Please recommend Thin Mini-ITX Case, Cooling, and Power

[4eak]

I need some recommendations on a build which is outside of my comfort zone.

Here are the parts I hope to use:

Intel Core i5-4670 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor
Gigabyte GA-H81TN Thin Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard
G.Skill 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory (204-pin SODIMM)
Samsung 840 Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Disk

I'm looking for a very thin Mini-ITX case. Something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112357

It needs to be compatible with the motherboard/CPU I've got, and cooling seems to be part of the compatibility problem with Thin Mini-ITX, from what I can understand. I'm not even sure if what I want is available at this point. Further, I'm hoping someone might point me to a reliable power adapter for this build.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Well, if you're really trying to get a low profile system and you're not OCing, you might want to go with a cooler-running 4670T. Slower, a bit, but not a lot and it caps itself at about half the total heat output of the 4670.

The included cooler is fairly low profile, if you buy one in retail packaging. Otherwise, I'd probably look at the low profile coolers in stock at FrozenCPU.com. (I just bought this one for a 4670T/GA-H81TN build myself... coincidence? - but there are a few other designs that are variations on the theme.)

As far as reliable power adapters go, I just bought a universal laptop adapter. It came with a few different plugs and one of them fit.

AFAIK, for consumer electronics you want something that is UL listed - I'm no expert, but supposedly they are designed in such a way that when they inevitably fail (everything breaks eventually) they don't burn your house down.

 

[Charlie98]

What is the purpose of the machine? Do you really need an i5?

Would the Intel cooler not work?

 

[4eak]

@ dave_the_nerd

I may go with the 4670T, although I'm not excited about the drop in computational power. I'm already on the fence about getting an i5 instead of an i7 or comparable Xeon (if it could fit).

What case are you using?

@ Charlie98

I'll be running several VMs and pushing the CPU fairly hard (I will be using all 16GB of RAM in the system). An i5 is the minimum I want.

The Intel Cooler you've suggested is 65W TDP max. Would the Lian Li case, 4670T, and that cooler work? If so, I may end up going in that direction. I don't want to though. I really want to have my cake and eat it too. =)

 

[dave_the_nerd]

@ dave_the_nerd

I may go with the 4670T, although I'm not excited about the drop in computational power. I'm already on the fence about getting an i5 instead of an i7 or comparable Xeon (if it could fit).

What case are you using?

I built it out of an old Macintosh LC case.

The stock intel coolers are fine, all things considered. The -T models come with a lower profile model. The non-T models would come with a standard height one that would fit fine in a more traditional mini-ITX case (not thin-mini.)

@ Charlie98

I'll be running several VMs and pushing the CPU fairly hard (I will be using all 16GB of RAM in the system). An i5 is the minimum I want.

The Intel Cooler you've suggested is 65W TDP max. Would the Lian Li case, 4670T, and that cooler work? If so, I may end up going in that direction. I don't want to though. I really want to have my cake and eat it too. =)

My main rig is a Silverstone SG05 case with a "full height" ITX motherboard, OEM Intel HSF, video card, etc.

 

[Charlie98]

The Intel Cooler you've suggested is 65W TDP max. Would the Lian Li case, 4670T, and that cooler work? If so, I may end up going in that direction. I don't want to though. I really want to have my cake and eat it too. =)

From what I have read, that case was originally designed for an Intel thin ITX board (the DH61AG) with that cooler. The 1155 and 1150 socket have the same CPU cooler mount holes. Do a Goog search for images of your case and quite a few of them pop up... with that cooler. I don't see why it wouldn't work with the Gigabyte board.

 

[aigomorla]

Gigabyte GA-H81TN Thin Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard

^ has its own voltage regulator distribution hence why it has a DC plug in the rear.

PSU? it uses a power brick, a simular kind to a laptop:

GIGABYTE recommends 180W power adapters for processors above 84W TDP. Processors with a TDP lower than 84W, may use 150W power adapters.
Connector Dimension: 7.4 x 5.1mm, 150W = 19V / 7.89A
Connector Dimension: 7.4 x 5.1mm, 180W = 19V / 9.47A

That lian case is actually a very good case if u get the heat pipe cooler designed for that case.

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Cooling-..._bxgy_pc_img_y

Overall, if you want to keep the compactness of the case, i dont think you can get any better.

There is other solutions which we can help you with, however it will be very difficult to fit a cooler on a case that small as the stock heat sink will be too tall even for a case with that thin design.