CCD MI-6: Performance in a 6.7L MIcrotower

Boil said:
Question towards the CPU cooler clearance with the backing mesh…

Is the clearance still at 65mm (really wanting to use the Noctua NH-L9x65)…?

I really, Really, REALLY love the latest revision…! The large venting slots with the honeycomb mesh backing has a great industrial look, the left-aligned front I/O looks awesome, and the flush / recessed screws give everything a cleaner look…!

Now if Nvidia could see their way to making a nice Titan ITX GPU…!!!
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Hey Boil,
I am moving the mb mounting plate back .032" toward the gpu side to acct for the hex mesh. So it will still fit a 65mm cooler. The space between the cooler fan and cover mesh will be the same 2mm as it was before. 2mm isnt much, so there will be some noise when the fan ramps up. The higher open area (71%) of the hex mesh vs small slots (40-50%) should give lower noise level.
 
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dizmo said:
If you go with that design, and forego the filter design of the Streacom case is there any way a provision could be made to simply stick the filters to the outside?
I suppose one could just drill some holes and insert small screws? Aluminium isn't magnetic so it's not as easy as just sticking them to the side of the case.
It'd be nice to have some way to deal with dust ingress.
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If you are looking at the Demciflex filters, then they will include a magnetized tape for use with non-ferrous chassis panels…

But I REALLY hope the chassis sticks with the most recent venting revision…!!!
 
Okay, assuming ASRock H270 MB & Intel i5 7600 CPU…

Noctua NH-L9x65…?

OR…!

NH-L9i with NF-A9 fan replacing stock NF-A9x14…?

The unused fan would be recycled in the bottom fan position…
 
Looks like the AMD Ryzen 7 1700 would be the sweet spot for this chassis; low TDP & included heat sink is 54mm tall, so good cooling for the CPU & enough space to help avoid noise from turbulence caused by having the fan too close to the side venting…?

Now I just really, Really, REALLY hope that someone (looking at ASRock, since they already have this design for their H270 / Z270 mITX MBs) will have a quality AM4 mITX MB with a front-mounted M.2 slot…

And then there is the question of Vega… Will AMD give us an ITX-sized GPU that is cool running & at LEAST as powerful as a GTX 1070, if not a 1080…?!?
 
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Boil said:
Looks like the AMD Ryzen 7 1700 would be the sweet spot for this chassis; low TDP & included heat sink is 54mm tall, so good cooling for the CPU & enough space to help avoid noise from turbulence caused by having the fan too close to the side venting…?

Now I just really, Really, REALLY hope that someone (looking at ASRock, since they already have this design for their H270 / Z270 mITX MBs) will have a quality mITX MB with a front-mounted M.2 slot…

And then there is the question of Vega… Will AMD give us an ITX-sized GPU that is cool running & at LEAST as powerful as a GTX 1070, if not a 1080…?!?
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I'm aiming for the 1500 with a 95w cooler, or perhaps the 1400x. Nothing I do requires that many cores, and gaming will perform better on the higher clocked chips.
Apparently Gigabyte, MSI and Biostar are coming out with 7 ITX boards pretty soon. Not the greatest brands, Gigabytes last few iterations of ITX have been a massive disappointment to me, but I suppose it's better than nothing.
 
I am receiving the hex perf aluminum sheet within the next few days, so I can check it out and let you know.
 
Boil said:
And then there is the question of Vega… Will AMD give us an ITX-sized GPU that is cool running & at LEAST as powerful as a GTX 1070, if not a 1080…?!?
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Don't forget about size of the card. Low power consumption and high performance are irrelevant if the card doesn't fit in the case, but at least low power consumption gives us hope that huge cooling systems aren't necessary.
 
Brian_R170 said:
Don't forget about size of the card. Low power consumption and high performance are irrelevant if the card doesn't fit in the case, but at least low power consumption gives us hope that huge cooling systems aren't necessary.
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That is why my post stated "…an ITX-sized GPU…"
 
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Speaking about ITX. MSI has a bunch new cards for ITX. Source

The fan of the 1070 looks a bot larger than the on from gigabyte. Possibly cooler/quieter?
 
I like it. Will there be something like interchangeable front panels? =P
 
Quick status --
>Revising dimensional details and drawings incorporating the I/O on the front (offset). Having to tweak a few things here and there, such as moving the I/O down as far as possible to prevent any physical interference with the longest GPUs, moving the front plate screw holes slightly to clear the I/O, etc. The tedious stuff, lol.
>Finishing drawing details of the cover with large slots and hex panel. Need to double check the demiflex filter fit. Hoping to get laser cutting house to cut out a cover (flat) next week, then I'll try to bend it myself with a low-end bender (read cheap). ...I guess I better get more than 1 cover cut, lol
>Received black plug samples for when the rear power switch cutout isn't used. Plug is nice black plastic, fits fine, looks fine.

