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Build ssf around micro atx psu

J

justinj6

Member
Got turned onto the Aurum MICRO ATX 450-WATT POWER SUPPLY UNIT in the "Hot Deals" section and have decided to build SFF around that. Any excuse, right.
Also have some (Hot Deals) 2 X 8GB G.SKILL SNIPER memory gathering dust along with a 500GB Samsung Spinpoint HDD (SATA II) and Windows 7. Have 21" LG monitor.

This will be a backup home computer and want a small footprint. Main use will be downloading, web surfing, audio and video playback. No gaming.

Other thoughts are to get a SSD for OS and Programs. Like Intel and would think of going with I3 and since it will have onboard video could avoid VGA card.

Would appreciate input, thoughts, suggestions.

Am I right about the I3? Which I3?

Which board to get? Which SSD? Will 60GB be enough or should I look for 90 or above?

Need to get optical drive but not blueray. Slim size maybe depending on case.

Case is biggest question mark. Want to go small but doesn't have to be tiniest. A little bigger size could have noticable effect on airflow. Like the BitFenix Prodigy reviewed here (http://www.anandtech.com/show/5867/bitfenix-prodigy-review-the-affordable-performable-miniitx) but maybe would like to go smaller. If I went with this case then it would defeat the purpose of this excuse to build a new PC, since it only requires an ATX PSU.

Just for the fun of it I would think about water cooling but that would mean upping the case size. Would it really be necessary?

Don't want to go overboard on budget. Not fixed but want to keep price down.

That's it unless I've missed something.

Oh, I live in Thailand and will be in U.S. in July so am planning to get it together by then and take back with me.

Thanks,
Justin
 
justinj6 said:
Got turned onto the Aurum MICRO ATX 450-WATT POWER SUPPLY UNIT in the "Hot Deals" section and have decided to build SFF around that.
Click to expand...

You talking about this PSU? It isn't an Aurum. Where it says "Aurum" is just in the banner ad. Aurum are normal ATX 80Plus Gold PSUs in 400W, 500W and so on. The one you got is SFX sized, and doesn't have a "name" beyond the model number.

It is actually kind of tricky to find a case that fits exactly this size PSU. The Silverstone Sugo SG05 and SG06 mini ITX cases fit it, but they all come with PSUs already (in fact some come with the EXACT same one). The Apex MI-100, MI-008, Thermaltake Element Q and Rosewill RS-MI-01 (all the same case inside) mini ITX cases use these PSUs. There are also some mATX cases which use these PSUs, such as these slim Xion cases. They already come with PSUs, but really crappy ones. There are also some older slim mATX cases called Athenatech A100BB series which use them, but I haven't seen them on sale for a while. They used to be common in name brand mini towers such as eMachines.

That's why it comes with an ATX adapter plate. You can use them in "tight" situations such as some Lian Li ITX micro towers which are designed for ATX PSUs to bolt in, yet almost can't fit an ATX PSU because of not enough clearance.

justinj6 said:
This will be a backup home computer and want a small footprint. Main use will be downloading, web surfing, audio and video playback. No gaming.

Other thoughts are to get a SSD for OS and Programs. Like Intel and would think of going with I3 and since it will have onboard video could avoid VGA card.
Click to expand...

For your "main use" just about anything dual core, current generation and faster than an Atom or Brazos (AMD APU under 2GHz) would work. I would actually recommend something like a socket 1155 Pentium. They are basically just like a Core i3 without Hyperthreading and without Quicksync, but priced lower.
 
In one of my mini-itx machines, I've got a 60 GB SSD.

I use it in much the same way that you have outlined. Though, I also use it for light Word and Presentation Processing.

Even though it is a small SSD, it works fine for me. And I love that it boots up fast.

For an operating system, I use Mint Linux. Whether or not 60 GB would be enough for Windows, I can't say. (The O/S is your decision. If you are open to Linux, I would encourage you to consider Mint.)

Not familiar with your PSU. My mini-itx machines all use external power supplies anyway...

That BitFenix Prodigy cases looks nice. But it is huge compared to the cases that I've used.

But it sounds like you are putting together a good plan.

Best of luck,
Uno
 
unokitty said:
the cases that I've used.
Click to expand...

The Mini-Box M350 seems pretty nice. I bought one but haven't used it yet, because I don't think the stock Intel cooler won't fit. The stock Intel cooler that comes with the low wattage 35W dual core CPUs will fit (2100T, 630T, etc.).
 
Neither system that I've built uses the stock Intel Cooler.

One system uses an Atom. The other system uses a dual core Celeron. Both systems have NVidia video sections (on the motherboard). One system uses the M350. The other system uses a Casetronic case.

There was a recent post (in the General Hardware Forum) from "iloveATech" that was using the stock Intel cooler. And while it fit okay in the M350, it interfered with the drive mount.

I wondered, but didn't ask, if you could use a Dremel, or similar, Tool to cut away the part that interfered with the cooler.

If I had the spare cash, I'd be tempted to try it...

Uno
 
unokitty said:
There was a recent post (in the General Hardware Forum) from "iloveATech" that was using the stock Intel cooler. And while it fit okay in the M350, it interfered with the drive mount.
Click to expand...

