Micro Case Help?

[ttechf]

Hey,

So, I like to save space and for what I need a computer for which I'll be building in the future, I don't THINK I need a full size case or whatnot but thats where hopefully you all can help.


Here is the case I am interested in, I like it, it's small, compact, only weighs 10 pounds instead of around 17+ pounds for a mid to full case and it has a handle which is nifty. The price seems about right too.

- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144109


- I've also thought about this case which is a bit expensive but looks to be built better - http://www.xoxide.com/thermaltake-lanbox-lite-window.html

What I need in my computer is 2 Hard drive spaces. One for a SSD and one for a 1TB 7200RPM drive which I'll be getting.

The motherboard I have chosen is here if I go Intel - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&SID=u00000687

The motherboard I have chosen will be a micro ATX FM2 board Trinity if I go AMD in a few months. [cant provide links as they dont exist yet]

I will also need 2 DVD drive bays.


Since the enclosure is obviously smaller than a regular size case, do I need to add extra cooling inside the case, like extra fans or will the heatsink fan on my processor still be okay?


If anyone can help or make suggestions or save me money, I'm all for it.

Thanks! : )

 

[Zap]

No, you do not "need" a "full sized" case, unless you were running dual graphics cards (or more) and want a windtunnel.

Why do you need dual optical drives? That limits you with smaller cases.

That Thermaltake case will be a fingerprint magnet, and it is steel and heavy compared to the aluminum Apevia.

The Apevia you linked is the original X-Qpack, not the updated X-Qpack2. The handle isn't worth the plastic it is molded from and there is very little space between the optical drive and the PSU. Speaking of the PSU, it really sucks donkey balls.

Neither of those have that great ventilation, relying on a big rear fan and not much else.

Those cases are "cube" style, halfway between a tower and a desktop/HTPC, and IMO sharing the benefits of neither. They don't have the ventilation of a tower (even tiny mATX mini towers have better) and they don't fit in to your home theater equipment rack.

What are you looking for in a new case besides "smaller than a big tower?" Will it be an HTPC? Do you need portability for LAN parties?

 

[ttechf]

No, you do not "need" a "full sized" case, unless you were running dual graphics cards (or more) and want a windtunnel.

Why do you need dual optical drives? That limits you with smaller cases.

That Thermaltake case will be a fingerprint magnet, and it is steel and heavy compared to the aluminum Apevia.

The Apevia you linked is the original X-Qpack, not the updated X-Qpack2. The handle isn't worth the plastic it is molded from and there is very little space between the optical drive and the PSU. Speaking of the PSU, it really sucks donkey balls.

Neither of those have that great ventilation, relying on a big rear fan and not much else.

Those cases are "cube" style, halfway between a tower and a desktop/HTPC, and IMO sharing the benefits of neither. They don't have the ventilation of a tower (even tiny mATX mini towers have better) and they don't fit in to your home theater equipment rack.

What are you looking for in a new case besides "smaller than a big tower?" Will it be an HTPC? Do you need portability for LAN parties?

Hey, thanks.

Okay, lets see....

I just really like the cube shaped microwave looking cases. I don't mind having a heavier one if its made better and it appeared the one made by thermaltake was better constructed because I read reviews on the Apevia and some people complain of the cheap aluminum and such. I don't mind fingerprints, lol. I'd barely touch the thing. It's going to stay on for days at a time.

I guess I'm just really geared towards the cube style. Could I have a big case and have room for it? Sure, but for what I need, I don't see the sense if I can get away with a small ATX case. It would sit nicely underneath my desk and be almost out of view in the corner.

You talked about ventilation and this is a concern. I don't care about the PSU any of them come with, I'd get my own. I'd want to either put an Intel i5 K edition in the case or Trinity APU from AMD. Not sure yet, will know in a couple months BUT for either or, do I need 10 fans in the case to get rid of the heat? I mean how much ventilation do I really need? Wouldn't 2 fans in the case including the heatsink be enough?

Also, you asked about 2 DVD drives and this would make for easier copying of cds and dvds straight exactly. No messing around. If I have to only get 1, so be it, but would love 2 if they can fit.

I'd also need the 2 hard drive bays for my 1TB regular drive and another for the solid state unless I can put the solid state in there somehow else manipulating the case to only need one bay?

I don't know, just thinking "out loud" here and perhaps you can tell me some advice. If you know of any better priced well constructed cube microwave shaped cases, throw them at me.

Thank you for your help thus far. : )

 

[T_Yamamoto]

The bitfenix prodigy only has one DVD drive but its a nice little case.

The dragon slayer is also nice

 

[ttechf]

The bitfenix prodigy only has one DVD drive but its a nice little case.

The dragon slayer is also nice

links? : )

 

[Zap]

I guess I'm just really geared towards the cube style. Could I have a big case and have room for it? Sure, but for what I need, I don't see the sense if I can get away with a small ATX case. It would sit nicely underneath my desk and be almost out of view in the corner.

If you have a 1 foot tall cube under your desk, you're gonna have to bend over really far to swap out the two discs in your dual optical drives.

You talked about ventilation and this is a concern. I don't care about the PSU any of them come with, I'd get my own. I'd want to either put an Intel i5 K edition in the case or Trinity APU from AMD. Not sure yet, will know in a couple months BUT for either or, do I need 10 fans in the case to get rid of the heat? I mean how much ventilation do I really need? Wouldn't 2 fans in the case including the heatsink be enough?

No, you don't need 10 case fans. It isn't the number of fans, but the design of the case. You get the best ventilation in a case if air can move in roughly a straight line through the case. Typical ATX "gaming" towers are kind of like that, because air goes diagonally from the front bottom fans to the rear fan.

Also, you asked about 2 DVD drives and this would make for easier copying of cds and dvds straight exactly. No messing around. If I have to only get 1, so be it, but would love 2 if they can fit.

How often will you be doing that in the future? It doesn't really take much longer to copy discs using only a single drive. Used to be that drives were so slow that it was much faster. Now, not such a big deal. Also, I find myself using shiny discs less and less as the years go by.

If you know of any better priced well constructed cube microwave shaped cases, throw them at me.

There are better constructed, but none better priced.

Question for you: Are you going to be running a graphics card for gaming?

Your answer can greatly influence my suggestions to you. For instance, if you DON'T need a graphics card and will use integrated graphics, then you can easily go mini ITX and have an even smaller system.

Example: Lian Li PC-Q07 $70
This case uses mini ITX motherboards. Holds one normal optical drive, one 3.5" HDD and one 2.5" SSD. Uses normal ATX PSUs, or SFX PSUs using an adapter plate. It is so small that it looks kind of cube-ish. It only weighs 2.42 pounds empty! Note that Lian Li makes cases in various colors, but I guess other colors are no longer available.

Lian Li also makes one slightly larger and slightly more expensive, the PC-Q11. It is capable of holding two 3.5" and two 2.5" drives, plus a dual slot graphics card up to 9" or so (GTX 560 Ti?).

links? : )

In Win Dragon Slayer

In Win BR665

They are the same case at the same price, however sometimes one (or the other) goes on sale. They are mATX mini towers.