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Hello members of [H], I'm currently doing a build with a custom case that houses low-profile cards.
Unlike many other SFF cases on here, I'm not on a mission to squeeze the most kick-ass hardware in a particular space or layout, but rather in focusing on low-profile cards and low power consumption.
Here are a few renders of the case design. It's to be made out of sheet aluminum, with the main body composed of 4 pieces- inner frame, two sheets for the outer shell, and a front bezel/facade that can be either metal or acrylic to suit the owner's taste.
Exploded view shows the individual case parts better (front bezel not shown)
Top priority is portability. Systems with low-profile cards tend to be less power-hungry, but at the same time I want to shy away from power bricks. I just want to lug around a small case without a dangling power brick. The entire case is less than a foot tall standing vertically.
So I have to build a system that would integrate the entire PSU inside of the case, but TFX and Flex ATX sizes are still too big for my needs. Enter the MeanWell EPP-200. This is a general purpose PSU with a small 2x4 inch footprint, that supplies 200W of DC power with air circulation, or up to 140W passive. Run passively, it would be enough to power a ~75W GPU and a 50W or less CPU.
Also, "Mini LP" is just a tentative name for the case so it'll just stay there until I can find a better name for it.
Case specifications
I am hoping to make this case to be general purpose, for anyone that requires just a low-profile expansion card. Whether it's for an HTPC, an entry-level build for gaming, or even a workstation system using one of the LP workstation cards.
Here are the specs I have currently:
Current status of the case
The prototype case is already in progress, in my own home. I'm just using hand tools for this one- there is no sourcing out to shops yet, at least for the case I'm building first. It will contain my current system, which I can start using to test for temperatures and performance once the case is complete.
Pics of the case in progress:
I ran into a hitch with the case with the joint around one end of the I/O panel in the topmost corner becoming weak. I made a shim to fit the I/O bracket edge to the top of the tray. A better choice would be to add 5mm of additional space near the end of the I/O for the next version of the design.
Here you can see the shim screwed on, and also my 40mm cooler lines up perfectly with the flange of the case! So yes, the max cooler height for this case is 40mm
I couldn't resist standing it up vertically on the desk. You can see just how small the footprint is when it's vertical.
Unlike many other SFF cases on here, I'm not on a mission to squeeze the most kick-ass hardware in a particular space or layout, but rather in focusing on low-profile cards and low power consumption.
Here are a few renders of the case design. It's to be made out of sheet aluminum, with the main body composed of 4 pieces- inner frame, two sheets for the outer shell, and a front bezel/facade that can be either metal or acrylic to suit the owner's taste.
Exploded view shows the individual case parts better (front bezel not shown)
Top priority is portability. Systems with low-profile cards tend to be less power-hungry, but at the same time I want to shy away from power bricks. I just want to lug around a small case without a dangling power brick. The entire case is less than a foot tall standing vertically.
So I have to build a system that would integrate the entire PSU inside of the case, but TFX and Flex ATX sizes are still too big for my needs. Enter the MeanWell EPP-200. This is a general purpose PSU with a small 2x4 inch footprint, that supplies 200W of DC power with air circulation, or up to 140W passive. Run passively, it would be enough to power a ~75W GPU and a 50W or less CPU.
Also, "Mini LP" is just a tentative name for the case so it'll just stay there until I can find a better name for it.
Case specifications
I am hoping to make this case to be general purpose, for anyone that requires just a low-profile expansion card. Whether it's for an HTPC, an entry-level build for gaming, or even a workstation system using one of the LP workstation cards.
Here are the specs I have currently:
- Expansion card support: low-profile card up to 2 slots, 184mm max length
- Motherboard support: Mini ITX
- Storage: 2x 2.5" HDD/SSD
- Max CPU cooler height: 40mm
- Outer case dimensions: 292mm x 55.6mm x 194mm (~3.4 liters)
- Front I/O: (possible) 2x USB 3.0
- DC Power: Pico-PSU or similar direct-plug DC board
- AC Power: External adapter or Mean Well EPP 150W-200W PSU
- Designed for low power (< 200W) builds
Current status of the case
The prototype case is already in progress, in my own home. I'm just using hand tools for this one- there is no sourcing out to shops yet, at least for the case I'm building first. It will contain my current system, which I can start using to test for temperatures and performance once the case is complete.
Pics of the case in progress:
I ran into a hitch with the case with the joint around one end of the I/O panel in the topmost corner becoming weak. I made a shim to fit the I/O bracket edge to the top of the tray. A better choice would be to add 5mm of additional space near the end of the I/O for the next version of the design.
Here you can see the shim screwed on, and also my 40mm cooler lines up perfectly with the flange of the case! So yes, the max cooler height for this case is 40mm
I couldn't resist standing it up vertically on the desk. You can see just how small the footprint is when it's vertical.