Smallest case that will fit 2 x 680, Noctua, 4 x 2.5"

C

crawlgsx

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Aug 12, 2008
Messages
1,252
Having trouble finding a micro atx case that will fit my needs.

Looking for something that will fit 4 x 2.5" HDD, 2 x GTX 680, and fit the noctua NH-D14 cooler.

If no micro ATX cases apply then maybe a small mid/mini tower?

I'm thinking about buying the Sniper m3 or Maximus V Gene and building a smaller tower.

I also have the enermax Maxrevo 1350w which may be too big for some cases? It doesn't seem that long. (then again nothing seems big in the CM Storm Trooper)
 
Micro ATX case= http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352008

Should be able to fit the NH-D14 (or an H100) no problem. As well as your long psu. Not to mention 6? 120mm fans. Note: most of these micro ATX cases are only a few inches smaller than the Mid-Tower counterparts. For example the case I listed (19.06" x 8.27" x 15.84") is only about 3 inches shorter than the Mid-Tower (20.28" x 9.06" x 18.11").
 
Last edited:
Hmm that does look tempting. And the drive bays support 2.5" which is nice.

Cable management looks like it will be a challenge but should work.

It will may only be a tiny bit smaller than a mini tower, but singificantly smaller than this Storm Trooper lol.
 
crawlgsx said:
Hmm that does look tempting. And the drive bays support 2.5" which is nice.

Cable management looks like it will be a challenge but should work.

It will may only be a tiny bit smaller than a mini tower, but singificantly smaller than this Storm Trooper lol.
Click to expand...

The rear panel comes off and you have have grommets to feed cables though. Doesn't get much better than that ;)
 
DoubleTap said:
I keep eyeing the V354:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112300

Not sure about your power supply, but the FT03 would probably also work - word on the street is that they are not portable due to side panels popping off...

Cubitek has a new line coming out with some really interesting smaller cases including full ATX cases that are not much larger than the motherboard:
http://www.cubitek.com/
http://www.cubitek.com/products/ice-series/micro-ice
Click to expand...

That Lian Li does look REALLY nice. I need to do more research to see if it will house 2 x 680 (wthout taking the cages out) and the Noctua.

I also need to make sure the Noctua doesn't cover the top GPU slot on the Sniper M3 and Maximus V Gene.
 
I have the V354, I recommend that or the upcoming PC-V700.
It would fit a 680 with taking out the HDD cage but just barely. You'll be good with two though, and with a MSI board you can put an open slot inbetween them.

If you can, wait for the V700/V750, which will be available by the end of this month or first week of May.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQbqQt8fphg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGTPIe2JRmw
http://www.provantage.com/scripts/search.dll/Q?SEC=&QUERY=pc-v700&Submit.x=0&Submit.y=0

You can also consider the Silverstone FT03.
 
Last edited:
The V354 and the Asus LGA2011 mATX board would be interesting.

You could, in theory, put 3 video cards in, but the middle card would have to be a single slot and probably water cooled - does anyone know if you could find an SLI bridge that would work with that and is it possible to make a GTX 680 into a single slot card by somehow removing some of the ports and replacing the plate on the end?
 
WorldExclusive said:
I have the V354, I recommend that or the upcoming PC-V700.
It would fit a 680 with taking out the HDD cage but just barely.
Click to expand...

So you are saying 2 680's will fit in the V354 without taking the cages out? Any idea if the Noctua will fit?
 
TJ08-E microatx
P1160644.jpg


You can also get this:

http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=326&area=en

if you don't want to use standard hdd cage, this drivebay will take 4 2.5'' disks and slim optical drive, making it match the case finish (unlike if you put just normal drive into drive bay)
 
aerial- said:
TJ08-E microatx

You can also get this:

http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=326&area=en

if you don't want to use standard hdd cage, this drivebay will take 4 2.5'' disks and slim optical drive, making it match the case finish (unlike if you put just normal drive into drive bay)
Click to expand...

