Caffeinated's SFF Project - Pics Inside - Maximum Microfly

[Caffeinated]

I've always wanted to build a system like this, but I've never been a fan of the aesthetics of huge cases. I guess it is because I've worked with servers for a long time, and few things are less attractive than a 137 lbs. beige box. I know that towers are better looking these days, but I wanted something that didn't take up much space. Enter the Microfly that I picked up on sale.

This particular project is built with speed and cooling in mind, not noise reduction, as you will soon see. Most interpretations of SFF systems have been small and quiet, but my reason for going SFF is for space saving and aesthetics.

The specifications of the machine are as follows (also in my sig, but I will put them here for the sake of completeness):

Microfly Case
HEC 585W PSU
AMD X2 4200+ @ 2.63 Ghz 1.40 V
2GB G.SKILL PC6400 DDR2 (@ 745 4-4-4-12-1T) 2.0 V
PNY Geforce 8800 GTS @ 535/905 (1810 effective)
LG Electronics 18X DVD±R DL DVD-RAM
Maxtor 7200 RPM 300GB IDE
(3) Sunon 40X40X28mm 13000 RPM fans
Silverstone 92mm Var. Speed Intake Fan
Ultra 120mm Exhaust Fan


I need a new HDD to be honest, as I'm not thrilled with having an IDE drive in a new system, but it's the only one that I had that wasn't in use. Hopefully I'll get a better drive soon. As you can see, I have upped the voltage on my CPU and RAM in order to get a stable overclock. I'm not a fan of "suicide" runs and instability; what you see listed is where it is currently running. I have a couple of temp and stability test shots that will follow. Note that this isn't specifically a woohoo, overclock it until it drops type of project, either; I wanted a stable and fast good looking box, and so far, I think I've achieved that objective.

On with the pics


Box with no covers HDD side

Box no covers Graphics Card Side

The Microfly top with the Acrylic Panel in...won't be there long!

My painted machine screws and washers drying in the sun

Screws and washers I used

Snipping the hardware cloth to size

Hardware cloth drying

All 3 panels, with the new screened in sides

Another shot of the finished panel

Front and Top view with the new screened in panels

Graphics card side

Hard Drive side

Top View

Stability/Temp screen shots will follow later. As you can see, though, for an overclocked SFF, I have plenty of air flow now that there is the open air of the screening. I used 1/4" Hardware cloth picked up for $3 at Lowes, machine screws, and some black paint I had sitting around. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out, especially for a mod that material cost was about $5 and time .

 

[Elmntskater1588]

Nice. I should get on the SFF side of things.

 

[sleepeeg3]

I am afraid your Microfly will lay eggs that turn into world conquering, homicidal robots...

 

[Caffeinated]

I am afraid your Microfly will lay eggs that turn into world conquering, homicidal robots...

LMAO!

(it might... )

I benched it and it gets a solid 9000 in 3DMark. I ran the Everest stability test overnight last night, and it was still working when I woke up this morning. I have shots of it after it had run for an hour, but I looked at it before I had coffee this morning and accidentally closed it without taking a screen shot.

Here is a shot after an hour with temps:



Here are my 3DMark scores in one convenient screenshot:



And here is the compare link: http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=1249138

I am running my tests again.

 

[Steeeeve]

Very nice! You can't go wrong with SFF

 

[Skott]

Interesting... I wonder if dust is going to be a problem or not? Computers are dust collectors by nature.

 

[Caffeinated]

I guess I'll find out. It may not be any different, or it actually may be better than a normal PC. A normal PC gets dust sucked in through the fan but can't get back out again. In mine, there is enough airflow that dust may not settle inside of it.