PC motherboard in Mac Mini or VERY similar case?

[cmross13]

Does anyone know if this has or can be done? I've been googling and keep stumbling on one dead link that says its been done, but I can't find any detail or proof. I'm a die-hard windows user but love the ultra small form factor of the later slotless Mac mini case. If there is a very similar(like "lawsuit" similar) PC case out there that'd hold a standard or mobile i7, one or two RAM slots and an SSD, I'd be all over it.

 

[Deleted member 1127758]

Why don't you use bootcamp on the mini? Although this isn't cost effective.

 

[ihog]

Technically, you could fit a mini-ITX board in there (might not have the right screw holes, though), but I doubt you'll be able to fit the rest of the components.

 

[das_stig]

Silverstone FT03-Mini + m-ITX motherboard + AIO cpu water cooler + SSD .. job done.

 

[cmross13]

A: i would gladly use bootcamp if it isn't a resource hog, but i would prefer native Windows

B:screw holes seem to be the issue until someone has about two dozen mITX boards in front of an empty Mac Mini and trial/error ensues

c: it sure does look nice, but at 9.5"x7.5"x15.5" its not quite in the same "Small Form Factor" league, now is it?

 

[rwpritchett]

Have you considered the Intel NUC?

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/motherboards/desktop-motherboards/nuc.html

 

[cmross13]

Yes, I have been looking at the NUC. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the limited CPU options. I've seen a few things about the Q3 NUC coming with 4th gen intel processors, I'm curious to what the pricing will be and if the CPU is soldered on...

 

[rwpritchett]

There's some interesting cases coming for the NUC if you just purchase the motherboard. Lian Li and Silverstone's cases look promising.

There's also the ASRock VisionX Series or Zotac Zbox Nano. When you get that small, I think they always solder the CPU, unfortunately. I'm pretty sure all future NUC's will be soldered.

 

[cmross13]

I've actually been looking at the Tranquil passively cooled NUC enclosure, which is still a distant second to the 2012+ Mac Mini.

 

[das_stig]

How about these cases that act as the heatsink, look cool as HTPC.

http://atechfabrication.com/HTPC_cases.htm