SFF WC Case suggestions

[finalsight416]

I've looked into the FAQ, and was disappointed to find that the dual 120mm radiators listed do not fit the SFF cases you have there.

I'm interested in a quiet (as close to silent as possible) liquid cooled build for the near future. I'd like to use some powerful graphics cards with full coverage blocks to allow for the use of all 4 expansion slots in a MATX board. I'd like to use a dual 120mm radiator with fans no louder than 20 dB.

When I search around for liquid cooled MATX desktop cases, that qmicra is one of the first to pop up. It shows promise, but I have trouble finding images / threads of anyone who actually has the case and has liquid cooled. Since can't seem to find any images of radiators actually mounted inside, I can't tell if it's what I'm looking for. I'd love input from someone who has used this case in the past.

Obviously I'd like to keep the entire liquid cooling setup internal, as I'll be installing a handle on the top to make this machine easily transportable. If anyone has any ideas for a case, I'm all ears.

If not, I might have to stick with a mid tower case :-/

To anyone curious, the machine is intended to be a gamer, but I need it to be quiet and have a small footprint since it will also host my small recording studio, and I might bring it along as a live performer as well. My Vostro 1500 laptop is a bit old and I'd rather build a SFF desktop to replace it than buy a new laptop. Since my 2 year old E8500 + GTX260 gamer is starting to lag behind current games, I figure this machine can replace that as well. I'd like to use all four expansion slots to allow for a RAID card, internal sound card (despite the fact I will also have an external sound card setup, since gaming on that one sucks), and a nice graphics card. I'm currently leaning towards a 5850, but I'm open to SLI or crossfirex options as well if I do not cool the CPU in the liquid cooling loop. The extra slot will be used for a USB/Firewire expansion card if I don't go with two graphics cards, so I don't have to deal with the external USB hub I use right now with my studio.

Thanks very much for any ideas you guys have! I'm aware this is a bit of an ambitious build, but I'm not a stranger to case modding.

 

[EtherealConstruct]

A few cases used for internal 240mm WC I've seen:

Lian li pc-a03 w/ 240mm blowhole top
Lian li v350/351/352
DangerDen Tower 16
QMicra v2 (http://www.pcdesignlab.com/smf/index.php?topic=224.0 <-- pics here)
Ultra Microfly
LanGear Da Box

If you wait a little, it looks like the Lian li v354 and SS FT03 might have room for it as well.

I'm doing something similar, but I'm using a 160mm thermochill because I read it has about the same cooling properties as a Black ice 240 or Swiftech MCR220

 

[bastage]

NZXT Vulcan maybe.

 

[EtherealConstruct]

Someone said there is almost no room the 240mm that is supposed to fit on the top of the vulcan.

Here is a pic of someone's build: http://bit.ly/dy28Qp

I guess I could see a slim rad up there.

 

[akromatic]

if you are willing to mod and use 2.5" HDDs you can fit a 240mm rad in the HDD cage of the SG03

 

[CrazyV]

Here is one i just finished with extra parts i had laying around:

 

[WozniakMac]

A few cases used for internal 240mm WC I've seen:

Lian li pc-a03 w/ 240mm blowhole top
Lian li v350/351/352
DangerDen Tower 16
QMicra v2 (http://www.pcdesignlab.com/smf/index.php?topic=224.0 <-- pics here)
Ultra Microfly
LanGear Da Box

If you wait a little, it looks like the Lian li v354 and SS FT03 might have room for it as well.

I'm doing something similar, but I'm using a 160mm thermochill because I read it has about the same cooling properties as a Black ice 240 or Swiftech MCR220

I have watercooled in a Lian Li V352 and it was a pain in the butt to get just the CPU cooled. There is no room for the GPU to have waterblocks, as the PSU is literally 1/4" above the GPUs. The new Qmicra V2 Versions F will be the easiest and best choice for watercooling a mATX system. It can cool well.

Here is my older model without the radiator bracket.

I had a i7 and 5870 on a single thin 120mm radiator with very low temps.

 

[catcherintherye]

I have watercooled in a Lian Li V352 and it was a pain in the butt to get just the CPU cooled. There is no room for the GPU to have waterblocks, as the PSU is literally 1/4" above the GPUs. The new Qmicra V2 Versions F will be the easiest and best choice for watercooling a mATX system. It can cool well.

Here is my older model without the radiator bracket.

I had a i7 and 5870 on a single thin 120mm radiator with very low temps.

So for the version F, it will fit a 120.2 radiator on the front, as well as a 120.2 on the side? Is there space for another radiator? Maybe on the other side?

 

[WozniakMac]

I am not sure about 2 radiators. Mine didn't come with the bracket, but I doubt you could get another radiator in there. The new ones have an actual radiator bracket it mounts to. You might go to pcdlab.com forums and ask on there.

 

[catcherintherye]

I asked on the pcdlab forums, this is the reply from the pcdlab guy:

"There is a standard mounting for a 2x120mm rad on the right side which can attach to either the cover or supplied bracket for Qv2F and I have heard reports that a 1x120mm rad like the Cosrair H50 will fit on the read 120mm case fan position. The cover does have a standard 2x120mm hole patterns on both sides but I don't think you'll be able to fit a rad and cards on the left side. (They were made that way to ad rad grills, windows, and other parts that can be found in mod shops.) As for the front, I have seen rads modded in. Hope this answers your questions."

Doesn't give me a specific answer, such as if a 120.2 front and side can be in at the same time without hitting each other. Guess have to just wait and see what others do when it comes out.

 

[craigbru]

This is what a Qmicra looks like with a pair of 240's...

 

[catcherintherye]

This is what a Qmicra looks like with a pair of 240's...

Interesting. Has that been modded to fit 2 rads in? Looks like a machining place of some sort.I took a look at his photo album and it looks like he did extensive modifications to the case. The question is whether he machined the case so that the rads would fit, or if they would have fit without modification.

 

[craigbru]

Yes, it's actually Project: Hutch. I've been working on it a while. The front radiator required just a few notches to fit in place. This is no longer required with the "F" version of the case.

 

[sleepeeg3]

Plug my modded Microfly for sale and give you a few ideas, take a look here: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1036165845#post1036165845

Cooling will be better than the skinny 25-30mm dual rads in most other cases.

I switched to a BobSlay v2, which isn't really cheap or SFF, but routing is easier, airflow is great and it is still portable. You can mount a skinny dual rad on the interior or a thick one by minor modding and using a microATX board.