The SFF and Mini-ITX thread

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Serious Hardware/Software Crap > The SFF and Mini-ITX thread

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

well why not posted:

I'd like to see more SFF cases that only have room for short GPUs. The single fan 1060 & 1070 cards exist, there's really no need for a fullsize card in a smaller case.

MSI Trident does this:

http://www.gamersnexus.net/hwreviews/2708-msi-trident-010-review-fps-vr-temperature

It's barebones only right now though, not just a case

# ¿ Dec 12, 2016 11:33

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# ¿ Apr 24, 2024 10:39

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Anime Schoolgirl posted:

where the gently caress is my nano-atx

There is no such thing but Nano-ITX exists, no PCI slot, one SODIMM, used mostly for embedded systems. VIA made a bunch back when they were around.

# ¿ Jan 17, 2017 14:18

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

an skeleton posted:

Settled on this list, agonized over fans way too long (apparently you can fit a Scythe Big Shuriken in there although its technically incompatible): https://pcpartpicker.com/user/z0d14c/saved/cYK23C

Will post pics of the final build.

With the RVZ02/ML08 and I assume the Node 202 as well, multi-fan "open style" video cards run cooler and quieter than blower/stock cooler/founders edition "closed style" video cards.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1466816/silverstone-raven-rvz01-rvz02-ml07-ml08-ftz01-owners-club/4780

# ¿ Jan 23, 2017 09:59

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Dali Parton posted:

ughhhh the TT Core V1 feels too large now, even though its literally the smallest computer case I've ever had by far. Im fixated on the RVZ02 and its weird ability to hold a massive video card. But that riser card problem talk keeps me mildly concerned.

Is the RVZ02 even significantly smaller than the Core V1 in volume?

# ¿ Feb 10, 2017 10:18

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

VulgarandStupid posted:

22.6L vs 12L, so about half the size.

Whoa 12 liters? That is really small.

Seems almost... too small...

# ¿ Feb 10, 2017 11:09

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

The FTZ-01 is just a fancier exterior version of the old RVZ01, same interior and everything. This means it has separate chambers for the graphics card and motherboard, much like the RVZ02, and room for a 3.5" HD, two SSDs, and a slim optical. But the main thing it's larger size gets you over the Node 202 or RVZ02 is MORE FANS. That's right, there's room for 2 slim 120mm fans over the graphics card and one over the CPU cooler (case comes with 2 I think). This means that even with the fan filters, it can pull in fresh air constantly and give even lower temps than the RVZ02 and Node 202. However, it won't be quieter, and you won't have less fans.

If you're going for QUIET, you want a much larger case with sound dampening. If you want LESS FANS, then you aren't going to beat your existing Node 202 or the RVZ02, but they're not going to be quieter than a larger sound dampened case because even at idle, your CPU fan is going to be running.

Also be aware that RVZ01/FTZ01's graphics card bracket is apparently a giant PITA to deal with, moreso than the Node 202.

Assepoester fucked around with this message at 09:53 on Feb 12, 2017

# ¿ Feb 12, 2017 09:48

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Zero VGS posted:

I'm technically doing that:

It's like 13"x11"x2" right now. Yes I can put the side panel on, then it looks like a normal case with a hotrod GPU sticking out

If your card is that ridiculously long why not just put it in a RVZ02/ML08?

# ¿ Mar 9, 2017 09:14

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

VulgarandStupid posted:

Probably because it's like 3 times larger and doesn't add much utility because he doesn't need a SFX PSU.

Uh doesn't the Node 202 support the same SFX PSUs that the RVZ02/ML08 do? And is it really 3 times larger?

EDIT: wait that's the S4 Mini, not the Node 202. Ok no wonder the size difference is so stark and it cannot fit a regular sized videocard then.

# ¿ Mar 10, 2017 04:07

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Who here was obsessed with MxM GPUs?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJfF_-3KHEM

# ¿ Jun 2, 2017 06:33

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apefSM59Ksk

# ¿ Oct 24, 2019 10:46

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Incessant Excess posted:

I'm looking to build an ITX system and I'm curious if a single 120mm case fan would be sufficient to air-cool high end components, like this:

Components would be something like a non-reference 2080ti to serve as an the intake, a 3700x with a Noctua D9L cooler and a 120mm case fan as the exhaust. I'm not interested in overclocking of course but I would like the components, specifically the GPU, to not be thermally limited, is this feasible?