Wow, that is amazing - I did not know they made that.

I've been thinking about the V354 and maybe running SSD only and ripping out the drive cages to do something interesting - putting 4 SSDs and a slot load optical in a single bay would make that much more fun.
 
DoubleTap said:
Wow, that is amazing - I did not know they made that.

I've been thinking about the V354 and maybe running SSD only and ripping out the drive cages to do something interesting - putting 4 SSDs and a slot load optical in a single bay would make that much more fun.
Click to expand...

That is pretty neat. Not a huge fan of slot load burners but to be honest with myself it's not like I use it all that often lol.

Looking at that setup it looks like the second gtx 680 would be pretty squished and seems like cooling 2 might be a challenge.
 
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
I don't even have an optical drive in my system - it's sitting over on the shelf as I never use / need one but that just looks cool and would be great to hold your storage.

I kind of wish I could find a nice looking case without any external drive bays (and not just hidden behind doors) that would still support a powerful system.

I never know what to put in the drive bays - I don't believe in fan controllers, especially the ones with all the light up screens. An actual screen would be cool maybe, but I like clean and simple, not lights on everything.


Also, the nice thing about the V354 is that is is an mATX case with 5 slots.

If you go with this motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131805

You can then run SLI with a slot between your cards for better cooling or you could add in a PCIe SSD or whatever.

Last night, I had the idea of running an air cooled 680 in the top and bottom slot, and one of these in the middle:
http://www.techpowerup.com/163684/G...uid-Cooled-GeForce-GTX-680-Graphics-Card.html

Tri SLI in a tiny mATX case?

I think a single 140mm rad would probably be fine for a single 680 - but I've never done WC before.

Also, you would have to use a bunch of flexible SLI bridges since they are so close but it would be amazing...
 
Last edited:
note that tj08-e can fit a 200mm rad which is about the performance of 3x120 radiator, so it could easily handle sli.
 
aerial- said:
note that tj08-e can fit a 200mm rad which is about the performance of 3x120 radiator, so it could easily handle sli.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but how much depth will be left once you do that?

Does sound interesting though.
 
great, sorry to bump this, but I'm in the same situation...

So it seems like the Silverstone TJ08-B & Lian Li V354 are the best options?
There's a 20% off Lian cases coupon going on, so it might make it even more attractive...
 
well i see pure WIN all over that Cubitek micro-ice case personally. I was even leaning to the V354. But with the grommets for cable management and the heatsink cutout, along with the generous cooling capacity, im practically sold. I have a few mods in mind that will enhance even more. Granted the price is much much higher, but I can live with it versus hot, fried equipment.
 
aerial- said:
Crappy pic, but it shows rad with two fans and two gtx590 (quad sli).. they are longer (11 inches 280mm) then any single gpu graphic card on the market.

http://cdn.overclock.net/a/a5/600x450px-LL-a5e90418_12292011352.jpeg

GTX680 is 10 inch long pcb
to compare, here is pic with two gtx570 that are 10.5 inch, so bit longer


GvRWh.jpg


as you can see there is more than enough room for a rad
Click to expand...

How hot do those cards run though? Being cramped like that must really increase the temps, especially if you're using cards with non-reference fans.
 
Was a tough call but in the end I ended up going with the TJ08B-E

Each case had winning reasons to pick each, but in the end the TJ08B-E gave me the things I really wanted, Light weight and will house an NH-D14 and 2 GTX680's (without sacrificing hard drive space, at least for 2.5" )

Define Mini/etc are nice but too heavy/big

Lian Li is nice but no way a Noctua is fitting in there and still kind of large

And of course this has its own set of compromises, mostly quality compared to the others but I think I will be plenty happy.

For now I will be running with 1 GTX 680 and see what the future brings. I may just go 690 or wait for whats next rather than SLI due to heat anyway but I didn't want to limit the option.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top