Question Need help picking a case for my PC. Separate PSU compartment but not big

[fcar1999ta]

Since I am going water cooled, I am rebuilding the whole PC and I want to go small and lite. However, I want a separate compartment for the power supply for heat management. So what options do I have for small ATX case with a separate compartment for the PSU?

It will always be fully water cooled. I will even water cool the RAM and PCIe 5 SSD, if needed.

 

[Lutfij]

Lian-Li's O11-Mini is one, while Geometric Future's M5 is another brand you could look into but how compact of a case are you looking to buy into? Where are you located, what is your budget for said case and what is your preferred site for purchase? Along those lines, what sort of watercooling gear have you put together?

It will always be fully water cooled. I will even water cool the RAM and PCIe 5 SSD, if needed.
Having them in the airflow path of your case will be more than enough, you don't need to watercool them.

 

[geofelt]

What are the components you have already decided on?

If you buy a stronger than needed psu with platinum certification, it will loaf and not generate enough heat to even cause the fan to turn.

 

[dwd999]

Its hard to consider cases without knowing the size, number and thickness of the radiator/fan assemblies the case will need to hold. Also small and ATX usually don't go together since the thickness of the top radiator/fan assembly usually means a larger/taller case.

 

[fcar1999ta]

Oh yeah, I probably should have mentioned all of that. heh.

It's going to be an external water cooling loop. The radiator is the Alphacool large 9x9 radiator (with room to add a second if needed), and I have extra pumps to use as needed, so the case will not need any radiators. I will be using a PCIe slot 1/4 coupler for the tubing connection. The only airflow that will be needed for the case will be for the mobo, RAM, and PCIe 5 m.2 (which has a heat sink with a fan).

- MSI x870e Carbon Motherboard
- Ryzen 9 9900X3D CPU
- Crucial T700 PCIe 5 NVMe SSD
- **eventually Gigabyte RTX 5090 Xtreme Waterforce WB (Unless MSI has the Suprim SOC and MEG Ai1600T as a bundle before)
- Biggest Titanium PSU I can find that has good reviews. maybe MSI - MEG Ai1600T

I am going to have active charcoal filters on the outside, since I live in the desert, and I have pets. I also think that all of the gaps and cutouts in PC cases obliterate airflow inside the PC, so I am going to try to seal as many of the gaps and cutouts as I can, and then use the fans to even out the airflow.

 

[fcar1999ta]

I want a case designed with the motherboard flat, or 19" rack mountable, but either way, the case will be positioned with the motherboard flat.

 

[dwd999]

The case I used when I had the motherboard horizontal was the Silverstone Grandia GD11 but it may not meet your psu requirements:

https://www.silverstonetek.com/en/product/info/computer-chassis/GD11/

Now I've switched to a vertical motherboard case, the Lian Li O11 Air Mini:

O11 AIR MINI - LIAN LI is a Leading Provider of PC Cases | Computer Cases

EXTREME AIRFLOW QUALITY MATERIAL MODULAR BACK PLATE UP TO 6 SSD OR 3 HDD + 2 SSD ATX PSU COMPATIBLE DUAL CHAMBER DESIGN VERTICAL GPU BACK PANEL (OPTIONAL) GERMAN ENGINEERED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvaRGVPWlh0 EXTREME AIRFLOW SUPER FINE MESH FRONT, TOP AND SIDE PANELS The mesh design on...

lian-li.com

You could turn the Air Mini on its right side as long as you add feet to provide air to the intake for the psu and for the right side fans if you decide to use those.

You could also check out the Lian Li O11 Dynamic Mini which is a little larger plus the same caveat about turning the case on its side and adding feet to vent the psu.

Or the Lian Li O11 Vision compact with 3 glass sides with the same caveat about turning it sideways.

O11 VISION COMPACT - LIAN LI is a Leading Provider of PC Cases | Computer Cases

SWAPPABLE GLASS AND MESH TOP PANELS COLUMNLESS DESIGN MODULAR DESIGN BACK-CONNECT MOTHERBOARDS COMPATIBLE 4 SPACES FOR RADIATORS 4 DRIVES CAPACITY CABLE MANAGEMENT FRIENDLY AIO TUBE CONCEALED ROUTING https://youtu.be/JEUIulFmfq4 IN COLLABORATION WITH PCMR The O11 VISION COMPACT is a...

lian-li.com

Or the Fractal Design Meshify 2 Mini with the same turning on side caveat:

Meshify 2 Mini

The Meshify 2 Mini offers an excellent combination of airflow and flexibility, in a form-factor optimized for mATX. The bold yet refined exterior design, with its asymmetric angular mesh front, is complemented by a flush TG panel and a fully removable top.

www.fractal-design.com

Going smaller than those would be difficult with a full ATX motherboard.

 

[fcar1999ta]

SilverStone GD11 just might be a winner. I will have to look more closely, but at first glance, everything will fit.

 

[dwd999]

SilverStone GD11 just might be a winner. I will have to look more closely, but at first glance, everything will fit.

When I used that case I wasn't planning on any 3.5" HDDs so I just removed all of the extraneous parts which provides a lot more room. I also used 5 120mm fans all set to intake since there are plenty of exhaust holes in the top and back. You can add 2 80mm exhaust fans in the back if you think that will help. My main reason for using the GD11 is that its tall enough to hold a Noctua NH-D12L with 2 fans but that doesn't apply in your situation.

 

[FLGamer]

Montech King 95 or 65 pro may be worth taking a look at.

Also, The Antec C8