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Thread: Upgrade Time & Case Shrink

  1. #1
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    • azrael's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Rampage II Extreme
      • CPU:
      • I7 920
      • Memory:
      • 6Gb DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 4 x 146Gb 15k U320 SCSI in RAID 0
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2 x XFX GTX280
      • PSU:
      • Thermaltake 1KW
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster CM Stacker 830
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Ultimate
      • Monitor(s):
      • 3 x 24" Dell Ultrasharp
      • Internet:
      • ADSL Max

    Upgrade Time & Case Shrink

    Hi guys wondering if you can help. Thinking of upgrading my system and at the same time making it smaller. It gets used less and less all the time adndoesn't really fit under my desk and is too big to put on the desk. Current Case Cooler Master CM Stacker 830

    I'd like to know the smallest/best case that will still take an eATX mobo.

    Currently have a Rampage II Extreme, thinking of changing to a Rampage III. At the same time loosing my 4x146GB U320 15K SCSI drive and swapping to SSD. I've also got a Thermaltake 1kw PSU (Keeping that but it is large) and 2 x GTX280's so need room for long cards (Would like to change GFX too) Ideally a single card that can support 3 Monitors, or just two more current card.

    Any advice apreciated!
    Last edited by azrael; 10-12-2010 at 04:18 PM.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Pob255's Avatar
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    • Pob255's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus M5A99X EVO
      • CPU:
      • FX8350 & CM Hyper 212+
      • Memory:
      • 4 x 2gb Corsair Vengence 1600mhz cas9
      • Storage:
      • 512gb samsung SSD +1tb Samsung HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EGVA GTX970
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic GX 650W
      • Case:
      • HAF 912+
      • Operating System:
      • W7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • iiyama XB3270QS-B1 32" IPS 1440p

    Re: Upgrade Time & Case Shrink

    well you could lift the whole lot out and put it into a HAF 912, so going from what basically a full tower case size to a mid tower losing about 1/3rd of the overall volume.
    next would be to drop right down to an mATX case.

    Alternately, you could keep the current unit, but somewhere else, then get a tiny ITX system and use it to remote desktop to big system, or just some long extention cables for monitor+keyboard+mouse(+DVDr/w maybe)

  3. #3
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    • planet436's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P8P67 Pro
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      • 2500k @ 4.4k, 1.287V, Noctua NH-U12P
      • Memory:
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      • Storage:
      • X25-M 80GB, 1TB Samsung F3
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      • Asus 6950 2GB unlocked @ 850/1300
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX750
      • Case:
      • NZXT Phantom
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus VW266H @ 1920x1200

    Re: Upgrade Time & Case Shrink

    A Raven RV02 will take an EATX and is shorter than a full tower case, 212mm (W) x 503mm (H) x 643mm (D). This isn't much taller than a haf 912 (can that case take an EATX) but is obviously a lot deeper due to the rotated motherboard design. Depends on the size of your desk whether it would fit under but is bound to be smaller than your current case.

    Air cooling is regarded as excellent for both CPU and GPU in reviews, but is reasonably expensive at £140

  4. #4
    Senior Member Pob255's Avatar
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    • Pob255's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus M5A99X EVO
      • CPU:
      • FX8350 & CM Hyper 212+
      • Memory:
      • 4 x 2gb Corsair Vengence 1600mhz cas9
      • Storage:
      • 512gb samsung SSD +1tb Samsung HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EGVA GTX970
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic GX 650W
      • Case:
      • HAF 912+
      • Operating System:
      • W7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • iiyama XB3270QS-B1 32" IPS 1440p

    Re: Upgrade Time & Case Shrink

    Actually the HAF 912 doesn't take eATX, however neather the Rampage II Extreme or Rampage III are eATX.

    But yes the Raven2 or fortress 02 would be good cases if the extra length is not a problem.

  5. Received thanks from:

    azrael (15-12-2010)

  6. #5
    Registered+
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    • azrael's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Rampage II Extreme
      • CPU:
      • I7 920
      • Memory:
      • 6Gb DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 4 x 146Gb 15k U320 SCSI in RAID 0
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 2 x XFX GTX280
      • PSU:
      • Thermaltake 1KW
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster CM Stacker 830
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Ultimate
      • Monitor(s):
      • 3 x 24" Dell Ultrasharp
      • Internet:
      • ADSL Max

    Re: Upgrade Time & Case Shrink

    Thanks for the responses guys, I thought the Rampage mobo's were eATX my bad.

    I think the HAF then if its shorter

    Does the GTX 570/80 support 3 monitors? that way i can get down to 1 GFX card

    Lossing the RAID array in favour of SSD

  7. #6
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    • planet436's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P8P67 Pro
      • CPU:
      • 2500k @ 4.4k, 1.287V, Noctua NH-U12P
      • Memory:
      • 8(2x4)GB Mushkin 1333
      • Storage:
      • X25-M 80GB, 1TB Samsung F3
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus 6950 2GB unlocked @ 850/1300
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX750
      • Case:
      • NZXT Phantom
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus VW266H @ 1920x1200

    Re: Upgrade Time & Case Shrink

    The 570/580 does support more than two monitors but unfortunately you need to SLI them. A single 570/580 cannot support three screens.

    EDIT: should clarify, you need sli for nvidia surround. If you just want multiple monitors then a single card is okay.
    Last edited by planet436; 15-12-2010 at 08:35 PM. Reason: clarification.

  8. #7
    Senior Member Pob255's Avatar
    Join Date
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    • Pob255's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus M5A99X EVO
      • CPU:
      • FX8350 & CM Hyper 212+
      • Memory:
      • 4 x 2gb Corsair Vengence 1600mhz cas9
      • Storage:
      • 512gb samsung SSD +1tb Samsung HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EGVA GTX970
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic GX 650W
      • Case:
      • HAF 912+
      • Operating System:
      • W7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • iiyama XB3270QS-B1 32" IPS 1440p

    Re: Upgrade Time & Case Shrink

    Oh yes missed that, a single card for 3 monitors would mean ATi (eyefinity) 5770 or better, nvidia gtx460 and upwards can support 3 monitors when sli'd only, (surround vision)

    The gtx460 768mb is roughly the same performance as the gtx280 however the gtx460 768mb sli really suffers with surround vision, the low memory bandwidth and lack of ROP's just cannot hack it.
    You could wait for the gtx560 to come out (around feb/march time) or look for a cheap gtx470 deal.

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