HP Pavillion Slimline Case Question

[Great Eastern]

Bit of an obscure question this one.

Does anyone know whether the HP Pavillion S case as per the photo is suitable for a standard ITX Motherboard?



I'm pondering on a project using one of these cases (which I've always quite liked) but never seen inside one so unsure as to whether HP would have used a custom sized mobo.

Thanks for any info

[kmac]

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...&site=null#N79

According to that HP site, it had a mATX mobo so there should definitely be space for a mini ITX mobo - only issue will be if there are holds for stand-offs to take a mITX mobo in the right place.

You can save some money though and get mATX mobo

It can only take half height (low profile) graphics cards and had a TFX PSU

[Great Eastern]

Thanks for that link, I'm surprised that it can take a mATX, but as you say that would save money.

I currently have a Celeron based system on an mITX mobo (in an InWin case) I had to dump the original PSU that came with this as it was crap and very noisy, I replaced it with a 150w Pico PSU and external power brick, although I think this is under powered as often now the motherboard lets off a beep which stops after a few seconds and it seems to be power related as generally the system runs fine if not under load.

[kmac]

Seems like you just need a new PSU then - have a look around for a Seasonic SS-300SFD - its a 300W SFX form factor PSU and it is extremely quiet. Its a bit old now but still 80+ rated for efficiency.

The TFX PSU that comes with that HP case might be noisy too ( small fan) so be sure to research that before you go for the case.

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/comput...upply/5383940/ Also reviewed here http://www.silentpcreview.com/article286-page1.html

[Great Eastern]

I was considering this as part of a new build as this one is at least 3 years old now, I've never been able to find any PSUs which would successfully fit in the InWin case....


This is the standard PSU it came with, note the cord and power connector as it is (was) mounted at the front of the case adjacent to the DVD drive mounting.

[kmac]

Yeah that PSU would be noisy given the tiny fan. Perhas you are better off upgrading the case after all. But I think going for the HP might be more of the same i.e another noisy PSU in an obscure form factor.

If you need an external DVD drive then I would recommend the Lian Li - PC-Q18 (a bit expensive but you get great build, full aluminium construction, hot swap HDD bays and space for a full ATX PSU

If you don't need an external DVD drive, I just upgraded my case to a Fractal Design Node 304 - half the price of the Lian Li and loads of room - also takes ATX PSUs ( although I'm using the Seasonic I linked to)

There are a number of Silverstone cases for ITX that you could also use.

Are you set on a ITX new build? There is a cost premium to ITX kit compared to say mATX

[Great Eastern]

Thanks for the replies
I suspect having done a little bit of research online that, given cost of components these days and that I only want something basic, then a machine from someone like Acer or HP would be the way to go, especially as I dont want to go back to ATX form factor.

Sad, as I used to work building PCs and have built every PC I have owned since the mid 90s, but it appears that econimies of scale have now well and truly won. I guess I'm getting old as well!!

[Pob255]

That is a non-standard form factor PSU, you'd have a lot of issues trying to replace it with anything else.

I'd sugest trying to find a Lian-li PC-Q07 which where dirt cheap for a lian-li aluminium mini-ITX case, here we go http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/...pid-10435.html £59 bit expensive but still the cheapest full aluminium mini-itx case I know of.

Otherwise you could look at the coolermaster elite 120, not the smallest of mini-itx, but cheap and decent, although it has a couple of minor flaws http://forums.hexus.net/chassis-mods...ni-review.html but it still can take full length graphics cards, atx psu, 5.25" bay and 3.5" hard drives, I'd advise a speed reducing resistor adaptor on the 80x15mm side fan and flip it over to extract not intake to reduce it's noise (or cut out the bad side vent)