Mini-itx casing questions regarding PSU sizing

gaidensensei

Banned
May 31, 2003
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I'm looking into purchasing my first mini-itx case.
Have an issue at the moment.

I'm wondering how can you tell what case requires a special PSU or which ones can use the normal PSU dimensions?

Was browsing at newegg in their micro-itx section and can't really judge much from the picture. Some mention they come with PSu, some mention they don't like the Lian-Li's. I assume the Lian Li's can fit standard PSU's.. but what about the rest, if we go cheaper? Do those need special form PSU's?

The aesthetics and cosmetics is not an issue for me.

Thanks folks.
 

gaidensensei

Banned
May 31, 2003
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Do you think it's safe to assume most of the time if it comes with a psu, it's a proprietary type?

I don't want to use those junk quality no-namers, I would stick to the ones that allow me to use my existing standard tower PSU's if I could for cheaper.
 

PCTC2

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Feb 18, 2007
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some of the Lian Li and Silverstone cases use full size ATX PSUs
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
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The Lian Li cases use ATX PSUs.

The Silverstones, some of the Athenatechs, the Thermaltake and probably some others (usually over "200W") use SFX PSUs.

Everything else is likely proprietary.
 

faxon

Platinum Member
May 23, 2008
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yea afaik lian li is the only company to sell a case which takes an ATX PSU. they're also the only company i know of that sells a case with 2 expansion slots, so you can put a dual slot graphics card in (the PC-Q08). pair that new gigabyte H55 ITX board with an i7 860, a 5870, and a 500w PSU and you have all the power you need now, in something which you can fit in a backpack. alternatively you can fill it with HDDs, and a 5670, and turn it into a home theater PC/file server/transcode box, ect, whatever you want. the possibilities are pretty much limitless lol
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
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yea afaik lian li is the only company to sell a case which takes an ATX PSU. they're also the only company i know of that sells a case with 2 expansion slots, so you can put a dual slot graphics card in (the PC-Q08).

The Silverstone SG05/SG06 cases can also accept dual slot graphics cards up to 10" long, but the cases use SFX PSUs.
 

gaidensensei

Banned
May 31, 2003
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TY's for the info. I went ahead with the Lian Li PC-Q07, there's a sale on egg for $60 shipped.

Seems like that was the cheapest buy.