MiniITX build

[burekRSG]

Hello there!

I was looking to build a multimedia/gaming pc with mini-itx form factor. Several days ago, I've completed the first part of my mini-itx configuration. The build consist of following components:

Case: Lian Li PC-Q08 black
PSU: Seasonic S12II 620W
MBO: ECS H67H2-I (will later be replaced with some Z77 chipset-based mbo)
CPU: Intel i5-2500K
CPU Cooler: Scythe Samurai ZZ (will later be replaced with corsair h60)
Thermal Grease: Zalman ZM-STG2
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 2x4GB DDR3
VGA: Intel HD 3000 (will later be replaced with some newer nVidia based GPU)
System disk: Samsung 830 Series SSD 128GB
Storage: Samsung 2TB 5400 RPM (found inside Samsung Story Station USB 3.0 external enclosure)
Keyboard: Logitech Wireless K360
Mouse: Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse 5000
Monitor: Samsung LCD TV 37" (will later be replaced with DELL 23" LED U2312HM)

Additional items: Alpenfohn Wing Boost fans (replacing default Lian Li's)

Before I start with pictures, I would like to share my thoughts about this build.

Why I've chosen PC-Q08 case in first place?
Although it's not the smallest case to accomodate mini-itx boards, it's elegant, stylish, well built and the most important - can hold regular size components plus there are plenty of possible combinations for storage and cooling. The cooling part was especially important to me since I'm planning to place H60 in the front and do a push-pull configuration (with 1x 140mm Alpehfohn and 1x 120mm Alpenfohn fans) in the near future (for OC purposes).
NOTE: During the assembly, I've noticed that some of the provided screws inside the case have been screwed so hard it was almost impossible for me to take them off without almost rendering their heads useless (some of those four screws holding the optical bay slot). Other then that, it was a pleasure to work with this case.

Why H67 since it doesn't provide OC options for K processors?
I'm planning to buy ASRock Z77E-ITX in the near future (several months from now) but I needed a PC right now for media centre purposes so I bought ECS board which is one of the cheapest around plus it has integrated BT.

Why Alpenfohn and not Noctua?
Because Alpenfohn fans are a bit cheaper plus they provide pretty much the same airflow with even lower noise levels. Plus they look even better compared to Noctua's

Ok guys, here are the pictures (link to whole albums):


http://s1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/BurekRSG/
http://s1048.photobucket.com/albums/s366/BurekRSG/Mounting the fans/


All in all, I'm pretty happy with this build, although I'm thinking about buying Lian Li PSU Extender since I think those 60mm extra on PSU should definitely help with cable management (especially with PCIE VGA inside).

Feel free to comment and ask any questions.

P.S. Sorry for my bad english...

Cheers!

 

[redivulpis]

Great Choice on the case! I've really enjoyed mine over the last few months. Great temperatures (even considering my Kuhler 620 was set to the top intake and being partially blocked by the PSU!)

I noticed that you're using a single internal drive, the Sammy SSD. You might check out my build over at ITXGamer: http://forums.itxgamer.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=754

I definitely think you'll see much better cooling efficiency with a front intake as well. I'd planned on hacking up my old H50 for just that purpose, intending to replace the stock 120mm rad with a 140mm and a res. Might still do something similar someday, but I'm in the process of liquidating parts for that build, in favor of a new, smaller setup!

GL with the build!

 

[Ruahrc]

+1 on the case too Built one myself about 9 months ago and it's been awesome. I put up a build thread here too was kind of fun. It's too bad you have multiple HDDs and an optical drive (blu-ray I'm assuming?) because otherwise you could ditch that hard drive cage and get yourself a lot more room. I only put one hard disk and no optical in my setup, so it went in the top 5.25" bay along with a bunch of PSU cables, which let me get rid of the HDD cage, and also made cable management a lot easier. I only needed the one PSU strand to power the HDD, the rest was mobo>PSU cables and the twin GPU power leads.

Nice looking build, I went with noctuas (and the silver case) but I do like how your fans match.