Thats it, Thx
 
Firewolfy said:
Ummm, not if it's the plain front version....maybe my english not so goot
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Well, you said FLIP the front panel over, I think what you meant to say was to REPLACE with a plain front panel…
 
Firewolfy said:
The front panel will be easy to change out, just 4 screws. For the plain front (no I/O) version, you can flip the front panel over.
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I read this as "If you get the version of the case that comes with the plain front panel, you will be able to flip the front panel over."

But, if that's the correct way to read it, what I don't know is the difference between the two sides of the plain panel.
 
Morning all,

As we're talking about the front panel I have a question/suggestion (apologies if it's been discussed already):

Put an air vent on the front panel.

In addition to the existing vents, the components would exhaust heat through this front panel vent. This (may?) make the floor fan unnecessary. Interior cabling could be gathered in the floor fan space instead. Less cabling distributed throughout the case (might?) make for better, less obstructed heat dissipation throughout.

Or keep the floor fan and have even better air flow.

I know, I know. A front panel air vent will make the case louder. But everyone knows the human ear can only hear up to 24 decibels. I mean, it just sounds more cinematic.
 
LivewarePr0blem said:
Morning all,

As we're talking about the front panel I have a question/suggestion (apologies if it's been discussed already):

Put an air vent on the front panel.

In addition to the existing vents, the components would exhaust heat through this front panel vent. This (may?) make the floor fan unnecessary. Interior cabling could be gathered in the floor fan space instead. Less cabling distributed throughout the case (might?) make for better, less obstructed heat dissipation throughout.

Or keep the floor fan and have even better air flow.

I know, I know. A front panel air vent will make the case louder. But everyone knows the human ear can only hear up to 24 decibels. I mean, it just sounds more cinematic.
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Yes, a front vent was in the initial design. It turns out that as long as there is enough top venting, temps run fine, and front venting isnt reqd. The plan has been to keep the front as simple and uncluttered as possible, so front venting went away.
 
The more I see this, the more I want it. I'd be on for a white one... And a wood front panel. Hmm or silver with a glossy white panel. Starting to see the customizable nature of this practical case.
 
Firewolfy said:
Yes, a front vent was in the initial design. It turns out that as long as there is enough top venting, temps run fine, and front venting isnt reqd. The plan has been to keep the front as simple and uncluttered as possible, so front venting went away.
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Thanks man, appreciate the reply.

Way earlier in the thread someone (Boil, prolly?) mentioned that they'd like a small plaque or plate that gives the name of the case plus a production number. Maybe on the case rear like (I think) the M1 has. I like this idea.

Also, like a couple of cats on this forum I'm not entirely sure of the front panel options: is this under development?
 
Below is the latest design iteration. The optional version would leave the front power and I/O off and have a blank front panel. The pics show the deep crimson powdecoat but the baseline plan is for textured black powdercoat.

OjbLY8sl.jpg

GFYsWSIl.jpg
 
That looks awesome, Firewolfy! I even like the crimson/black. Please, just take my money!

My 12-year-old's birthday is in 2 weeks so I couldn't wait any longer for his mini-ITX gaming desktop, so last weekend, I ordered a small-and-cheap ITX case that we'll have to mod to even be adequate. All the parts (i7-7700 w/ stock cooler, Gigabyte GA-H270N-WiFi, Corsair SF450, eVGA GTX1060 SC, 32GB Crucial DDR4-2400, Intel 600p 512GB) sans the ATX-to-SFX adapter will go right into the MI-6 when it's available. I guess a little more father-son time with the modding and then moving all the components again isn't such a bad thing. :)
 
Brian_R170 said:
That looks awesome, Firewolfy! I even like the crimson/black. Please, just take my money!

My 12-year-old's birthday is in 2 weeks so I couldn't wait any longer for his mini-ITX gaming desktop, so last weekend, I ordered a small-and-cheap ITX case that we'll have to mod to even be adequate. All the parts (i7-7700 w/ stock cooler, Gigabyte GA-H270N-WiFi, Corsair SF450, eVGA GTX1060 SC, 32GB Crucial DDR4-2400, Intel 600p 512GB) sans the ATX-to-SFX adapter will go right into the MI-6 when it's available. I guess a little more father-son time with the modding and then moving all the components again isn't such a bad thing. :)
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Sounds like it'll be a great time. I did a build with my 14 yr old nephew last year. - Made him learn all about computer hardware, it's history and progress first, lol, so he would have a little bit of appreciation for all the design and complexity.
 