The space I have in mind only allows for a horizontal case, thus a lot of the common SFF case options are out the window. The one I'm eyeing and used for the picture is the Lian Li Q50X:

https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16811112568

What do you mean by "horizontal case" because that sure doesn't look horizontal.

When I think "horizontal" I think "the motherboard is horizontal" like the Core V1 or Core 500

Assepoester fucked around with this message at 12:01 on Nov 3, 2019

# ¿ Nov 2, 2019 12:00

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Based on those dimensions it looks like you could definitely fit a RVZ03 in there

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mCQmZJ5oYI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebFfH7LoiwE

# ¿ Nov 2, 2019 14:31

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

I think Dan A4 clones are the most common mini-itx cases at this point...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruNMvFj1n7g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teUaQpxIqow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XozPPqsE7lY

Incessant Excess posted:

I've looked into this some more and the RVZ01-E (same internals as the RVZ03) seems to indeed be my best option. Putting a build together in this case, it seems there's two ways to do CPU cooling:

1. Use a (relatively) high CPU cooler, the Noctua NH-L12S, and leave the case fan slot above the CPU empty
2. Use a (slightly) smaller CPU cooler, the Noctua NH-L9x65, and also put a 120mm Noctua fan in the case fan slot above the CPU

I'm wondering if there would be a meaningful difference in CPU temps between these two setups? I'm leaning towards the second variant, since that cooler would put no restrictions on RAM height but I am a bit concerned about thermals. The CPU in question would be a 3700X.

The RVZ01 design is old enough that all the reviews are a bit hazy at this point, but from what I can remember, Option 2 generally yielded the lower temps because forcing fresh, cool air in through the opening was the most important factor. Some people on forums were making custom shrouds/ducts to try to make Option 1 work as well as possible though (since no motherboard ever had the CPU socket placement *exactly* such that the cooler fan would line up perfectly with the opening in the case). Comedy Option 3 is to use a CLC with a 120mm radiator that is small enough to fit, but IIRC there was only one model back then that could.

# ¿ Nov 27, 2019 07:07

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Not sure why he picks the ASUS Strix x570...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_QFAWcaGTM

# ¿ Dec 3, 2019 14:40

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

I like the trend of taking Dan A4 size cases and adding space on top for a 240mm radiator and well look at that it's almost as large as a mini-itx tower
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPw5l7ApWfE

# ¿ Dec 11, 2019 16:58

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

# ¿ Dec 14, 2019 07:10

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7x1LI5kOS4

sports posted:

Anyone have an experience using the rvz-series cases as pizza box PCs? I really want something I can rest a monitor on

IIRC the RVZ series will have either the GPU or CPU intake suffer if placed horizontally - whichever is on the bottom suffers more. This might be ameliorated if you stick larger custom case feet on them, however, the ones they come with are rather small. The bigger issue is that their side panels are thin and not made to support the weight of a monitor, and in addition since there are intakes on both sides it is possible for the monitor to cover part of an intake or two.

https://www.gamersnexus.net/hwreviews/3328-silverstone-rvz03-mini-itx-case-review-for-gaming (hmmm, looks like they give the horizontal orientation a passing mention but they didn't do any separate testing for it)

https://www.bit-tech.net/reviews/tech/silverstone-fortress-ftz01-review/3/ (here's a separate horizontal vs vertical test of the FTZ01 variant, but I don't think they have filters on)

Assepoester fucked around with this message at 01:03 on Dec 30, 2019

# ¿ Dec 30, 2019 00:58

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Our old friend the half-height GT 1030 makes an appearance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwtlrNg0yTM
I've seen those SFF Dell Optiplexes at businesses everywhere, it's interesting to see the inside of one

# ¿ Jan 7, 2020 10:39

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Finally a vertical case with some room to work in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h8YdtcPlmY

# ¿ Jan 11, 2020 06:40

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Shaocaholica posted:

WTH are all those cables for?

LED Lighting

Assepoester fucked around with this message at 08:19 on Jan 11, 2020

# ¿ Jan 11, 2020 08:17

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Raijintek has made a Core V1 clone that fixes a lot of small issues
-slighly larger to accomodate 92mm rear fans
-relocation of drives to the PSU side
-included magnetic fan filters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLN86doxXgo
BUUUUUUT the catch is that it's stuck in a vertical orientation such that the GPU looks like it doesn't get the great ventilation it does on the V1

# ¿ Jan 17, 2020 05:06

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Finally a DAN clone with mesh side panels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou4iWsBNSmY

Also one that's more of an S4 Mini-alike but in a DAN form factor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcR9pkSlOcc

