo. Still considering putting it on the back, but will have a hole on the front of my prototype. Do you have a preference? Other vent is still a WIP! :)

Update - Added bottom vent, moved top vent forward.
 
Last edited:
Received a prototype (unfinished). Overall, quite happy with the result. There are a few things that are going to change. All screw holes have stainless steel PEM nuts for strong threads.

1mm aluminum works, but may be a little too thin. Even 10mm clearance between 2nd case fan and PicoPSU (when at top/right side) isn't really good enough. The hard drive bracket is going to be changed completely. I also do not plan to support rubber grommets anymore (but there'll still be a way to soft mount other ways).

Yes, that is tape on some of the vents. I'm testing various ventilation configurations to see what works best. Pretty high tech I know! :)

I think I'll simply paint this prototype to try and get a better idea of what it'd look like powder coated. If you think you'd purchase one of these cases, please let me know. At this point I haven't really had any serious interest besides maybe a couple people.


9575545457_12cd2afd97_c.jpg


9575545307_510e8f79b7_o.jpg
 
Last edited:
it would be cool if that thing had a vesa mount so i could attach it to my screen

i would take some inspiration from the 900D mesh concept
 
I can do screw-less side panels if I increase the metal thickness to 14ga (1.6mm). The one nice thing about screw-on side panels is that they're guaranteed tight fitting, foolproof, and customizable (i.e. anodized screws anyone?).
 
royce321 said:
how about a hinged side panel then :)
Click to expand...

Why do you want hinged side panels? I don't know if it keeps with my "simple as possible" goal.

Did a little painting after work! After I take some photos, I'll probably paint it black. Production cases would of course be professionally powder coated, or anodized:

9575545171_ffa24c1e93_c.jpg
 
Last edited:
Installed a Noctua CPU cooler. Very happy it, despite the color. Used the Noctua low speed adapter on a Cooler Master PWM fan which brought it down to 1000 RPM from 1500 RPM. Now the system is almost silent, or very quiet.

Note: Not using hard drive bracket here:
9578340290_338eeb0916_c.jpg
 
Last edited:
hinged panels are just cool, plus they're easier to attach :)

anyways the new pics look good....although i'd prefer a black coat that doesn't retain a bunch of fingerprints......then again that white would prolly make a good enough primer coat so you could put on something custom

my only problem now is the lack of room for storage, sure you could fit a ton of 2.5's in there and maybe a 3.5 but thats about it
 
@royce321, Sounds like you have too much data! :) Hopefully have some black photos tomorrow.

@updawg, Only a slight chance. What are you wanting to use? Wouldn't you need something more powerful than a PicoPSU? Have you considered something like the NCASE M1 (when it's available), or a Lian Li PC-Q28?
 
loneindustries said:
@royce321, Sounds like you have too much data! :) Hopefully have some black photos tomorrow.

@updawg, Only a slight chance. What are you wanting to use? Wouldn't you need something more powerful than a PicoPSU? Have you considered something like the NCASE M1 (when it's available), or a Lian Li PC-Q28?
Click to expand...

A gtx 650 low profile. Also several low profile cards the cooler takes up the second slot.
 
a little deeper with case and a sfx powersupply up front would make a very powerfull small case. limit would be hard drives but most wouldnt need only a ssd for a small gaming machine

Jen
 
I'm wondering is it possible to make a 300 watt pico-psu or dc atx power supply in pico psu form. I wish the case would have two expansion slot, so I can fit a gtx670 mini
 
@updawg, Unless I'm mistaken, you just cant power something like that with a PicoPSU.

@Jen, That's true. Perhaps I can mess around with a larger version someday.

@Harryrosen, That sounds like a question for Mini-box. :)
 
A GTX 650 can be powered by a PicoPSU. And the cooler of some 7750's (which can also be powered by PicoPSU) take up the second slot.
 
Any graphics card that is only powered by the PCI E bus can draw a max of 75 watts, therefore a gtx 650 is fine. As stated a bunch of 7750 and 6670 low profile have dual slot coolers. Just food for thought, I'd buy one if it had 2 slots.
 
@ellroy80, updawg - Thanks, I appreciate the information! I don't do any gaming myself, and don't know much about graphics cards for gaming. Are you wanting two actual slot openings, or just one slot and the equivalent clearance of two slots? I'll give it some thought. If you can send me links to cards that you're referring to, that would be helpful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top