If I remember right you uploaded a template of the front panel so one could easily design one themself?
I wonder if a NCASE M1 front panel would work. Together with an Blu-Ray slim-ODD opening to the top and the small I/O-panel at the bottom you could have literally a hole gaming/working/editing (or whatever) PC in that small footprint.
Right now I have an external Blu-Ray-Burner, but having one right inside the case would buff things up I guess.
 
GermanDrifter97 said:
If I remember right you uploaded a template of the front panel so one could easily design one themself?
I wonder if a NCASE M1 front panel would work. Together with an Blu-Ray slim-ODD opening to the top and the small I/O-panel at the bottom you could have literally a hole gaming/working/editing (or whatever) PC in that small footprint.
Right now I have an external Blu-Ray-Burner, but having one right inside the case would buff things up I guess.
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Do you actually find you use it a lot?
I thought the ODD was long since dead.
 
dizmo said:
Do you actually find you use it a lot?
I thought the ODD was long since dead.
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Maybe it is, but I do a lot of work with movies and music and so on, and some older games still need the CD to run.
It's just about having the opportunity of playing movies directly with your PC without this 'hold on I need to search my external-drive real quick and my adapter-connection-cable and then I need to install the drivers and hopefully it will work then'-thing. At least for me, the final product shouldn't be like the iPhone 7 ;)

Despite that, the case itself is a perfect example of cramping a hole Gaming-PC inside a 4.6l footprint, and I think Firewolfy did an excellent job. And if someone (me included) finds out that they need something in addition, they could easily add these things by themself.

I can't wait to hear that the case went into production. Good Luck Firewolfy (y)
 
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I really want this case! (y)
Firewolfy, when do you estimate to have thise case in production?
 
this is looking very good and well thought out . my card board computer is getting very tiresome looking at

Jen
 
Hi guys,
Sorry but there was a bit of a lull there in development, due to lack of time and funds. But I do have an update, woo hoo!

I modeled the latest 2 vent configurations with the I/O vs. non-I/O front cover (in black).

The Slotted versions:
BcecHQR.jpg
7ShumZ0.jpg


The Slotted-Hex versions:
qWbVnhO.jpg
i91jOFs.jpg




Ok, and I have managed to get some parts laser cut. I had 4 covers cut to try out bending, installing hex mesh and powder coating. I also got 6 front plates, split between the uncluttered version and the usb-I/O-power switch versions, to fit check and to do some chem-etch and anodizing trials.
Lastly, I had some PCI hold-downs made for bending trials and then fit checks.

Here is a pic of some of the glorious aluminum, including the work I've done bending and installing hex mesh on 1 cover:
zQRxwUN.jpg





Now I don't have money to get the latest chassis frame made, so I took the existing prototype and modified it to accept the new cover and front plate. Mostly attachment screw locations moved a bit.
Here are some pics of the case assembly, unfinished and looking a bit ragged, but it made a good showing as far as fit up. I didn't have the latest flat head screws so I used these button head for now, and waiting on the right screws (I thought I had some, but wrong pitch, grrr).
KhFbOdn.jpg
mkkV7zW.jpg


JyagI87.jpg


So I'm pretty happy. I finally have a prototype of the latest simplified cover design with smooth bends and 4-screw attachment, and has the large slots. I used the sheet metal bender I bought a couple months ago with an attachment made to do the large-radius bends.

I do have the power button cap being 3d printed next week. It will be black plastic with a translucent center circle to show the power status light.

First run date, well that's still up in the air, as chassis prototyping is still to be done, the most expensive part of the case. But I'm still plugging away at it, envisioning a Ryzen 7-1800 and a 1070 stuffed in there.......
 
Looks like a toaster in all that bare aluminum. I love it. The mesh painted differently could even allow for color combinations. Possibilities are promising.
 
i liked the slotted version without mesh it looks cleaner to me and also the I/0 front cover. very clean case . wish i had access to tooling such as this as i have many ideas that are possible case designs but to build them with the tools i have never would look as good as this

hugs

Jen
 
Jen said:
i liked the slotted version without mesh it looks cleaner to me and also the I/0 front cover. very clean case . wish i had access to tooling such as this as i have many ideas that are possible case designs but to build them with the tools i have never would look as good as this

hugs

Jen
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Jen,
Thx for the feedback. Well I don't have much in the way of tools either, LOL. All I have is a new sheet metal brake for simple bends. Everything else is outsourced.
 
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