Earlier this year I tried to make a WC'd ITX based on a 2500k * Asus board. Long and short of it is I messed up the case I was working on and had to scrap the project. I now have some funds & time again (and better tools!), so I'm looking at trying again. I'm curious what others think.
Needs:
hold a 7950 card & full sized power supply
enough metal to punch WC tube holes or have pass through grommits
Alternatively for something different you could look at either Silverstone FT03 or FT03 Mini. They are taller but both have small footprint and can fit 120 rad inside like an hH60 or an H80i. Not sure if modable to work with an external water cooling setup though. You could mod the bottom or rear of it to run WC tubing.
Thanks for the idea. My WC loop is running a pair of 360's w/ push-pull in an external stand. So I'm a little beyond an H60 . . .
I like the FT03 mini, but the fact that it requires SFX power really limits it IMO (if you plan on over clocking CPU & GPU).
I had a FT03 (matx) and the sides didn't stay on. One of the poorest executions of a Silverstone case I've seen (I've had about 5 Silverstones, I think).
The two Cubitek cases both would hugely benefit from an external liquid cooling solution to overcome their limited air flow. I would go with one of them.
Thanks for the idea. My WC loop is running a pair of 360's w/ push-pull in an external stand. So I'm a little beyond an H60 . . .
I like the FT03 mini, but the fact that it requires SFX power really limits it IMO (if you plan on over clocking CPU & GPU).
I had a FT03 (matx) and the sides didn't stay on. One of the poorest executions of a Silverstone case I've seen (I've had about 5 Silverstones, I think).
No worries. I like the CM case because even with Water cooling CPU and/or GPU you still need decent aircooling to cool the rest of the system IMHO.
Thanks for the feedback on the FT03. Im was planning an HTPC/Light Gaming, mITX build in that case myself. I was thinking would look pretty good in the living room (sort of like a speaker) so will have to watch out for that panel issue. I have a 7850OC that I was thinking of using for it.
I'm going to guess that you're talking about the Merlin. It's a nice case and I'm a fan of Caselabs work. The only real problem I have is the Merlin (SM5) costs $350+ vs the Cubitek $70. Since I already have a rad solution (the S3 pedestal would require buying different rads - doesn't support 360, only 240 or 280)
Also, just eh Merlin by itself is 509mm x 284mm x 467mm
compare that to the Mini Cube: 200mmx320mm x 300mm
The two are just very, very different. (and a car payment different in price!)
Thanks for the idea.
I think one reason I'm leaning towards the Mini Cube is it has some version of cable management (I can only imagine the mess of cables in the Mini ICE) & a real neat way of storing drives. I don't care about loosing the optical. I have an ext Blu-ray that I've used w/ my ultrabook for a year. Almost everything I buy software is downloaded anyways.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dihartnell
No worries. I like the CM case because even with Water cooling CPU and/or GPU you still need decent aircooling to cool the rest of the system IMHO.
Thanks for the feedback on the FT03. Im was planning an HTPC/Light Gaming, mITX build in that case myself. I was thinking would look pretty good in the living room (sort of like a speaker) so will have to watch out for that panel issue. I have a 7850OC that I was thinking of using for it.
Maybe I got a bad one, but it seems that the side panels fell off with the slightest touch. Also it seamed that vibrations caused them to rattle a little bit. Now, that was about 3 years ago I had mine, so maybe they are better now. I think for HTPC the Fractal Node is on of the best ITX cases (or do you have matx?).
Yeah you get the odd bad one from any manufacturer. I haven't bought anything yet but planning to us mitx mobo in the larger matx ft03 case. I have a spare Silverstone 550w psu and will use short cable kit.
I'm really surprised that the CM 120 is getting the most love now. I thought the Cubitek with their alum would grab more attention. (now, 4 vs 2 votes isn't huge, but i'm still surprised). Thanks for thoughts so far.
I saw the Silverstone SG10 in a video today Similar to SG09 only more attractive with a bit more use of Aluminum on the front. Not a bad layout and looks ok and has decent cooling. Will fit a MATX mobo. 23L of space inside so not absolutely huge but not small either..
I saw the Silverstone SG10 in a video today Similar to SG09 only more attractive with a bit more use of Aluminum on the front. Not a bad layout and looks ok and has decent cooling. Will fit a MATX mobo. 23L of space inside so not absolutely huge but not small either..
Yeh, that is one that I've thought about as well. I have a phobya 200mm rad so I've thought about mounting it to the top 180 fan - that that would likely end up looking very franken-puter-ish. (technical term). Thoughts?
I do agree that the SG10 looks much better than the SG09. Price isn't too bad on it either. Thanks.
Yeh, that is one that I've thought about as well. I have a phobya 200mm rad so I've thought about mounting it to the top 180 fan - that that would likely end up looking very franken-puter-ish. (technical term). Thoughts?
I do agree that the SG10 looks much better than the SG09. Price isn't too bad on it either. Thanks.
Rad on the outside did you mean?? That would be a bit Franken-puterish. I dontn think you could fit one internally because it would intefere with the mobo. I was thinking a thicker 120mm/140mm Rad on the rear exhaust.
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