Mini Silent Gaming Box

[Cja123]

Sapphire's own product page states the length of the card as 260mm which is 10.2"...

I was talking about the MSI card linked in a post above. The sapphire is definitely too long, no doubt about that. However, the MSI card on new egg advertises a length measurement of 9.6". Inspired by your post, I went to the MSI site itself and got the exact specifications from them and apparently, the card is much closer to 10.6" than 9.6". I don't know why newegg knocked an entire inch off of the card.

I built a friend a HTPC with that case. I hated it, which was a real let down because I love Lian Li cases. The sides of the case are held on by these tiny, easily stripped screws. Worse they are painted black and unless you use a rubber tipped screw driver the paint chips off and looks crappy.

Then there is the matter of space. If you want to use a large heat sink well you can pretty much forget it.

Also getting a full sized gpu in there was a real nightmare, and as you mentioned it doesn't come with a power supply, but none of Lian Li's do. Point is you have to purchase a modular powersupply otherwise cable managment is a nightmare.

Thanks for the heads up Zen! It has been awhile a man, you were the one who mentored me through my first build/liquid set up. Those were some good times!

I know whatever option I choose will inevitably end up crammed but I like the idea of being able to transport my PC to LAN parties and other social events of the like. Now that SWTOR has released, my cousin has been hosting lan parties like crazy and it has been a pain in the ass lugging my current rig up around. I'm also going with a Corsair H60 for the heatsink and most reviews created by people who have used this case state that it will fit no problem.

 

[ZenZimZaliben]

I think that would be the perfect cooling solution for that style of box. Max cooling with min space used.

 

[InnocentCriminal]

Would it be feasible to change to mATX?

What about this chassis?

 

[Cja123]

Would it be feasible to change to mATX?

What about this chassis?

That case is incredible and I hope I am not the only one who feels that way. The price though is incredibly steep, especially considering it does not include a power supply. I am a consultant here in fresno and most of my clients operate on the macintosh platform. I own a couple of Mactops myself and the white case reeks Mac. I will certainly consider making the size upgrade for that case because I have not found a mini-ITX case on par with the aesthetic appeal. But the price man.. ouch!

 

[phanbuey]

That case looks a bit like a trash can with a CD slot in it.

A very sexy trash can... lol

 

[Cja123]

Haha that pic certainly illustrates your point.. I still like it though

 

[InnocentCriminal]

I love that chassis.

The reason I suggested it was down to the fact you'd be able to fit your H60 and a 6950 in it. Though it is pricer, like y'said.

:/

 

[phanbuey]

I had this conundrum before, and almost went for the SG05, but I am glad I didn't.

SG05 - pros - small, affordable, can make an OK mid range gaming rig at a tiny size... may or may not be silent, since that little 450W PSU will want to squeal all the way home when you load it.
CONS - too small for most good videocards.

SG08 - pros - still very small, but can fit everything you want to fit, cools well for ITX (my recommendation because i know it will work for your purpose - since I just built an OC'd i5 750 with a gtx 570 into it with an h50.) Nice 600W single rail PSU included. Sexy.

Cons: 'Spensive, heavy since its all metal, also PSU feels like they lined it with depleted uranium. Adapter for slimdvd drive sata power does not come with case (c'mon silverstone its like a $8 adapter.)

Lian Li Q08/TU200 -
Pros - tons of hard drives! light, sexy.
Cons - its the size of an M-atx chassis, and your cooler will fit awkwardly due to PSU placing (half of it will be blocked), super expensive, hard to build in.

Silverstone FT03
Pros - Smexy, fits all your stuff, better cooling than any itx setup, more standard components.

Cons - pricy, friends/gf may try to throw food wrappers at it.

The good news is there are really not more choices than that in the ITX (m-ATX like the ft03 has more) space... langear used to make some awesome cases, but I dont know if theyre in the states anymore... that is also the bad news.

http://lan-gear.eu/langear-miniITX

also this chart by miahallen (check out his Max11L build too) might help http://www.techreaction.net/forums/cases-modding/3663-case-size-comparison-chart.html

and this site: http://www.itxgamer.com/

 

[Cja123]

I had this conundrum before, and almost went for the SG05, but I am glad I didn't.

SG05 - pros - small, affordable, can make an OK mid range gaming rig at a tiny size... may or may not be silent, since that little 450W PSU will want to squeal all the way home when you load it.
CONS - too small for most good videocards.

SG08 - pros - still very small, but can fit everything you want to fit, cools well for ITX (my recommendation because i know it will work for your purpose - since I just built an OC'd i5 750 with a gtx 570 into it with an h50.) Nice 600W single rail PSU included. Sexy.

Cons: 'Spensive, heavy since its all metal, also PSU feels like they lined it with depleted uranium. Adapter for slimdvd drive sata power does not come with case (c'mon silverstone its like a $8 adapter.)

Lian Li Q08/TU200 -
Pros - tons of hard drives! light, sexy.
Cons - its the size of an M-atx chassis, and your cooler will fit awkwardly due to PSU placing (half of it will be blocked), super expensive, hard to build in.

Silverstone FT03
Pros - Smexy, fits all your stuff, better cooling than any itx setup, more standard components.

Cons - pricy, friends/gf may try to throw food wrappers at it.

The good news is there are really not more choices than that in the ITX (m-ATX like the ft03 has more) space... langear used to make some awesome cases, but I dont know if theyre in the states anymore... that is also the bad news.

http://lan-gear.eu/langear-miniITX

also this chart by miahallen (check out his Max11L build too) might help http://www.techreaction.net/forums/cases-modding/3663-case-size-comparison-chart.html

and this site: http://www.itxgamer.com/

Thanks for the in depth response. I was thinking the FT03 looked really cool but there are a lot of fans in the chassis, wouldn't that create a lot more noise than a smaller case with less fans. Can anyone who owns the case confirm the general noise level?