Best mATX case for travel in luggage/Pelican?

[mazeroth]

I've been tasked with building a gaming computer for a coworker that travels quite frequently for weeks at a time. He would like to be able to fit the computer and a monitor into a hard shell, full-sized luggage or Pelican case that will be checked at the airport. He's sick of being stuck in hotels, bored, and would like to be able to play his Steam library while away.

I think we're pretty well set on an i5-4670k with a Corsair H50/60 style cooler, GTX 970 video card and a 250ish GB SSD. No need for an optical drive. He has a 27" 1440p monitor that may be a tad too big and also might not want to chance it, so he's considering a cheaper, 24" 1080p that won't bother him if it gets damaged en route as much as losing a 1440p monitor.

With all that in mind, which mATX case would work that would allow all that stuff to fit into it and still squeeze inside of some luggage with some padding?

Also, I will be sourcing the CPU and MB from Micro Center so if there are any motherboard recommendations as well let's hear them.

Thanks.

 

[dma0991]

Best mATX IMO is Silverstone TJ-08E. Without knowing the dimension of that Pelican case, I think its better to have a smaller mITX motherboard/case instead. As for mITX form factor, I would recommend Silverstone SG-08 or CoolerMaster Elite 130.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Check the last four (or so) issues of Maximum PC for this year.

There is a stubby, white-with-contrast little case there in just such a configuration, but I can't remember if the project used mATX or ITX. Seemed to me that mATX would fit in there. The height is greater than the width, and the width accommodates 5.25" devices or items.

Maybe I'll get back with more info about this, but you can check in the meantime. Check their website and see what's available for those issues.

 

[mazeroth]

I searched their site pretty thoroughly and can't find it. If you have a few spare minutes and can get me the name I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

This was what I found in the Aug 2014 Maximum PC:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...9657-_-Product

But I'm sure there was another similar case, which I'd initially remembered.

I'll take a look at the Silverstone now . . .

The Silverstone is less compact, or so I gather. The bottom fan on the Bitfenix needs more clearance. Find some 6/32 3/4" or 1" screws if the feet on the Bitfenix use that 6/32 thread. Or find 3/4"/1" screws matching the thread on the Bitfenix screws. Look for stiff rubber material: you can even buy new feet ready-made at a local electronics supply store -- usually a jobbers' warehouse. Or get a very sharp knife or hand-held saw, and find a discard used tire. If you can't find the rubber feet of sufficient height, then cut circular pieces to use with the original feet and the longer screws.

 

[aigomorla]

fail...

tell him to get a laptop DTR.

And things tag'd fragile are only paid attention by 6/10 couriers.
It doesnt matter how much padding a PC has externally, things internally will still break if there is heavy turbulence (air plane), or someone just not giving a care in moving the luggage.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I'd second the laptop recommendation. But that said, see the rig in my sig. An updated Haswell version would be easy-peasy.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I'd second the laptop recommendation. But that said, see the rig in my sig. An updated Haswell version would be easy-peasy.

An Alienware 18?

 

[krnmastersgt]

A good laptop does sound like the best option given the circumstances but if he's still insistent on a portable desktop unit, I would say he's going to want to look at mITX as it gives him a few more options in a more compact form factor. For a portable desktop I can't think of a much better option than something like this Silverstone Raven RVZ01 since it can pack all the components you're talking about into a nice little chassis without a lot of excess room for parts to jump around in.

You're still going to want to be careful with it however as aigo mentioned since it's not impact from the case that will damage the components but the weight of the components themselves just bouncing around inside.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

A good laptop does sound like the best option given the circumstances but if he's still insistent on a portable desktop unit, I would say he's going to want to look at mITX as it gives him a few more options in a more compact form factor. For a portable desktop I can't think of a much better option than something like this Silverstone Raven RVZ01 since it can pack all the components you're talking about into a nice little chassis without a lot of excess room for parts to jump around in.

You're still going to want to be careful with it however as aigo mentioned since it's not impact from the case that will damage the components but the weight of the components themselves just bouncing around inside.

Somebody is, and for good reason, or so it would seem.

He's invested in the desktop hardware. No? No -- but he's picked parts already. His friend has a collection of game and other software. He's also invested there. He may not feel comfortable with the idea of a gaming laptop, although a very heavy investment there potentially awaits.

He probably has other software not so easily transferred. Maybe he's just trying to avoid the problem of reconfiguring all the software. No? The way the OP is presented, he has to install it anyway. I'll bet he's really transfixed on that 970 card, though . . .

If he doesn't spend $3,000 to $5,000 on an Alienware laptop and limit his gaming to his mobile platform, he might spend somewhat less with a "LAN-Party" type compact case. Maybe the iTX motherboard is a good prospect.

But he's still got that 970 gfx. A risk versus platform dilemma. . . .

 

[mazeroth]

Thanks for all the input. Yes, he's against a gaming laptop as the cost of one with the performance he wants just doesn't work out. That, and he wants to ship a monitor along so he may as well just throw a small PC in the case as well.

I'm going to go through some stuff with him tomorrow and if something works out I'll let you guys know what he decides and how it works out.

 

[abaez]

Is it even feasible to use a 970 with mITX? I would think mATX would be the minimum as the card is just so big.

 

[SithSolo1]

Silverstone SG10 http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=392

The case is ~23L which is comparable to larger ITX cases, the others mentioned thus far are closer to ~30L.

Mount the water cooler in the rear fan slot in a Case Panel>Fan>Cooler>(Optional 2nd Fan) orientation.


The GTX 970 will work in miniITX, just depends on case choice.

 

[Topweasel]

People where running 780Ti's and Titans in something as small as Ncase M1 and the steam PC was developed around a 680. It's best to look at a performance marker and what you need to include and then try to pick a case out for it. Like does it need 2 drives? An optical? Does the optical need to be full size? Slot loaded? How many cores? need HT?

Once the 970 mini's come out (and they will quickly since the actual PCB is really small already for the ref board), with a decent sized SSD, msata or m.2, and a reasonable CPU and memory and all of a sudden you have a powerful system requiring minimal cooling or space that should work with dozens of really small cases.