ITX CPU cooling (and case)

[Ken g6]

I'm planning to build a mini-ITX Skylake system. I don't really plan to overclock. But I'm thinking about an i7-6700K, and I'd like that system to be able to run Prime95 24/7. Preferably at 80C or less. So thermal management matters to me.

Size also matters to me. I'm planning to build in a case that fits in a footprint of about 9 inches wide and 11.5 inches long. Feet could also complicate matters, so a lack of them is probably good. Height isn't a big issue, but above 15 inches it starts looking a little absurd. It would also be nice if the case had one dimension about 7 inches wide or less that it could be sat on. The two main cases I see that fit the bill are the Silverstone SG-05 and the Lian Li PC-Q01B. I keep looking at others, but most others are either too big, or won't fit stuff like a video card and one or more full-sized hard drive(s). (More is better, within reason.)

So, the problem is how to cool my CPU (and a GPU at some point) in a small case while running thermally-intensive tasks. I have zero interest in water cooling. I saw one suggestion somewhere to use a PRO-SAM 17 with a slim fan. (Like this?) Would that work well? Or what about the similarly named, but cheaper Gabriel? I also saw mention of this Zalman cooler someplace. Would it be sufficient if I'm not overclocking?

In that Lian Li case in particular, it looks like the PSU fan is right above the CPU. So I wonder if the PRO-SAM or Gabriel with a fan sucking air from the cooler and blowing it into the PSU would work? Or is that too much heat in the PSU?

TIA!

 

[FanlessTech]

Top-of-the-line CPU and heavy workload don't go well with small case and small cooler. Compromises should be made If thermal management matters to you, at least go for a large C-type cooler from Noctua / Phanteks / Be Quiet.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Wow, tall order. I'll defer to others, I've only built entry-level ITX rigs, nothing heavy-duty.

 

[Essence_of_War]

Have you looked at the node 304? It's front foot print is ~9.8" by ~8.3", has well designed front to back airflow for cooling out of the box, and if you're careful about your psu size, supports both tower CPU coolers (up to 165mm!) and full size GPUs up to 310mm.

 

[Ken g6]

Top-of-the-line CPU and heavy workload don't go well with small case and small cooler. Compromises should be made

The idea is to make compromises in GHz and Volts and Watts. I keep going back and forth between manually adjusting the GHz on a 6700K or getting a 6700 non-K (65W). I'd prefer to avoid the 6700T (35W). If a case this small can't handle 65W, I'll just use my old mATX case. :\

Have you looked at the node 304?

Length: 14.72". Too long! Actual depth it can sit on is 8.5", plus overhang - 11.5" is about the maximum. Actual width is 9" plus overhang.

 

[Essence_of_War]

Length: 14.72". Too long! Actual depth it can sit on is 8.5", plus overhang - 11.5" is about the maximum. Actual width is 9" plus overhang.

Sorry, I misread your "length" as "height"!

So to be very clear, you're looking for something that fits into like:

Height: < 15'' = 380mm
Width/Depth: smaller than 9''/11.5'' = 228/292 mm

I haven't seen any reviews of the Prolimatech Sam, but it looks nice, and the Zalman you linked too performs well in space constrained systems. I'd also take a look at the Scythe Big Shuriken, it is one of SPCR's top rated low profile HSFs for both performance and noise. Do you know what type of GPU you're going to try to put in?

 

[Ken g6]

The 9" width has some slack - I can overhang the desk by an inch or two.

I'd also take a look at the Scythe Big Shuriken, it is one of SPCR's top rated low profile HSFs for both performance and noise.

Nice! But out-of-stock at Newegg. And only 3 heat pipes?

Do you know what type of GPU you're going to try to put in?

A 16nm one. So, no. My short 750ti is likely to find its way in there in the interim, though.

 

[FanlessTech]

The idea is to make compromises in GHz and Volts and Watts. I keep going back and forth between manually adjusting the GHz on a 6700K or getting a 6700 non-K (65W). I'd prefer to avoid the 6700T (35W). If a case this small can't handle 65W, I'll just use my old mATX case. :\

We're progressing 65W is doable but I'm not sure this is the way to go. You want power and I think you should go for it. Just beware of the "cute factor". Unless you're living in one of these awfully adorable tiny house, go for the 6700K and the appropriate sized cooler and case. You will not regret it on the long run. Good luck!

On a side note, it would be too bad to get a 6700T and not go fanless :sneaky:

 

[AntonioHG]

Maybe: https://www.ncases.com/

Has an entire section dedicated to compatibility on the website and forum thread with more: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1717132

Only issue is the way they deal with purchases -- it might take a long time for you to actually get one.

 

[Ken g6]

I am not going through the hassle of getting an Ncase M1 unless they're available on Newegg or Amazon.

 

[Essence_of_War]

The 9" width has some slack - I can overhang the desk by an inch or two.


Nice! But out-of-stock at Newegg. And only 3 heat pipes?


A 16nm one. So, no. My short 750ti is likely to find its way in there in the interim, though.