Assepoester fucked around with this message at 00:59 on Feb 5, 2020

# ¿ Feb 4, 2020 19:44

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

The big ol' speed holes make it like a ~~Sentry~~ S4 Mini but the GPU being on the back of the mobo is the form factor of a DAN

EDIT: I was getting the Sentry confused with the S4 Mini

Assepoester fucked around with this message at 01:01 on Feb 5, 2020

# ¿ Feb 5, 2020 00:54

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Too bad about the wrong orientation so it can't fit full size graphics cards, there's probably some merit in the "tall rectangle with a single giant fan on top" design
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd2J_Mc0PJo

# ¿ Mar 19, 2020 20:51

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24ThdoSCj6Y

# ¿ Aug 28, 2020 06:26

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

teagone posted:

Not an SFF, but I thought the new Xbox Series S design looks a lot like a Velka 3

https://twitter.com/Xbox/status/1303371127482232834

It's very small, but I think the smaller mini-itx systems with short graphics cards can almost match it. The larger Xbox 5 model is giant and should be easy to match.

https://twitter.com/XboxNewsReddit/status/1304079412091068422

https://twitter.com/tomwarren/status/1304072779336216579

https://twitter.com/michaelphigham/status/1304099147662778370

Assepoester fucked around with this message at 23:48 on Sep 10, 2020

# ¿ Sep 10, 2020 23:44

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

There's always this plastic "test bench" too (similar to the amazon thing really)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viS7iIpSChE

# ¿ Dec 2, 2020 02:27

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Speaking of cases with carrying handles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYThuRDqdlQ

Hinged radiator mounts are a seriously good idea.

Also at some point they're not that small anymore but it is mini-itx soooo

# ¿ Jan 12, 2021 04:50

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Yeah it's all 3 slot from here on out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ScHIKQbdwY

# ¿ Apr 14, 2021 01:39

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Vertical variations on the ol' Dan A4 case are catching on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfugYtBAjOg

# ¿ May 3, 2021 22:50

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

A lot of the old shuttle-style cases supported optical drives, so if you can find one for sale you're good

Assepoester fucked around with this message at 04:04 on Aug 21, 2021

# ¿ Aug 21, 2021 04:01

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

To my knowledge no one ever made something quite like the Wii, which basically WAS a 5.25" drive in size. The closest were those AOpen Mac Mini clone cases, which promptly got sued into the ground and now the only way you can find them is someone trying to sell you a complete hackintosh system on eBay.

The next closest thing I can find is this Morex case on Newegg which is a typical early 2000s tiny mini itx case with room for a slimline drive on the bottom:

Otherwise yeah all you have left are HTPC cases like the Silverstone RVZ02/ML08 and the previously mentioned ML09

Assepoester fucked around with this message at 06:53 on Aug 23, 2021

# ¿ Aug 23, 2021 06:48

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Fanless mini itx cases are back

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7HaQHGfI1s

# ¿ Sep 7, 2021 19:03

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

If this is just to watch things in a web browser and not, say, play the latest PC games on a TV, wouldn't a $200 Intel Celeron box or stick work just fine?

# ¿ Sep 20, 2021 01:31

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Cross-Section posted:

Any downsides to having the tubes come from the top like here?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbGomv195sk

# ¿ Oct 3, 2021 17:47

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Pizzabox style ITX cases growing in size to support full size motherboards is hilarious

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfTl3yR7MTQ

(obviously you need to use an ITX motherboard to be able to fit a radiator in there, so it's really an ITX case)

Assepoester fucked around with this message at 22:45 on Oct 19, 2021

# ¿ Oct 19, 2021 22:42

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Only 2 slot width?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wJOUAuKZm8

# ¿ Dec 20, 2021 03:43

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

What if an ever expanding top hat to allow for ever expanding CPU CLC radiators (and ever expanding GPUs)?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2APNNZhX6i4

I will say though that "ultra fine" mesh does not look that fine

# ¿ Jan 28, 2022 20:54

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

Now that we need 3 slots for graphics cards, we have basically recreated the mATX case

PSU on top for that nice hit of nostalgia

180mm fan up front for cool breeze

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGFKXUuahwo

# ¿ Feb 10, 2022 06:19

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# ¿ Apr 24, 2024 10:39

Assepoester: Jul 18, 2004; Can't post for 10 years!; Melman v2

So Lian Li is manufacturing DAN A4 cases now?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuwoiyvCQ4U

# ¿ Mar 4, 2022 23:16

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