Ah yes, being able to mount drives. I guess I could just use double sided tape to "mount" the SSD to the inside of the cover. Might have to try that if I get a chance (temporarily staying 2000 miles away from home).
 
Another mini-itx alternative would be one of the new thin mini-itx motherboards.

And here is a build, from the Inquirer, where they just cut the fan off of the top of the heatsink! (Apparently, they think that the case fan will supply sufficient air flow across the heat sink...)

Of course, another possibility would be a low profile heat sink...

If anyone has any experience with a thin mini itx motherboards or the low profile heat sinks, I'd be grateful to hear about them...

Uno
 
Zap said:
You talking about this PSU? It isn't an Aurum. Where it says "Aurum" is just in the banner ad. Aurum are normal ATX 80Plus Gold PSUs in 400W, 500W and so on. The one you got is SFX sized, and doesn't have a "name" beyond the model number.
Click to expand...

Thanks for clearing that up. Indeed that is what it is, the 450 watt version.
 
Last edited:
Zap said:
It is actually kind of tricky to find a case that fits exactly this size PSU. The Silverstone Sugo SG05 and SG06 mini ITX cases fit it, but they all come with PSUs already (in fact some come with the EXACT same one). The Apex MI-100, MI-008, Thermaltake Element Q and Rosewill RS-MI-01 (all the same case inside) mini ITX cases use these PSUs. There are also some mATX cases which use these PSUs, such as these slim Xion cases. They already come with PSUs, but really crappy ones. There are also some older slim mATX cases called Athenatech A100BB series which use them, but I haven't seen them on sale for a while. They used to be common in name brand mini towers such as eMachines.

That's why it comes with an ATX adapter plate. You can use them in "tight" situations such as some Lian Li ITX micro towers which are designed for ATX PSUs to bolt in, yet almost can't fit an ATX PSU because of not enough clearance..
Click to expand...

My original thinking was that there was likely a nice case out there and sized for the components I was looking to use but came with a "crappy" PSU or none at all. Will check out the Lian Li. Are the adapter plates universal? And suitable for any ATX opening?

Given I'm 1/2 around the world from the U.S. I'm a bit slow responding.
Appreciate the feedback
 
unokitty said:
In one of my mini-itx machines, I've got a 60 GB SSD.

I use it in much the same way that you have outlined. Though, I also use it for light Word and Presentation Processing.

Even though it is a small SSD, it works fine for me. And I love that it boots up fast.

For an operating system, I use Mint Linux. Whether or not 60 GB would be enough for Windows, I can't say. (The O/S is your decision. If you are open to Linux, I would encourage you to consider Mint.)

Not familiar with your PSU. My mini-itx machines all use external power supplies anyway...

That BitFenix Prodigy cases looks nice. But it is huge compared to the cases that I've used.

But it sounds like you are putting together a good plan.

Best of luck,
Uno
Click to expand...

The 350 case looks a little too small to take what I am planning to put in. I've built a micro with the sugo02 and was looking for a smaller case than that. Don't know if there is anything that falls between the two sizes.

Figure I'll have to go with a 90GB SSD to play safe.
Not sure what the best value right now for a reliable drive in that size. Consensus seem to be to stay away from OCZ.

Thanks for your input.
Justin
 
justinj6 said:
The 350 case looks a little too small to take what I am planning to put in. I've built a micro with the sugo02 and was looking for a smaller case than that. Don't know if there is anything that falls between the two sizes. Justin
Click to expand...

Thermaltake makes a case similar to the SIlverstone. Though, it may be a little small as well.

Best of luck,
Uno
 
justinj6 said:
Figure I'll have to go with a 90GB SSD to play safe.
Not sure what the best value right now for a reliable drive in that size. Consensus seem to be to stay away from OCZ.
Click to expand...

The main "problems" with OCZ are:
1) They tend to "release now, patch firmware later" kind of like game publishers.
2) They tend to use controllers that have firmware problems.

Really though, any "OCZ SSD problems" are the same as any other brand SSD using the same controller (except Intel).

I was going to mention a current deal for $57 after rebate and coupon, with free shipping on an OCZ Vertex 3 90GB, but it is sold out.

unokitty said:
Thermaltake makes a case similar to the SIlverstone. Though, it may be a little small as well.
Click to expand...

Don't get the Thermaltake Element Q, when this $40 shipped Apex case is identical under the paint.
 
Zap said:
The main "problems" with OCZ are:
1) They tend to "release now, patch firmware later" kind of like game publishers.
2) They tend to use controllers that have firmware problems.

Really though, any "OCZ SSD problems" are the same as any other brand SSD using the same controller (except Intel).

I was going to mention a current deal for $57 after rebate and coupon, with free shipping on an OCZ Vertex 3 90GB, but it is sold out.



Don't get the Thermaltake Element Q, when this $40 shipped Apex case is identical under the paint.
Click to expand...

Yes, better deal than Thermaltake. About same size as SUGO2. Good thing I'm not rushed to get. Gives me more time to decide or build up indecision.
Thanks,
Justin
 
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