A micro ATX case for high performance.

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alexnode

alexnode

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Apr 18, 2013
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Hi All,

I bought a rampage gene IV - an 3930K and 32 gb of low profile RAM. They will arrive sometime next week. I have a 256GB SSD Samsung and a 2TB barracuda 7200rpm.

I have 4 full ATX workstations using them for 3D rendering farm and 3D cad design workstations . 2x 3930K 1x3700k and one 1x2700k

If you are not aware of rendering then in sort it is similar to running prime 95 for days. you might have some threads stopping for a couple of seconds every two minutes but it is almost like prime 95 continuously.

I like to build my own machines, so recently I had this idea to actually get a microATX mb and try to build a nice small machine to put it in the meeting room connected to the TV (it would also act as a rendering machine at nights or when idle). No processing power get wasted here!

My main problem is that I want a small case, that looks slick and minimal like bitfenix Phenom 2 but that can get simultaneously
A. large radiator 240mm . something like corsair h100 would be good.
B 5,25 bluray(could get a slim laptop version if supported)
C large card like evga gtx 680 about 260mm long dual slot. (won't pay for Titan etc )
D Also want to overclock the 3930k to 4.2 ghz and try to keep temperatures below throttling.

First I looked at bitfenix phenom 2 but unfortunately it can't get a DVD
I have looked at the bitfenix prodigy 2 but without mods it seems that radiators and DVD don't fit together. Is that true?

The question is what case should I get ? I can spend some good money on it if it does what i want out of the box.

And what power supply ? I don't want an SLI since the TV is just 1080p.

Thank you in advance
 
Solution
allanitomwesh
That is correct,there are no high end X79 ITX motherboards,he has to decide on an M-ATX case since his parts are already purchased.The Silverstone SG10 ticks requirements B,C,D and SMALL,whereas cases that tick A are not small enough. Choice now is which route will he go?
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you might want to check out the new Cooler Master HAF Stacker series. Get two of the 915's, one for the build and the other for the wc radiators. See here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119293

There are several videos out so look around or check out CM's website.

As far as power requirements, here is a guide you can use with a power calculator as well. It's only a guide, but will give you an idea of about what you should be looking for:

http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

I'd recommend gettiing a PSU from a uality manufacturer such as Seasonic, XFX, Corsair (not the CX series) or Antec.

edit: my apologies, the 915 will only hold a mini-ITX, but you mightcheck out the CM HAF-XB
 
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I might suggest a Silverstone TJ-08E:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163182
It is 15.16" x 8.27" x 14.72"
It will hold a full size graphics card like a GTX780.
The cooling is superb with a 180mm intake fan.
I really don't think you need liquid cooling for your oc.
A Noctua NH-D14 fits in the case without issue, and will cool about as well as a liquid cooler in this particular case.
It will be much quieter. I had no need for the rear exhaust 120mm fan, and the front 180mm fan runs on low.


You have room for a couple of standard dvd drives a ssd and several hard drives.
The length of the psu is a bit restrictive. I have a Seasonic x750 which fits just fine in mine.
Actually, a 650w unit would do the job with a card as good as a titan.

If you really need a 240 rad, see if you can't buy a ncase m1 :
http://www.ncases.com/
 
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Thank you @animal!
Love the PSU calculator it has almost everything there. I will need an over 600w
IUnfortunately i don't like the desing of the coolermaster eventhough it seems that it does its job .


 
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Hi Geofelt The silverstone is good i like it but if i don't use watercooling and go for the noctua i might go with the bitfenix or the aerocool DS... The ncase M1 is amazing but not available yet and i am planning to built the machine now.


 
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I like the fractal Design. A bit big for microitx. And the SG10 is good too. I guess there is not Matx that can do exactly what i want except the ncase M1. If it is actually ever goes to production.


 
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pitty that the ncase is not micro ATX i guess this is why it is so small.


 
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Yes,Ncase M1 is a M-ITX case. It is also a limited edition, meaning if you didn't order back when it was on indiegogo you'd have to buy one used.
Nothing on M-ATX is as small as SG10. It is however an air cooled case. The only other case I can think of is the Silverstone PS07. That fits a rad up front.
 
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I know Ncase is limited edition but is manufactured by lian-li they could come with a widely available model in the future. I love the idea of a DVD vertically mounted in the front.

I start liking the S10 http://www.overclock.net/t/1356389/sg09-sg10-owners-thread/190
this thread has all the information that you'll ever need for sg09/10 Apparently you can fit a 80i cooler there ! Some people did a push -pull too. It is not as beautiful as phenom but it looks decent. The sg09 is horrible ! I am trying to skim through 300 posts. I didn't know that silverstone had such a cult following.

 
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That is correct,there are no high end X79 ITX motherboards,he has to decide on an M-ATX case since his parts are already purchased.The Silverstone SG10 ticks requirements B,C,D and SMALL,whereas cases that tick A are not small enough. Choice now is which route will he go?
 
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Solution
No I wanted a high end X79 and micro ATX case, But i was confused when I read about the ncase I thought that it was microATX not MiniATX. There is a clevo laptop with a full desktop x79 mobo and sli! so i am quite sure we will see high end minis quite soon. http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/notebooks/omegaII/


 
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I think I will go for the SG10, IT has almost all of the features i want and it looks nice. My only thing is that it doesn't look great! I spent a lot of hours looking and reading for a lot of different products and I am doing one last search and then I am pressing the buy button. @Allanitomwesh do you have a preference for a psu?
I am between 3
A. a spare corsair 860i that came back after an RMA (had to buy another one in the mean time. W150mm x H 86 mm D160mm) It seems that the limitation is 180mm deep
B. Get the silverstone strider but never had any silverstone psu before . http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=350&area=en
C. go for xfxpro650 http://www.amazon.com/XFX-PRO650W-Edition-Bronze-Certified/dp/B0045L5LGI this one 170mm deep a bit big for the wattage.


 
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By the way do you know what the acronym ITX stands for ? ATX is advance technology eXtended but couldn't find the meaning of ITX ??


 
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You'll want a silverstone Strider Gold S (150mm modular) because using other psu's is a PITA because even though they're 180mm the modular plugs stick out,and you need a 90° power cable and the preditermined cable routing requires silverstone's plug arrangement that seasonic (and hence corsair) don't use.
 
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