List your favorite Small Form Factor or "LAN box" case and if you have used it give your opinions!
Favorite SFF case
- Thread starter FerraraZ
- Start date
XQ Pack
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811144110
URL for a blue one.
but not with the stock power supply.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811144110
URL for a blue one.
but not with the stock power supply.
There are several boxes out there like the XQPack. The Ultra MicroFly is nearly identical to the XQ, but I'm thinking Ultra stopped carrying that model. Aerocool has one, NZXT has one, etc... I also like some of the ideas incorporated in Silverstone's SUGO series (but those aren't cheap - I saw one of 'em right at $100. just before Christmas). There are some relatively light ATX cases out there if you need a more complete system. I think SVC.com still has some of the all-aluminum C-M Mystique models on clearance or reduced price. I think the small aluminum Chenming case that XOxide had at $40. bucks or less are gone now. Good luck.
You didn't mention a budget, and there are a few up in the stratosphere if you're interested, like the QMicra.
.bh.
You didn't mention a budget, and there are a few up in the stratosphere if you're interested, like the QMicra.
.bh.
The NZXT Rogue has been calling me for months now. I'd love to put my work desktop into something more portable, though it doesn't have a built-in handle, and it seems pretty large for a "LAN case."
The Ultra Microfly always looked great to me. I couldn't bring myself to buy a X-QPACK though - I've owned an Aspire (now APEVIA) case in the past; it wan't horrible, but it was too flashy and too plasticy for my taste.
The Ultra Microfly always looked great to me. I couldn't bring myself to buy a X-QPACK though - I've owned an Aspire (now APEVIA) case in the past; it wan't horrible, but it was too flashy and too plasticy for my taste.
Zap
Elite Member
- Oct 13, 1999
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I would go for the X-Qpack2. It has been out for a while now and the benefit is that it is around 1" deeper than the original, meaning you have an easier job of fitting a "normal" sized power supply. And yes, do NOT use the included power supply.
Chiefmax is a rebadge of the same chassis that was the Ultra MicroFly (which is from a different OEM than the X-Qpack/Chenming).
All these make for nice little LAN boxes. For just a small case, I like the Antec NSK3480. Just put one together with a Core 2 Duo, 8GB RAM, VelociRaptor, 1.5TB Seagate and a BFG GTX 260 video card. Pretty powerful for a little system.
Engineer
Elite Member
- Oct 9, 1999
- 39,230
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I haven't bought one in years but I might jump on Silverstone's new SG05 case. MiniITX with 80plus 300W (or 400W) supply, slim optical drive slot, one 120mm fan cools the entire case plus room for full size video card up to 9" long.
VR forums thread (should be available in Feb/March in the US).
(Cool stuff in that thread too).
VR forums thread (should be available in Feb/March in the US).
(Cool stuff in that thread too).
Certainly, but you may want to make sure it's not too long, or the cables don't come out of the back - it can get mighty tight between a non-stock PSU and the optical drives.
That said, considering that you can't find many SLi/Crossfire boards in mATX, under general circumstances I doubt you'd need more than the 500W the X-QPack2 gives...
As I own one, I really like the original X-QPack. Only problems I have had with it are that the LED's on the fan have died and my previous graphics card was over-height - This X1600 Pro - so I couldn't slide the MB tray in and out without first extracting the GPU... Blasted heatpipe...
Otherwise it's small, light enough to carry no problems, the PSU is more than I need, everything seems to run cool enough, and it doesn't look half bad either
The X-QPack2 is probably better; it has the extra inch of depth over original (more space), a fan at the front, a more powerful PSU, and a stronger carry handle. And looks cooler
I know Thermaltake's LANBox and LANBox Lite aren't bad either, and haven't been mentioned yet...
Lian Li PC-V350... As an owner of both Lian Li's offering and the Ultra MicroFly BX6, there is no comparison. The Ultra is okay, but feels and looks like utter crap compared to the V350.
yes. in one system i have a Seasonic 430, and the cables come out more towards the outside, so they don't bump into the optical drive.
in another system i have a Seasonic 650. the cable bundle wants to be right where the optical drive is. in order to get around that we had to cut some of the tie-wraps. that way it involves bending individual cables, as opposed to bending one massive 1 1/2 inch diameter mass of cables.
Generally, the X-QPack is designed for (and comes equipped with) a shorter than normal PSU. To be sure to be able to fit a standard ATX PSU, you will want the X-Qpack 2 or the Ultra MicroFly, both of which are longer than the original X-Q or Chenming 118 mainly because of the oft-suggested need to have it easily fit a standard size (5.5" deep) PSU. Depending on the cable exit location, you may be able to make a standard PSU fit into the shorter cases. Using the newer, short chassis optical drives also makes life with the shorter versions of this case quite a bit easier.
.bh.
.bh.
I don't mean to be a pain, Zap, but... Proof please? I know that Antec gets theirs from Seasonic (i.e. GREAT power supplies) as an example, but I thought Apevia made decent, if not good, power supplies... If the PSU's are indeed made by someone like Ritmo, then avoid, but otherwise...
That said, no problems for me so far; and just remembered, Anandtech's website has an article about how much power you 'need' anyway, so if the PSU's are true 420W and 500W, there would be no problems at all with even a semi-powerful system...
Not saying don't swap it, just saying don't swap it if you end up wasting money on an = rather than better PSU...
*Edit* This story, in fact...
