SFF build with SSD - case recommendations?

[etherealfocus]

I build a chunk of ITX computers for myself and friends (tend to sell my machines every time a new Intel architecture comes out, and friends upgrade regularly as well). They're mostly media machines also used for light gaming... nothing more demanding than Diablo 3/Starcraft 2. Some of us are doing video and photo editing and need a little more power.

Standard build:
Pentium G620
P8H61-ITX mobo
4GB memory
SDD 830 128GB or Seagate XT 750GB
no optical drive or gfx card
MI-100 250W ITX case

High-end build:
i5-3570K (no OC, just using K for the HD4000)
P8Z77-ITX mobo
2x8GB memory
SSD 830 256GB + Seagate XT 750GB (or 2TB storage drive if 3.5" bay available)
no optical drive or gfx card
Silverstone Sugo SG06-B 300W ITX case

So, I'm looking for new ITX case recommendations. The MI-100 is a poor use of space with the 5.25" bay, dual 3.5" bays, and lack of 2.5" bay. The SG06 is nice but it's $140 shipped at Newegg - a bit pricey.

Requirements:
-Must have adequate PSU for the demanding build listed above, and be able to handle the thermals.
-External power brick a plus, but not necessary.
-As small as possible. Space is at a premium.
-Prefer 1x2.5" and 1x3.5" storage space, but 2x2.5" would be fine too. Will be used for an SSD and a storage drive.
-As mentioned above, no 5.25" bay... or at least a slim rather than full-size bay.
-Not miserably hard to work in. All ITX cases are a little cramped, but I'm not a surgeon.

Thoughts? Would like something under $70, but anything under $100 will work.

 

[Zap]

For a dual core Sandy Bridge, check out the Antec ISK 300-65 or ISK 310-65. Availability is kind of iffy right now, but they are still available. 65W using external power brick, holds two 2.5" drives plus one slim optical. Stock heatsink works fine, has decent ventilation (80mm exhaust) and supports one low profile card. 65W is plenty for a dual core Sandy Bridge with SSDs.

For the quad, Antec ISK 300-150 or ISK 310-150. Same case, just power upped to 150W using normal power cord. I'm currently running one with Core i5 2500K (stock speed) and a Radeon 6570 (6670 just arrived today, haven't installed yet). In games it draws around 110W according to a Kill-A-Watt.

Alternately the ISK 100 or ISK 110 VESA would work. You lose the slim optical drive and the low profile slot. They use external bricks.

 

[etherealfocus]

Just what the doctor ordered... thanks!

BTW, how reliable are the PSUs on these things? I just discovered the Habey EMC-600S on Newegg and people seem to like it... and I like it too. I trust Antec PSUs and the good reviews on the Habey line are promising, but I don't wanna get my hopes up too much. Thoughts?

Also, my understanding from one of the Anandtech power articles was that the Pentium Sandy Bridge chips peak at around 35W because they lack hyperthreading and dynamic overclocking, but that i3 could get pretty close to 65W draw. Is that incorrect? Stuffing an i3-2105 in a Habey or ISK 300-65 case is pretty tempting.

Right now I'm thinking I'll drop the MI-100 entirely, use the Habey for dual core systems (like the all-metal construction, tininess, and lack of an optical drive) and the ISK300-150 for more demanding builds.

You think a 60-65W PSU is sufficient for a G620/i3-2105 paired with a Momentus XT 500GB instead of an SSD? The 500G XT is running $80 at Newegg right now and that's pretty tempting. I assume a 3.5" drive on a 60W PSU would just be silly regardless of the CPU?

Thanks!

 

[Zap]

The only negative thing I've heard regarding the Antec PSUs on their mini ITX cases have been that the 150W version is not very efficient (between 70-80%, but not 80Plus). According to Antec's web site the ISK 300-150 is covered by a 3 year warranty (listed as AQ3). Antec is known for being decent on warranty coverage. I wouldn't worry.

The MI-100 case has an iffy PSU, any way you slice it.

Again, 65W is the theoretical TDP of the entire family. This means faster i3-2125 CPUs, and probably running a synthetic load. As long as the purpose of the system is NOT to run synthetic full loads (like Prime95, ICCT, Intel Burn Test, etc.) then you should be just fine under any normal usage. I think 65W would be fine, even with the Momentus XT.

I would actually pass on the Habey cases because AFAIK their ventilation isn't very good. Go for the Antec ISK 110 VESA. The PSU is beefier (sufficient for quad core) and you can just mount it behind a monitor.

 

[etherealfocus]

Makes sense, except that I'd like reliable availability. When I search 'antec isk' on Newegg the only result is the ISK 300-150 and it's almost always out of stock. Do you know another US reseller that has them reliably?

 

[Zap]

You can check Amazon (usually same price as Newegg, but with free shipping so ends up cheaper) and Provantage.

Antec does list them as current models. Maybe you can contact them to inquire about future availability? The ISK 110 VESA is a new model so availability should continue in the future. The ISK 300-150 is an older model.