Habey mini-ITX case + 60W external PSU brick $34.99 FS @ Newegg

[VirtualLarry]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...13&ignorebbr=1

These are normally close to $60 ea. Seemed like a good deal. There are 11 reviews for this model, and none of the reviews mentioned the stock Intel HSF not fitting, so that's a good sign. Some mentioned issues fitting BOTH a 2.5" HDD AND a slim optical drive. Others mentioned a lack of directions for assembly. Hopefully I'll be able to figure it out.

I've had some mini-ITX S775 boards that I wanted to build with, without spending too much money, and with a case that would fit a stock Intel S775 Celeron dual-core HSF assembly.

Hopefully, these work out.

Edit: One of the reviews mentions that the external power brick is not UL listed. When I get mine, I'll post if it lacks all safety certifications.

Edit:
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DON'T BUY THESE. THE EXTERNAL PSU CONNECTION IS JUST PRESS-FIT IN PLASTIC, AND THE AC
ADAPTER IS NOT UL-LISTED
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[SunRey]

Thank You!

 

[Termie]

That's a fantastic deal, but be careful. A 65W S775 Celeron could exceed the power of the 60W PSU when fully loaded. Also, those S775 chips don't have built-in video, do they? Perhaps your board does.

 

[VirtualLarry]

That's a fantastic deal, but be careful. A 65W S775 Celeron could exceed the power of the 60W PSU when fully loaded. Also, those S775 chips don't have built-in video, do they? Perhaps your board does.

They may be "65W TDP", but XbitLabs tested them, and the CPU alone, under full load, takes 20W.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/celeron-e3300_8.html#sect0

And yes, the board has onboard video.

 

[Termie]

They may be "65W TDP", but XbitLabs tested them, and the CPU alone, under full load, takes 20W.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/celeron-e3300_8.html#sect0

And yes, the board has onboard video.

CPU on its own isn't that relevant. The S775 platform wasn't very efficient. My ultra-efficient G3258 itx system uses over 40W at load. That's about all I'd use with a 60W psu. but report back if you get it to work with your older equipment.

No doubt this is a good deal. Just has limited applications.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Cool, I am in for one. Needed something like this for a while.

 

[voodoo7817]

Termie, thanks for the heads up on what would max out the 60W PSU. Would you mind sharing more info about your G3258 system? I've purchased this case and am thinking I might wait for Broadwell to start my build, but perhaps the G3258 has enough horsepower to do anything I'd want. Thanks in advance.

 

[Schmide]

In for one too. I hope I get 1.2 units.

 

[voodoo7817]

edit: nvm. I should have read OPs post closer. And forgot to thank OP for the find!

Still interested in finding out the most powerful system that could be run on this PSU. Let's say for 24/7 use as a HTPC and as a Plex media server using a cheaper Synology as a pure media storage NAS.

 

[Termie]

Termie, thanks for the heads up on what would max out the 60W PSU. Would you mind sharing more info about your G3258 system? I've purchased this case and am thinking I might wait for Broadwell to start my build, but perhaps the G3258 has enough horsepower to do anything I'd want. Thanks in advance.

Sure. Using MSI H81I motherboard, Pentium G3258, 8GB of RAM, in an Antec ISK110 case (nearly identical in size to the Habey). At stock speed it's plenty fast for streaming high def video. Overclocked to 4.2 it uses over 60W, so you wouldn't want to do that in the Habey.

 

[Justinbaileyman]

Thanks for the good deal OP. I actually have the black version of this and space is very cramped.That is why I am after a new and slightly bigger media/htpc case.Not only this but slim drives for this thing are way more expensive then stanard size is.

 

[voodoo7817]

Thanks. Any thoughts on if the following build will work with this case and power supply?

