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Mini-ITX Case Recommendation?

C

Curse The Sky

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Apr 3, 2010
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I have a mATX system running inside of a NZXT Rogue right now. I absolutely love the case for its features (5x120mm fans, can fit full-sized tower coolers, full ATX PSU, 5x3.5" hard drives, etc.), but there's no getting around the fact that it's big and heavy. The carrying strap it came with makes it a bit easier to lug around, but it's not fun.

I'm toying the idea of dropping down to a mini-ITX system, but I'm not sure what case I want to go with. If I do go that route, I'd want to go as small as possible but still meet the following requirements:

- I prefer "boxy" designs over "tower" or "stand-up" designs; so the SG05 is more appealing to me than the PC-Q07, for example
- I prefer aluminum, but will work with anything that's decent quality
- I'd like something that can fit a dual-slot, 9" or mid-high end graphics card (HD 5770 for now, and something equivalent later)
- I'd like to at least be able to fit a 300W power supply or better, but won't need 500W by any means
- At least one 3.5" device slot would be nice (but not a deal-breaker), 5.25" not required

I was interested in the 450W version of the SG05, but the PSU complaints really worry me. The SG07 is nice for the cooling capacity and the PSU, but the overall size really turns me off. Otherwise there's the Q08, but I can't tell how big it would really look in person, and I'm afraid to get something that'll still be a pain to lug around.

Any suggestions? :)
 
Hmmm time to get the camera, have an SG05, Q08 and MI100 on the same room ATM pics later today with the SG05 ATX mod :D
 
That would be much appreciated. :) I'd also love to know your thoughts on the SG05 with the ATX mod - in terms of how difficult it was, how it looks after (can you tell it was hacked up?), and how much extra space it takes up. The benefits of grabbing one of Corsair's modular PSUs, with the flat cables and all, would be wonderful just in space savings. :)
 
Curse The Sky said:
That would be much appreciated. :) I'd also love to know your thoughts on the SG05 with the ATX mod - in terms of how difficult it was, how it looks after (can you tell it was hacked up?), and how much extra space it takes up. The benefits of grabbing one of Corsair's modular PSUs, with the flat cables and all, would be wonderful just in space savings. :)
Click to expand...

Would love to see this. :D
 
the key to the ATX mod in the SG05/6 is making sure your PSU isn't too long (that it will run into the CD drive tray) or being o.k. with removing the CD drive tray :)

If you do it right, you can also make it look completely stock from the outside
 
I'll most likely be using an HX520, but I probably won't bother with an optical drive. Slim drives are expensive anyway.

Any links to the mod? Is it just drilling some holes for mounting it differently, is there some cutting or other modding involved? I can't seem to find any step-by-step guides, just people talking about how they did it or want to do it.
 
It's just two holes and bending/cutting a tab (the tab that holds the SFX psu horizontal)

You need a low profile cooler such as at Corsair H60
 
Thanks for the info. I'd love to see those pictures if you get around to it. :)

Would the stock Intel cooler work fine? Trying to get away as cheap as possible for now.
 
1. Remove components (incl SFX psu)

2. Bend / remove horizontal tab at bottom of SFX psu opening (I dremmeled mine off)

3. Measure mounting screw holes for ATX PSU (you can mount it fan "up" or fan "down" -- I went with down to exhaust hot air from mobo components (cpu is on an antec h2o)

4. Drill said holes

5. Install mobo, components, low profile cpu cooler, then ATX psu (after you plug everything in)

6. ????

7. Profit

:D
 
DSC09026.JPG


Just a Quick snap I took before putting the Q08 together, SG05 vs ST50F-P
 
Thanks for the info everyone.

Now I'm just torn between the SG05 + ATX mod, or the Q08. The SG05 is significantly smaller (nicer for carrying), but also steel and plastic, and obviously holds less. The Q08 is larger, but holds more and has a very nice finish. I also love aluminum.

I think I might be smarter going with the Q08, even though I love the footprint of the SG05. I'm just afraid the lack of overall space will be a hindrance later on, such as if I need to add more hard drives.

This thread from another forum gives a really great picture comparison between the two cases, size wise: http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?p=12094950.

Decisions, decisions!
 
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