Silverstone Sugo SG06 ITX build

[DDY]

It’s been a while since I’ve had a SFF gaming machine, I love small machines like the Shuttle and the Soltek Cubit I had back 2005. Unfortunately these systems are difficult to upgrade and repair, depreciation is a real problem once it’s obsolete due to the proprietary formats of Shuttles and the like.

The availability of non proprietary SFF machines has in the past been far and few between, limited to expensive and specialist parts, for example you’d probably have to splash out on a MoDT motherboard and a mobile CPU to go with it. Fortunately times have changed; you can now build an SFF machine as small and powerful as a proprietary system, yet upgrade, repair and sell components at a reasonable value – thanks to the increasing popularity of the ITX form factor. Although it’s worth bearing in mind, SFF machines will never be as cheap or fast as its big brother – ATX.


Specs of build:
Intel Pentium G620 - 2.6GHz 3MB ‘Sandybridge’
Gigabyte GA-H67N-USB3 – Socket 1155 ITX
8GB (2x 4GB) Mushkin Silverline 1333MHz 1.5V DDR3
AMD HD 6870 1GB
64GB Crucial M4 SSD
WD Blue 320GB 7200rpm 2.5”
LG GT32N 8x DVD±RW – Slimline
Silverstone Sugo SG06BB-450 – ITX case with 450W PSU

I bet you’re wondering why I’ve gone for a G620? Answer; It’s a stop gap. With AMD shifting new gear soon-ish I predict some price drops and I may jump over to AMD if their stuff turns out to be awesome and reasonably priced, of course hoping there will be some nice AM3+ ITX boards, considering the current lack of AM3 boards I’m wishful.

I’m still waiting for parts to arrive, but while I wait; here's the Sugo SG06 with the 450W PSU which I grabbed on Scan when they had it on today only for £100.



Accessories are distinctly lacking, although everything I need bar a SATA adaptor for the optical drive is included. The SG05/SG06 300W version includes an IDE adaptor but then again who needs one of those?

The PSU cables are braided but only to the first connector, as expected on such a low power unit there is only one PCI-E (6+2 pin) power connector, that's one 6-pin connector short of what the HD 6870 needs, hopefully the HD6870 I bought will include an adaptor.
PSU model is ST45SF if you want to read up on it.

One criticism I have of this case is the ‘bendiness’ of the steel cover, it’s reasonably thick 0.6mm SECC (steel) but the perforations on both sides and the top significantly weaken the panels. The structural integrity of the case chassis is good, it doesn’t give under reasonable force, it won't end up a parallelogram after it’s been moved around.

Bendiness in action: (compare)


More to come as parts arrive!

[nibbler]

Keep this thread updated, I'm interested to hear how portable it is. I'm looking at a SG07B build but this may fit the bill just as well for £40 less. Will the 6870 fit comfortably?

[Pob255]

Yes indeed, keep it coming.

PS 0.6mm steel isn't that thick at all, 0.8mm used to be the standard is good steel cases.
Most cases using 0.6mm steel use a lot of folds or have pressed in areas to add rigidity and decrease the flex to make up for the thinner steel used.

[DDY]

Keep this thread updated, I'm interested to hear how portable it is. I'm looking at a SG07B build but this may fit the bill just as well for £40 less. Will the 6870 fit comfortably?

I'm not certain the HD6870 will fit, although I’m confident it will from what I’ve read but we'll see

As for how portable it is; it comfortably fits in my ‘Jeep’ bag with plenty of space to spare, alongside the bag is a 1:1 scale paper model I made earlier on its back (how the Sugo is positioned in the bag) and a 2L bottle of Tesco’s value sparkling water for size comparison.

PS 0.6mm steel isn't that thick at all, 0.8mm used to be the standard is good steel cases.
Most cases using 0.6mm steel use a lot of folds or have pressed in areas to add rigidity and decrease the flex to make up for the thinner steel used.

That’s true, 8mm and folds would do nicely. For the panel size, I reckon 6mm will do if Silverstone had stamped the vents in a bit to give some buckling resistance.

[nibbler]

I am just considering getting a lian li which allows for a larger cooler and overclocking the socks off a 2500k. Then sucking it up when I have to move it 3 times a year

[Danamic]

I am just considering getting a lian li which allows for a larger cooler and overclocking the socks off a 2500k. Then sucking it up when I have to move it 3 times a year

There is a lovely Lian Li build on ebay that I am considering copying.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Intel-i5-2500K...item2a1143c333

---

Although, I will probably go for the SG06 case above along with the New Zotac Z68 mITX mobo.