$35 Case: Habey EMC-800S
$70 CPU: Intel G3258
$65 Mobo: MSI H81I or comparable
Ram: 2x2GB G.SKILL Ripjaws DDR-1333 (re-purposing from old machine)
SSD : Crucial C300 128GB (re-purposing from old machine)

I'd skip an optical drive altogether. Some of the comments on Newegg suggest that a 35W CPU is really the best option, so I'm a little cautious of jumping up to the 53W G3258 and would appreciate feedback anyone can offer. If this works, I'll be pretty happy to get this type of price and performance out of a HTPC, especially one this small.

Also curious if it would be worth it to get a better CPU cooler for another $20-40?

 

[jiffer]

I'd be careful with an overclocked Pentium G3258. I did some testing with an Asus B85M-E/CSM and an Asus H81M-PLUS. I used a discrete video card. Originally, I set most of the voltage options to "Auto", which raised the VCore for my particular processor from 1.058V at 3.2GHz to 1.175V at 4.0GHz. According to CPU-Z and HWMonitor, the processor was using about 40W and the core temperature was about 75 C with the stock cooler when I ran Prime95. I repeated the tests after lowering the voltage to 1.068V, which reduced the CPU power consumption to about 35W and the core temperature to about 70 C. Your mileage will vary. Keep in mind that using processor graphics will increase power consumption and heat dissipation.

Personally, I would not use this case and PSU to build a G3258 overclocking rig, although it would be fine for other purposes.

 

[voodoo7817]

Thanks for the feedback. Do you think I'd have any heat issues if I had no plans to overclock? And if not overclocking, is the G3258 still the best option at ~$70?

 

[jiffer]

I'll do some tests with a G3258 at stock speed using processor graphics and let you know the results soon.

That said, for a project like this I would prefer to use something like a Core i3-4150, which has decent processor graphics and hyperthreading (making it a "quad core" processor). I haven't done any testing with one of those yet, but I'm guessing that a 65W PSU should be able to handle it. I got one for $77 plus tax on Black Friday at Fry's BM, and today they're on sale for $69 with a personal promo code (in store only). If you have a Frys nearby and want to spend about $70, I'd jump on it.

 

[voodoo7817]

I'd be on board with spending the extra to get the added boost of the i3-4150 in there, but I'm still unsure if the 60W PSU will be enough. Looking forward to your tests. Thanks.

Edit: I'm also gonna ask this question on the Power Supply forum.

 

[jiffer]

Here are the results of a quick test. Pentium G3258 at stock speed (3.2GHz maximum) and voltage (1.058V using the Auto setting) with processor graphics and a stock CPU cooler in a Fractal Design Core 1100 case with the side panel removed. Power consumption 26W and core temperature 61 degrees C when running Prime95 (Small FFTs). Idle power consumption is slightly less than 8W and idle temperature at 800MHz is about 36 degrees C. I hope this helps.

 

[Justinbaileyman]

Yeah there is not going to be any overclocking on that G3258 in this case. Your likely to melt everything you install in there.LOL but hey the case would be fine cause no joking here it is made of pure steel and you can acually stand on this damn thing and not hurt it its that sturdy.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Anyone else get their cases yet and try to build? Be VERY, VERY GENTLE with the AC-in cable.

The end is just plastic, with a few metal pins (center pin, and side pin), and it simply sort of snaps/twists into the metal case. There's no flange-and-screw assembly to fix it in there solid.

Bump it ever so slightly, and it comes off.

PIECE OF JUNK!!!!

Edit: There may be one practical use for this case. Get that Asrock AM1 mobo with it's own 19V DC-in jack, and completely bypass the PSU built into this case.

Or do some modding, the other end of the power-in cable is socketed, and get a replacement cable, that has flanges, and drill some holes in the cast aluminum, and affix it solidly so it doesn't fall off.

 

[poofyhairguy]

That is sad. Oh well, I had an extra Pico-PSU, I just lacked a decent case.

 

[you2]

The description sez slim-mini but guess that is not thin-mini A case I've used for a couple of builds that is slightly same size is BQS656.DD120BL (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-417-_-Product) - but alas it is not on sale. I highly recommend that case and maybe one day it might even be on sale