Another new SFF build

[jedolley]

I've recently done some renovating in the house and now have myself a nice office/entertainment room. However, my current case no longer goes and I would like to move into SFF setup. The following parts are parts that I would like to the migrating over to the new build:

Intel Core2Duo E6400
G.Skill 2GB DDR2-800
EVGA GeForce 8800GTS 640MB
Creative SB X-Fi XtremeGamer
Samsung DVD burner
Western Digital 150GB Raptor
Western Digital 250GB HDD
Enzotech Ultra-X CPU cooler (Not sure if it will fit)
Corsair HX620 PSU

I'll eventually be upgrading some of these parts, but in the meantime I would just like to move them into a SFF system. I've been reading this forum for a couple days now to get a few ideas. I think i'm pretty set with going with the Gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R for the mobo, but am always willing to listen to advice. My biggest struggle right now is which case for these parts to call home. The ones i'm currently leaning towards are the Silverstone SG01 Evolution and the Thermaltake VF1000 Lanbox. They are both about the right dimensions i am looking for and from reviews i am currently leaning towards the Lanbox. My biggest gripe about the lanbox is the versions that are available. It appears that if I don't want the windows, I can't have the handle. I'm not usually a big fan of windows in my cases, so i try to avoid them if I can. The handle is not a big deal, but IMO it adds an aestically pleasing feature and is useful.

I guess what I am asking is if people can give me some opinions on the cases i have mentioned or maybe suggest similar case. Any other constructive criticism is also welcome.

Thanks,

JD

 

[i8088]

I've had my LanboxLite for over 3-4 months now and It can potentially be a problem for cooling when fully loaded. It seems internal temperatures were tolerable with a 7950GT installed, but when I upgraded to the 8800GT internal temps have been rising past 47C, and this is with the 3rd 60mm installed and it keeps getting hotter. Im considering modding the PSU plate to install another 80mm or 92mm so GFX card heat wont pollute the rest of the airflow in the case, it should be easy to pull off considering the case's top plate is already perforated in that area.

Great looking case IMHO, and a great candidate for modding if your using alot of high end components but heat may be an issue considering its stock cooling capabilities with only a front 92mm + 2 rear 60mm.

 

[Skott]

The P5K-VM is usually about $20 cheaper than the DS2R. Might want to consider it. I think its a better mobo too but thats just my own opinion. Check the features between the two though to see which has the features you want/need.

Cases are a personal choice. You do however need to make sure the case will fit whatever you plan to put it in now and later on down the road. Either of the two you were looking at are good for what you have now. I dont like how the Lanbox uses small fans on the back. They could have done better with the design of that but thats somewhat being nit picky on my part.

If you like a case and still put off by the lack of a handle take a look at the CaseAce GearGrip harnesses. The Micro LT model would probably do the trick nicely for the SFF cube of your choice.

http://www.geargrip.com/

 

[jedolley]

Thanks for the comments guys. I'll take a look at that other mobo. I'm starting to lean towards the SG01E after seeing a series of pictures from another user. The handle isn't a big deal at all, but i liked how it added to the look of the lanbox. It appears my Enzotech won't fit no matter what I get, so I guess I'll be looking into a new heatsink as well.

 

[PC-HAngover]

I personally have the DS2R and have found it to be fantastic board with some pretty sweet overclocking features. My only gripe about the board is that it doesn't support SATA optical drives, so I hope you have IDE ones.

As for your case selection, I chose to go with the PC-V300B from Lian Li. I had to mod the front hard drive cage a little to get my 8800 GTS to fit in there nice, but that was easy. I also stuffed a Thermalright 128-SE cooler in there with an upgraded 120mm fan on my OCZ psu pulling and a small 80mm pushing through the cooler and I have been able to get some amazing temps. Overall I love this case, but that's all dependent if you like the aluminum look that Lian Li is known for. The only thing I really hate about the case is that you have to remove 6 tiny screws from the side panels if you need to get in your case, but it's a small thing to pick about. They also have a new version out, the PC-V350, that removes the front hard drive cage and adds 120mm input fans.

Good luck!

 

[TWO515TY]

My only gripe about the board is that it doesn't support SATA optical drives, so I hope you have IDE ones.

Do you have any links or other information to back this up? I've never heard of the board not support SATA opticals, and there's really no reason why it wouldn't. Is it that you've read this somewhere or you just couldn't get your own drive to work?

 

[soulfoot]

I too would like to know whether that board supports sata optical drives, thats the board i plan on using myself and i have seen no one complain about it not using them, also there is only one ide connection so it would be kind of a bummer if you had to use it for your optical drives


on to the lanbox cooling discussion:


I too am working on a system with the Lanbox Case. (see my other posts for details)

I went with the windowed handle version but yours should be similar to my rig.

I have the case in my hands and can see quite a few options for more air flow.