The Ultra Microfly was great and I shouldn't have passed up on all those deals (cheapest I saw was $20 after rebate).
On a side note, I believe the new shuttle Core i7 system is water-cooled. Are any SFF cases roomy enough for water?
On a side note, I believe the new shuttle Core i7 system is water-cooled. Are any SFF cases roomy enough for water?
Quiksilver
Diamond Member
- Jul 3, 2005
- 4,725
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I really hope you weren't series. Apevia make horribly PSU's...
Here's one of them from two sources.
Warlock 900W.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modul...views&op=Story&reid=92
http://hardwarelogic.com/news/...E/3704/2008-05-27.html
The fact is, even those full-size ATX psu's hated heat. So if a small on placed in a much smaller case, it's doom is eminent. Let alone the fact they are over-rated.
Edit:
I'm blind and didn't even notice JG had review one of the X-Pack PSU's along time ago.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modul...views&op=Story&reid=79
There is also the fact that Aspire is the same company as Apevia... so another review too.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modul...views&op=Story&reid=78
Bottom line is, the X-pack PSU's is more or less a 250W PSU.
Edit 2:
Oh as far as SFF cases go.
I enjoyed working with my Silverstone SG-02B. Only complaint I have is if you wanted to change the 80mm fan that is fixed to the HDD cagr, your going to have a PITA doing it unless you have small hands. From what the little time I had working with it, there was no real way to remove the cage to make it easy.
Zap
Elite Member
- Oct 13, 1999
- 22,377
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To add to Quiksilver's links: Apevia ATX-AS500W-BL review
That is actually a BETTER power supply than the one with the X-Qpack2. Heck, the Ultra MicroFly came with a (marginally) better PSU (Ultra V-Series, made by Wintech). Anyways, the results of the Apevia 500W PSU test?
353W max (wouldn't even power up above that)
+12v rails drooped as low as 11.08v
measured efficiency 65%-72%
caulk supporting components inside PSU started to melt!?!?
They tested two of them, so it wasn't just a bum unit.
I was serious before Quicksilver, but... Well... Holy cow! 0_o
Thank you Zap and Quiksilver for the corrections, it seems I've been recommending a POC PSU on this page...
How embarrassing... Anyone know some good short-length DVD drives? lolI still say the X-QPack case is great, but now that I have been corrected on the PSU, I agree wholeheartedly with Zap and Quiksilver - DON'T USE THE BUNDLED PSU unless you have no choice (and you always have a choice)!
...And I'll be replacing mine ASAP... :-S
Zap
Elite Member
- Oct 13, 1999
- 22,377
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I'm partial to Samsungs. Right now Newegg has a Samsung 20X SATA DVDRW with LightScribe for $22.99 with free shipping. Secondary choices (depending on deal-of-the-days) are LG and Sony/Optiarc brand.
Well, if you take a marker to the Aspire PSU, cross out the original wattage number and write in a wattage number roughly HALF of the original number, then you would have a functional-though-mediocre PSU.
If your system is pretty low end in power requirements and value, then it can probably keep on truckin' with an Aspire PSU. Your system's Radeon 2600 XT doesn't even require additional PCIe power, so you're probably okay. If you want to upgrade it, you can get a PC Power & Cooling 370W for around $35 or 420W for around $43 at Newegg (with a coupon code printed on the product page and a rebate, shipping cost included).hey quicksil... - I'm not series, I'm massively parallel. I can eat at least 6 different things at once and get a little beverage in at the same time. ;-)
.bh.
.bh.
on the XQ Pack's, it also helps to replace the stock 120 mm fan with a better fan, like the
Silverstone FM-121.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811999344
Silverstone FM-121.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811999344
Originally posted by: Zap
Well, if you take a marker to the Aspire PSU, cross out the original wattage number and write in a wattage number roughly HALF of the original number, then you would have a functional-though-mediocre PSU.
Thanks for that again Zap, and true, I haven't had a problem yet (through sheer luck)... Although I can throw away plans of an upgrade without a new PSU
....When you think about it, it's pretty sad that Apevia (or any reputable company) would tarnish such a good product by so heavily overrating the PSU... Oh well!
Well, the odds are in Apevia's favor as most systems won't actually use more than 200 to 250 Watts. People looking to build higher end systems, probably wouldn't be looking at "budget" bundled cases like Apevia anyway. So they'll seldom get called on their underperforming PSUs...
.bh.
.bh.
Zap
Elite Member
- Oct 13, 1999
- 22,377
- 7
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Goddamn you're a busy man. Me? I suspect I'm FIFO.
There's a lot of money to be made by selling crappy PSUs. Best Buy has a house brand called Dynex that is completely craptacular (translation: not as good as apevia). If you go to the Best Buy site and sort by best selling, it comes up as the best seller. Coincidentally it is also the cheapest. The BFG GS-550 is second best seller and is roughly second cheapest (but is WORLDS better).
Lian Li and MSI have kinda-sorta crappy PSUs too.
Hey Zap,
Almost everything is FIFO except for accounting... Once it's all chewed together, you can't really tell which is which anyway... But if you want to check your in to out cycle, corn or Oreos/Hydrox does the trick.
.bh.
Almost everything is FIFO except for accounting... Once it's all chewed together, you can't really tell which is which anyway... But if you want to check your in to out cycle, corn or Oreos/Hydrox does the trick.
.bh.
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