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Thread: MicroATX case for i7 rig

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    MicroATX case for i7 rig

    Hi there!

    For space reasons (annoying vertical height problem at 41/42cm) I'm looking at a microATX solution for an i7-920 rig.

    Planning on using the DFI x58-JR board, which seems to cover all the main bases, and a vertex solid state drive.

    Ideally 2x GTX260s (going for 109ex if you shop around) which would come in cheaper than a 4870x2 or similar.

    The silverstone TJ08 case looked like a possibility, maybe coupled with silverstone 650w supply?

    Does this sound do-able, or do people have other suggestions for a build that would fit in my tight space. I normally use Shuttles, but I'm not overly taken with their x58 option (when it comes) right now.

    Thoughts *really* welcomed!
    Last edited by Irien; 01-04-2009 at 03:42 PM.

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    Re: MicroATX case for i7 rig

    How about this case Antec NSK4000 - height is 42cm?

    I bought NSK4000 II (well actually a couple) from ebuyer. I've taken the feet off my case (intend to put a bit of carpet underneath) but left them on the other one.

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    Re: MicroATX case for i7 rig

    Thanks for the suggestion. I have bought Antec cases (inc this one, I think) in the past for other people, and when I measured it (and tried it), it was a good half-cm or so too tall. Annoyingly the shelf above is thick wood fixed hard to walls on two sides, so there's absolutely no flex I think in practical terms, 40cm is as high as I'd be comfy with, as I've measured "so-called" 41cm cases and found that they tend to run large.

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    Re: MicroATX case for i7 rig

    That's because you want the nsk3480 which is the mATX case
    http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MTE0OA==
    But all told I'd look at a lian-li or silverstone instead
    however you may get heat issues

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    Re: MicroATX case for i7 rig

    Actually, that smaller Antec looks pretty decent - the insides/drive bays seem well spaced to fit a range of components, and I know Antec built quality is usually OK... certainly needs checking out thoroughly... (fires up google).

    (edit) not sure about the price though - they're obviously charging for the 380w PSU which isn't a huge amount of use. Wonder if anywhere sells it without PSU?

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    Re: MicroATX case for i7 rig

    Quote Originally Posted by Irien View Post
    Actually, that smaller Antec looks pretty decent - the insides/drive bays seem well spaced to fit a range of components, and I know Antec built quality is usually OK... certainly needs checking out thoroughly... (fires up google).

    (edit) not sure about the price though - they're obviously charging for the 380w PSU which isn't a huge amount of use. Wonder if anywhere sells it without PSU?
    Not sure if it's available without the PSU, I think it's overpriced at around £75 inc psu.

    I wasn't too happy paying over £40 for the NSK 4000 by the way.

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    Re: MicroATX case for i7 rig

    Lian Li PC-A03 or go the cube route with the pc-V351

    Chieftec make some very nice mATX cases, same as the antec nsk 3480 inside but they are shorter (length) than other mATX cases.
    The drive cage overhangs part of the motherboard and while it is detachable, fitting/removing it does create some issues esp with a large cpu cooler.
    The build quality is exellent and long graphics cards don't cause an issue, but they are not easy to get hold of and the short length can also cause the space between the psu and dvd drives to be very tight.

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    Re: MicroATX case for i7 rig

    Having trouble finding A03 listed anywhere - always liked the idea of a Lian-li, but again, they always seem pricey.

    At one stage I was looking at their A06 (I think) which can take a full ATX but at a smaller height, although there seemed to be a few issues with that (not least that it would have been dangling over the edge of my desk!).

    I've not seen the Chieftec ones - do you have a link for vendor etc?

    Right now the Silverstone is still looking attractive purely because of the 50ukp price tag. That said, I'm happy up to about 70 if anyone's had experience of doing SLI in a micro case (yeah, I know, I'm crazy!) Thing is, 2x GTX260s can be had for a little over 200 right now, which is a lot cheaper than any of the competing alternatives (and 512Mb on 4850/4870 has already been a bit of a problem for me).

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    Re: MicroATX case for i7 rig

    http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Silve...r-Case-w-o-PSU

    i was going to say the TJ08 or maybe the above Silverstone case.
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    Re: MicroATX case for i7 rig

    good point I'd forgotten about the exelent SUGO SG03 not exactly a cheap option, but I honestly don't think anything will be as you require a lot of cooling in a very small case.

    For a budget you'd probably be best off buying a cheap case and modding it to your cooling needs.

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    Re: MicroATX case for i7 rig

    Googling the SG03 and i7 gave me a really interesting thread (although it went off into the realms of watercooling, which doesn't appeal right now). Does the "over the motherboard" PSU placement cause CPU fan/cooling problems?

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    Re: MicroATX case for i7 rig

    silverstone TJ08 will cause a lot of heat issues, been there done that , Using a P180 mini atm and the top 200mm fan cools everything down very well, highly recomend this chassis.
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    Re: MicroATX case for i7 rig

    Quote Originally Posted by Platinum View Post
    silverstone TJ08 will cause a lot of heat issues, been there done that , Using a P180 mini atm and the top 200mm fan cools everything down very well, highly recomend this chassis.
    And is 43.5cm tall which is over his fixed 40cm max height.
    For an mATX case with very good cooling is was the first thing I looked at and didn't suggest it because it does not fit requirements.
    Hey here's a great idea lets tell people to get AM2+ motherboards to go with there intel c2q cpu's.

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    Re: MicroATX case for i7 rig

    I recently built a budget PC for a friend into one of these and was pleasantly surprised by the construction quality, although it had one or two niggles and you'd certainly need to replace the 12cm fan with something a bit better to improve the case flow. The only other thing that leaps out at me from ebuyer is the Coolermaster Elite 340 which according to the reviews is 37cm tall. Both of those are sans PSU, so you can choose your own. If I had the budget, I'd probably choose the coolermaster myself (although frankly I'm a bit of an Antec fanboy, so there's always the possibility that I'd shell out &#163;75 on the NSK3480!).

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    Re: MicroATX case for i7 rig

    Coolermaster Elite 340 or Silverstone TJ08 are the best cases under 40cm tall that will fit big HSF, house a full atx PSU and have 2x120mm fans (1 in and 1 out)
    They are basically the same case but the TJ08 has a fancy front panel.

    Beware, the NSK3480 looks like it has a small PSU
    Last edited by F1ZZY; 03-04-2009 at 06:18 AM.

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    Re: MicroATX case for i7 rig

    This Jeantech could be an option, ~£35 del from PC World.

    However, I think the CM and Silverstone are good options.
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