Micro ATX case + Water Cooling option?

D

DroppedGT

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Jan 19, 2008
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Its been 3 years since my last pc build (personally) and I really want to build a portable cheap* good performance gaming pc using uATX form. I've already ordered this:

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131237 $139 (best uATX?)

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811144161 $89 case

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231098 $44 (couldn't pass that up) ram

q6600 G0 SLACR / stock heat sink in my possession + Vista P $200 *Retail Edge*

SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S203B - OEM $29

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM $69


I'm searching for a cheap stable PS with modular cabling. Counting the days until D9 Nvidia release day for a GX2 if under $500 if not then go with a 8800gts G92 512. And then upgrade ram and install WC if possible and a WD Raptor.

Oops if forgot, how long is this 9800GTX supposed to be? I am the kind of person who would cut a hole in my case in the name of performance.

I'm looking for miscellaneous parts on ebay for WC:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260203238933&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=016

Hong Kong water pump :p 20,000 mtbf is long enough for me at that price. I've already bought a Danger Den TDX Waterblock for LGA775 on ebay as well, the cooling inside the block didn't look restrictive and might not cool as well but oh well. $30's good right.

Want to do 1/2" tube and I will admit I bought a TEC 168w and is in the mail just like the rest of this stuff.

I'm building a freaky frankenstein and i've only seen one water cooled Micro ATX Silverstone case somewhere on the internets. I think it might have been someone from up here. I need references.

Sorry for spamming my first post up here but one last question if the reader hasn't fell asleep yet, What kind of OC should I get on the mobo/cpu / 800mhz ? Stock intel cooler for now.
 
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Return that case and get this: http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...d=4596&zenid=2866e821f8cccfe61623f1962c2c33ae

Trust me, you'll need the extra 1" of room, plus Micro Fly's look alot better than Q-Packs.

I've water-cooled 4 Micro-Fly's/QPacks and unless you're water cooling for bling, stick with air cooling. You can mount the watercooling externally and get better cooling performance, but if you're going to do that, why do SFF in the first place?

Here's my worklog: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1087192
 
Sweet set up (just what I was picturing actually. I've got a few atx gaming pcs made from 04-05 but i wanted this one to be portable. I like the design of the Microfly you have. Great recommendation, especially after all the reviews on how flimsy the Q-pack was and poor handle.

I really like your mesh idea, and I just might start the RMA process of the Qpack before it even gets here :p

Do you know if a GTX would fit in the MicroFly? And yes, I am serious about the watercooling and I would actually integrate the radiator into the back of the case and have the fan pushing or pulling from the outside yet not effect the temp of the case inside. You have the radiator completely inside which has a nice look anyways. but I would probably keep WC on the CPU currently.

Thanks for your suggestion.
 
NP, figured it would give you some ideas.

A GTX will fit, but you'll have to pre-bend the power connector wires since the PCI-E connectors on GTX exit perpendicular to the card vs parallel on the lesser versions of the 8800. You could also notch the 5.25" bays for additional clearance, but it will fit with some shoehorning.

If you're just water cooling the CPU, I think you're going to be OK. If you were to try and water cool both the CPU and video card, like I did, I doubt you would get better temps than good air cooling, especially if you had a Quad.

I'm now using this mesh, which is easier to cut since it's aluminum, and is a more open design: http://www.performance-pcs.com/cata...uct_info&manufacturers_id=61&products_id=3398

If I had to do it again, I would probably use the Swiftech integrated CPU waterblock/pump:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=199&products_id=22719

along with this radiator since its width is exactly 120mm wide (making it easier to fit internally):

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=200&products_id=21115
 
Those components do look like a nice upgrade for minimum available space PCs. I have considered your opinion as to go with AIR rather than WC and it seems that alot of builders give the same message. So far all I have is a water block so I may hold off until Mid-Feb and see what Nvidia's vid cards prices are before completing the cooling side.

That does appear to be better mesh and I will order that in shortly here. I just received the mobo/hdd/ram today. Depending on how the Qpack looks I may just stick with it if it doesn't look totally fugly. The time to ship it back and forth would be more than my patients for my project. I think with some mesh it could have potential and paint. It does have a power supply (may only last a couple weeks) but that might be the only thing other than time that is making me think I should keep it for now.

The video card is going to be my main concern, and I guess the case does have alot to do with my options. I noticed you said you have a Qpack in the other post with your mFly case? Do you think a GTX would fit in that because I think the 9800 is the same length.

thanks

-
 
8800GTX will fit in either case, there's plenty of length, even in the QPack to fit an 8800GTX. If you look at Dworley's gallery, he has an 8800GTX in one of his:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/dworley/8800gtx/MG8800GTX-2.jpg

He had to notch the 5.25" bay for the power connectors. If the 9800's power connectors are parallel with the card, then you'll have no problem, otherwise you'll have ot mod the bay, but it's easy. A dremel or hacksaw (my preference as you get straighter cuts) cuts through the aluminum like butter.

I would go with the 8800GTS 512 over the GTX though, as the GTX's aren't really worth the money.

As far as air cooling, check my other worklog for fitting an Ultima90. Now you would have to get pretty imaginative to get the SATA data\power cables to clear the Ultima 90 on QPack becuase they just barely clear on the Micro Fly. Here's my other worklog:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1256178

You ought to head over to the SFF section as you'll get more ideas in addtion to my own.

I initially used QPacks, but as soon as the Micro Fly's came out I've been using those ever since.
 
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