 

[burekRSG]

@redivulpis - thanks m8 for the kind words, I've checked your build and it's looking good except that intake from the top fan - since hot air rises up I believe you could achieve a bit better temps with the fan blowing through the radiator outside of the case (bottom>top). I've considered doing this myself since I'm planning to buy Corsair H60 but since I've replaced default Lian Li fans with Alpenfohns (remember 14cm one has both 12cm and 14cm mounting holes), I'll go with the front intake like this:

HOT AIR inside <-12cm|RAD|14cm<- COLD AIR outside

@Ruahrc - thanks for the comments m8, I'm definitely planning to dich out that 2nd HDD (non-ssd) along with cage and that alu support at the bottom since I've already got an external case for that HDD. By doing that I'll free up enough space to put Corsair H60 in the front in the push/pull configuration. As for the PSU cables, the plan is to cut those cables I don't need and don't plan on using in the future so there is less mess inside and more free space for the airflow. Looking forward doing those modifications as soon as I get back home from summer vacation in a couple of weeks

Cheers guys!

 

[burekRSG]

Hey guys!

Just came home several days ago and did some changes to my little ITX build:

*bought MSI GTX560Ti Hawk video card
*modified my Seasonic non-modular PSU (cut and isolated the wires I don't need)
*removed the HDD with aluminium stand from case and connected it in it's external (aluminium) enclosure
*re-organized the cabling inside the case
*installed and modified SpeedFan and MSI Afterburner to my own preference

The differences between the old and newer build are:

*gaming power!
*increased airflow inside the case (no more HDD to block it)
*system is almost dead-silent in idle and in less demanding operations while still under what I percieve as "noisy" under demanding operations like benchmarks/gaming on max.settings.

In idle (Windows 7 desktop with SpeedFan, antivirus and other usual stuff running in the background), I'm getting less then 57W power demand while under 3DMark11 combined (CPU&GPU) benchmark total power demand peaks at 263.8W. Pretty solid imo for overclocked GTX560Ti although I'm expecting those numbers to be higher under FurMark.

Btw, I wanted to buy Corsair H60 and do a push/pull but it's out of stock atm so I'll wait until I get Z77 based ITX board first since this little Samurai ZZ cooler has been doing well so far (max 62C under full load with room temp of 29C).

Here are some photos:

Cheers!

 

[burekRSG]

Some screenshots:

(crazy and incorrect CPU voltage LOL):

 

[burekRSG]

Hello everyone!

Last night I've switched the fans back to Lian Li stock, just for the looks (front blue LED) plus I was wondering what difference it will do to sound levels / temps compared to those Alpenfohn fans I've bought and used from the start.

Well, here are the results (to load both VGA and CPU I've used 3DMark11 Extreme 1080p benchmark):

Room base noise - 30dB(A)
Room base temp. - 29.7C

Alpenfohn fans (140mm @ 1100RPM / 120mm @ 1232 RPM)
Lian Li fans (140mm @ 900RPM / 120mm @ 1035RPM)

IDLE results with Alpenfohn fans: 32dB(A) and 39.5C(CPU), 38C(VGA)
IDLE results with Lian Li stock fans: 31.5dB(A) and 40.5C(CPU), 41C(VGA)

LOAD results with Alpenfohn fans: 41dB(A) and 62C(CPU), 77C(VGA)
LOAD results with Lian Li stock fans: 46dB(A) and 62C(CPU), 81C(VGA)

Both configurations scored the same number of points - 1555.

Well, tbh I kind of expected those results. For around €30 two Alpenfohn fans have lowered my VGA temps by 3-4 C plus the sound levels in load have been much lower since those little 80mm fans on my MSI GTX560Ti Hawk don't need to spin faster then 60% of their maximum rotation speed.

Tonight, I've done a little more benchmarks so here are the photos (black & blue theme ftw):

P.S. that red light which can be seen behind the front fan is from MSI card, it has one row of small LED indicators on the back of the card.

 

[serpretetsky]

just wanted to say i like your build. I was going to recommend an SSD seeing as how the prices right now are right, but I see you already got one