1. convert the top rear 60mm to 80mm

2. squese 2 80mm's in the front (not sure if 2 90's would fit but it might be possible)

3. Squeeze 2 80's in the back

4. Throw 120's in the windows (i think this is the route i'm going to go, and i'm pretty sure i'll have to carefully put some holes for the fan screws in the plexi glass)

5. throw a 120 right underneath the handle. this is not the best solution because i'm fairly certain you cannot directly attach the fan to the top of the case due to the way it comes out (the top piece slides and lifts out).

6. Throw a 120 in the bottom underneath the mobo outside the case. I dont reccomend this due to dust and expense concerns but it has been suggested to me that purchasing aftermarket case feet and setting the fan to draw air outside the case could help, setting it to blow air inside (which does make more sence) would obviously pull in loads of dust and deposit it under your mobo tray.

Anyways I dont know how long you can wait, but i'll be posting pictures and temperature marks when i get mine built. (i've purchased 90% of the parts but here in oklahoma we are expereincing a pretty harsh ice storm that has put my pc build on the back burner)

I plan on throwing some fairly hot parts in my system so air flow and temperatue is a top concern.

one final note on the lanbox. I've seen sites detailing instructions on how to modify the bottom hard drive tray so that it doesnt impede airflow (which is a great concern for most owners), but i plan on removing mine all togethere and using the side mount.

 

[i8088]

Running a Pioneer DVR-212D SATA with no issues here on DS2R.

 

[soulfoot]

i took the liberty to d/l and read the online manual or at least most of if, and there is no mention of optical not working, now i did read where you might need to switch the sata controler from legacy to regular in some situations, but thats an easy click in the bios

 

[PC-HAngover]

Yes, I have tried absolutely everything and I cannot get my 2 sata opticals to work. So now I am back to IDE. If you want to gamble, go for it, but I tried everything.

 

[TWO515TY]

I've had my LanboxLite for over 3-4 months now and It can potentially be a problem for cooling when fully loaded. It seems internal temperatures were tolerable with a 7950GT installed, but when I upgraded to the 8800GT internal temps have been rising past 47C, and this is with the 3rd 60mm installed and it keeps getting hotter. Im considering modding the PSU plate to install another 80mm or 92mm so GFX card heat wont pollute the rest of the airflow in the case, it should be easy to pull off considering the case's top plate is already perforated in that area.

Great looking case IMHO, and a great candidate for modding if your using alot of high end components but heat may be an issue considering its stock cooling capabilities with only a front 92mm + 2 rear 60mm.

I didn't fully read your post before, but I'd just like to remind you that the 8800GT, with stock cooling, is a hot card in almost any case. I don't think it's your Lanbox, it's just that the 8800GT is going to make any case hotter, unless you upgrade the cooling, which I'd recommend doing anyways for the sake of noise and temperatures.

Yes, I have tried absolutely everything and I cannot get my 2 sata opticals to work. So now I am back to IDE. If you want to gamble, go for it, but I tried everything.

And these drives work fine in another computer? Are you sure it's not the drives?

 

[jedolley]

After about a week of researching and debating, I finally decided and ordered the parts for my new build:

Silverstone SG01-BW - I'm not a usually a fan of windows, but the black finish interior looks very nice.

Silverstone NT06-Lite - I'm a bit nervous of a fanless cooler, but user opinion on this setup is pretty high, so I guess I am willing to give it a try. I also considered the NT05, but could not find enough opinion on it to sway my decision.

Gigabyte GA-G33M-S2 - I'm not a heavy OC'er which is why I didn't go with the DS2R, but still wanted a solid G33 board. I also considered the Asus board, but couldn't get past the ugliness of it. I know that is a poor reason to discount a board, especially a solid one, but the insides will be on display.

Rounding out the build will be components I have from my current build (listed in my OP).

I am considering swaping out the case fans to some that move a bit more air, but wondering if most have been sticky with the stock fans or have been upgrading to something else.

Thanks,

JD

 

[i8088]

I didn't fully read your post before, but I'd just like to remind you that the 8800GT, with stock cooling, is a hot card in almost any case. I don't think it's your Lanbox, it's just that the 8800GT is going to make any case hotter, unless you upgrade the cooling, which I'd recommend doing anyways for the sake of noise and temperatures.

Hotter yes, but 50C case ambient is a recipe for early hardware failure. The case should be able to cope with a 8800GT since its advertised as supporting SLi. Now imagine if that 8800GT was 2 GTXs. Anyhow, my problem wasn't the card temps but rather the case air temp exponentially rising. It could not cool itself off fast enough. What do you mean hot card with stock cooling? Any cooling setup besides water will exhaust into case (unless 2 slot GTS style, but even then) so even if the GPU is 35 deg full load, the heatsink will be exhausting all that heat into the case.

 

[PC-HAngover]

And these drives work fine in another computer? Are you sure it's not the drives?

Yeah, the drives work perfectly fine. The problem lies in the sata controllers I think. There are 2 ports that supposedly are separate from the other 4 ports, but I tried it and it didn't work. I have 3 sata hard drives, and the 2 sata opticals. If you have any ideas, please feel free to share.