Do these cases have sufficient cooling?

[Bad Pingu]

Hello there, I'm building a gaming pc and as my pc must be placed within a cupboard (doors will be open when in use) I'm starting to consider Micro ATX motherboards for their smaller case size.

I'm hoping these Micro ATX based cases will have good cooling capabilities within the cupboard. I plan to place an intel i5 4690k and a gtx 780 non-reference card in one of the two cases below (most likely an evga gtx 780 due to it's small size):

Xigmatek Aquila Micro-ATX Case

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-083-XG&groupid=2362&catid=2278

and a video review ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTEQrFHFp3M


Corsair Carbide Series Air 240 High Airflow PC Case

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-179-CS

and a video review ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTJ0osmQyzU

As this is my first build please give me critical feedback on this high end micro atx gaming pc, I've noticed a lack of gaming pc's using micro atx on youtube etc and wonder why.

Many thanks, Bad Pingu

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Air comes in the front and out the back. If you stick it in a cupboard, it'll just stew in its own hot air, regardless of what care you get.

 

[Essence_of_War]

I'm hoping these Micro ATX based cases will have good cooling capabilities within the cupboard. I plan to place an intel i5 4690k and a gtx 780 non-reference card in one of the two cases below (most likely an evga gtx 780 due to it's small size):

You can't put a high-end gaming CPU/GPU combo into a closed cupboard without any additional ventilation and expect them not to bake.

You need to either add ventilation to the cupboard, or take the case out of the cupboard.

 

[Bad Pingu]

Ok, can I please receive feedback and advice based upon not placing the pc in a cupboard, thanks

 

[Essence_of_War]

If you want feedback on a build, I'd recommend reading this post:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=24043454&postcount=1

and posting your answers to all of the questions in a new thread in the "General Hardware" forum.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

They'll be about the same.

 

[Cerb]

As this is my first build please give me critical feedback on this high end micro atx gaming pc, I've noticed a lack of gaming pc's using micro atx on youtube etc and wonder why.

No reason to use MicroATX, usually. But just to show it happens... (I use its sister case, the PS07)

MicroATX is perfectly fine, if you want it. That first linked Xigmatek should have no problems cooling anything you can fit inside of it. Same with that Corsair. If it doesn't come with one, definitely add a front fan.

 

[Bad Pingu]

The pc will be used for playing the latest games, programming, general usage and I would like high quality music playback.

I find it rather strange that there are no youtube videos which show off micro atx gaming computers with high end gpu's which doesn't make sense as apparently after researching micro atx the only advantage of atx is the ability to use 4 gpu's, there is apparently NO gain in performance by using atx other than the ability to use more gpu's.

A smaller sized case would be far better for me personally and surely most people.

There is only one video review of the Xigmatek Aquila Micro-ATX Case on youtube and no articles anywhere else? Bizarre. How can I be sure that this case will provide sufficient cooling for a gtx 780 etc or any other micro atx case for that matter? I've never built a gaming pc before nor have I ever owned one so I would appreciate further reassurance.

Is one fan on the front of the xigmatex aquila case enough for a gtx 780? As apparently at the front the case can only hold 1 fan.

Also what do you think of this case in terms of cooling the entire gaming rig (gtx780 etc) ? ---> http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-000-PS&groupid=2362&catid=2278

Unfortunately the case above does not have dust filters.

thanks very much

 

[Cerb]

How can I be sure that this case will provide sufficient cooling for a gtx 780 etc or any other micro atx case for that matter? I've never built a gaming pc before nor have I ever owned one so I would appreciate further reassurance.

Air comes in the front and out the back.

There should be minimal restrictions, and there should be provisions for at least one, if not two, front 120mm or 140mm fans, and at least one rear. Both linked cases have very open fronts and backs, and not much in the way. Cabling can take some added time in smaller cases, but getting good airflow in general tends to be even easier than large cases, because there's just not room to have many different options.

 

[Bad Pingu]

Thanks for your reply Cerb.

I'm stuck between choosing either the Xigmatek Aquila and the bitfenix prodigy m in black (the black model has the mesh and fan vents on front as opposed to other colours which have a solid front panel and fan vents on the sides but as I would like the windowed version then the black one would be the prodigy of my choice) ---> http://www.amazon.co.uk/BitFenix-Pr...1409134457&sr=8-1&keywords=bitfenix+prodigy+m.

In terms of cooling ability which would you say is best out of the two? I'm asking as I thought the bitfenix would of been best initially but then noticed people have complained that the prodigy's power supply orientation is not very good for keeping the case cool.

As I want to place a high end graphics card inside (either gtx 780 or gtx 780ti) I suppose it's important I pick the correct one in terms of cooling capabilities.

Thanks very much

 

[LuluTheMonk]

I use a Antec ISK600 (mini ITX) in a cabinet with a 2600k and a GTX780.

I also have http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009CO543S/ installed in the back to have some airflow.

 

[chrisjames61]

The pc will be used for playing the latest games, programming, general usage and I would like high quality music playback.

I find it rather strange that there are no youtube videos which show off micro atx gaming computers with high end gpu's which doesn't make sense as apparently after researching micro atx the only advantage of atx is the ability to use 4 gpu's, there is apparently NO gain in performance by using atx other than the ability to use more gpu's.

A smaller sized case would be far better for me personally and surely most people.

There is only one video review of the Xigmatek Aquila Micro-ATX Case on youtube and no articles anywhere else? Bizarre. How can I be sure that this case will provide sufficient cooling for a gtx 780 etc or any other micro atx case for that matter? I've never built a gaming pc before nor have I ever owned one so I would appreciate further reassurance.

Is one fan on the front of the xigmatex aquila case enough for a gtx 780? As apparently at the front the case can only hold 1 fan.

Also what do you think of this case in terms of cooling the entire gaming rig (gtx780 etc) ? ---> http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-000-PS&groupid=2362&catid=2278

Unfortunately the case above does not have dust filters.

thanks very much

Yo don't know much about pc's, if you think that smaller sized cases and Micro ATX motherboards are better for most people. A gaming pc generally has a powerful cpu that gives off copious amounts of heat and needs to be cooled. A good video card gives off even more heat and needs to be cooled. A case needs to draw in fresh air and expel the hot air. You need the case fans to do it. A mid tower will allow you to have more and larger fans. Most smaller cases are lacking compared to a mid tower in this regard. A MicroATX board also won't have enough PWM fan headers. A MicroATX board also typically does not have a robust power delivery section that a good full sized ATX board will have. This is a must imho. And as others have said- put it in a cupboard and all the fans in the world won't keep the thing cool.

 

[Bad Pingu]

"Yo don't know much about pc's, if you think that smaller sized cases and Micro ATX motherboards are better for most people."

That's a rather bold statement. I'm not familiar with high-end gaming pc's it really is that simple. Judging by the statement above some people might say you come across as ignorant.

As for placing the pc in the cupboard, I acknowledged long ago that the idea has been scrapped given the feedback on this forum.