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=30652

[DDY]

If you’re after better cooling you can fit a 120mm radiator internally at the front of the SG05/06 with a bit of modification; here are some of the options;

• Remove HDD/ODD bracket and mount rad vertically, you’ll lose the optical drive and HDD bays but no drilling or cutting is necessary.
• Drill 120mm fan mounting holes about 2cm lower and mount rad horizontally to avoid the 3.5” bay, but you’ll lose about 1” off the length of a graphics card you can install.
• Cut off 3.5” mounting bracket off and install rad horizontally using exiting 120mm fan mounting holes, again you’ll lose the 1” for the graphics card.
• Drill 120mm fan mounting holes to the bottom right (looking from the front), modify internal front connections panel with 90° connections (or get rid of them) and mount radiator horizontally. This way you’ll keep the ODD and drive bays and be able to install a long graphics card but it will be one heck of a squeeze.

I’m thinking of installing a self contained CPU water cooling like the Antec kuhler or Corsair Hydro when I eventually get rid of the G620 and probably the H67. But I’ll have to wait and see what AMD have under wraps... come on AMD!

Also, if you’re so inclined; an ATX PSU can be fitted by getting rid or pushing forward the rear PSU supporting bracket and drilling ATX mounting holes on the back of the case. Must be a short PSU otherwise it’ll foul the ODD drive.

[DDY]

So the parts came earlier today;




There’s a recurring theme with this ITX build; the lack of accessories, the motherboard only came with the rear I/O plate and two SATA cables, the graphics card only included a crossfire bridge! It didn’t include a 6-Pin PCIe power cable like I hoped earlier but it turns out, the PSU actually has two PCIe power connections on the same cable!




This build took a while, not the best design to work with but it all fell together eventually. I had to take everything out the case to install the motherboard, even the front 120mm fan had to go so I could move the HD6870 in to place which fits with 1.3cm to spare!




My plan was to use Velcro to stick the SSD to a flat surface since the Sugo only has one 2.5” bay, annoyingly after some digging in the drawers I couldn’t find the Velcro I thought I had, so for now the SSD is propped it up against the graphics card. Also the 90degree SATA slim line adaptor I bought wouldn’t fit because the drive bay extends further back than I thought so I’ll have to get another one of thse. You’ll notice little to no cable management, I’ll do it properly when I get another slim line SATA adaptor and stick the SSD in place, I’ll take pics and get the lighting and focus right next time!




I made the mistake of connecting the Crucial M4 SSD 6Gbps to a 3Gbps port which for some strange reason caused the machine to lockup on POST, no issues on the 6Gbps port. Anyway, windows is installing as I type, I’ll have some benchmarks up some time tonight.

[DDY]

I’ve run a few benchmarks and measured power draw from the wall, results;

Idle 50W
CPU: 40°C
GPU: 37°C

Loading was carried out using Furmark and Prime 95
GPU & CPU load 244W
CPU: 82 62°C (CPU load only 80W)
GPU: 87°C (GPU load only 222W)

3DM11: 178W
P3492 (Unrecognised CPU)

Looks like I could have done with the cheaper 300W version of the SG05/06! But I guess now I have room for expansion.

Crucial M4 64GB on H67 6Gbps


I’d run more benches but I’m a bit busy at the moment, anything else you’d like me to run?

[watercooled]

The specified thermal limit for that CPU is 70C, I wouldn't be too comfortable with it reaching 82C at load. It might be because of the limited airspace in the case but check the heatsink is mounted properly.

[DDY]

Whoa, nicely spotted - it's actually a typo. The CPU was chillin at 62°C whilst fully loaded, not too bad considering the little stock cooler and as you say the limited air flow.

EDIT: Having mentioned the air flow; it's actually better than I thought, the graphics card effectively seperates the case in to two compartments. The graphics card 'compartment' is exposed to fresh air though the side vent, hot air is expelled through the rear and top rear of the card where it escapes though rear and top case vents. The 'CPU' compartment is a positive pressure environment, cool air is drawn in through the front 120mm fan and forces hot air out the side vent next to the CPU heatsink. The PSU can be mounted with the intake fan drawing air from the CPU area or fresh air from a vent at the top of the case.

[watercooled]

Ah ok, was going to say I'd be surprised if the CPU would allow itself to get that hot i.e. it should start throttling before then. Nice build you've got coming along there BTW! I know how frustrating it can be getting half those components into a case twice the size so good work!

[DDY]

The build is finished... sorta, still waiting for a faster CPU but anyway, I've bought some self adhesive 'hook and loop' strips and received the 'correct' SATA slimline adaptor through the post.

[watercooled]

Surprisingly tidy for such a small case! Thanks for posting.

[Danamic]

I cant really see a reason to update to the upcoming AMD CPUs.

i5 2500K seems to be better at CPU operations and why would you need a crappy GPU onboard a CPU when you get a nice GFX card?

Someone educate me.

[watercooled]

I think you're referring to Llano, which isn't a high-end part (the on-board GPU is far from 'crappy' but that's a topic for another thread). Bulldozer is the high-end range and isn't out for a while yet. There are no proper benchmarks out yet and it has no onboard GPU.