Hmmm that doesn't sound right, make sure you have the right version! The version that I've seen reviewed is this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4CP2AN8823

It's in stock at newegg, and it has 5 heat pipes and 110 fins. Buuuuttttt it looks to be ~20-30 USD over priced at that price point. I think the NH-L12 is actually CHEAPER at Newegg D:

 

[Yuriman]

Food for thought:

7.5" wide x 10.0" tall x 10.8" long, including feet

Using this cooler:

3570K @ 4.0GHz

Prime95 peak temperature ~78c, with CPU fan spinning @ 2300RPM. System is still very quiet, with the noise profile being that of a low, smooth "whoosh". At idle, it's near silent in a room with virtually no ambient noise. I believe a 6700K at stock should draw even less power, and undervolted, probably significantly less.

The case has a cutout on the motherboard tray for easy backplate installation, and even has enough room above the socket to install a tower cooler. My Hyper212 EVO would have fit, but unfortunately my motherboard has components on its back that prevent my using a cooler with a backplate, so I opted for the tiny Noctua NH-L9i.

Case will take a video card up to 10" long, but longer than 8" and you'll want either a modular or less-than-standard-ATX-length PSU. My video card is 9", and the cooler reaches as far back as 9.5", and the wiring is a bit of a mess. Luckily, you have options as fast as the R9 Fury Nano or GTX970 in significantly less than even 8" long.

Case will also accept up to 2x 2.5" HDD and 1x 3.5" HDD.

Best of all, this case is $40 shipped from Newegg, and there are plenty of near-identical models from other manufacturers.

 

[Ken g6]

That's an interesting case all right. The main thing I worry about is that it has to exhaust out the bottom. So its feet need to sit on something. What is the distance between its feet, length-wise? If it's 8.5" or less, that's likely to be a problem.

I guess the PSU is in front, and is the only exhaust? Not sure I want hot exhaust blowing on my hand. Not sure I want cold exhaust blowing on my hand either.

But if a PSU can take that much exhaust heat, that makes the Lian Li PC-Q01B more interesting. :hmm:

Edit: On second thought, I read a review of the Lian Li that changed my mind:

there are NO fans included. the only place to add fans is in fact at the bottom, which interferes with hdd installation.

 

[Yuriman]

The front and rear feet are approximately 9" apart, but side to side they're only about 5.25" apart (obviously, because the case is only 7.5" wide).

I'm a big fan of ITX cases that a) accept a full sized ATX power supply and b) don't put it over the CPU, because it's a nightmare trying to get to your motherboard with a wide cooler and power supply covering it. With this case, I can removing any single component without needing to remove any others.

Some cases choose to put the power supply above or below the motherboard, facing out the back, and you might find those more suitable for your uses, but the layout of the DIYPC allows it to be the *smallest* case that still accepts most video cards and a full sized ATX PSU. By placing the PSU above or below the motherboard you add height, but you can't really subtract either length or width because you still to allow for a long video card.

 

[Yuriman]

Some other options are the Silverstone Milo and RAVEN. These cases have excellent cooling, accept full-length video cards, have great cable management, and (important to me) have very little wasted space, so you're getting as much case for the space used as is possible. The only drawback is that you have to use an SFX power supply.

 

[ClockHound]

Thermaltake Core V1 has some good airflow options. 200mm intake and room for a Noc C14S or Cryorig C1 - or any good twin-tower cooler with a modded top window (factory max cooler height: 140mm). GPU cards to 285mm long. PSUs to 200mm.

It's cheap, it's steel, it's Thermaltake. Also available in black. 10.9"H x 10.2"W x 12.4"D

The now discontinued Rosewill (Jonsbo) W1 would have been another option with great airflow, CPU cooler height of 215mm and long 320mm GPUs. 140mm intake & exhaust. Still available in Europe or on eBay under the Cooltek brand.

All aluminum panels over a steel chassis. Sexy lines, but a little over your desired depth dimension. 242 mm (W) x 362 mm (D) x 356 mm (H) - Like a manly-sized nCase. ;-)

 

[Ken g6]

I keep putting this off. i7's are too expensive - thinking about an interim i3 at this point.

Any reason nobody suggested a Cooler Master Elite 110 in this thread. I've been thinking I should go bigger like FanlessTech suggested, to allow for more storage; but that case can hold 3 HDDs!

 

[Stuka87]

I have had a Corsair 380T for almost a year now, use an H100i cooler for the CPU running at 4.5GHz, the GPU is using its own fans that pull through the side of the case. Its a bit large for an ITX case, but I have been extremely happy with it. Everything stays cool.

Although I did remove the stock front fan and replace it with two enermax 120mm fans in an exhaust config. It dropped case temps by 15 degrees, and my drive temps by 20. Found there is a hot spot in the lower front area with the stock fan config. The H100i and the GPU pull air in from the outside, and the rear and front fans exhaust.

Its the best cooling ITX case I have had experience with.

 

[ed21x]

I'm currently on the elite 130 with a 6700k and 980ti. Using a simple closed loop water cooler for the CPU (Seidon 120m) and stock ACX cooler for the 980ti. The Seidon 120m mounts perfectly on the front of the case and keeps CPU idle core temps at around 25c, and I have the seidon, GPU, and side fans all blowing in with PSU as the exhaust. Seems to work well. If you prefer to stick with non watercooling, the front 140mm fan provides more than adequate air into the entire case, and plenty of clearance for a large HS/fan.